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“What? How did that happen?”
“They discovered I’m an ex-convict and changed their minds about leasing to me.”
Scottie frowned. “Can they do that? Turn you down for housing because of your past?”
“There are no laws to stop housing discrimination against ex-convicts. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to find a place.”
“I’m sorry, Griff.” Ice cream forgotten, Scottie came over to me and wedged himself between my thighs.
“I’ll talk to my parole officer and find out what I can do.”
“Good idea. If I can help, let me know.”
I tapped his nose. “You’ve done enough. I’ll work on my shit. Just work on you and Jay. I don’t want to ruin your friendship.”
“Okay. Do you want to wait until he returns?”
“Actually, I think I should go. If he sees me here, the situation might escalate. Talk to him first, and let me know how it goes. If it helps, you can blame the whole thing on me.”
Scottie took my face between his hands. “That’s not fair to you, and I won’t do it, so don’t ask me to.”
“I just want to protect you, Scottie.”
“And that’s sweet, but who protects you, Griff?”
Scottie was stubborn, but his insistence touched me. I leaned in and brushed my lips against his. He opened up, and I slipped my tongue into his mouth. Scottie’s lips were soft and pliant beneath mine, the taste of caramel lingering on his tongue. To think I’d never kissed another man before him.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Scottie jerked back, and my eyes flew to Jay, who scowled at us from the entrance of the kitchen. From the rigid lines of his jaw and the clenched fists, he was no calmer than when we’d spoken earlier. His eyes flashed with malice, and his lips twisted in disgust.
“I was just about to go.” I rose to my feet and squeezed Scottie’s arm. “You need anything, call me.”
Jay snorted. “Since when are you reliable? I wouldn’t hold my breath, Scott.”
“Jay, that’s enough,” Scottie said, his expression fierce. “You don’t need to speak to him that way.”
“Well, this is rich.” Jay laughed mockingly. “Don’t tell me you think you fucking him makes you my stepdad or something.”
Heat burned up my spine, and before I knew it, I grabbed Jay by the collar and gave him a shake. “Listen here, son. You can say all the shit you want about me, lash out at me, hit me, and I’ll allow it because I deserve it. Scottie’s been nothing but a good friend to you over these years. Don’t talk to him that way.”
“A good friend doesn’t fuck his dad behind his back and lie about it.” Jay cut Scottie with an icy glare, which he then leveled on me. “And you, to think I was starting to believe you had changed and you wanted to reconcile.”
I dropped my hands and took a step back. “I do.”
“And that’s why you’re sleeping with my best friend? Who the fuck does that? Scottie’s the same age as me, for fuck’s sake.”
“Hey, I’m not a child,” Scottie protested. “If we could all sit down and talk, that—”
“It seems you two have done all the talking over the years. You can keep at it for all I care.” Jay stalked out of the kitchen.
“Jay!” Scottie followed him but stopped at the threshold and turned back to me, his eyes wet with unshed tears. “You should probably go.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry about this mess.”
“It’s our mess. Don’t apologize. I’ll talk to you later.” Scottie pressed his car key into my hand. “Take it. You left your motorcycle at the bar.”
I kissed his cheek. “I’ll have it back to you tomorrow, I promise. You don’t have to walk me to the door, but text me if anything happens.”
