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Jude smacked him on the back of the head. “Shut up, squirt.”
“I’m taller than you now, so maybe you’ll find me a new nickname. Something cool. Like stud.”
Snow, who was apparently still paying attention, snorted.
His youngest brother just gave the doctor a cheeky grin before he abruptly stood and started clearing the table of dishes. Their mana trained them all well.
Anna handed Snow a cup of coffee. “You want to take this into the living room? My youngest is still all legs and elbows and it’s too dangerous for you to sit there. I’ll be in there in just a moment.” She patted his shoulder.
Again, blue eyes locked with his and it took all he had not to lean over the table and kiss Snow. “It won’t take us long,” Jude murmured. “Jordan and I have this down to an art. Enjoy your coffee with Mana.” He did lean then, just close enough to lower his voice. “Don’t let her talk you into having kids yet. There are other things I’d like us to get around to doing first.”
Snow’s mouth fell open.
Laughing, Jude stood up and began helping his brother. Snow sat in the living room with Anna and right before they finished, his mother came back in for more coffee. She scooched up close to Jude who was putting the last dish in the dishwasher. “I like him, Jude,” she whispered. “But he has a sadness about him. It breaks my heart.”
“He recently lost a close friend in a car accident. Another friend, the chef he mentioned, was also hurt.” He explained, even though he knew what she was talking about. His mana was no dummy.
“Oh yie mou, this sadness goes deeper. Come.” Jude’s mother touched his arm and he looked down at her. She tilted her head toward the living room, her eyes full of concern. He walked to the opening of the kitchen, glanced in there, and his heart clenched so hard, he raised his hand to rub the heel of his palm against his chest. Snow stood at the window, one hand in his pants pocket. He stared at the falling flakes and it was like he’d forgotten to wear the mask he showed most of the world, his profile displaying his downturned mouth…the defeat in his expression. His relaxed, amused state of earlier was gone—just like that.
For a time tonight, they’d been able to take Snow’s mind off things, but all that pain and worry lay just under the surface. All it took was a few moments alone in the living room of his mother’s house.
The man couldn’t even go home. His safe place had been desecrated.
He was completely displaced and though Jude knew he was close to Lucas, he also knew that Snow was the kind of man who needed his privacy, his space. There was something else he needed—something deeper that Jude had glimpsed several times tonight.
Jude’s pulse began to race and his knees went weak. He leaned against the door jamb, staring. In that moment, Jude wanted to give everything to him. He wanted to give Ashton Frost whatever it took to erase that expression from his face forever.
His mother tugged him back into the kitchen, her eyes suspiciously shiny. “Maybe you should take him home with you tonight,” she whispered. “I don’t think he should be alone.”
“He’s not alone. He’s staying with friends.”
She looked away from him, but her hand tightened on his arm. “That’s not what I meant.”
He could only stare at her, too shocked to figure out how to respond. She wore rainbow shirts, went to meetings, and outwardly supported him, but this went farther than he expected.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not naïve and I know sadness and that man has so much of it, my heart is breaking.” She patted Jude on the chest. “You have so much love to give. I think you should give some to him.”
“We’ve only been dating a short time and I wouldn’t even call what we’re doing dating. Too many things have been happening in his life.” He shook his head and tugged her in for a big hug. “But your heart is in the right place. I love you, Mana.”
“I know. Don’t worry, you have enough to share.”
He walked into the living room and picked up Snow’s coat. “Hey General, ready to go?”
Snow flinched at the first sound of Jude’s voice, but he smoothed his expression out fast and turned to nod. He took his coat and Jude slid into his own. His mother came into the room, carrying a covered dish of leftovers.
Jordan walked in on his way to the kitchen and veered their way. He threw his arm around Jude and punched him in the stomach with the other. “Leaving so early? I don’t wanna hear why.”
