“Your brother’s married, right?” I asked instead.
“Yes. It’s only been a couple of years since the wedding, but I think it’s for keeps. He and Kirby are sweet together.”
“And they have kids?”
“No. They don’t want to. I’m not complaining because now Monty has his uncles to himself. They’re spoiling him, especially Kirby, my brother-in-law.”
He gazed after a passing cab and blew out a breath, a white cloud forming in front of his face. His nose was getting pink, and so were his ears.
“Aren’t you cold?”
Startled, he glanced at me, then smiled. “I’m okay. The coat’s warm.”
“You should have a hat.”
“Really?” he said dryly.
I unwrapped the thick woolen scarf I had around my neck and handed it to him.
“I’m fine,” he said.
“Take it. You’re fresh from the shower.”
“You said it was only a few blocks.”
“Three more. Take the scarf, Jay.”
Shaking his head, he took it and wrapped it around his neck so it covered his chin and ears too. “Happy now?”
“Yes.”
He looked adorable, all wrapped up and cozy.
We walked in silence for a while, and curiously, I didn’t feel the need to come up with a question to fill the silence. I watched him instead, how his eyebrows drew together and his nose crinkled a little as he sniffed my scarf. He seemed to be thinkinghard about something, and I wasn’t brave enough to ask him what.
CHAPTER 2
Chase
“This is me.”
He looked up at the newly built apartment building as I searched for keys in my pocket.
“Sweet.”
“Yeah, I was lucky. And it’s close to work, so…”
The elevator ride was awkward, mainly because, enclosed in a confined warm space, Jay smelledsogood my dick was getting invested.
I unlocked my door and let him into my compact one-bedroom. I hit the switch but only to turn on the dim lamps in the living room area and kitchen corner.
I took the canvas bag and his coat from him and hung them on a hook by the door as he looked around.
“It’s a great place, Chase.”
“Thanks. It’s a rental, but the landlord is a nice guy.”
He nodded to himself and turned to face me.
