“Thank you for being here and dealing with my mess.”
“I was a psychology undergrad.This is all deeply fascinating to me.”
Why did he feel the need to do that?To undermine himself and deflect praise he rightly earned?
“That’s not why you’re here.”
Sami’s throat bobbed.“No?”
“You’re a good person, Sami.I hope you believe that about yourself too.”
Looking back at their relationship, Baz wasn’t so sure he did.Sami acted confident, yes, but why did he pursue Baz, the guy who claimed to hate him, if not because maybe, he thought that was all he deserved?
“Ready to go back inside?”Sami asked, no acknowledgment of his own greatness.They’d work on that when Baz had the headspace for it.
“Your phone—”
Sami pulled it out of his pocket.Oh, Baz could kiss him for always knowing when he needed a break.Hell, why shouldn’t he, after all they had shared?
He sandwiched Sami’s face between his palms and pressed a lingering kiss onto his lips, willed all the gratitude and the warmth he felt to pour into it.When they came apart, Sami looked at him so softly, Baz wanted to never let him go.Still wrapped in each other’s arms, they walked back inside.
An eerie silence fell over the living room.All eyes on Baz.
Jack stood, looking like a lamb being led to slaughter as he sheepishly came closer.
Words.Baz needed some.God, why was this so hard?
He looked at Sami.Sami nodded at him, smiled even.Baz felt himself settle down.
“Thank you for your apology.I am looking forward to seeing you stick to it.”
A choking sob shook through Jack, and suddenly, another man was slumping against his chest.Hesitantly, he brought his hands onto Jack’s back.His musky cologne smelled like the home Baz had lost.The prickling heat was back in his eyes.
Okay, that was enough.
He stepped out of the embrace, immediately searched for Sami’s hand.Finding it calmed his racing heart.
Chapter twenty-one
Theafternoonwas…civil.An hour of listening to Jack’s tale of recovery, the millions of apologies following every other word, was all Baz could take.Sami was right—an unfortunate trend—that they’d need time to rebuild their relationship.
Jack promised to stay in touch.His invitation to meet at their family home had resistance rising in Baz.But Joel’s proposal to meet at the Catfé once they all had a chance to process, that was something Baz heard himself agreeing to.He even consented to Eevee giving Jack his number.
He blamed this act of faith on Sami’s smile, which seemed to grow with every neutral interaction Baz had with Jack.A dangerous tool of manipulation, but Baz was far from complaining.On the contrary.The moment they left, he wrapped Sami back into his arms where he belonged.
“Can I give you a ride somewhere?”And can it be to my place?
“Yes, please.I have some work to catch up on before Ian kills me.”
Oh.Shame, but Baz couldn’t argue with a hard worker, even if it was for the devil.
The reality of their jobs seemed worlds away.The thought of Sami trading the softness of today for his cocky lawyer facade tomorrow burned a hole in Baz’s chest.Hopefully, he wouldn’t be made to wait too long to see the real Sami again.
Sami insisted on navigating rather than putting his address into the GPS.Baz didn’t question it until they hit Chinatown and Sami instructed him to head further west.Past the University of Illinois.Past the medical district.
Baz frowned.“Where exactly do you live?”
Sami muttered something under his breath, nothing but slurred words.
