“Absolutely.” That way, Jax could keep his kitchen sense sharp. “Thanks, everyone, for working with me.”
“We’re always here for you, Jax,” Owen said. “I know some places lie when they say ‘we’re a family,’ but we actually are a family at The Pointe. If you need anything else, please talk to us.”
“I will,” Jax nodded, quickly glancing at Tristan, who grinned as ifhe’djust gotten his dream job, and his joy for Jax broke the dam.
Hope, excitement, and happiness poured through Jax, lighting him up,and he couldn’t help but beam.
He was glad that he’d taken the risk and started over at The Pointe, because it completely changed his life.
20
TRISTAN
Takingadeepbreath,Tristan smiled fondly at Jax, who had burrowed into his side during the night. Tristan didn’t mind one bit; in fact, his arm had unconsciously drifted around Jax’s shoulders, holding him close, and he resisted the urge to lean down and kiss his head.
Instead, he reached for his phone, settling back and watching his favorite hiking vlogger on mute as Jax slept in.
Somewhere along the line, Tristan had lost the fierce longing to thru-hike again. Sure, he still wanted to breathe the fresh forest air and sleep under the stars, but he’d be sticking to day hikes or a quick overnight for now. Shorter trails or section hikes were for later, because he’d only just found Jax in this lifetime.
And their relationship continued to develop before his eyes, their harmony increasing from the work they did on themselves both in and out of therapy.
While Jax had liked his first therapist off the bat, Tristan had needed to try three before he’d found Shirley, an older woman whose aura said that she’d never people-pleased in her life. Being a doormat had almost cost Tristan the ones he loved, so he wanted to build on his budding fortitude.
And Shirley had already delivered. The first two sessions had been eye-opening, showing Tristan some of his ingrained patterns and giving him things to work on, including his guilt over Rain and Jax.
At least Jax seemed to be thriving, which helped ease some of that guilt. He’d dived into creating The Pointe’s menus, completely in his element, and his inspiration and joy warmed Tristan’s heart. They’d only been livingtogether for a short time, but Jax was already smiling more, and he’d had a slight reduction in pain. Tristan liked to think it was due to him and the regular doses of oxytocin.
“Mmm…” Jax stirred, and Tristan quickly placed his phone on the nightstand.
“Good morning.” He kissed Jax’s temple as Jax gave him a long sniff.
“You always smell so nice,” he mumbled.
“Thank you. But you smell better.” Taking his arm back, Tristan slid down until they faced each other, pressing his nose to Jax’s neck and inhaling. “Like minty clove.”
“Really?” Laughing in disbelief, Jax tilted his head up, his eyes tantalizing as always, and all of a sudden, they were making out like teenagers. Within seconds, Tristan had the lube out and their cocks pressed together, and he jerked them off to the delicious sounds of Jax’s moans and clipped cries.
Tristan tried to hold back, but Jax let out a sharp gasp, spilling over Tristan’s fist. Following without hesitation, Tristan shook, his vision going white, and their heavy breaths filled the room as he slowly fell back into himself.
“Want to,” he sucked in air, “order some breakfast?”
“Hell yeah,” Jax declared, looking down at the gorgeous mess they’d made. “I just worked up an appetite.”
Getting up, Tristan grabbed a couple of towels, tossing one to Jax, who easily caught it.
“What are you in the mood for?” Tristan asked, wiping down.
“How about the new Turkish place across town? I hear it’s sick.” Jax lit up, always eager to try new restaurants and dishes, which fed nicely into Tristan’s adventurous nature.
“Sounds good.” Taking clean pants out of the drawer, Tristan changed into them. “Pick whatever you want, I’m sure I’ll like it.”
“You always do.” Carefully rising from the bed, Jax grabbed his phone, opening the lock screen, but something hijacked his attention, and he grinned at the screen.
“What’s making you happy?” Tristan asked, putting both towels in the hamper.
“My sibling group chat, it’s me, Finn, and Megan.” Jax flipped the phone around, and a little girl danced across the screen in flip-flops and a tilted tutu. “That’s my niece, Olivia.”
Tristan chuckled at how adorable she was. “I forgot that you have an older sister too.”
