Page 140 of Oddly Fine

Beckett snorted but didn’t offer any objections to Jeremy’s logic.

Hayes thought Officer Hunky might be onto something. Not just a pretty boy, after all. There was a lot going on behind those crystal blue eyes.

The waitress delivered their drinks, and they automatically clinked their glasses together in a friendly toast.

“How long you been on the force?” Beckett asked, looking genuinely curious.

“Five years. Was in the army before that for three years,” Jeremy replied.

“Which would make you—?”

“I’m 28,” Jeremy said, studying Beckett’s reaction to hearing that, aware that it really mattered.

Beckett turned to Hayes and said, “Closer to 30 than 20.”

Jeremy chuckled knowing perfectly well what they were up to.

“Do you do this often?” he asked, cheekily, as he lifted his beer to take a sip.

“Nope!” Beckett replied, popping the P.

“Does it show?” Hayes asked with a charmingly rueful smile.

“Kinda,” he answered. “Should I like—go to the men’s room for a minute? Let you decide if you’re down with it?”

Hayes liked how direct Jeremy was in his approach to deciding how the evening was going to play out.

“Good idea,” Beckett said. He reached inside his suede bomber and, briefly, Hayes was worried he’d pull a gun. Instead, he handed Jeremy a Sharpie. “Go doodle a penis on the stall door—and don’t mess up the ball to shaft ratio,” he said with mock sternness.

Jeremy snorted but got to his feet, plucking the Sharpie from Beckett’s hand before turning and walking towards the back of the bar.

Both watched his departure, admiring his assets.

“We said we wouldn’t do it,” Hayes reminded Beckett, because they’d had this conversation previously at the conclusion of the crypt job.

“Sure, but this is like—the third time we’ve run into him randomly. If that’s not an intervention from on high, then I don’t know what the fuck it is.” He laughed and took a sip of his bourbon.

“You’re saying you think God wants us to have a threesome?”

“I am but a man—I can only guess what our creator wants, but—all signs point to yes,” he said, mimicking shaking an eight ball for divination, and then giving Hayes a two thumps up.

And this was one of Hayes’ favourite things about them. Jeremy had hit the nail squarely on the head because truly, their relationship was indeed just like a seesaw at times. Hayes was famous for always overthinking everything—insisting on following the rules, while Beckett was always ready to say fuck it, appearing to rely solely on the current wind direction in choosing a course of action at any given moment. Hayes forced Beckett to reconsider and question his actions, while Beckett forced Hayes to act on his desires rather than to squash them ruthlessly with hard logic.

“You want to do this?” Hayes asked, taking a deep breath as he made up his mind about what he wanted.

“Why not? He’s hot as hell—you’re sinfully attractive—and we’ll probably never have to see him again,” Beckett said, shrugging. “I’m a little nervous about the possibility of poking my eye out with the extra dick involved—so, think I can keep my shades on while we do him?”

Good God! Now that was a vision. Beckett, naked, taking Jeremy from behind, head thrown back, wearing his yellow-tinted aviators.

“Careful there, Daisy,” Beckett warned with a chuckle. “I can see your tent from here—we still have to walk out of here.”

Hayes growled in annoyance but there was no forcing his erection down after that mental picture seared itself onto his brain.

Beckett snorted and grabbed his bourbon. He tossed it back and reached for his wallet, pulling out several bills to cover their tab.

“Are you guys good, or should I go back and add a pair of boobs to complete the picture?” Jeremy asked as he plopped back in his seat, twirling the Sharpie between his fingers.

“Finish your beer,” Beckett ordered brusquely, expecting immediate compliance.