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TJ reached for a bowl. “I love you.”

Grinning, Cody kissed him. “I know.”

TJ returned Cody’s grin. “Good.”

Cody ladled chili into TJ’s bowl and placed it in front of him. “Eat.”

They ate for a minute in a comfortable silence. The chili was thick, smoky, and as far as Miles was concerned, perfect. Miles hadn’t realized how hungry he was until the second bite.

Cody watched him over his bowl. “You eat today?”

Miles glanced up and blinked. “Yeah?”

TJ snorted. “He had a granola bar in his pocket.”

Miles shot him a look. “It’s still food.”

“In a pinch.”

Chuckling, Cody asked, “You need groceries?”

“I’ll go tomorrow.”

Cody nodded. “I can come with you.”

“Thanks, but no.”

TJ leaned back in his chair. “He doesn’t want you to see how he shops.”

Miles pointed his spoon at TJ. “I shop fine.”

“You shop like you have about five minutes and throw crap in your basket,” TJ said.

Cody’s laugh was quiet. “We can make a list, and I can send you home with some leftovers.”

Miles didn’t argue. Watching Cody reminded Miles about his past, not that Miles knew it all. He knew Cody had been born and raised in Robinson then had run away after coming out as gay. Four long years TJ and his family had searched, then one night Cody had returned and began his campaign to win TJ over.

It had been an open secret before Cody had left that he’d had a crush on TJ, one that TJ had been oblivious to. Now they’d been together for a couple of years and the gossip about them had died down. Gossip because TJ was twelve years older and his ex-wife was married to Cody’s uncle.

Cody hadn’t given a shit about what anyone had to say. He loved TJ and everyone who didn’t agree with their relationship could fuck off. Those who knew and loved them supported them and that was enough for Cody.

TJ wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at Miles. “So… a two bedroom.”

Miles already knew where this was going and tried to avoid it as he’d done earlier. “It was a good deal.”

TJ’s eyes narrowed. “Miles.”

“It’s close to work,” Miles added. “Like you said.”

Cody put his spoon down and stared between the two of them. “Are you okay?”

Miles took a minute to answer. He looked down at his bowl then nodded. “Yeah.”

TJ grunted. “There it is again.”

Miles exhaled through his nose and rolled his eyes. “I’m okay.”

Cody sat and waited. Miles wasn’t good at this part. He could handle a scene, a call, or a body on the side of the road. He could handle a drunk who wanted to fight him. He could even handle the dreaded paperwork, but when it came to his life outside work…