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Adam shifted closer, until Nick could feel the heat of his chest and the brush of his hips. Then closer, his hands finding Nick’s face and winding in his hair.
Nick made a low sound and slid his hands under Adam’s coat, finding the warm muscled span of his waist.
Adam drew back and smiled. His voice was soft in the space between them. “Keep going like that and we’ll never leave the foyer.”
“Is it wrong that I don’t care?”
Adam laughed. “I want to see where you live.”
“It’s very exciting. Here, give me your coat.” And your shirt, and your—
“It is exciting.” Adam shrugged out of his coat. “And I might not get another chance.”
Well, that was sobering. But Nick took his coat and stashed it in the front closet.
Adam followed him through the lower level without much comment, until they came full circle to the staircase.
“No pictures,” said Adam.
“What?”
“There aren’t any pictures anywhere. Of your family. Or—”
He hesitated, as if realizing he’d made a misstep. “Of your brothers.”
Nick shrugged, but his shoulders felt tense again. “We used to have some. They were destroyed.”
“Fire?”
Nick shook his head. “It’s—it’s a long story.”
A lie. It was a pretty short story, really. He didn’t want to relive it, but his brain was more than happy to supply the memories. While Nick and his brothers were at their parents’ funeral, Tyler and his best friend Seth had broken into the house. They’d destroyed every picture they could find.
leaned into her and caught her eye. “Tell him we’ll come get him,” he said. “See if he can get you an address.”
“Do you want us to come get you?” said Quinn. “I’m with a friend.”
Jordan’s voice tightened right up. “Gross. I don’t want to hang out with you and your boyfriend.”
Fear and tension caught up with Quinn. “Damn it, Jordan, I’m trying to—”
“Stop screaming at me, Quinn! I’m sick of people screaming at me!”
She so didn’t need this. Quinn inhaled to lay into him, but Tyler plucked the phone out of her hand. “Hey, man, this is Quinn’s friend Tyler. Are you all right where you are, or do you want us to come get you?”
His voice was level, easy, very we’re-all-bros-in-this-together.
And Jordan was responding, from the bits she could hear.
Quinn stared at Tyler, wondering if she should grab the phone or kiss him.
Then Tyler said, “No, you’re right. It sucks, kid. It does.
Look, see if you can get a pen. I’ll give you my number. If you change your mind, call me. We’ll come get you. All right?”
Then he gave his number, got her brother to promise to use it, and pushed the button to end the call.
Quinn couldn’t stop staring at him. She’d never met anyone like him, so self-assured and confident yet not completely into himself.
