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“Maybe he quit.”
“I dunno. If he’d gotten a new job, you’d think he’d have told someone, and he’d probably have given a few days’ notice or something. Nothing. Just gone.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. Forget I said anything.” Jack put the key in the ignition and pressed down the clutch. He didn’t know what else to do. When the engine roared to life, Ed’s hand gently covered his on the shift.
“I really do like you.”
Screwing on a smile he didn’t feel, Jack faced him. A part of him whispered to get out of this, but another part bargained against it. Ed had tried tonight. They could have parked somewhere and tried their luck at getting into each other’s pants again, but he’d insisted they eat out. Twice Ed had even driven in Jack’s Jeep, despite the sticker that proudly told the world he was gay. Plus, their insane attraction. Jack could hardly ignore the semi he’d been sporting through dinner. Or the fact that, even frustrated, he wanted to reach over and kiss the worried pout of Ed’s lips.
Letting the warm hand stay atop his, Jack headed back to Ed’s truck. “We’re still on for Sunday brunch.”
* * *
Jack woke to Marcus whacking him with a pillow. “What the hell?” he said sleepily, curling onto his side.
“It’s Saturday. I should be sleeping in.”
Jack peeled one eye open. “Why don’t you do that then?”
Marcus grabbed Jack’s phone from the dresser and shoved it in his face. “Because this thing hasn’t stopped buzzing for the last twenty minutes.”
Jack lurched up. He tried snatching the phone, but Marcus pulled it out of reach. “Your dude is either crazy, texting at the crack of dawn every morning, or he’s head over heels. Either way, set your phone on silent.”
“Gimme.”
“When are you guys meeting next?”
Jack stretched, words coming out on a yawn. “Brunch tomorrow at that diner I told you about.”
“Have you asked him to the formal yet?”
That wasn’t likely to happen. “Nope.”
“Somehow I don’t think he’ll say no.” Marcus tossed the phone on his lap. “God, I can’t wait to see the back of Harper.”
Jack’s stomach twisted and he messed up the combination to unlock his phone. “We wouldn’t really toss him out if he lost, though, right?”
Marcus paused. “I want to say hell yeah we would, but… nah. At least we wouldn’t force him. He’d get taken down a peg or two, though. He’d lose cred, and maybe he’ll choose to leave on his own.”
Jack let out a relieved breath. He could handle embarrassing himself if it meant he didn’t really have to leave the house. He glanced at the side of his bed. At the skirting board, his and Marcus’s dads’ names were scratched into the wood. What would his dad think if he really had to leave? He would’ve accepted whatever stupid things Jack ended up doing in college—but he’d be a touch disappointed too.
Now that he wasn’t even around anymore….
Jack breathed in tightly, rocking forward. He grasped the ring at his chest.
“Whoa, dude.” Marcus jumped onto the bed and flung an arm around him. “Just breathe. You’re okay. I’m here. We’re good, all right? The only thing wrong is your lover boy waking us at crow’s fart.”
Jack inhaled deeply and counted to ten before slowly releasing. His muscles relaxed, leaving only heat stinging at the back of his eyes. “I’m good. Thanks, Marc.”
“Wanna talk about what just happened?”
“Not really.”
Marcus made a displeased sound in the back of his throat but thankfully let it go. He picked his pillow off Jack’s feet and dramatically threw himself back onto his bed. “Turn that thing on silent.”
Jack studied his phone. He unlocked it again, opening to two new messages and a missed call from Ed.
Ed: It’s early and Saturday, I know but….
Ed: Starbucks at 8?
Jack checked the time and threw himself out of bed for a quick shower. He was in his Jeep fifteen minutes later and at Starbucks right on time.
Ed crossed the parking lot toting two coffee cups, and Jack reached over the console and opened the door for him. Through the rearview mirror, Jack caught Ed hesitating at the HRC sticker as he rounded the back of the jeep.
Ed continued into the passenger seat. “Your morning dose of sugar.”
“You, or the coffee?”
Ed smirked and handed Jack his much-needed mocha.
Warm coffee hit his tongue. Jack sipped, then greedily eyed Ed in the passenger seat. He wore a casual pair of jeans, T-shirt, and beat-up leather jacket. Morning sun shone through the side window, bringing out the gold in Ed’s hair and where stubble dusted his jaw. “I thought you were out hiking with the family this morning?”
“Told Mom I had something more important to do this morning.”
Jack wondered what off-road parking lot they were heading to. “That right?”
Ed met his gaze. “Yeah. If I give you directions, will you drive?”
