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Upstairs, he grabbed his laptop and slung himself onto Knight’s bed.
It really was more comfortable.
Steps padded in the hall.
“Lake?” Knight called out.
“In here.”
Knight entered his room. “What are you doing?”
Lake gestured toward his open laptop. “Curating a list of films for us to watch. Much Ado About Nothing, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill A Mockingbird, and a dozen others.”
“You’re doing what?”
“Curating. Come check it out yourself, you poor confused man.”
Knight sat on the bed. “This is a list of the books you said you’d read.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“Why would you watch them?”
“Because they exist as a film?”
“Yes, but watching defeats the purpose.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize the purpose was to spend weeks boring myself.”
Knight ducked out of the room and returned drumming his fingers over Moby Dick. “Bunch over, I’ll read to you.”
Lake clapped his laptop shut. “I was wondering what it would take to make you offer.”
Knight cast him an ill-amused look. “Had you considered asking?”
“Too pathetic. This way, I simultaneously set up a plan B.”
“That is strangely crafty of you.”
“Yes, and that curated list is there whenever you’ve had enough.”
“The pressure is on.”
Lake closed his eyes, absorbing Knight’s calming voice. When he turned the page to start a second chapter, Lake rolled onto his side, stopping him. Knight’s forearm flexed under his palm, and brown eyes turned to him, heavy with the late hour.
Lake’s mouth dried. “Thank you for faking the bee sting earlier.”
“I understood.”
“I was more in control at Taylor and Amy’s.”
“You barely looked at me.”
“Which was why I was more in control.” Lake rolled onto his back, grimacing at the ceiling. “This is terrifying.” He swallowed. “Thank you for . . . you know, being cool about it.”
Knight rolled to face him, and the closeness thrummed through Lake. Knight drew in a breath to respond—
“By the way, we have to host an Ask Austen party for Cameron.”
Knight scrubbed his jaw, all gorgeous lines and intense presence. “A party for Cameron?”
Lake explained his earlier conundrum. “. . . So we have to invite everyone Cameron works with for an evening acting out forbidden and questionable scenarios.”
A warm, tutting laugh. “You have a troubling knack for forging ahead without checking yourself.”
“What else was I supposed to say?”
“I don’t know, tell him we were discussing when we’d do the weekly shopping, or who left the wet towel on the bathroom floor.”
Lake scowled. “Do you ever let anything go? I did that one time.”
Knight grew louder with disbelief. “I pick up your towel every other day.”
“Well that must be annoying,” Lake said, voice still haughtily raised. “I will do better.”
“Thank you!
“You’re welcome!”
Knight bubbled into a laugh, and Lake joined him before reluctantly dragging himself to his own bed. “Maybe this is why we’re both single.”
Knight’s laughter simmered to a smile. “It’s certainly why I am.”
Lake found himself manning the grill. Not so much because he wanted to be helpful, but because it had a great vantage point over the garden and everyone in it. The sun settled low on the horizon, and the thirty-odd guests mingled in the golden light. In the gazebo, Harry sang on the Karaoke machine with a rapt Martin as his audience; Cameron was at the drinks station pouring them both a beer; Taylor and Amy had disappeared inside the house, and Knight . . .
Lake scoured the garden for him. In the shadows of the apple tree, wearing that burnt-fall red T-shirt and shorts, looking sinfully sexy as he talked with Josh, whose blue hair glowed in a beam of sunshine that filtered through the branches. The conversation held Knight’s attention.
Lake’s gaze narrowed on the suggestive way Josh lounged against the trunk, the way Knight threw his chin up and laughed. The way he leaned.
“Those sausages are a little burned,” Cameron said, holding out a beer.
Lake turned the meat, grabbed his beer, and thrust the tongs into Cameron’s hand. “Be an angel and man this for a sec?”
“Sure.”
Lake was halfway across the yard, gripping the beer can, liquid splashing over his hand. He paused to take a few gulps.
“There you are.” Taylor tackled Lake into a hug from the side.
Lake caught his balance. “I thought you and Amy were . . .”
“A bunch of her girlfriends showed up, so . . .” He laughed. “You have to entertain me.”
“You know how much I love being second choice.”
Taylor steered them away from Knight and ridiculously smart, gorgeous Josh, and cornered him into the gazebo where Harry was serenading Martin. The sight elicited conflicting emotions in Lake’s chest. Concern. Understanding. Guilt.
Maybe he really did love Martin—wait, was that a goodbye song?
“Thanks for this,” Taylor said, plunking onto the bench. “Nice seeing everyone again.”
“Yeah, cool.” No more focusing on Harry. Not your business! “Sorry West couldn’t make it.”
“Maybe next time.” Taylor kicked his legs out and crossed his ankles. “You know, I had the strangest dream last night. I walked in on you and my dad in bed. Together.”
