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“Wow. Can I move here?” Jonah titters nervously after that, then shakes his head. “Sorry. Dumb joke. I’m … not feeling myself right now.”
I kiss his cheek. “Or maybe you’re finding yourself.”
He looks at me importantly, then returns the kiss a touch too softly.
Even he knows the end is coming. All the hope he had last night, all the love, all the joy and dreaming … it’s gone.
I fucking hate this.
Still, when we leave the balcony and come downstairs, the spirit of celebration hangs happily in the air. Some of the guys and girls have taken to playing video games on the big screen in the living room, cheering each other on, half-dressed. Several others are gathered outside, where many of the fairground machines have been shut down or taken away, lounging on the deck. We make our way to the dining area, where a spread of breakfast has everyone chowing down and chatting. We get ourselves a couple of plates, then situate near the end of the table where my mom and younger brother are sitting. Adrian is nowhere to be found, but I imagine it’s because he’s crashed out somewhere with his hot-lay-of-the-night, or else he took off last night back to his own pad with a guy or two.
“You two have some fun last night?” asks my mom as she sips from a wine glass filled with orange juice, her half-lidded eyes suggesting a mild hangover.
Jonah and I glance at each other. “Yeah, we did,” I say, smirking. “A little, at least,” says Jonah, and we chuckle.
My mom nods. “Good. That’s the point of literally every damned thing on Earth.”
A presence appears behind me. I turn to find Finn standing there, shirtless, his arms crossed, with a peeved expression on his face. “Really, guys? My bed?”
Jonah’s eyes go wide. I turn innocently to him and give a shrug. “I dunno what you’re talking about.”
Finn’s eyes narrow. “I know it was you two.”
“You sure? So many people here last night,” I point out unhelpfully. “So many people still here this morning. I do have a twin, y’know. Are you sure it wasn’t—?”
“My whole bed smelled like soggy hash browns, yes, I am sure it wasn’t your twin.”
My mom chokes on a laugh and turns away. Jonah, his face reddening, focuses very intently on his plate.
I reach up and give Finn a hearty squeeze of his big, muscled shoulder. “Don’t worry, my man. I’m sure that whoever this bed-sheet-soiling culprit is, he’s very sorry, and he’ll make sure to bust into someone else’s room for a quickie next time.”
“There won’t be a next time.” Finn puffs up. His gaze softens when he looks at Jonah. The poor guy can never hold his anger for long. “Anyway, have you seen Theo?”
“Nope, not since last night.”
“Alright. You guys …” He seems to notice my mom for the first time, and then his tone softens completely. “You guys enjoy your breakfast. Hi, Ms. Tyler.”
“For fuck’s sake, sweetie, it’s Eden,” says my mom. “I don’t care how old you are, it’s always Eden to you.”
Finn blushes. “Sorry. Thanks, Eden.” Then he takes off, his short muscled form disappearing around the corner.
I put my arm around Jonah and give him a reassuring half-hug. “Don’t worry. The guy’s always strung up so tight when his boyfriend holds out—which is what I suspect his whole morning moodiness is about.”
“True,” interjects my mom tiredly from the other side of the table. “Theo just needs to blow him, they’ll reclaim their bed, it’ll be a whole thing, no sweat.”
“Mom,” hisses Skip at her side, red-faced, and Jonah laughs at that. My mom, oblivious as ever, continues to sip her wine glass of orange juice while staring off.
It’s almost the perfect morning.
Too soon, it comes time for Jonah to head out. “I just need to get back to pack up my stuff and head off. Check-out is in about forty-five minutes. Not sure how strict they are with late check-outs. I guess I should’ve left already, but …” He frowns as he clings to me. We’re standing by the front door. “I just can’t seem to let you go.”
I kiss him. “My offer’s still on the table, y’know. I’ve got my bike parked out front. I could easily—”
“I need the long walk to clear my head. Y’know, before I face Rico and …” He sighs, not finishing the rest of the sentence.
I nod. “Alright.”
“Oh, hey!” Jonah pulls away suddenly and yanks his phone out of his pocket. “Let me have your number. I’ll text you when I get back to the hotel. Tell you how it goes with Rico. Maybe give you a play-by-play as I head back to Houston. Shoot you a text tonight … I mean, if you want.”
I find myself smiling. “You sure? I’m all about keeping in touch. I just wasn’t sure if you—”
