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Nick smiled at him. “Or when we get kicked off the ranch for making too much noise.”
Cash laughed because that was a high probability. “Maybe we could soundproof the bedroom.”
“There’s always that too.”
Nick packed surprisingly little at his condo. Then again, the place was pretty sparse. He didn’t have artwork or knickknacks to give the space character. Bare walls and neutral furniture seemed to be the theme, but Cash knew Nick had more depth than that. He’d just never attempted to make the condo a real home. Nick concentrated his efforts on important documents and family photo albums while Cash started packing up his closet.
“I probably won’t need any of the suits,” Nick said.
Cash considered the clothes for a moment and said, “How about a few? You’ll want one for your interview at the police academy.”
“True,” Nick agreed. “Go ahead and pick out a few you like.”
Cash pulled out navy and dove gray suits, white and light blue dress shirts, and ties that complemented them. He located a garment bag in the closet and placed the items inside. There was plenty of room for a few more suits, so Cash grabbed two more he’d like to see Nick in. Afterward, he grabbed belts and dress shoes before turning his attention to the more casual wear. “Will I find more of my clothes in here?”
“Don’t think so.”
“Sex toys or anything embarrassing?” Cash prodded. When he didn’t get an answer, he stepped out of the closet to find Nick thinking too hard about the question. “Nicky?”
He jerked his head up. “I have just one dildo in my nightstand, and I’m not ashamed of it.”
“Then why did it look like you were thinking hard enough to start a wildfire in your brain?” Cash asked.
Nick rose from the bed and walked into his closet. Curious, Cash followed him. Nick reached to the top shelf and pulled down a brown wooden box. “My keepsakes are in here.” He turned the box around and opened it so Cash could see inside. Then Nick removed the movie ticket stub and bagel-run note from his pocket and added them to the collection. “I’ve kept every card, note, and receipt from the time we shared together.” He sorted toward the bottom and pulled out a book of matches from the hotel they’d stayed at in Cabo.
“That trip was heaven and hell,” Cash said. “To be so close to you and…”
“Not be able to touch me like you wanted to?” Nick asked. “No one fills out a pair of swim trunks like you do. God, I wore the skin off my dick.”
Cash flexed his right fist. “Probably why I’ve got arthritis starting in my wrist.”
They shared a laugh and a kiss, then Nick pulled out a beer bottle cap. Cash didn’t drink often, but he loved Mexican beers, and the cap had come from one of his bottles.
“This is from the time we beat those bro dudes in beach volleyball in Miami.”
Cash smiled from the memories, then mimed jerking off again. “Why the hell did we go to destinations where we practically stayed naked the entire trip? Sometimes you wore those skimpy trunks that would slip down your hipbones. Christ, I just wanted to kiss along your tan lines.”
Nick mimed jerking off too. “I’m willing to bet we jacked off together while in separate rooms.”
“Every night before bed so I could sleep,” Cash said.
Nick nodded. “And every morning before we met up for breakfast, so I wouldn’t ruin our friendship with an inconvenient boner.”
Cash captured Nick’s lips in another kiss. “Our next vacation is going to be so different.”
“We won’t leave the hotel,” Nick agreed. “Hell, let’s save the money and just not leave the bedroom at the ranch.”
Cash laughed. “That’s pretty much what the other lovebirds do. Why not us?”
They alternated between packing for their future while exploring the mementos from their past, so the excursion lasted much longer than it should have. After they hauled Nick’s stuff to the SUV, they stopped for a quick bite to eat before setting out for the ranch. They kept up steady conversation for most of the drive, but Nick nodded off about three-quarters into the trip. Cash used the quiet to embrace his joy instead of questioning his good fortune. There’d been a void in his life that Nick’s friendship alone couldn’t fill. He wasn’t about to stuff the gap with doubts and negativity. He wasn’t as spiritual as Hope, but he certainly believed people received from the universe what they put into it. Manifesting, or whatever she called it.
It was just past suppertime when they pulled up to the ranch house. Cash didn’t know if the crew had gathered in the dining room or if they’d chosen to have low-key dinners in their private quarters. Not that it mattered if they saw them carting Nick’s belongings into the house. Cash had no intention of keeping it a secret. He reached over and squeezed Nick’s thigh.
“We’re home, baby,” he said softly.
Nick murmured something unintelligible and shifted in his seat. Cash reached up and stroked his fingers over Nick’s scruffy chin. He’d have a beard in no time at the rate his hair grew. Cash had never seen him with a lot of facial hair. Nick would let it grow out during their vacations but had to shave before returning to work. Cash’s fingers brushed over Nick’s lips when he turned in his direction. His eyes snapped open, and Cash felt his mouth spread into a smile.
“There you are,” Nick said when Cash dropped his hand.
