“Why do you want to know?”
“Just tell me.”
“You sure you want to know? I don’t want to disappoint you with the answer.”
“Dude.”
“Fine. Yes. I’ve thought about kissing you, but can you blame me? I’m gay and youarea good-looking guy.” Cael selected a movie they’d seen before and fell back against the cushions, setting the remote on the sofa beside him. “But don’t worry. I won’t kiss you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Not worried,” Zach mumbled, struggling to keep his eyes open. “I think I might…”
***
Zach groaned and rolled over onto his stomach, pulling the pillow over his head to block the sunlight. Even that didn’t stop the brutal pounding in his head.
Shit, how much did I fucking drink last night?
Eyes closed, Zach fought the ensuing hangover headache chipping away at his skull and tried to go back to sleep. Five minutes into his attempt, he gave up, but he still didn’t want to get up. Instead, he tried to recall what exactly had happened the previous night, but the best he could remember was Emma thinking he and Cael were together, Chloe teasing them about it, and something about kissing. Thanks to four Moscow mules—or was it five?—most everything else was a blur.
The pillow still on his head, Zach opened one eye to check the time. Nine-fourteen.
Zach’s eyes flew open. Shit! He was late for work. Zach jumped out of bed only for the head rush to increase the jackhammering in his skull tenfold. He fell back down and covered his face with the pillow.
“Fuck it,” he muttered. He was taking a sick day.
Zach lay in bed, drifting in and out of sleep. His eyes popped opened again. Taylor. He at least needed to get her changed and fed, and preferably off to daycare so he could just rest. With a deep breath, Zach groaned and dragged himself out of bed.
As he passed the mirror on his way to the toilet, Zach realized he was wearing only his boxers. Hmm. He didn’t remember changing out of his clothes before bed. Vague memories of the night before swirled in his muddy brain. Flickers of Cael stripping Zach out of his clothes… Zach teasing Cael about getting him in naked… Zach trying to kiss him… Cael telling him no…
Shit. Maybe Zach could pretend he didn’t remember anything.
After taking a piss, Zach pulled a soft, gray T-shirt over his head. As much as he needed coffee, he headed for Taylor’s room first. He walked in to her bedroom and found her crib empty. That could only mean one thing. Cael.
Zach made a beeline for the kitchen. The house was quiet with no sign of Cael or Taylor anywhere. He smiled when he saw an almost full pot of hot coffee waiting for him. For being only friends, Cael was too good to him sometimes.
Zach poured a cup of brew. As he added milk and sugar, the front door lock clicked. Zach looked up as the door opened and Cael came in with a white plastic bag of something, and no Taylor.
“Oh good. You’re up,” Cael said, flashing Zach an oddly adorable grin that made Zach’s heart skip.What the hell?
“Not by choice.” Zach drank down some of his coffee as Cael unpacked the delicious smelling bag. The caffeine slowly permeated the brain fog. “Where’s Taylor?”
“Daycare. I dropped her off, went to the gym for a quick climb, then stopped by Waffle House on the way back and got your usual.” Cael removed the flat cardboard lids from both foil food containers.
“Man, I could fucking—” Zach stopped short, the words catching in his throat.
“Kiss me right now, I know.” Cael smirked.
Zach blushed, feeling embarrassed over what happened last night, wondering what he didn’t remember.
Cael hiked a brow. “You know, you’re cute when you’re fresh out of bed nursing a hangover.”
“Shut up,” Zach said, unable to keep the stupid grin off his face. “Why’d you let me drink so much last night anyway?”
Cael grabbed a mug from the cabinet and poured himself a cup of coffee. “First off, those things were a lot stronger than I expected. Second, I did stop you, you probably just don’t remember.”
“I don’t remember a good chunk of dinner and almost nothing after we left the restaurant.”
Cael gave him that smile again. “Come on, let’s eat.”
