Charlie leaned in. “How’s that going? Shep as your manager?”
Elijah grinned. “He’s great. Compared to Lucifer, people think he’s a dream. He is also freaky good at organizing the ten million things in my life and he looks just menacing enough for people to not fuck with me and Mark during contract negotiations.”
“That’s always a plus,” Wyatt acknowledged. “Sorry to drop this on you on your birthday.”
“Well, I know you’re like this famous YouTuber now, but I’m still pretty sure you can’t control when people die. I promise I won’t let it spoil my day.”
The front door opened and Shep came inside, shaking the snow off his jacket. He had several bags in his hands which he dropped on the counter before leaning over to kiss the top of Elijah’s head. “Shep!” Wyatt and Charlie cried out as if they hadn’t seen him when they’d talked to Elijah on Skype ten days ago.
“Thing one, thing two. How’s life in LA?” he asked gruffly.
“Traffic sucks. Everybody’s insane. My father’s dead and Charlie had sex with a dude that had to be seventy at least.”
“Wyatt,” Charlie shouted, slapping him. “I told you that was top secret information.”
Wyatt waved a hand in her direction. “They live on top of a deserted mountain. Who are they going to tell?”
“Sorry to hear about your father, Wyatt,” Shep said, sounding like he wasn’t sorry at all.
“Thanks, man.”
Elijah ignored their exchange. “Uh, we’re not hermits. But your secret love of octogenarians is safe with us,” Elijah promised. “I got to go. I’m going to go have sex with my husband and eat cake off his naked body.”
Shep laughed from somewhere behind him. Wyatt and Charlie waved in unison. “Bye, guys. We love you. Happy birthday, Elijah. Happy Anniversary eve to both of you.” They blew kisses and then the screen went blank.
Elijah closed the laptop, before walkingthe few short steps to the kitchen of their tiny cabin home, snatching a bottle of wine from Shep and adding it to the wine fridge beneath the island. What their home lacked in size, it made up for in luxury. It was the perfect home base for when Elijah was in between movies or they freed up their schedule for time alone like tonight.
“Sam?” Elijah asked, hopping himself up onto the butcher block counter.
“Yes, rabbit?” Shep responded, his voice mimicking Elijah’s innocent tone as he opened a bag of potato chips.
“By any chance, did you and the boys off Wyatt’s dad on your last outing?”
Shep shook his head, popping a chip in his mouth and chewing thoughtfully before answering. “No. A human trafficker with a penchant for branding the girls he kidnapped.”
Elijah gasped. “I knew it. You did kill somebody. I knew you weren’t having a boy’s trip. There was no way you’d sign on to go hiking in Costa Rica. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Shep offered Elijah a chip. “One: killing people is a perfectly valid form of male bonding. Two: we hiked for miles. He lived way up that mountain. Three: You never asked.”
Elijah rolled his eyes. “Fine. Did you bring my present?”
“Of course. Did you bring mine?”
Elijah scoffed. “I am your present.”
Shep snipered in for a kiss before ducking back to finish putting away the groceries. “Of course, you are.”
“No, I mean it. Your present is on me.” Elijah started to unbutton his pale blue button-down shirt.
It was only then that Shep seemed to notice his attire. “Is that why you are wearing black thermal underwear and an oxford shirt?”
“I’m wearing the shirt because it hides your present and the blue brings out my eyes. I’m wearing the thermalscause I got cold waiting for you to come home.”
“That’s very practical of you,” Shep said before sealing his lips over Elijah’s in a kiss that warmed him to his toes.
“Uh uh. None of that til I get my present,” Elijah said.
“Well you don’t get your present until I see my present.”
