My nerves were gone. There was none of that left. Maybe there should have been. With Sheldon, this felt right;hefelt right. I was glad there wasn’t another man before him. Sheldon was my first, exactly as he should have been.
19
SHELDON
I was smiling, lips lifted and all.
“What’s happening here?” Rory asked. He was standing by the back door of Hartley’s studio. Hartley had run in to pick something up here. It was Sunday. Usually, Jordan liked them to spend time together, but Hartley had a heavy workload.
“Where?” I knew damn well what he was referring to. I just liked to fuck with people.
“You’re… smiling.”
The smile faded. I had to mess with him some more. “I do have emotions.” Turning my head, I glanced back at my bike like Rory had hurt my feelings.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. You don’t usually show them.”
I faced him again and grinned. “I know. Get used to this though. At least outside of work. I’m a happy man.”
“You’re a fucking asshole is what you are.” He shoved my shoulder, but not before I caught his grin.
Hartley exited the studio and stared at me. “It’s weird. I’m going to need a bit to get used to that.” He motioned to my mouth. “I also don’t want to know what my brother did to put it there.”
The door to Forest’s apartment opened, drawing my attention. He stepped out in a pair of jeans, black boots, and a leather jacket that reminded me of something from the nineties.
“Oh my god.” Hartley started laughing. “What are you wearing?”
Forest locked the door and came down the stairs. “Are the boots too much? I don’t think I’ve ever worn them.”
“No, the jacket. Didn’t you get your high school senior picture taken in that thing?”
The smile Forest gave his brother nearly knocked me backward. It was that gorgeous. “I did. Pop didn’t want me to wear it, but I insisted. All of the other kids wore something dressy, even V. He gave me shit for days.”
“It’s not that decade anymore, For.”
“It was the only leather jacket I had. Sheldon said I should wear one to protect myself.”
“We could have bought you one,” I said. “It’s not bad per se, just not good either. It’s way too big on you.”
“That was the style back then. You’re lucky it’s black leather and not that tan suede others had.” He eyed his brother.
“I only had that because I wanted to be like you!” Hartley yelled. “We had to get them secondhand,” he told Rory and me. “Pop couldn’t afford to get us new. I’m so glad I donated mine years ago. I found it in the back of my closet. It was horrible. That’s where yours should be, by the way.” He looked pointedly at Forest.
Forest hugged the jacket closer, even though it was hot as hell out. If it were just me on the bike, I’d forgo the jacket, but I wouldn’t take chances with Forest. That jacket wasn’t the best, but it was better than nothing.
“Enough of this,” I cut in. My voice stayed calm while I fought to smile again when Forest leaned close to me. I couldn’t remember the last time I was this happy. “We’re going for a ride.Aren’t you supposed to be home, cuddling with my boss on the couch?”
“Yes,” Hartley said. “I’m buried in work, thanks to having one person on vacation and another visiting a sick family member.” He looked at his brother. “Are you sure you don’t want to quit working at the shop and help me?”
“We wouldn’t get along nearly as well if I did,” Forest replied.
“Fine. Whatever. I have to get home and work while Jordan stares at me like he could make me stop with that alone.” He opened the back door of the Navigator and loaded it with what he had brought out before setting the alarm and locking his studio. “You two have fun and be careful. If anything happens to my brother, you’ll have a lot of pissed-off people to deal with, Sheldon.”
“I’m not even mildly afraid.”
“Asshole.”
“Uh huh.”
