“Yeah.”
“I’ll work on it,” he said, and he meant it.
Even though he hadn’t wanted to come to the party, Cooper realized it felt nice to be around friends. The chatter of conversation in the background put him at ease, and he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed socializing. Cooper had deliberately pushed himself out of his own circle of friends, all in the name of avoiding conversations that should have happened years before. While he’d tried to convince himself he was happy with how things were, being surrounded now by people he cared so much for had him feeling unsure.
Maybe he’d been complacent.
“I hope so.” Grant reached up and rubbed his shoulder before giving him a pat and stepping back. “I should go say hi to some other friends.”
“Yeah.” Cooper nodded. “I should, too.”
They went their separate ways with Grant, of course, heading back toward Adam, and Cooper keeping close to the bar. Most of the people Devon invited were casual acquaintances, which made sense because Devon thrived on two things: willing partners and attention—and the guest list clearly offered him both.
Cooper did his best to make conversation with people he knew, but bowed out half an hour later, slipping into one of the guest rooms to catch his breath. He’d never beenoverlysocial, and maybe he was overdoing it after so long away. He just needed some time to get his bearings. He didn’t get the chance, though, because the door pushed open as soon as he sat down on the bed.
“Oh, shit,” Adam cursed, hand still on the doorknob and one foot in the hallway. “I didn’t know you were in here.”
Cooper glanced up, chewing at the inside of his cheek. The knot in his chest constricted, but he tried to swallow past it, Devon and Grant’s words still fresh in his mind. “It’s fine. You can come in.”
Adam hesitated but closed the door, sucking the air out of the room.
“Are you all right?” Adam asked, leaning against the door, his hand still behind him on the knob.
“Just needed a minute,” he answered.
Adam nodded in that agreeable way he almost always had about himself.
“What about you?” Cooper asked.
“The same.” Adam shrugged. “It’s good to see you, Cooper. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah.”
“Have things been good?”
Cooper sighed and answered with a small nod. “Things are things.”
“Make any new toys lately?” Adam gave him a crooked smile that sent shockwaves through his entire body. He did his best to keep his expression neutral, but how did Adam still have this effect on him? How could he still want a man so much? How could he still want a man who didn’t want him?
“You know how it goes.”
“Is that a yes?” Adam laughed softly.
“Nothing terribly special or fancy.”
Adam pushed himself away from the door. “Everything you make is special.”
Cooper swallowed, and Adam continued to advance.
“Can I sit?”
“Not my bed,” he answered, sliding closer to the pillows and making room for Adam at the bottom. Adam sat right beside him, firmly in the middle. Their legs almost touched, and Cooper couldn’t scoot away without looking like a bigger prick than he already felt.
“Cooper…” Adam ran a hand through his hair and gazed around the room, looking anywhere but at him.
“Don’t.”
“It’s just…”
