“I’m fine. This is a really nice house.”
“Yeah, she and Evan bought it when they had Henry.”
“He’s your nephew, right? And he’s twelve?”
“Yes to both, and Henry will think you’re cool. Although I’m not sure Michelle will let him walk around with a T-shirt that says Hard Core on it.” Blake’s eyes twinkled in the overhead porch light.
Footsteps sounded behind the closed door, and Jeremy’s stomach dropped. “Shit. Did I make a mistake?” He punched Blake lightly on the shoulder. “Why didn’t you say anything to me? What the hell do I know about kids?”
“It’s fine,” Blake said, holding back his laughter. “My sister and Evan are totally cool people. Besides, you’re cute when you’re nervous.”
Jeremy debated whether to give Blake another punch or a kiss on the lips, when the door opened and a woman around forty, with curly brown hair bouncing around her shoulders, answered the door. A tall blond man with glasses stood behind her.
“Blake, Jeremy, come in. It’s freezing out there. We have hot coffee if you want.”
Blake took his hand and brought him inside, and in an instant the warmth of the people surrounding Jeremy made him feel at home. This was a well-loved house made even more special by the devotion of the people living there.
“Just put your coats on the banister. We aren’t that formal around here.”
“Are they here?” A young boy, skinny and with a shock of reddish hair, came tearing down the stairs with a smaller, dark-haired boy behind him. “Uncle Blake!” The red-haired boy launched himself at Blake while Jeremy stood watching.
“Is this your boyfriend?” Henry—Jeremy remembered his name—peeked at him from over Blake’s shoulder.
Blake set Henry down and turned to him as if waiting for confirmation or permission—Jeremy didn’t know which.Boyfriend.That label really rocked him back, but without any hesitation he gave the boy a wave and a smile.
“Yeah, I am. My name’s Jeremy.”
Henry gave him a penetrating stare. “How’d you meet?”
At Blake’s nod, Jeremy slipped off his jacket and leaned against the wall. “Well, remember that first snowstorm a few weeks ago? Your uncle needed some help, and I was walking by and gave him a hand. We started talking, and we discovered we liked the same things.”
“Cool. This is my friend Jacks. His brother is married to a guy too. They’re gonna pick him up any second.”
Jeremy only wished adults were as uncomplicated as kids. As if on cue, the doorbell rang.
“That’ll be Carter and Reed.”
“I’ll get it,” Henry yelled with Jacks right behind him. He pulled the door open, and Jeremy saw a tall, good-looking, dark-haired man with a somewhat younger man next to him.
“Hey, Henry. Hi, Jacks. Ready to go?”
“Yeah. Just have to get my coat.”
The two men stepped inside. “Oh, hi,” the dark-haired man said. “Sorry we’re late, guys. We got stuck in the city.”
“We didn’t mean to barge in on family time.” The other man gave him a sweet, apologetic smile, and Jeremy instinctively smiled back, feeling the warmth of his personality.
“No problem. Carter, Reed, this is my brother, Blake, and his boyfriend, Jeremy.”
“Nice to meet you.” Carter grasped his hand and gave him a brief shake.
Reed gave a wave. “Hi. I’m Reed.”
They all stood in the large entrance hallway. “What do you do, Jeremy?” Carter hefted Jacks’s backpack over his shoulder.
“I own a gym—Hard Core Fitness.”
Carter’s eyes lit up with interest. “Oh yeah? Where? I’m looking for a place to work out early in the morning. Around here?”
