I’d been called a lot of things in my life, but beautiful had never been one of them. I was on the more delicate side when it came to the way I looked. My hair was always long and soft blond, and I had round features. But I was beat-up and battered, covered in scars from wiping out on rough rocks, and the accident had done more than take a limb from me. It had destroyed a confidence I thought was infallible.
But in that moment, the way he said it—with such stark honesty—I believed him.
“Thank you.”
He lit up, almost like he needed to hear me accept the compliment. After a beat, he looked over, then at me again. “Come inside.”
“Was that not on the table?” I asked as I reached for the door handle. I realized right then it might not have been. At least, not as I was—as the guy he’d kissed. “Shit. You’re not out to them.”
He shook his head. “I think I might need a moment with that.”
I nodded. “Don’t worry. I wasn’t planning on mauling you the second we walked through the door.”
He snorted a laugh as he climbed out and grabbed his crutches, steadying himself as I came around to meet him. “Just to warn you—Nash is…he can be a lot. He means well, and he’s probably the closest thing I’ve ever really had to a brother. Well, except for my actual brother. But, uh, he’s probably going to know. He’s gay, so he won’t care, but I just…yeah. I need a minute.”
“Do you want me to lie?”
He side-eyed me.
“I’m being serious. I’ve been in the closet before, and I’ve dated guys who were plenty of times. I’m not here to out you to anyone, okay? I will lie, and I won’t lose a second of sleep over it.”
He licked his lips, then bowed his head. “I’m going to tell him. Just…not tonight.”
“I’ll play it cool,” I said.
He gave me a look that said he didn’t believe I was capable of it, and I smacked his shoulder, making him laugh just as the front door opened and a tall, frankly gorgeous man stood in the doorway. He exuded Daddy energy, which I might have been seriously into if I hadn’t met Creek first. But I became very aware that whatever I thought about him only went skin-deep.
I was hooked on the man sheepishly making his way up the walkway, and there was no hope for me.
Still, I shrank a little under the guy’s gaze as he studied me. He had a no-nonsense face, and I could easily see him extracting state secrets out of people. I doubted that was what he actually did, but he’d be amazing at it.
“Evening,” he said. He had a slight accent, but I couldn’t pinpoint where it was from. I nodded at him, but it was obvious he wasn’t talking to me.
Creek cleared his throat. “Sorry, Top…”
“Don’t goddamn Top me right now, Creek. Tell me you’re okay.” His voice went all soft at the end, and my heart kind of melted because he was exactly what Creek needed. This support would save him from himself and the rest of the world when it wanted to be cruel.
Creek squared his shoulders, then nodded. “I’m okay.” He looked back at me, then brushed past Nash on his way in.
I wasn’t going to be that bold. I came to a stop, then held out my hand, and Nash grabbed it, but only to yank me in for a hug. He squeezed tight, and I couldn’t remember being hugged like that ever.
It was a lot.
“Thank you,” he said roughly.
I pulled back. “Trust me, I don’t need thanks.”
He sighed but beckoned me in, and I followed him into a gorgeous foyer with old grandma vibes. I instantly loved it. The place smelled like pine floors and old paint. My grandparents had a house like this while I was growing up, and it was one of my favorite places to be. My parents had made sure everything we had was new and sterile and without any sort of personality.
This had photos and paintings on the walls, and there was so much life in every bump and every crack.
“Kitchen’s this way,” Nash said, leading me along. I was hoping Creek had come this way, but maybe he’d escaped to his room, and that was also fair enough. He’d been through the wringer.
The kitchen was small but cozy, with a breakfast table that could easily fit a handful of military men, and I could see evidence of them laying all over the counters. I never really had that kind of family, and seeing it almost felt like I was missing something inside me.
I swallowed heavily. “Nice place.”
He huffed a soft laugh and shook his head. “Yeah. Needs some work still, but now that I’m out, I have the time.”
