“I’m fine!”
“You’re not fine, asshole!”
Uh-oh. It sounded like Jack and Joker were getting into it. Not an uncommon occurrence. The two fought all the time. They were like brothers, having known each other since high school. They quickly forgot what they’d been fighting about most of the time and carried on as if nothing had happened. Fitz could tell those fights from the serious ones. Those were usually reserved for when one of them was really worried about the other. Heaven forbid theysaythey were worried.
“I bet he doesn’t know. You haven’t told him, have you.”
“It’s not a big deal. He doesn’t need to know.”
Fitz frowned. He and Jack didnotkeep things from each other. There had to be an explanation for whatever Joker was referring to.
“He’s your boyfriend and he loves you, you fuck. Of course, he needs to know.”
Fitz walked into the room, one eyebrow arched. “What don’t I need to know?”
Jack groaned. “Nothing.”
“Hmm, considering I can hear you two from down the hall, I’d say it sounds like something.”
Joker thrust a hand at Jack. “Your asshole boyfriend hasn’t eaten anything since breakfast yesterday.”
Fitz blinked at Joker. “That can’t be right.” He turned to Jack. “Yesterday, I brought you lunch and an afternoon snack and gave Joker your dinner to bring to you.” He’d taken great care to ensure Jack had three balanced meals, snacks, and plenty of water. The guilty look on Jack’s face said it all. “You didn’t eat any of it?” Fitz noticed the growing stash of untouched water bottles. “Are you not hydrating either?”
“Of course, he isn’t,” Joker growled. “Yesterday, he lost track of the time like he always does, and by the time he came up for air, the food was inedible, so he threw it away. And thenliedabout it.”
“Fuck off, Sacha. Your boyfriend might need constant babysitting, but I don’t.”
Fitz gasped but didn’t have time to intervene because Joker lunged at Jack, the two of them hitting the floor.
“You fuck!” Joker straddled Jack and punched him in the face. “He has a medical condition, asshole! I can’t believe you!”
“Get the fuck off me,” Jack growled, swinging at Joker only to have Joker smack his arm away.
Oh no. There was no way Fitz could break up a fight between two former Green Berets. Especially two hotheaded, stubborn Green Berets. He ran out into the hall.
“Lucky! Mason!”
“What’s wrong?” Mason asked, poking his head out of the kitchen.
“Jack and Joker are fighting.”
“They’re always fighting,” Lucky replied as he walked into the hall. “It’s what they do. That and annoy people.”
“No, I mean, they’refighting. Jack said something about Gio.” What the hell was his boyfriend thinking? He wasn’t. This wasn’t like Jack at all.
Lucky’s eyes went huge, and he cursed in Spanish. He and Mason bolted toward him, running into the room.
“You’re a dick, Constantino,” Joker spat as Lucky grabbed him and dragged him off Jack while Mason pulled Jack to his feet, a hand against his chest to keep him back.
Jack snorted. “That’s funny, coming from you.”
“What the hell’s got your tails up,” Mason demanded in his thick Texas accent.
“Ask him.” Jack thrust a hand in Joker’s direction. “He’s been on my ass since yesterday.”
“You know what? End up in a hospital, asshole! See if I care.” Joker stormed out of the room, and Fitz glowered at Jack.
“What? Now you’re going to get on my case too?”
