Mason cringed and quickly grabbed Lucky’s arm. The two of them hauled ass out of there.
“Excuseme?” Fitz planted his hands on his hips. What the hell had gotten into him?
“I don’t need you nagging me too.”
Fitz’s eyebrows shot up. “Nagging?Nagging.”Oh no, he did not. He put up a finger and met Jack’s gaze. “I suggest you check that tone and think about what you said. Now, I’m going to talk to your best friend, a man who is like a brother to you, who did not deserve your hostility for doing nothing more than care about you, and when I come back, you better have a sincere apology ready.”
Jack narrowed his eyes, but Fitz crossed his arms over his chest before he could speak up.
“Do you want to go there, Jack?”
Jack dropped into one of the empty chairs with a grunt, and Fitz hurried out after Joker, catching up with him outside on the sidewalk. The temperature had dropped—and not just outside. Fitz was ready to return to his room in front of the fire with his princess and a cozy blanket.
“Your boyfriend is a fucking asshole.”
Fitz stepped in front of Joker and sighed. “He can be. Yes. Thank you for looking out for him. I should have known he wasn’t taking care of himself. He’s been too quiet.”
“It’s not your fault,” Joker grumbled. “He’s so fucking stubborn.”
“A trait we all share,” Fitz teased. He kissed Joker’s cheek. “He didn’t mean what he said. You know that.”
Joker grunted. “I know.” He shoved his hands into his coat pockets. “I justhatewhen he gets like this. It’s infuriating. He’s supposed to be smart.”
“He is. And sometimes that big brain of his works against him.” It was one of the traits Jack shared with Leo. The two were so smart and hyper-focused that the world around them disappeared when they got lost in their heads doing something.
“I know,” Joker muttered.
“I’ll talk to him,” Fitz promised.
Joker seemed to mull something over when he spoke up. “He needs to treat you better.”
Fitz was thrown for a loop by Joker’s words. So much so that he didn’t have a reply. With a squeeze to his arm, Joker walked off. What was going on? With a frown, Fitz returned to the Ice Castle, jumping when a loud crash resonated through the empty building. Fitz hurried to the storage room where Jack was, coming to an abrupt halt at the sight of the table on its side, tools scattered all over the floor.
“Jack?” Fitz said softly. “Talk to me. What’s going on?” He walked over to Jack and cupped his face. “Baby?”
Jack let out a heavy sigh. He pulled Fitz into his arms and buried his face against Fitz’s neck. “I’m sorry,” Jack murmured. He pulled back and dropped into the empty chair, his gaze lowered. “Sacha’s right. I don’t deserve you.”
“Let’s not go that far.” Fitz draped his coat on the chair, then walked over and straddled Jack’s lap. “Baby, what’s going on?” He ran his fingers through Jack’s hair, his heart squeezing in his chest. He’d been fooling himself. He missed Jack. So much. Fitz basked in his sweet man’s warmth and softness. Mm, he smelled so good.
Jack closed his eyes and wrapped his arms tight around Fitz. He buried his head in Fitz’s neck. “I’m so sorry. I’m just….”
“Exhausted? Hungry? Missing me?”
“Yes?”
Fitz chuckled. “Well, I’m here. As for the third, how about you finish up for the day and come back to the cabin with me?” Ever since Jack took on fixing the Ice Castle, they hadn’t had any time to themselves. No cuddling, no getting cozy in front of the fire and no getting frisky or making love.
Jack sighed. “I can’t. I have to finish this. I can’t afford time off.”
“Time off?” Fitz gently pushed Jack’s shoulders, so he sat back. He cupped Jack’s face. “Baby, sleeping is not time off, and Iknowyou’re not getting enough sleep.” Now that he sat so close, he could see the dark circles around Jack’s eyes. “What time did you leave the cabin this morning?”
Jack averted his gaze. This was not good.
“Jack.”
“Four.”
Fitz straightened. Wait. Jack had been getting in very late every night. “What time did you get in last night?”
