“I’m sorry,” Ryden said, his voice quiet. This time, he sounded sincere.
Jay swallowed hard and nodded. “It’s fine. I just…” He closed his eyes and sighed. It used to be light fun, but somewhere along the way, things between them changed, and Jay couldn’t figure out what or when, only that it had, and not for the better. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“Neither do I,” Ryden murmured, raising a hand and pausing. He seemed to be considering something. Whatever he concluded led him to brush Jay’s bangs away from his face. Jay stared at him, eyes wide. He’d never seen this side of Ryden. Not that he couldn’t be. Jay had seen Ryden be kind and sweet, charming even, but it was never aimed at Jay, and he’d certainly never been this…gentle.
What was happening right now?
“I’ve been a real asshole to you, and I’m sorry, truly sorry.” His lips quirked in the corner, and Jay asked himself questions he’dneverasked before. Like what did Ryden’s lips feel like? What did they taste like? How would it feel to have those strong arms around him?
Jay quickly shook himself out of it. Was there such a thing as inhaling too much lavender? Because what was he even thinking right now? “Why should I believe you? How is this different from the hundreds of times you’ve apologized?”
“Only to go and act the fool again and again. You’re right. You’re right. You just…okay, cards on the table. You get under my skin, Jay, in a way no one ever has, and I don’t know what to do with that.”
Jay blinked at him. “I do?”
“Yeah.” Ryden brushed his fingers down Jay’s cheek. “I know I get under your skin, too.”
Had he fallen asleep in the staff room during lunch again? In what world did the two of them stand together like this, touching and speaking quiet words? Jay opened his mouth to deny it, but Ryden arched a thick eyebrow at him. Damn.
“Yeah, okay. Fine. But what does that mean anyway? That we both excel at annoying each other? Perfect. Wonderful.”
“I don’t know, maybe it means there’s somethin’ else going on underneath all the shoutin’ and arguin’. Maybe....” Ryden leaned in, hesitating, as if allowing Jay the chance to step away, but Jay didn’t. Why wasn’t he moving? Instead of heading for the door, Jay lifted his chin and closed his eyes.
Ryden brushed his lips over Jay’s, and Jay couldn’t help his sharp intake of breath. Then Ryden’s mouth was on his, and Jay had a fistful of Ryden’s shirt in his hand, jerking him closer to taste more. Oh fuck, it washot. Hot and warm and sweet, and Jay needed more. The man’s scent, hard body, and hunger forJay made him shiver right as a commotion outside made them both jump.
Shit! What the hell were they doing?Nope. No way. Whatever this was, Jay had to stop it right now. He quickly stepped back and held his hand out. “Truce?”
Ryden’s brows drew together, and he frowned at Jay’s hand. “What?”
“I accept your truce.”
“Can we talk about this?” Ryden covered Jay’s hand with his. “Jay, we should….”
“Please.” Jay couldn’t do this.
With a heavy sigh, Ryden shook Jay’s hand, and Jay ignored the jolt of something he refused to name exploding through him. He pulled his hand away.
“So we agree?” Jay asked, hating how shaky his voice sounded.
“Yeah, truce.”
“Okay. Good. Right. I should get back to work.” He didn’t wait for Ryden to respond, just hurried to the door and opened it. Fuck, it was like everyone had decided to return to the office at the same time. He did not need anyone asking him about his flushed cheeks, why he was out of breath, or why his lips looked swollen. And great, Lucky and Ace were in the building, which accounted for the commotion. The two were huddled together. What was going on? Ooh, a distraction. Perfect!
“It’s finally happened.” Lucky wiped a tear from his eye. He glanced at Ace, and his eyes narrowed. “Bro, don’t think about it. Don’t even look at it.”
“Or what? You’ll murder me?”
“No. Worse. I’ll tell Tía you were the one who threw up in her flowers the night of Checho’s party.”
Ace’s eyes went wide, he spun around, and hauled ass in the opposite direction.
“That’s what I thought.”
Jay couldn’t remember the last time he saw Lucky this excited. He was like a little kid at Christmas. What could possibly—Lucky turned, a small plate in his hands. Ah. That made sense. It was flan, and by his expression, not just any flan, buttheflan.
“Isn’t it the most beautiful thing you have ever seen in your entire life?” Lucky asked, walking it over so Jay could bask in its beauty.
Jay tried not to laugh. He was adorable. “It’s very beautiful.”
