“I do,” Xavi tilted his head and grinned up at him, his eyes bright with love. “It’s my only vice, I guess,” he smirked.
“Shut up,cabrón!” Lulu scowled until his face cracked into a smile that nearly split his face in half. He loved being Xavi’s vice. It was the best feeling in the world. He’d always been too loud, too much, but now he was just right, it seemed.
“Let’s go next door. Eat some of Tilly’s comfort food. Then we’ll check how the FIAT is doing.”
“Yeah, let’s go say hi to the mechanics.” Lulu winked, pursing his lips.
“You’re a brat, you know that?” Xavi shook his head, rubbing a hand across his face, then sniffing his fingers.
“What?”
“You’re all over me.” Xavi frowned, looking down at the state of his body.
“You’re all over me, too. Let’s shower, then eat.”
“... and it wasn’t until May that the last snow melted on the Peak and the creek thawed entirely. Hardest winter in a century and more than a handful of people froze to death.” Tilly shuddered, shaking her head, as she swept invisible crumbs off the counter before reaching for the coffeepot, pouring both Lulu and Xavi a fresh cup.
“Don’t listen to anything that woman tells ya,” Vernon, who’d made a rare appearance outside the kitchen, mumbled, rubbing at his protruding, apron-covered belly. “She’ll turn a spring drizzle into a hundred-year flood,” he teased his wife, fondness overflowing in his eyes.
“Will you hold your tongue, you old fool?” Tilly took a swipe at him with a kitchen towel, and Vernon, a lot lighter on his feet than he looked, just managed to dodge it as loud laughter boomed from his chest.
“Well, sweet cheeks, you married me,” he bellowed, his eyes twinkling with mischief, “so who’s the fool?” Tilly then blushed like a teenager on prom night before she plastered a loud kiss against her husband’s forehead, admitting tenderly, “I am, but I’d rather be a fool than ever be withoutcha.” Then, turning toward Lulu and Xavi, she leaned over the counter, whispering conspiratorially, “Best man this side of the Missouri River, but don’t tell ’im that. It’ll only go to his head.”
Then, just when Lulu was about to admit that he wanted what Tilly and Vernon had, for the rest of his life with Xavi, the door to the diner swung open, letting in a rush of bone-chilling cold. Turning, Lulu saw Hank appear, followed closely by Finn.
“Well, howdy there, fellas,” Tilly singsonged as she reached for two menu cards on the counter.
“Howdy yourself, Til,” Hank said, then slid onto a stool next to Xavi, tipping his chin with a low “Good day.”
“The roads are clear,” Finn eventually said, reaching for a menu. “We can leave now.” Sitting down, Finn’s gaze found Lulu’s. “I’m all packed, so whenever you’re ready, I guess we can leave…”
Lulu nodded, shifting on the barstool, his asshole still burning like someone had rubbed it with a Carolina Reaper.Fuck, he couldn’t wait for Xavi to fuck him again. If Xavi hadn’t told him it was his first time fucking someone, Lulu would never have guessed. Xavi was a fucking magician with that cock of his. A fucking magic peen. Lulu failed to bite back the snort that flew from his lips.
“We’ll just grab some food.” Xavi glared at him warningly, reaching for his coffee, cradling it in his large hands like he’d cradled Lulu’s face before they’d left the annex, kissing him hard and long, once again stealing all air out of Lulu’s lungs. “Then we can go.”
“Colton changed the oil for ya,” Hank said. “Checked the brakes, too.”
“Thank you so much.” Lulu looked at the older guy, then at Tilly. “For everything. You really saved us.”
“Nah, don’t mention it.” Hank waved his hand.
“How much do we owe you?” Xavi asked.
“Nothin’. Your money ain’t no good here. Give Til’ a large tip instead.” Hank winked at Tilly, then continued, “But if I were you, I’d scrap that piece of crap when you get to Portland and fly home.”
Xavi winced at the wordfly, and Lulu found his hand under the counter, tangling his fingers through Xavi’s, squeezing them reassuringly.
“A damn miracle the car made it this far. No point in askin’ for a miracle twice in one lifetime,” Hank muttered.
“Yeah, we’ll think about it.” Lulu continued to hold Xavi’s hand, which had now grown clammy and cold.
Then, to Lulu’s surprise, Xavi nodded. “Yeah, maybe.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Xavi
The first hour of the trip had been pure torture in too many ways to count. Lulu was hyper, and Xavi suspected it had a lot to do with Finn’s presence and that they’d now left their safe little bubble in Hayley’s Peak. The road ahead felt uncertain, whereas Nebraska had offered a small reprieve from decision-making. But they both seemed to feel it now, back on the road toward Oregon. Could they truly redefine their relationship out in the real world, go from friends to being lovers, too? Xavi didn’t see how they could go back to just being friends now that he’d been with Lulu in the most intimate way you could be with another person. Not just the sexual part, but the fact that he’d bared himself to Lulu, body and soul. It felt monumental and like something you just couldn’t dismiss aswhat happens on the road stays on the road.
