“I’m fine,” James lied.
“Okay.” Jacob’s shoulders slumped. “Have a good rest of your night.”
“Yeah.” James had no idea why Jacob was even listening to him. The man was leaving so that was all James cared about. He waited until the door had closed behind Jacob before running over and locking it.
He hit the lights and had the room falling into blackness. Just like all his hope. He had no idea how he was going to explain this to his brothers.
James’s temples began to throb as his stomach soured. He ran to the bathroom, barely making it before throwing up in the toilet. He slumped back against his wall and winced. Some superhero he made.
* * * * *
Jacob
“Hello.”
Jacob tightened his fingers around his cell.
“Jacob? You there?”
“He kissed me,” Jacob said quietly.
“Need more information than that.” His brother’s voice held amusement.
“He kissed me!” Jacob said louder.
“Have you been drinking?” Jesse demanded. “Are you safe? Where are you? You should know better than going out on New Year’s Eve.”
Jacob wanted to roll his eyes. “Don’t be a dick. I’m at home. I’ve had one glass of wine.” Actually, he’d only had half a glass before he’d heard James pull up on his bike and went to investigate.
“Then start making sense,” Jesse said.
“James kissed me,” Jacob repeated for the third time.
His brother chuckled. “That’s who I was hoping you were talking about.”
“Don’t laugh at me,” Jacob grumbled.
“It is New Year’s Eve. Was it a kiss at midnight?” Jesse asked.
Had the kiss been at midnight it would have been easier to forget. Jacob would never be able to stop thinking about the way James’s lips had felt on his. Forceful and desperate. He just started to respond when James had pulled away and jumped off the couch.
“Jacob,” Jesse said loudly.
“It wasn’t a midnight kiss,” Jacob admitted.
“Why don’t you start from the beginning,” Jesse ordered.
Looking out the window above the kitchen sink, Jacob tried to see into the window or door to the apartment. James had turned off the lights inside the apartment, making it impossible to see anything. He forced his gaze away and turned to lean against the counter.
The clock above the stove showed it was past six in the morning. Damn! “Sorry. I didn’t realize how late, early, it was. I didn’t mean to wake you. Is Lake still asleep?”
“We haven’t been home long. Lake is taking a bath,” Jesse said.
“Did you go to a party?” Jacob asked. Until Lake came into his brother’s life, Jesse spent all his time at work. Now Jesse was always heading somewhere, it seemed, with Lake by his side.
“If you want to call the boys having a playdate a party. They did end up with a sugar high from juice boxes and cupcakes,” Jesse answered. “I’m hoping a long hot bath with help settle Lake down.”
“Sounds like the best kind of party.” Jacob wasn’t being sarcastic. Little playtime always put a smile on his face. Even if Jacob preferred his boy’s regression older than Jesse preferred.
