Yeah, Lake was totally in love with his brother. And his brother doted and spoiled Lake the way that the sweet boy should be. “Get back to Lake. I’ll talk to you later this week.”
“You better have made progress,” Jesse warned.
Jacob wouldn’t commit. “Good night.”
“Happy New Year,” Jesse told him. “I love you.”
“Love you too.” Jacob disconnected the call before tossing the phone onto the counter next to him. He turned to stare back at the apartment. James had looked shocked after the kiss. He hadn’t looked disgusted. Was Jesse right? Was this Jacob’s chance? Only one way to find out. He needed to romance the boy. Maybe a special gift was in order.
Picking up his phone, Jacob went searching for overnight delivery.
Chapter Four
James
The order to meet for breakfast had come in at half past seven. James wanted to roll over and ignore the text but that hadn’t been an option. His friend and mentor would come drag James out of bed if James didn’t show up to the summons.
Josh must have ratted him out.
Pulling up to the diner, James parked his bike before turning the engine off.
He pulled off his helmet then threw his leg over his bike. Slowly James rolled the kinks out of his shoulders before making his way inside. He’d slept like shit once he’d finally dragged himself off to bed. The hot shower had helped clear the remaining fog and shock from his system but hadn’t given James a clue on how to handle the professor. At least he’d had something new to worry about instead of reliving the horrible accident.
Entering the diner, James looked around until he spotted the lone figure in the back booth.
James strolled over and set his helmet in the seat and pushed it over as he sat.
“You look like shit,” Cal Greene stated bluntly.
James grinned at his friend and mentor. “Hello to you too, bestie.”
Cal rolled his light green eyes. He had amazing eyes, not that James checked his friend out often. Okay, maybe he didmore than he wanted to admit. Cal was an attractive man in his forties. The scars down his shoulder and arm were hidden by a long-sleeve white shirt but didn’t take away from the muscles or fitness. “Don’t start, brat.”
“But, Daddy…you made me get up so early!” James had always teased Cal like this. Calling him Daddy or gramps. It irked Cal. James had never thought about throwing the word Daddy around until recently. Maybe he needed to stop?
“Never call me that again!” Cal pointed a finger at him while scowling.
James cackled. Maybe he wouldn’t stop after all. He knew how to push Cal’s buttons. And this was an amazing distraction. Maybe it was worth getting up early after all.
“Josh called me,” Cal told him.
James sighed. Of course he had. “I’m fine.”
Cal shook his head. “Order your breakfast and we’ll talk about it. I also grabbed your jacket from your locker this morning. Make sure you wear it if you’re going to ride that fucking bike.”
He was glad to have his jacket back since the thick hoodie he was currently wearing wasn’t nearly as warm. He ignored the comment about his motorcycle. Everyone seemed to have a problem with James’s mode of transportation, but James was careful. And maintaining the bike was cheap.
The waitress approached and James smiled at her.
“Hey, James. How are you?” she asked.
“I’m good, Beth. How are you? Did you have a good night?” he asked politely. Cal had been bringing James to this diner since they met.
She shrugged her thin shoulders. “Stayed in and ordered takeout. I had to open this morning so there was no way I was staying up late.”
“Yeah, probably a good idea. It was crazy out,” James told her.
“I heard. You want to start with an orange juice?”
