I drove home with the windows down, letting the cool air clear my head. The apartment was filled with the smell of something savory when I walked in—garlic and herbs and what might have been chicken. James was in the kitchen, wearing a plain apron that I was pretty sure had never seen the light of day before.
“You actually cooked,” I said, dropping my keys on the counter.
He looked up from whatever he was stirring on the stove, a smile spreading across his face. “Told you I would. How’d it go with Derek?”
I moved closer, drawn to him like a magnet. “He knew. Or at least, he suspected.”
James’s expression shifted to concern, his hand stilling on the spoon. “And?”
“And he was cool about it. Said he didn’t care who I was attracted to, just that I needed to keep it professional at work.” I leaned against the counter beside him, close enough that our shoulders touched. “He’s going to talk to the guys about toning down the jokes.”
“Wow.” James set the spoon down and turned to face me fully. “That’s... that’s really good, Kent.”
“Yeah.” I felt something loosen in my chest, something I hadn’t even realized was wound so tight. “I was terrified all day, thinking he was going to fire me or lecture me about how I was representing the company. But he was just... cool.”
James reached out, his hand finding mine. “See? Not everyone is going to react badly.”
“One person,” I pointed out. “That’s a sample size of one. Trevor sure as hell didn’t take it well.”
“Trevor was hurt and confused. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’s going to tell anyone. What would he even say? He doesn’t have any proof, and honestly, who would believe him anyway?” James squeezed my hand. “We’re stepbrothers. Most people would assume he was just being vindictive after a breakup.”
I wanted to believe that. God, I wanted to believe that so badly. But the fear still lingered, a constant hum in the back of my mind.
“What are you making?” I asked, changing the subject before I could spiral into anxiety again.
“Chicken piccata. Or at least, my attempt at it.” He gestured to the pan. “I figured we should celebrate you surviving your talk with Derek.”
“With lemon and capers?”
“Don’t knock it until you try it.” He turned back to the stove, adjusting the heat. “Go get changed. It’ll be ready in about ten minutes.”
I headed to the bedroom, stripping off my work clothes and pulling on sweats and a t-shirt. When I caught sight of myself in the mirror, I paused. I looked tired, the shadows under my eyes evidence of too many sleepless nights. But there was something else too—a softness around my mouth, a lightness in my expression that hadn’t been there a week ago.
I looked like someone who was happy. Or at least, someone who was on their way to being happy.
The realization was startling enough that I stood there for a moment, just staring at my reflection. When had that happened?When had I stopped being the bitter, angry guy who couldn’t see past his own prejudices?
“Kent? You good?” James called from the kitchen.
“Yeah, coming.”
Chapter 21
Kent
The theatre was mostly empty, but that was fine by me. There was a new animated movie that had come out a couple weeks ago that James wanted to see. But my arrival had sort of messed up his schedule. When I found out he’d wanted to go for a while, I told him I’d take him. I don’t think I’d ever seen him smile so wide.
I bought us a large popcorn to share and watched as he practically bounced toward the theater entrance. It was endearing in a way that made my chest ache. This was the real James—not the guarded version who’d learned to protect himself from people like me, but the one who got excited about animated movies and didn’t try to hide it.
We settled into seats near the back, the previews already starting. James immediately grabbed a handful of popcorn, and I found myself watching him more than the screen. The way the flickering light played across his face, the small smile that tugged at his lips during the funny parts of the trailers.
“You’re staring,” he whispered without looking at me.
“Maybe I like what I’m looking at.”
He turned then, his eyes meeting mine in the darkness. “Careful. Someone might see.”
“Theater’s basically empty.” But I looked away anyway, that familiar fear creeping back in. Even here, in the relative anonymity of a dark movie theater, I couldn’t fully relax.
