“Whywouldyou?”
“I don’t know. I probably wouldn’t! I’m just telling you what scares me.”
Colin nodded. “I get it, buddy. I really do. God knows I’ve been there.” He drew in a quick breath. “I’ll tell you what my husband tellsme,” he murmured. “You’ve got to havefaith, Natey-baby. Faith in everything you and David have built together. Faith in the love you share.” He turned his head as Joshua linked their arms, then grinned at Nate. “Worked forme,” he told his friend.
“Eventually,” Joshua added with a small smile.
“Hey!” Colin protested, then nuzzled against Joshua’s dark hair.
“Pie for everyone!” David announced, reentering the room with the tray newly laden with huge slices. “I got blueberry just for you, Irish.”
“Because youloveme,” Colin declared, grinning as he reached for a plate.
“So we wouldn’t have to listen to youwhine,” Nate corrected with a grin of his own.
“Nate,” Joshua said, his low, intense tone drawing Nate’s attention. “If you honestly don’t want to do this, we’ll support you one hundred percent.”
“I know, Josh. I know you would. But that’s not how I feel about it. At least not yet.” He huffed out a noisy sigh. “It maycometo that in time. But right now, I still want to give it a go.” He threw Colin a quick smile. “I feel much better now that our resident legal guru has promised to find me an attorney.”
Colin nodded, chewing his pie. “I’ll contact you as soon as I have a couple of names.”
“Can’tyoudo it?” Joshua queried.
“No, baby. He needs an attorney who specializes in contract law. That’s not me. I’mcriminallaw.”
“He’s notKingsfield!” Nate informed Joshua, grinning and pointing at Colin. “He’s inLaw & Order. He’sBen Stone!”
Joshua rolled his eyes and moaned, “Oh lordgod!” while Colin bent over his pie, choking with laughter.
“Colin’s a better attorney than Ben Stone,” David said. “I agree with Josh on that one. I likeLaw & Order, but the guy’s an annoying klutz in the courtroom.”
“Can I just be Colin Campbell?” Colin mumbled around another forkful of blueberries. “And Stone may be a klutz, but he’s still cool as fuck.”
Joshua nudged Colin’s foot with his own. “That’s Campbell-Abrams. Eat up, counselor. We need to shove off soon.”
Colin finished his last bite of pie and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “OK. Now that we’ve got Nate squared away, we’re gonna head home. And thank you for a great dinner.” He rose, and the four men walked to the front door, where Colin scrubbed his knuckles against Nate’s head. “Relax. We’ll get you sorted out sometime this week.”
“Thanks, Colin.”
Colin and Joshua waved, then moved down the sidewalk to their car.
“Do youknowany contract lawyers?” Joshua asked as he climbed into Colin’s Mazda.
“A few. I’m not worried about it, though. I’ll find him a good attorney, trust me.”
“I do. And so does Nate.”
Colin reached to take Joshua’s hand. “I sorta feel like I’m slitting my own throat, making it easier for him to go do Broadway.”
“Why slitting your ownthroat, for heaven’s sake?”
“Making it easier for him to get all successful and leave Virginia.”
“I can’t seethathappening,” Joshua replied.
Colin shot him a glance and nodded. “You’re probably right, and my head knows it. I wish it would convince my heart.”
CHAPTERTWO
