Joshua breathed out a soft laugh. “Hoisted on my own petard.”
“Come again?”
“You first,” Josh quipped, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Smart-ass,” Colin shot back with a quick wink. His gaze softened as he absorbed Joshua’s expression—his handsome, angular features taut with worry, his top lip caught between his teeth. He recalled his own struggles after being critically injured in the line of duty. He remembered the pain, the humiliation, and the paralyzing fear of permanent disability. But even more vivid was the memory of Joshua’s steadfast faith in him. His unwavering support and enduring love shone a constant, healing light into that soul-deep darkness. Now, he longed to embody that same healing light for the one he loved.
“Please, don’t fret,mo chroí,” Colin begged, his voice gentle. “Right now, we’re just scouting the horizon. We can’t see what’s waiting for us at the end of this journey. Let’s focus on the here and now and tackle it one step at a time—together.”
“Thank you, myyedid.”
Colin bent and kissed him. “You’re welcome,” he said, then got to his feet, drawing Joshua up with him. “Grab your jacket and pick a place.”
“Burger Bach?”
“Ah, god,yes,” Colin crooned, pressing his hand to his heart and rolling his eyes in fake ecstasy. “Honey mustard dipping sauce, here we come!” He pressed a kiss to Joshua’s cheek. “You’re a treasure.”
“You’re lucky, because ‘Roots’ was on the tip of my tongue," Joshua teased with a sly grin, referring to a popular vegan restaurant.
“But knowing the deep and abiding …” Colin gave a pretend cough, “...affectionI have for vegan cuisine, you took pity on me?”
“Something like that.”
Colin locked the door behind them while Joshua shrugged into his jacket.
“Let’s grab our food and take it to David and Nate’s,” Joshua said as they moved toward Colin’s car. “We’ll pick up something for them too.Knowing they’reinwill cut my anxiety in half.”
Colin grinned and pressed a kiss to Joshua’s temple. “Call them and take their order.”
Half an hour later,they were seated in David and Nate’s spacious living room. On the coffee table in front of them, lay a massive pile of Burger Bach burgers, numerous containers of French fries, and several chocolate shakes.
“OK,” David said, eyeing the mound of food with suspicion. “It’s obvious that we’re being bribed. Can we cut to the chase here? What do you two want?”
“Because we brought youhamburgers?” Colin asked, incredulous. “Hell, Davy, if Ireallywanted to bribe you, I’d spring for dinner at The Ivy Inn.”
“Ah, small potatoes,” David scoffed, rejecting Colin’s suggestion. “Arealbribe would have to include a lifetime supply of caviar and an all-you-can-eat pastry buffet—heavy on the Gâteau St. Honoré.”
Colin snickered and tossed a French fry in David’s direction. “Eat up, Professor.”
“You gonna share your famous honey mustard dipping sauce?” Nate interrupted, stretchinghisFrench fry towards Colin’s condiment.
“Back off, brat!” Colin snapped, slapping Nate’s hand away. “My dipping sauce is off limits!”
Joshua laughed and held out a small plastic container. “Here. In anticipation of this ongoing squabble, I got you one of your own.”
Nate stuck out his tongue at Colin and grabbed the sauce. “Thank you, Josh.You’rethe nice one!”
Colin dismissed Nate’s insult with a wave of his hand. “Likethat’snews!”
“Exactly whathasbrought you two here today?” David asked, reaching for a second hamburger.
Joshua explained the situation. “And … we want you two to run this thing with us.”
David set his hamburger on the table. “Kids?Outdoors? In thewoods?Are you sure you’re in the right house? My idea of camping is a well-turned-out Airbnb, complete with concierge.”
“Or the biggestglamtent on planet Earth,” Nate added, grinning.
“What exactly do you want us to do there?” David asked. “Got any kind of plan in mind?”
