Frankie shoots me a look from beneath his dark lashes. “Do you two share?”
Oh my God.
“Nope,” Shane says, popping the ‘p’. “Sorry, Frankie. That’s all mine.”
My attention snaps to Shane’s, and a thrill streaks through me. At his words. At the possessive shine to his blue eyes.
“I feel like I’ve walked into an alternate dimension,” I say dazedly. “Is everyone in this apartment queer?”
“Everyone except Pauls,” Shane says.
Frankie gives my bicep a squeeze and lets out a soft “yum” before going back to his wine.
I rub my chin and chuckle in bewilderment, watching Frankie slink over to the living room. “Of course. He’s the only one I actually thoughtcouldbe queer initially.”
“I would have thought how obsessed I am with your dick would have given my queerness away.” Shane pouts. “Guess I’m not doing a good enough job.”
I throw him an exasperated look, and his lips split into a grin. I can’t wait any longer. I need to touch him. I close in, forcing him back against the island. My hands fall to his hips, and we stand like that, just staring, just breathing. God, he smells so good. Citrusy. More grapefruit than orange today.
“Hi,” he whispers.
I lean down and brush a kiss on his lips. And it feels so fucking good that I can do that here. Out in the open. Safe.
I pull back and find those baby blues again. “Hey, Sunshine.”
His gaze flicks in the direction of his bedroom. “Kinda wish we could do some cheering of our own. But, ah…the chili is on the stove and…” He glances toward the living room.
A chuckle builds in my chest. Or maybe that’s just the rattle of my heart. “Tonight, babe.” When we don’t have a living room full of roommates who would definitely overhear.
He blinks owl-eyed up at me. That’s when what I said hits me. But it just felt right. I want to trust my gut with this. Lean into it. Seems like something a surfer boy with golden curls and ocean-blue eyes would do.
“You okay with me calling you that? Are we on the same page?—”
“Yes!” He bounces up and down, his loosening topknot flopping wildly. “Same page. Same fucking paragraph.”
I breathe out a laugh. Once again, he has me smiling. Laughing. He has me doing it so much lately. It’s almost like it’s not rare anymore.
He drops his forehead to my chest, and I run my hand up and down his back.
“I can’t believe I outed East and Maddy to you.” He groans and thumps his head against my sternum. “I’m always so careful. I try to not even mention Maddy’s name most of the time.”
“Hey,” I reassure softly. “Maddox said they were going to tell me anyway.”
“Yeah, it just was a big slip to mention they were boning. Like obviously you were going to find out after that.”
I press a kiss to the top of his head and then tip his chin back. “Do you think, maybe, you only made that slip because it’s me? Someone you know is safe. You wouldn’t have done that with just anyone.”
“Let’s go with that.” He sends me a small smile. “Makes me feel a little less shitty.”
He quickly redoes his topknot, and I reach out to spin one of his bracelets.
“Oh! That reminds me.” He reaches into his pocket, then stills. Those blue eyes glow up at me, and he practically vibrates in my arms. “I have your bracelet.” His voice lilts up. “Are you ready?”
I nod, unable to get any words past my grin. He’s so happy. Luminous. And knowing how much he’s struggled with feeling unwanted, feeling less than, it amazes me. He’s this resilient star, refusing to let anything steal its light. But that light only shines outward. He hasn’t saved any of it for himself, doesn’t think he deserves any. I’ll do everything I can to help him see the worth he keeps overlooking.
“Close your eyes,” he says with a little bounce.
I chuckle and do as I’m told. Soft yarn and something cool and hard meet my palm. I close my fingers and roll it in my hand. Something pointy digs into the flesh of my palm.
