Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
I love seeing that softer side of him, and I long for him to direct it my way. This week has been amazing, but there’s not just physical distance between Kit and me anymore. There’s a wall between us that’s been there since he left California.
I want to tear it down, but I’m too scared to see what’s on the other side of it: the real reason he left. Why things are normal between us but different at the same time. It’s like we’re playing our roles the way we think they should be played.
“Let’s get out of here,” Kit says.
Here comes the hard part.
I’m walking away with not only the knowledge I’m not going to see either of them for a long time but also with the regret that all week, I haven’t had the guts to call Kit on his distant crap.
But if I do it, he might take away any opportunity for this to happen again, and I’d rather have him like this than not at all.
While I’m getting dressed, Kit does one last check around the hotel room to make sure we have everything, but when we go to walk out the door, he stops and blocks our path.
His gaze flicks between Brady and me, and then his big arms swallow us both whole. “I know we were happy about getting flights leaving at relatively the same time because it means we could go to the airport together, but I’m now realizing the downfall of that plan.”
I hold on to him, taking every inch of affection he’s willing to give me. “What’s that?”
“We’re not going to have the goodbye I want.”
Brady pulls back. “You literally just had the chance to take my ass.”
Kit cradles the back of Brady’s head. “That’s not what I had in mind. This isn’t about … that.”
“What’s it about?” I ask.
“It’s about this.” His grip around us tightens. “Us. The world is still trying to fully accept two men kissing in public. Three? Forget about it. I know we don’t have the time, and—”
“I don’t care about the time,” Brady whispers. “I’d take a later flight, stay longer, call in sick to work, and put off my law degree if it meant I got five more minutes with each of you.”
“I can’t say goodbye.” I shake my head. “I’m not ready. This week was …”
“I want more of this week. Which is why we should get it out of our system now so that when we get to the airport, we can act like it’s not goodbye but see you soon. I need to trick my brain into thinking this will happen again.” Kit’s gray eyes plead with me to reassure him.
“This has to happen again,” I say. Because this can’t be it between us. It just can’t.
Do I really think this arrangement is sustainable? No.
Do I want it to be? Hell yes.
“We’ll make it happen,” I say more confidently this time.
The pleading in Kit’s eyes melts into relief, and then he gives me that softness I’ve been craving all week. He tilts his head and leans in, touching his lips with mine gently. We’re risking being late, and he’s kissing me.
“I believe you,” Kit says.
“So do I.” Brady wraps his arm around my back. We’re all physically connected, breathing as one.
I want to see them again, no doubt. For a day, a week, a month. The only problem with that is each time we make it happen, this has to happen as well.
The goodbyes.
What goes up must come down.
All hellos morph into goodbyes.
CHAPTER TEN
brady
The calendar has never moved so slowly. It’s only a couple of weeks later, when I’m having sleepy and sexy thoughts of Prescott and Kit in bed, that my phone vibrates with Prescott’s name on the screen. I get excited thinking he’s calling to arrange our next meetup already until I answer it.
Before I can even say hello, a slurred voice fills my ear. “You ruined me for all other college dudes!”
I grin. “I’m failing to see the problem here.”
“The problem is I’m not getting laaaaaid.”
Again, not a problem for me. While we know we’re not exclusive, I’m not going to lie and say I like the idea of Pres or Kit with someone else.
“I probably should have warned you of the side effects of sleeping with me. Might cause lack of interest in others. No one will ever compare. Once you have me, you’re hooked.”
“You’re definitely my drug of choice.”
“But I’m much healthier. Sex is good for you.”
“Not if you’re not getting it.” There’s a loud bang.
“What was that?”
“I couldn’t get my front door open, so I threw my shoe at it.”
I laugh. “How drunk are you?”
“Drunk enough to try to open my door with my shoe. What does that tell you?”
“It tells me that this once-a-year thing isn’t enough. Or that maybe Kit stopped you from doing stupid shit when he lived with you.”