Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Our friends mean well, but they have no idea what they’re doing.” He wrapped his arm around Jack’s back and walked them over to the table.
“In their defense, they probably think I’m falling apart, but Jaime’s been my friend for half my life. I want him to be happy, and I like Oliver.”
“You’re a genuinely good man, Jack Storm.” Gray bent forward and kissed Jack’s forehead. “The best.”
Swallowing down the thickness in his throat and hoping the shiver that went through him in reaction to Gray’s touch wasn’t outwardly visible, Jack said, “Go ahead and sit. I’ll bring the food over.” It’d give him a chance to get his body under control and an opportunity to return Gray’s kindness by taking care of him, even if it was in a small way.
“You sure?” Gray cupped Jack’s cheek and searched his eyes. “I can help.”
“Of course.” Jack hoped he sounded less out of breath than he felt. “Putting the food on the plates will only take a second.” He licked his lips. “Should I open a bottle of wine?”
“Sounds good.” Gray tipped his head down, and for a crazy second, Jack thought he was going to kiss him, but then he traced his fingers around the perimeter of Jack’s ear and pulled away. “I’m looking forward to this dinner.”
Chapter 4
“How long has Kev been trying to set you up with people?” Gray asked as he cut his steak.
Jack swallowed his potato and then dabbed his napkin against the sides of his mouth. “We’re talking about Kevin Rodley.” He arched his eyebrows. “At some level, he’s been trying to set me up since the moment he found out I was single.”
“Kev really is a master meddler,” Gray said with a chuckle. “Although with me, it’s less about him coming up with actual guys he thinks I should meet, and more about him pointedly expressing disapproval about the way I handle my personal life.”
“For a person not in a relationship, he is oddly obsessed with getting everyone coupled up.”
Shrugging, Gray said, “It’s something he wants for himself so he’s sure everyone else should aspire to it too.”
“That’s very true. He’s coming from a good place.” Jack rubbed his lips together and furrowed his brow in thought. “Now that I think about it, we should be coming up with someone for Kevin. He’d actually appreciate a setup.”
“Are you implying that you don’t appreciate it?”
Shrugging, Jack said, “I know our friends are trying to help me and I appreciate the sentiment, but the actual dating people part?” He shook his head. “Not so much.” He drew in a deep breath and then looked down at his plate and poked at his meal. “Not at all.”
Unable to maintain any sort of distance when Jack looked that downtrodden, Gray reached his hand out and rubbed it up and down Jack’s arm. “It’s been that bad?”
Giving him a weak smile, Jack said, “No. I’m being dramatic as usual.”
“You’re not dramatic, Jack.” Gray had no idea who had planted that particular seed in Jack’s head, but he wanted to extinguish it. “What’s the problem exactly? Are they jerks like that guy from last week?” He swallowed and then forced himself to ask the question he really wanted answered, “Or is it that you aren’t ready yet?”
“Not ready?” Jack drew his eyebrows together. “You mean because of Jaime?” He shook his head. “I’m happy to say that I am well and truly over that relationship. Seeing him and Oliver together was like a miracle cure on the healing front, and now I wonder how I could have spent so many years thinking we could work.”
Gray had wondered the same thing, but he didn’t express that opinion out loud. “So, what’s the issue?”
“Honestly?” Jack sighed. “I think I’m not meant to be in a relationship.”
“What?” Gray reared back, surprised. “Why would you say that? You are the most loyal, giving partner possible.” Those qualities had been wasted on Jaime, which bothered Gray to no end, but that failure of a relationship wasn’t on Jack. “You didn’t do anything wrong with Jaime.” Gray didn’t fully understand why Jaime hadn’t appreciated what he had in Jack, but whatever the reason, his feelings had been clear. It was telegraphed by Jaime’s body language, by the way he looked at Jack, even by the way he spoke to him. There had been no passion, no true warmth. Jack had always deserved so much better. “Whatever his issues were, they were his alone and there’s nothing you could have done to change them. I hope you realize that.”
“Thanks.” Jack smiled and cut himself a small piece of steak. “It’s not about what happened with Jaime, mostly. I just…” He sighed, put the steak in his mouth, chewed it, and then swallowed. “I go out with these guys and there’s nothing there, you know? It honestly feels like a chore. And if that’s how it is with every person I date, then I’m the common denominator, you know?”