Page 96 of The Long Way Found

"I do."

"I mean, do you, like, like-like him?"

"Yes," Jack said. "I like-like him."

"Good," Marco said. "Don't be mean to him, or my dad will have to kick your butt."

“You got it, bud.”

Later, after they'd dropped the kids at The Ridge's youth program, they stood in the parking lot.

"You were good with them," Luke said.

"They're easy."

"No, I mean it. You were patient. You answered Marco's questions honestly."

Jack looked at him. "He deserved honest answers."

Luke stepped closer. "Thank you. For this morning. For not freaking out when Mara showed up."

"Why would I freak out?"

"I don't know. Some guys would."

Jack's hand found the small of Luke's back, brief and grounding. "I'm not some guys."

They stood there for a moment, the morning sun warm on their faces, surrounded by the sounds of kids arriving and parents calling out reminders.

"I should get to work," Jack said finally. "Team meeting at ten."

"Yeah. I've got a class in twenty."

They didn't move.

"Tonight?" Jack asked.

"Yeah. Definitely."

Jack kissed him, brief and sweet, in the middle of The Ridge parking lot where anyone could see, then drove to work.

After his team meeting had started, Jack texted Luke.

“How's it going there?”

Luke: “They're getting their ya-yas out, that's for sure! You?”

Jack: “About to dive into the day. Huge smile on my face. The Lady at the gas station asked where I'd hidden the body.”

Luke: “LOL. Big smile here too.”

Jack set his phone down, still grinning.

This was good, he thought.

So good.

CHAPTER 36