“I’m interested.”
“What about lunch at the pub? Noah, you too?”
“I’ve just spent half my break patching you up.”
“Um, sorry? And thank you. I hope it was at least a little fun? Like, I saw you daydreaming there for a bit. Thinking about Wade?”
Noah flushed.
“There’s something romantic about it, isn’t there? Both of us meet-cuting around an injured foot. It’s like, it bonds us even more. Like it’s meant to be.”
A heavy grunt came from his left.
“Brandy?”
Eyes narrowed. “I feel like I’ve seen this ‘Jack’ before.”
That explained Brandy’s odd reaction to the guy. “It’ll come back to you. These things always do. Usually when you’re doing something impractical, like showering. And wow, the imagination is a funny thing. Now I’m picturing you in the shower.”
Brandy’s fingers froze under his.
“I have to keep telling myself there’s no silver anywhere.” The room was quiet. Zach chortled. “Though silver would look good on you, Brandy. Just sayin’. I wonder what Jack would—”
Noah coughed. “All done. You’ll have to keep your shoe loose.”
“Thanks, Noah. You’re the best.”
They hugged, and Brandy helped him hobble back to the car.
“Are you sure you can handle the pub?”
Zach looked at him.
Brandy drove him there.
The tummy-rumbling scent of hot and salty fish n’ chips rolled over him. John set down their meals and laughed. “Young Thor! I reckon I know the lad you’re on about.”
The bright walls and stage and even—okay, not Brandy, but everything else faded into the background. Zach clung to every one of John’s words.
“. . . earring in one ear?”
“Yes! How do you know him?”
“He’s a Willoughby. Family lives ten minutes from here. Comes around from time to time.” John gestured to Brandy. “Maybe you’ve seen him at pub quizzes?”
Brandy rubbed his jaw. “That might be it.” He didn’t look convinced.
“Smart fella. Knows a lot about books and music. Almost as much as your man Brandon here.”
“Is he a good person? Kind?”
“Don’t know him that well. But you’ll find out. He’s staying at home for a bit. Got a leak in his Kapua Hill flat.”
All these random tidbits about the locals, but nothing of substance!
“Brandy, phone.”
Brandy took his time handing it over.
“Brandy, words.”
“I honestly couldn’t.”
“Please.”
A long beat passed. Brandy sighed; his eyes met Zach’s with soft earnestness. “Meeting you infused my life with joy. I want to spend every minute with you.”
“Gosh, that’s good. Maybe better for after the third date, though.”
Brandy plucked up a chip and jammed it into his mouth.
“Try again.”
“I want to tell you how I feel, but I’m afraid you won’t return my feelings, and I wouldn’t want to lose the possibility of friendship.”
“Where do you come up with this gold? I mean, not quite what I’m going for, but damn. Third time’s the charm.”
Another sigh. “Want to hang out sometime?”
“Perfect.”
Crap. His foot was infected, and now he had to choke down antibiotics three times a day. It wouldn’t take long for the swelling and fever to die down, but until then Zach had been manhandled back to bed by Noah, and then by Brandy.
If he weren’t so pissed, he might consider himself pretty lucky to have been so thoroughly groped. Zach could still feel Brandy’s grip around his arms as he steered him into bed. Felt it under his chin, too, where he’d lifted the covers.
Silly sensible men!
Others might love that their boss told them not to come in. That they could work—or not—at home. Zach found passing the time tedious. Lonely.
He groaned. Still another five hours before Brandy would be back.
He picked up his phone. Jack had answered late Sunday: he was free whenever. Open all week.
Zach: Whenever? Because I’m currently bored out of my mind.
The response was instantaneous, earning him back the points he’d lost for taking so long the first time.
Jack: Gimme address. I’ll come over.
True to his word, Jack was there within the half hour—which was about how long Zach needed to manoeuvre himself to the door.
“How’s the dire wound?” Jack leaned his buff arm against the doorframe, grinning at him hopping about on the threshold.
“Fireman me to the wilderness.”
Jack heaved him up like a floppy rag doll and shouldered him outside. He smacked his ass, which . . .
Nope, closed for business.
“Where’s the wilderness?”
“Ah, right here at the cosmos.”
“How profound.” Jack laughed and lowered Zach to the grass.
The scent of soil and flowers filled his lungs. He reclined, absorbing it through his whole length, sunshine glittering above. He shielded his eyes with a hand.
Jack crouched next to him, grinning. “Know what I think we need? Music.”
“You read my mind. Blast something from your phone. And Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be judging you.”
“No better way to.”
Zach pushed into a sitting position. This god got him.
And his music, damn.
All Zach’s favourites. Like he’d dug around in his mind and pulled them out, including all the lyrics—he loved a guy who respected lyrics.
