Page 50 of Burning Up

Jack gave him a sly grin. “Yes, double penetration really works. It’s not just for porn.”

“Holy fuck, you did not just tell me that.”

Gray gave Jack’s arm a playful punch. “Quit scaring our friend.”

“I’m not scared exactly, just… Wow. TMI.”

“Ignore him and just ask us,” Mason said.

“What’s your secret? How do you stay together?”

“Talking. Lots of talking,” Mason said.

Gray nodded. “If you’re worried about something, you’ve got to talk to them about it even when you’d much rather ignore it. It’s damn hard, and I still suck at it, but I’m learning. I hope.” He glanced at his lovers and both of them beamed at him.

“He’s right,” Jack said. “With three of you, there’s even more of a chance of misunderstanding or someone getting their feelings hurt.”

“So I’ve got to call them, admit to being an idiot, and talk about all the things I’ve been avoiding? This fucking sucks.”

Jack shook his head. “Just think about what it’s like when you’re together. Think about the feeling you get when you see them and remember that it’s worth the pain and agony for that,” Jack said.

Gray frowned. “He’s big on mushy shit tonight. I’m not going to be able to eat if this keeps up.”

Mason snorted. “As if. I’d like to see something that would actually take away your appetite.”

Bryce laughed. He’d seen Gray eat plenty of times, and he doubted the man was going to push his plate away even if Jack sang him love songs right in the bar.

“Speaking of food, let’s order,” Gray said.

They did. Then they spent the next hour eating, drinking, and talking, not about Bryce and all the shit he was dealing with, but about the coming basketball season, the rivalry between cops and firefighters, and the amazing qualities of sweet tea and biscuits. Bryce realized he needed that kind of companionship as much as he needed what he had with Matt and Toby. After that hellish night in Atlanta, he’d closed himself off from friends as well as lovers, but after what happened in the warehouse with Matt, he’d been reminded that life was fragile. He had to quit punishing himself and start living.

“You going to be okay?” Mason asked as they exited the bar several hours later.

Bryce nodded. “Yeah.”

“You going to call them?”

“In the morning.”

Mason studied him carefully. “Don’t put it off any longer than that.”

“I won’t. Matt needs to get a good night’s sleep. I don’t want to keep him from it, but I promise I’ll call first thing tomorrow.”

“Good, do that.”

Bryce said good-bye too, feeling better than he had since he’d broken things off.

18

After Bryce got home, he changed into sweats and poured himself a bowl of Captain Crunch. Why the hell was he still hungry when he’d eaten a huge bowl of curry and a plate of bacon-wrapped dates at Undertow? Nerves?

Just as he took his first bite, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen. Toby. He couldn’t answer fast enough. “Hello.”

“Bryce?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you… um… would you come over? Matt wants to see you, but he’s not going to call you himself, and I… It would mean a lot. I saw it last night, okay? You were right, but please forget about how pissed off you are and come see Matt.”

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