Page 76 of In Step

Kane shook his head. “You don’t have to do th—”

“I do.” Leroy glanced to Fox. “Wedo.”

Fox nodded, lifted Bossy off his lap. Then he stood and held out his hand for Leroy to grab. “We’ll go to that big hardware store by the northern turn-off. It’s open on a Sunday and they have some basic cameras we can work with an app. They’re going up before I leave on that fishing boat. No arguments.” He fired a pointed look at Leroy who nodded. “And I’m going to put a couple more around the wharf and the studio and parking lot. We’ve only got the one on the office. We’ve been slack.”

“I’ll tag along,” Morgan offered, also getting to his feet. “We’ll put one up on the boatshed as well. I’ve been meaning to after what happened last year. You’re right, Fox. It’s not good enough.” He turned to Judah. “Are you coming?”

Judah glanced at me, then shook his head. “I’ll follow you down in a bit.”

Morgan nodded and turned to Fox. “Pick me up from the boathouse in fifteen.” The three men blew out the door in a cloud of determination, and just like that it was down to Judah, Kane, and me.

It was the first time I’d really had a chance to study Judah. I’d been so concerned for Kane once I’d understood what he was going to do. Judah looked... exhausted, but also oddly buoyant, much like Kane. Two peas in a tricky pod.

“I want to apologise for last night.” Judah’s gaze flicked between us. “Not for what I was feeling, but for not listening, for not reaching out to ask the questions. In some ways I think I knew that if I asked, I’d hear something that would make me rethink.” He glanced at Kane. “And I did. So, I’m callingenough. I’d like to try and redo this thing between us. If you’re game?”

Kane’s hand shook in mine, and I watched him fight a tide of emotion but eventually he got the words out. “I’m game. I’d like that too.”

Judah sighed. “You might need to be patient with me, cos I’m bound to fuck up, although I’m sureeveryonewill remind me whenever that happens.” He rolled his eyes. “But I’m tired of carrying this, Kane. We’re both tired.”

Kane’s shoulders caved, like he couldn’t hold himself up any longer. “We are. And Iamsorry.”

Judah smiled softly. “I know you are.” An understanding passed between them that made my heart squeeze. Then Judah turned to me. “Thanks for what you said last night. I know it wasn’t easy for you to say, and it certainly wasn’t easy for me to hear, but I needed it. Are we good?”

I nodded. “We’re good.” I pushed off the floor and sat on the arm of Kane’s chair, pulling him close and kissing his hair. “You okay, baby?”

He sighed and slipped his arms around my waist. “I will be.”

Judah’s brow notched. “Jeez, you two don’t make things easy on yourselves, do you? The heart wants what it wants, I guess. But since you’ve been getting dancing lessons from the expert, Kane, I’m thinking you should join our exhibition group.”

It was a barely disguised peace offering and Kane recognised it as well. “I’d love to, if it’s okay with Abe?”

I lifted his knuckles to my lips, aware of Judah watching us closely. “It would be my absolute pleasure.”

Judah groaned and shook his head. “Fuck. Me. It was bad enough dealing with my mother and Martha. Then Leroy’s bisexual bomb, and him and Fox all over each other like horny limpets. And now I have to cope with you two dripping saccharine all over the damn place. What the fuck is up with this town? I’m beginning to have fond memories of when I was the only rainbow around, and that’s saying something.”

He pushed up from the couch and wiped his palms down the front of his jeans. “I’m leaving before I have to bleach my eyeballs. But fair warning, best you’re done with whatever it is you’re about to do before that lot arrive back from their quest, or you’ll be in for a world of pain.”

I got to my feet and pulled him in for a bear hug. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He tried to wriggle free, but I held on until he finally gave in and relaxed against me. Only then did I let him go.

He stepped back and whacked me on the arm. “Arsehole.” Then he smiled and held his arms open to Kane. “You,I want to hug.”

Kane’s eyes filled, and as the two men wrapped their arms around each other, I nearly fucking sobbed. The hug went on much longer than I’m sure either of them planned, and even when they separated, Judah kept his hands on Kane’s shoulders.

“The next Sunday lunch at the homestead.” Judah’s gaze fixed on Kane’s. “I’d like you to come.”

Kane stared, then nodded, and I could tell he was close to overwhelmed.

“Come on, I’ll walk you out.” I put an arm around Judah’s shoulder and steered him to the door and down the stairs. When I got back, Kane was standing at the window watching Judah head down the drive. I sidled up behind him, sliding my arms around his waist and resting my chin over his shoulder. “Hey, you. How are you feeling?”

He leaned back against me. “I can’t... I don’t think I... fuck.” He turned in my arms, eyes brimming. “I don’t know how the hell I feel. So much has happened in a couple of days.” He touched my face, running his fingers over my lips. “Beginning with yesterday and you, for a start.” He leaned in and kissed me. “And then last night and today. So many years, I’d hoped to hear those words, you know? Not forgiveness, just... understanding. And now I’ve heard it, I have no idea what to do with it.”

I cupped his face. “You don’t have to do anything with it. It’ll sink in in its own time.”

He shook his head. “This morning I woke thinking I was leaving this place and, ironically, how much I’d miss it. Then two hours later, I’m talking with Judah, he’s fucking hugging me, Fox and Morgan and Leroy are buying locks for my front door, and I’m out. I’m fucking out.” He buried his face against my chest. “I’m out, Abe. I’m finally out.”

I wrapped a hand around the back of his neck—his hair falling like a river of silk through my fingers. The other slipped around his waist, holding him close as he shook against me. I peppered his hair with kisses and words of reassurance and comfort and who the hell knew what? A lot more than was prudent. A lot more than I should have. A lot more than a couple of weeks warranted, for sure.

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