Page 33 of The Broker

They both laughed, flopping down onto the bed next to each other. With an exhausted sigh, they turned to face one another. Eyes locked together, their smiles slowly faded.

Staring into each other’s eyes, they decided to finally address the issue that had been in the back of their minds all day.

“Umm, do you think we should talk about what happened this morning?” Jared asked, afraid of what the outcome might be.

The boy blinked, then looked down at Jared’s chest.

“I’m happy ignoring the giant elephant in the room. We Irish are good at avoiding our feelings and drinking away our troubles.”

“So, you have feelings?” Jared asked, raising an eyebrow and giving a smirk.

Isaac gave him side eye.

“I have lots of feelings. I feel like smothering you with a pillow. I feel like eating a tub of ice cream all by myself. I feel like tying you to the bed, then leaving you for Mr. Padamon to find.”

Mr. Padamon was one of the guests they met earlier in the day. The man apparently didn’t believe in deodorant, even under this killer hot sun. So, in an act of self-preservation, all the guys did their best to remain on opposite sides of the yacht from theman. He was probably the only guest who was going to return home from this trip with all of his cash still in hand.

“Ow, you’re harsh,” Jared responded with a snigger.

“See, got lots of feelings all swirling around inside my head,” Isaac added, doing his best not to make direct eye contact.

“That’s not where feelings reside,” Jared noted.

He didn’t want to force Isaac to talk if he wasn’t ready. Jared was a patient man and would give Isaac all the space that he needed to process what had happened last night and then again this morning. Isaac may be stubborn, but he was well worth the wait.

“Well, if you ever want to talk about your… feelings… just know that I’m always here to listen.”

Isaac nodded without saying a word.

“And just so we’re clear, I had a really good time this morning, but you still annoy the fuck out of me,” Jared clarified.

That solicited a cautious smile from Isaac and a glance in his direction.

“Also, thanks for coming and sitting with me last night while I went through my little… episode.” Jared hated calling it an episode but wasn’t sure what else to call it.

The bed shifted as Isaac turned to face him.

“You have a lot of nightmares, don’t you?”

Jared nodded. “They’ve been getting better over the years, but sometimes something will trigger them, and the memories come flooding back.

Now, it was Jared’s turn to feel vulnerable and uncomfortable.

Isaac slipped his hand into Jared’s and rubbed his thumb against the back of his skin. It was such a small gesture, but he immediately started to feel better.

“I get dark thoughts as well sometimes,” Isaac whispered. His eyes were lowered as he opened up to Jared. “I do my bestto hide it, and Dr. LeFleur really helps when I need to talk it out, but sometimes the thoughts just creep up on me, and I do what I can to ride it out.”

“I had no idea.” Jared felt a lump of guilt form in his throat.

He felt guilty that Isaac had been suffering all this time, and Jared hadn’t even noticed.

“I wish you would’ve told me. I could have been there to help you through it, just like you’ve been there for me all those times.”

Isaac lay there in silence.

“I’m guessing that all the mornings I found you slipping out of my room were nights that I had my nightmares?” Isaac nodded slowly. “That’s so strange. I always woke up those mornings feeling so well-rested and refreshed. Like I’d just had the best night’s sleep of my life. I never would have guessed that those were the nights I had my nightmares.”

Jared still couldn’t believe that all those nights, Isaac had snuck into his room to care for him. That was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for him.

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