Page 57 of Watch Over Me

"Fine. I talked to Eddie this morning, in person, because I stayed over at his place. We're seeing each other now. Yes, you told me so. No, don't tell anyone yet until we notify the HR."

Ryan snorted at that. "That's, like, your shortest report ever."

"I hit the major points."

"These were some major points, I'll give you that." Ryan leaned on his forearms against his desk. "You're seeing each other now, huh?"

"I thought we'd be done with yes or no questions?"

Ryan shrugged. "I'm simply savoring the moment before I say I told you so."

"I've already admitted that."

"You won't take away my moment."

James rolled his eyes. "Okay, hit me with it."

"I," Ryan announced, puffing out his chest, "told you so."

"Yes, you did."

"You should listen to me more."

"Let's not get carried away," James said, and they both chuckled. "Happy now?"

Ryan's grin turned into a smaller, softer smile. "Yeah, man. I'm really happy for you. Both of you."

James hadn't expected a turnabout like that, so he didn't know how to react at first. Then he simply nodded.

"Thanks. I appreciate that."

"Our op communication's going to get even more interesting now," Ryan added, apparently unable to help himself.

"Stop."

"Just not too interesting," Ryan mock-warned him. "I'm drawing a line at comms sex when I'm there."

"Shut up, you asshole."

"No, you—"

"Don't finish that."

Ryan raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, but the grin he was sporting suggested he had a lot more material where that came from. James was in for a lot of teasing.

A lotof it.

Still, he wouldn't change a thing.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The weekend couldn't come fast enough.

Eddie didn't experience that feeling often, but he really needed the rest this week. After Monday and all the testimonies and briefings that followed, as well as not enough proper sleep, he was ready to drop by the time Friday arrived.

Or, at least, to lock himself and James in his apartment for the entire weekend, with the rest of the world conveniently cut off from them, barring a delivery person or two.

James would gladly support this plan, Eddie was sure—and not only because it was clear to both of them at this point that Eddie couldn't fall asleep without James next to him, since he was still too keyed up to fully relax on his own. Another, much more fun reason for the two of them to stay in was their complete inability to keep their hands away from each other whenever they were alone.

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