Page 43 of Finally
“I’m being a jerk to Gray,” Kevin said, defeated.
Jack nodded.
“You’re right. Heismy friend and you’re a smart man. If you’re sure you know what you’re getting yourself into, I’ll stop with the barbs.”
“Thank you,” Jack said. He put a piece of chicken in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed. “The rumors are probably understated.”
Kevin gasped, eyes widening. “You are beyond lucky.”
He felt lucky. And also scared. Now that he understood what he could have with Gray, he didn’t want to lose him to his many admirers.
***
“I’m leaving the office now. Call me when you’re done with work so we can figure out dinner.” After hitting send on the text,Gray set his phone on his car’s charging dock. He hadn’t yet pulled out of his parking spot when it rang. “Hi. That was fast. Are you wrapping up?”
“I’m actually home already.”
He glanced at his clock while he navigated his way out of the parking garage. “It’s only six. Why are you home?”
“Lots of people are done with work and back home by six o’clock on a Friday. That’s normal,” Jack said. “I think.”
“True,” Gray said, chuckling. “But the fact that you onlythinkthat establishes that it isn’tyournormal. You work too hard.”
“I know. I’m going to make some changes because I want to slow down. But that takes time to figure out and I have too much going on to devote that time to it so round and round we go.”
“Got it. I’ll head over and we can grab dinner by your house. How about Terra Plata? Unless you’re in the mood for something else.”
“I’m making us dinner.”
That was even more unexpected than Jack finishing work at a decent hour. “You’re cooking?” Gray asked, wanting to make sure he hadn’t misunderstood.
“Yes. Beef stroganoff. Is that okay?”
“You’remakingbeef stroganoff? From scratch?” Jack was great at a lot of things, but cooking wasn’t one of them. Not that he was bad at it, it just hadn’t ever interested him, so it wasn’t something he did.
“I am. The sauce is simmering right now and I’m going to start on the beef.”
Sensing some tension in Jack’s tone, Gray decided not to question him further over the phone. “That sounds great. Do you want me to pick up anything on the way home?”
“I think I have everything.”
“Call me back if you change your mind. I’ll see you soon, sweetheart.”
“Bye, Gray.”
He spent the drive to Jack’s house trying to figure out his unusual behavior but got nowhere.
“Hopefully it’ll make more sense in person,” he said to himself as he got out of the car.
He picked up his laptop bag from the passenger seat and walked into the house. Valentine’s Day was a week away and they’d decided that Jack would take care of dinner plans and Gray would pick something for them to do afterward. He had gotten them tickets to a candlelight orchestra. The symphonywasn't usually their thing, but this performance would be rock and metal music performed by classical musicians and the venue would be lit by candles. Jack was sure to enjoy it.
Those thoughts occupied Gray’s mind and distracted him from the homemade dinner mystery. When he walked into the kitchen and saw Jack standing at the counter, spoon in hand, he was quickly reminded. “It smells great in here,” he said.
“Terrific.” Jack sounded frustrated. “We can scent our way to full stomachs.”
“What’s going on?” He walked over to Jack, snaked both arms around his trim waist, rested his chin on his shoulder, and looked over it at the bowl on the counter. “That looks”—he got a better view at the dish Jack was stirring and reconsidered his next words—“good?”
“Was that a question?” Jack turned his head and looked at him over his shoulder.
