Page 56 of Finally
“How jealous Jack gets?” Thom looked at him knowingly. “You’ve been single all your life, and suddenly, bam, you’re in a committed relationship and living with someone after only being together a couple of months. It happened so fast we all got whiplash.” He shook his head. “Add to that the way Jack gets insecure anytime someone shows any kind of interest in you, which let’s be honest, Gray, happens a lot. That’s got to bother you.”
“You view it like we’ve been together a couple of months; to me it’s been a couple of decades. I’d say it’s the opposite of fast, more like a glacial pace, but let’s not split hairs. What matters is, Jack’s finally mine and I want to spend every second possible with him. Living with him is a dream. And, sure, it bothers me when he gets upset because I never want anything to hurt him, but it doesn’t bother me in the way you mean.” He thought about how to explain his feelings. “When he gets jealous or anxious, I view it as an opportunity to show him how much I value him. It’s like a calendar reminder to worship my boyfriend.” He grinned. “Not that I need the reminder because I’m batting way out of my league with Jack.”
***
Jack was standing in the closet, changing out of his work clothes and into sweats when he heard Gray’s footsteps in the bedroom.
“Gray?” he said as he turned around.
“Hi.” Gray smiled and walked up to him. “How was your day?” He wove his fingers through Jack’s hair and brushed their lips together.
“Good. Busy, but much better than before. The new team’s working out and I’ve been able to offload quite a bit of my work to them. I feel like I can finally breathe.” Jack circled his arms around Gray’s waist. “How was yours? You met up with Thom after work, right?”
“Right.” Gray kissed his forehead. “My day was weird.”
“What happened?”
“This probably isn’t a conversation to have in the closet.” He paused. “Or maybe it is.” He shook his head and rubbed his palms over his eyes. “That’s a little too on the nose and I’m beat.”
“Go sit down. I’ll grab a sweatshirt and meet you on the couch.” Jack turned around, rustled through the hamper, and pulled on a cozy hoodie. “This one’s my favorite.”
“That one’s mine and I’ve worn it. That’s why it was in the hamper.”
Jack pulled the collar over his mouth and up to his nose. “I know.” He inhaled Gray’s scent. “That’s why I chose it.”
“C’mere.” Gray tugged him into his arms and held him tightly. “You are adorable.”
He rested his head on Gray’s chest and enjoyed the quiet moment, the stress from the day melting away.
“Do you want to sit down?”
“Yes.” Gray took a deep breath and stepped away. “I should change too.” He loosened his tie and slipped it over his head.
“Want me to get you a drink?”
“I had drinks with Thom, but I haven’t eaten. I should probably put something in my belly other than liquor.”
“I’ll order dinner while you finish up.”
He picked up his phone and placed a delivery order as he walked to the living room. “All set,” he said when Gray came in. “ETA is half an hour.”
“Thanks.” Gray sat on the other end of the couch and then lay back, putting his head in Jack’s lap.
“Comfy?” Jack asked.
“Uh huh.”
“Me too.” He trailed his fingers through Gray’s hair. “Your furniture fits perfectly in here.”
When Gray moved in, they had redecorated the living room with his things and gotten rid of the aesthetic but uncomfortable furniture the decorator had picked.
“Fits and is usable.”
Jack laughed. “I know. I know. The old stuff was awful. I’m glad it’s gone.”
“Mmm.”
“What happened at work?” He massaged Gray’s head.
