Page 93 of Everything That Kills Me
When Jack didn’t answer, Zeph stumbled to a halt. “You’re joking.”
Jack tugged Zeph’s arm to get him moving. “You can skate brilliantly.”
“Yes, but you could skate too.”
“There’s plenty I can’t do.”
“Rock climbing? Kayaking? Piloting a plane? Paragliding? Parkour?” Zeph looked at him. “Oh for fuck’s sake, seriously? You can do all those? I’m not going to mention anything else.”
“I’m sure you’ll find something I can’t do.”
“Right! Probably when you’re old and grey and you can’t knit.”
Jack laughed but an ache set up in his chest. Would he live long enough to be old and grey?
“Did Thomas teach you to do those things? Is that what being home-schooled is like? Factors and geometry before lunch, downhill skiing after?”
“Either Thomas or someone else.”
“What happened if you didn’t want to do something? Like skydiving?”
“There hasn’t been anything yet I wasn’t prepared to try.”
“I’m not sure I could jump out of a plane.”
“I bet you could.”
“Please don’t book it as a surprise.” Zeph shuddered. “In fact, run all surprises past me first.”
“Which means they’re not a surprise.”
“Exactly.”
Zeph began stripping the moment they were inside their rental. Jack leaned back against the door and watched. By the time Zeph reached the rear of the property, he wore only his boxers.
“There’s no one else around, is there?” Zeph asked.
“If we don’t count the voyeurs in the International Space Station.”
“Ha.” Zeph peeled down his boxers and kicked them aside.
Jack stared at his tight backside and felt his pulse jump.
“Done ogling?” Zeph asked. “I can see you in the glass.”
“No.”
Zeph laughed, wriggled his arse and pulled open the door. “And the water is definitely hot?”
“You’ll find out when you pull the cover off. Don’t dive in.”
By the time Jack had stripped and gathered beers and towels, Zeph was in the tub, leaning back in the bubbling water, his head resting against the padded side. Jack climbed up and handed Zeph a beer before he stepped in.
“Holy shit!” Jack yelped. “Cooking yourself?” He gingerly lowered himself down next to him.
“It’s years since I’ve been in a hot tub.” Zeph put the beer down, climbed onto Jack’s lap and straddled him.
Jack slid his hands down Zeph’s back and pulled him close. “Limited shenanigans.”
