Page 31 of Cover Up

“You’re the sweetest thing, I swear to god,” Dei muttered, squeezing his hand, and for a second, he made a face like he was constipated. “Truth is, I’m not sure I want someone else pretending to be your guy.”

“My guy?” Felix repeated with a grin.

Dei scoffed. “Mocking me already?” When Felix laughed, Dei tugged him a little closer and released him only to cup his cheek and stroke his big thumb over the edge of Felix’s jaw. “You had it rough for long enough, sugar. And as long as I’m not too much of an eyesore to bring around these people—”

“No. God, please stop saying that about yourself. You’re…you don’t even know, do you?” Felix said. He stared between Dei’s organic eye and his prosthetic one, noting the differences and just how much more unique that made him. He wanted to kiss him again, but he didn’t want to ruin things again. “I just don’t think you understand how much you’re going to hate it there.”

“If it makes it more tolerable for you, then it won’t matter how much I’ll hate it,” Dei said.

Felix searched his face, and he wasn’t sure if the man was being honest or if Felix was blanking again. But he wanted to trust Dei would stand up for himself if it was too much.

“We won’t be staying near any of them. And I’m paying for the trip,” Felix finally said.

Dei’s lips stretched into a grin, and he grabbed Felix’s hand, pressing a lingering kiss to his knuckles. “You really know how to treat your fake boyfriends, sugar.”

“And you really know how to make your fake boyfriends blush, baby.”

Dei suddenly went bright pink along the tops of his cheeks, the color spreading to his ears, and Felix realized that meant he liked that word. He also looked a little stunned, and he couldn’t help but wonder if no one had ever been sweet with Dei before. It was obvious he liked it with all the little pet names he threw around to everyone.

Had no one ever picked up on that?

Felix swallowed heavily, then changed positions, fitting himself under Dei’s arm. Even though he was on his right, he could still hear the heavy thump of his heart as he laid an ear to Dei’s ribs. “Sorry I don’t have a bigger couch for you.”

Dei laughed. “The fact that you’re here with me at all is a damn miracle, shug. You won’t ever hear me complain.”

Felix was pretty sure Dei meant that, and it just made him fall that much harder, and that felt like a death sentence.

The trip back home was necessary, but the truth was, giving his heart to Dei for the sake of showing off to his family might also be the thing that did him in.

10

“Did you think I was going to say no?” Jeremiah asked, looking over at Dei with his big, big eyes behind his glasses.

Dei shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. “Not really, no.”

“Did you…want me to tell you no?” Jeremiah sounded a little confused, which made sense. He probably expected Dei to be elated about getting his time off approved.

Letting out a sigh, Dei turned his head and found a chair, grabbing it and whipping it around to straddle it next to Jeremiah’s. Sitting like that was easier on his hip, and he pressed his chest to the back. “I feel like a damn fool.”

Jeremiah sat back and pulled off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. “So, friend to friend, you do realize you’re allowed to tell Felix he’s asking for too much.”

Dei bowed his head and muttered, “He wasn’t the one who asked.”

“What was that?”

“He wasn’t the one who asked,” Dei said, louder. “I kind of insisted when he was ready to throw in the towel. But I can tell he loved his grammy, and his family sounds like a real piece of work.”

Jeremiah’s face darkened. “I haven’t heard much, but what little Max did tell me makes me want to fly my ass down there and beat the fuck out of their calves with my cane.”

Dei winced, knowing how bad that aluminum hurt when swung with enough force. “I’d be right there with you, but I don’t think Felix would appreciate it.”

Jeremiah rested his elbow on the desk and propped up his chin. “So, you’re the one who insisted on going. You’re cashing in your vacation. You actually want to spend time with him. Have I got all that?”

Dei rolled his eyes. “Yeah.”

“And you’re panicking now because…?”

“I’m gonna be his boyfriend,” Dei said.

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