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“What do you want to say?”

“Just that I hope this works. Between us, I mean,” Lake said. “I want this to work so much.”

“Me too,” Jesse replied, putting all his desire for the same into his words. “Me too, Lake.”

“Good.” He started to dig through the basket but paused. “Are we boyfriends? Like official and exclusive?”

A fierce stab of possessiveness pierced his heart. “I don’t share.”

Lake smiled. “Me either.”

Jesse gave a sharp nod. That was settled then.

Lake handed Jesse two wineglasses then a bottle of sparkling grape juice.

Jesse lifted a brow in surprise.

Lake shrugged. “I know wine is what most people drink with Italian,” he said. “But Dane and Brandon grabbed this from the store so…you know, no alcohol.”

Jesse loved it. He leaned closer to Lake and dropped his voice. “Can I tell you a secret?”

Lake’s eyes widened before he nodded eagerly.

“I hate wine,” Jesse confessed.

“You do?”

“I only drink it because like you said, it’s often paired with certain foods. I don’t like it at all. It doesn’t matter if it’s eight dollars or eight hundred. I hate wine.” Jesse shook the bottle of sparkling juice. “This I can drink.”

Lake giggled.

“What else do you have in that magic basket?” Jesse asked.

“Dinner!” Lake pulled out two to-go containers and a foil-wrapped roll of bread.

Jesse groaned. “It smells so good.” He hadn’t realized how hungry he was. Had he even eaten lunch? Jesse couldn’t remember. Not after spending all day worrying about Ezra’s parents.

“And dessert” Lake pulled out two more bowls.

“This is the best dinner date that I’ve ever had,” Jesse said sincerely. It was so much more special since Lake had done this on his own. Or with the help of their friends. And apparently his staff.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Lake said. “I didn’t know what else to do. How to show you.”

“Just talk to me,” Jesse replied. “We can talk about these things. Get to know each other in a new way.”

“Yes, please.”

“Now let’s eat and talk,” Jesse encouraged.

* * * * *

Lake

“Swimming,” Lake repeated.

“I love it. I swim every morning. It’s one of the perks of staying in the penthouse. That private pool.”

“We have a pool,” Lake said. He wasn’t even sure why. Of course, Jesse knew they had a pool. Jesse had helped hire the crew that had built the fence around it.