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Dean winked. “Always here for you, buddy.”

Troy looked at Oscar for help. “Do you see what I have to put up with at work? He’s a monster.”

Oscar chuckled, patting Troy’s arm. “You’re going to be okay. It’s nothing worse than what you’ve put me through.”

“That’s a lie. I’m sweet and kind to everyone,” Troy protested.

“Don’t forget a pain in the ass,” Sloane added.

“I hate all of you,” Troy pouted.

Which lasted as long as it took for Oscar to lean forward and whisper in his ear. “You look amazing tonight.”

Troy felt the color rising in his cheeks as Oscar’s compliment sank in. Troy glanced at him, wishing he could say something in return, but didn’t trust the volume of his voice not to betray him. If there was anyone who looked amazing, it was Oscar. Oscar’s dark eyes flickered over his face with a smile as though knowing the effect he’d had. Troy fought to find something to say when Oscar reached out and took his hand, holding it on top of the table and squeezing.

Dumbfounded, Troy looked down at their linked hands and then up to Oscar’s face. That same expression of confidence, with just a hint of worry in his eyes, was still there, but Oscar never moved his hand. A smile spread across Troy’s face as he curled his fingers around Oscar’s, returning the hold with what he was sure was the goofiest smile in existence.

“So I hear you’ve been settling into things working beside Christian, Oscar,” Dean said, a pleased smile on his face.

Oscar turned his attention to him, nodding. “Now I’ve had some time to get used to it, it’s not so bad. He still handles most of the big hats, but he’s used me to chase some people off, too.”

“Really?” Dean asked with a laugh.

“There’s an advantage to being tall, grumpy, and scary,” Troy said, still grinning.

Sloane wrapped an arm around Dean’s middle with a snort. “Tell that to this one, who I think terrifies more people on a daily basis than I do in a week.”

“I do not,” Dean protested.

Troy listened to them squabble back and forth, smiling as he felt Oscar’s fingers press against his. When Dean turned theconversation back to Oscar, asking what sort of ‘heavy muscle’ he’d had to employ, Troy listened. Troy already knew the story involving a ‘drunk in the middle of the day’ private, who apparently thought he could just walk into General Winter’s office and had to be dragged out by Oscar.

His attention was on Oscar, holding his hand. Not quietly sneaking a kiss in the shadows of some alcove or even under the table where someone might have to guess what they were doing. No, his boyfriend had purposefully taken hold of his hand and put the whole thing on display for anyone walking by. Troy didn’t even care if someone walking by took notice. It was the realization that Oscar had done it and seemed to grow more comfortable with it despite being nervous.

Troy leaned in, speaking softly so only Oscar could hear him. “You okay?”

Oscar smiled. “I’m alright.”

“You spoke to Gabriel again?”

“I did. And my prediction that you’re going to be facing the third degree when the family shows up is almost guaranteed. I guess everyone wants to know about the guy who somehow managed to ‘tame me,’ as Gabriel puts it.”

Troy laughed. “Aren’t I supposed to be the one who needed the taming?”

“Not according to my brother.”

Troy searched Oscar’s face, still finding faint tension in the man’s brow. “You sure everything’s okay? Gabriel didn’t...say anything bad?”

Oscar shook his head. “Gabriel is...well, he’s Gabriel. Trust me, if my brother had a problem, he would have said so.”

“Like, the problem he had that you didn’t say anything before now?”

“A problem like that, yeah.”

Troy smiled hesitantly. “So, you’re happy?”

Oscar winked, squeezing Troy’s hand. “I’m...hell, I don’t know. I’m relieved that he knows. It’s like I’ve been carrying around this huge weight on my shoulders for who knows how the fuck long, and now it’s gone.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”