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“Why?”

“Because he was like my brother from another mother. I loved the guy. Hated the look on his face.”

Oakley considered that answer and decided he hated it. “You would have done that just to make him happy?”

Jack shrugged. “Well, you know, that’s a lot of what good sex is all about. It’s about making the other person happy. Giving them pleasure, right? That’s what makes it so great. When it’s someone you love, you just want to do everything you can to show them that.”

Oakley started to get it. And it gave him hope. “Are you telling me that you think a straight guy could actually make love to another man?”

Jack nodded. “I think maybe so. If he loved the guy, you know? And maybe just that one guy. Maybe no one else in the whole world but that one guy. But yeah, I think maybe so.” He leaned in and dropped his voice. “Because sometimes a good hard fucking is exactly what someone needs, and if you love them, you want to be that fucker, right?”

Oakley stared at Jack. He got it. He really got it. Maybe Joel would too.

Jesus. What a conversation. Oakley couldn’t believe the absurdity of it. He was sitting in a bar, feeling sorry for himself and thinking he had the most fucked-up problems in the world. Then Jack sits down and gives him hope.

He couldn’t help it. Oakley laughed. Hard. Because it was all so damn crazy. Jack joined in. They laughed until their sides hurt and everyone in the place was looking at them.

Oakley wiped a hand over his face. “Holy shit, man, I needed that.”

Jack ran an unsteady hand through his hair. The guy was well on his way to shitfaced. Of course, he’d put down a lot more tequila than Oakley had.

“More tequila?” Jack asked.

Oakley groaned. “Man, stop, I can’t take any more.”

“Save that line for the bedroom,” Jack said with a grin.

Oakley laughed. “You’re a funny guy, I’ll give you that.”

“Glad you think so. So then here’s my stellar advice for you.”

“Can’t wait to hear it.”

Jack pointed at Oakley. “Don’t fuck it up.”

Oakley shook his head, laughing. “You suck at advice. Though what you said about making the person you love happy was pretty damn smart.”

“Jack.”

Tyson Sparks stood next to their table. He had clearly come to pick up Jack. Sadie must’ve called the guy.

Then Oakley realized she’d made two phone calls.

“Uh, hey guys.”

Joel walked over to the table. He looked like shit too. There was a bruise on his cheek and a cut above his left eyebrow. Oakley felt guilty about putting those marks there.

“What are you doin’ here?” Oakley asked.

“Sadie called me.”

Tyson managed to get Jack up from the table and out of the bar, while Joel continued to stand there.

Before Oakley could apologize, Joel jerked his head toward the back door. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 8

Oakley stood, though it took some effort. He probably shouldn’t have had those tequila shots. He was a little unsteady.