Page 11 of A Cold Hard Truth

Callahan straightened, and Jace shot him an accusatory glare. He’d deal with apologizing later. It was clear after watching the two of them together, the only reason Jace hadn’t moved in with Callahan already was him.

“Eventually,” Callahan said.

“After you and I talk about it,” Jace said, his eyes narrowed at Remington.

“It’s your life. I’ll always be your friend and I’ll always be here, no matter where you live. Besides,” Remington paused and smirked, “it’s not like you pay rent anyway.”

“Hey!” Jace protested loudly. “I pay utility bills.”

“That’s because you take hour long showers.”

“I like hot showers,” he whined.

“I like hot showers,” Sebastian mumbled beside him.

“You need one,” Remington answered back without thinking.

Sebastian turned to him, a slow rotation of his head, no doubt on account of his inebriation, and he arched a pale eyebrow in Remington’s direction.

Something… Remington felt something, but it was deep and dangerous, and he knew better. Entertaining that sort of attention from drunk, straight men would not end well for anyone, least of all him. He needed to get his virginity out of the way first, then he could deal with figuring out the rest.

“So.” Jace’s voice broke him out of his thoughts, and Remington looked away, turning his stare toward the crisp white plate in front of him. “Sebastian, how’s dating going?”

Sebastian snorted. “Someone sent me a message on that app you set me up on.”

“Oh?” Callahan raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t say anything to me about it.”

“It’s new.”

“What’s her name?” Jace asked.

Sebastian exhaled loudly and rolled his eyes at Jace. “Not a woman.”

Remington choked on his water, droplets sputtering out of his mouth and rolling down his chin. Everyone looked at him as he tried to wipe his face and pat his shirt dry at the same time.

Sebastian was not married. And Sebastian wasnotstraight.

“Sorry,” he apologized, clearing his throat. “Sorry, wrong pipe.”

“Not a woman?” Callahan balked. “What’s this?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Jace shook his head with a grin. “Sebastian seems like he’s ready to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.”

“It’s not…” Sebastian stopped himself, taking a large swallow of his vodka. “I just wanted to see what’s out there.”

Remington closed his eyes and fisted his napkin in his lap. He went through a breathing exercise and when he forced his eyes open, Jace’s stare was focused on him with a laser intensity. He swallowed, looking away.

“There’s plenty of fish in the sea,” he said, relaxing the tight hold he had on his napkin and smoothing it back over his lap.

“I know.” Sebastian gave him a lazy smile and raised his glass in a toast. “Maybe I’ll find one.”

Chapter Four

Sebastian Needs to Stop Day Drinking

“You didn’t need to drive me home,” Sebastian mumbled, leaning his weight against the wall beside his front door.

Remington held out his hand expectantly, and Sebastian blinked slowly. Remington had delicate hands, soft looking palms with long and pale fingers. Sebastian definitely liked the look of them, but he couldn’t figure out why Remington was showing them to him.