Page 9 of A Cold Hard Truth

“Callahan and I are getting lunch with Sebastian and since you were just holed up here in your room, I wanted to invite you along.”

“It… it wouldn’t be proper for me to have lunch with him,” Remington answered, ignoring the tiniest flare of interest that flamed in his stomach.

“Why not?”

“He donated those books to the museum,” Remington said, thinking ofTamerlanespecifically. “I wouldn’t want it to appear improper for me to be running around town with a donor.”

“He donated anonymously.” Jace rolled his eyes.

“ButIknow it was him.”

“But you’re not supposed to. Besides, he donated before you met him and you and I are the only people who know it was him, so it’s not like it’s really that bad.”

“It literally is that bad,” he countered.

“It’s just lunch.” Jace stood up and shrugged. “With your best friend and his boyfriend. Besides, Sebastian has been kind of down lately. It would be good for him to have some company.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Ex-wife woes,” Jace said.

“What?” Remington’s eyes widened.

“He and that monstrous woman got divorced.” Jace waved a dismissive hand. “I thought I told you.”

“No,” he murmured. “You didn’t. Also, that’s a good word for you, I’m impressed.”

“You’re an excellent influence when you want to be. Now get your shoes and let’s go get lunch. It’s just one meal. No harm can come from that.”

“Fine.”

Jace smiled again, then cocked his head toward the door. Remington followed him out, slipping his shoes on and collecting his things while he waited for Jace to finish prepping and preening himself.

“You’ve been staying with Callahan a lot lately,” Remington said, once Jace had finished getting ready. It was something he’d meant to broach with Jace when the time was right, but the time was never right, and he doubted it ever would be. They’d lived together for six years, and Remington had always told Jace their run would end. He’d never thought he would be the one to find a partner and split their roommate situation in two, but it surprised him when it happened to Jace nonetheless.

“Yeah.” The tips of Jace’s ears turned pink.

“Are you going to be moving in?” he whispered, following Jace out of the apartment and into the parking lot. Jace pulled his keys out and unlocked his car, so Remington slipped into the passenger seat without another word.

“He’s asked me to.”

“Oh.” The floor fell out from beneath Remington’s feet.

“I mean…” Jace steered the car, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel as he drove them to wherever lunch was happening. “Now you can get someone who actually pays you rent, right?”

“No,” he answered quickly. “I will not share my space with a stranger.”

“I was a stranger once.”

“You came recommended.”

Jace answered that with a soft laugh.“I haven’t told him yes,” he said. “Not yet.“

“But you’re going to.”

“Eventually.”

“That’s good.” Remington swallowed down his selfish displeasure. “I’m happy for you. For him.”