Page 91 of A Real Good Lie

“For letting me come to dinner tonight with you and him and your well-named roommate.”

“That doesn’t require payment,” Jace protested.

“For going along with my fake date idea.” Sebastian waved a dismissive hand in the air. “For making this guy happier than he’s ever been.”

“Sebastian,” Callahan muttered, huffing out a breath and looking down at his lap. Sebastian wasn’t wrong, but things with Jace were so tentative and new, his fears still so prevalent in his mind, he didn’t want to put even half of his eggs into that basket yet.

“Ever?” Jace asked, his voice light in the way Callahan was familiar with.

“In a long time,” he confirmed.

“I’ll take it.” Jace pressed the pads of his fingers against Callahan’s cheek and tipped his face up, meeting Callahan’s stare with bright, gold eyes that sparkled like the sunshine. Callahan’s breathing hitched and his lips parted on a soft gasp.

How could Jace unman him with the barest touch and the softest of looks?

“Jace,” he whispered.

“Then it’s settled.” Sebastian stood up, but Jace kept his eyes trained on Callahan until Callahan forced himself to look away.

“I’ll see you for dinner,” Sebastian said. “What time and where?”

“I’ll text you.” Callahan stood up and pulled Sebastian into a tight embrace. Sebastian stiffened, then softened and reciprocated the gesture.

“I’ll see you.” Sebastian worked himself out of the hug and let himself out, leaving Callahan staring at the door.

Behind him, Jace stood up and pressed their bodies together, wrapping his arms around Callahan’s chest and flattening his palms against his chest and belly. His fingers dipped down, sliding under the waistband of Callahan’s sweats. Callahan dropped his head back against Jace’s shoulder with a whimper.

“Tell me again how happy this makes you,” Jace whispered, taking Callahan’s earlobe between his teeth. “Or better yet, show me.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jace has Second Thoughts

“I think I preferred it before you started to date people,” Remington grumbled, glaring at himself in the mirror and fidgeting with his bow tie.

“Oh?”

“All this stress.”

“You’ve seen Callahan nearly naked,” Jace reminded him. “He’s not going to care if your tie is straight or not.”

“First impressions are important.” Remington pulled his tie loose and set to work on it for the third time.

“And you’ve already made yours.”

Remington’s attention shifted and he glared at Jace in the mirror, then finished adjusting his tie with a displeased sigh.

“You look fine,” Jace assured him.

“I disagree.”

“I don’t get why you’re… Oh.”

A huge grin spread across Jace’s face and Remington’s cheeks flushed a dark crimson. Remington spun around, his eyes wide.

“Oh, what?” he asked.

“You’re worried about your first impression with Sebastian,” Jace said.