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To say Eric looked like he might be sick was a colossal understatement. Eric’s dark hair was on point and his clothes were perfect for the event. But his dark blue eyes looked like a scared rabbit searching for an escape. It was painful to watch such a big, cuddly-looking guy look so unsure. Oakley didn’t see any of the wedding from staring at Eric. He honestly didn’t think Eric was upset about Jakk marrying someone else. It was like he expected to get attacked for simply being there. As far as Oakley could tell, no one had even looked their way. Unfortunately, that wasn’t a trend that continued when they headed to the next banquet hall for the reception. Oakley immediately spotted two familiar faces headed their way.

Chipper was all smiles. The guy’s light brown eyes always swam with good humor. He gave Oakley a one-arm hug. Luckily, he kept it light. Chipper was an MMA champion. His arms were deadly. His gaze moved over Oakley before jumping to Eric and back again, as if he fought to point out the obvious. Oakley had brought Jakk’s ex to his wedding. “It’s been forever, man. How have you been? Who is your friend?”

Oakley bit back a laugh. Chipper was a huge player. It hadn’t occurred to him Chipper didn’t know Eric. His quick inspection of Eric had nothing to do with him being Jakk’s ex. The guy was always on the lookout for fresh meat. “This is Eric. Eric, Chipper.”

Eric shook Chipper’s hand. At least, he tried. Chipper brought Eric’s hand to his mouth. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Oakley exchanged a glance with Jayme. He assumed the two were there together, but Jayme was straight. Jayme was one of Jakk’s teammates. A lot of athletes ran in the same circles. When Jayme’s gaze met Oakley’s, they rolled their eyes before going back to watching Chipper’s sad attempt at seducing Eric.

Eric took his hand back and stepped closer to Oakley.

Oakley’s chest swelled with pride. Maybe they weren’t a couple, but it was nice to dream. He motioned toward Jayme. “This is Jayme. He—”

“Plays on Jakk’s team,” Eric finished for him. “We’ve met. Of course, you probably don’t remember me, since I was ‘just a friend.’ ” Eric didn’t do a good job of hiding his bitterness with those air quotes.

Jayme didn’t call him on it. “No. I remember. You were at one of our after parties. It’s nice to see again.”

“I’d very much appreciate if you would find your places at the dinner tables.”

They all turned at the interruption. Oakley nearly snorted. He would recognize Baylor’s snotty voice anywhere. The guy looked exactly like Oakley expected. He was ridiculously beautiful, as if polished by money. No doubt his services were astronomical.

Chipper was immediately distracted. “Well, hello. Who are you?” His gaze slid down Baylor’s tiny body. He left no doubt he would do anything. Oakley might have found it hot had that look been directed at him, but he knew Chipper too well. He wasn’t interested in that bullshit, and that was all a relationship with him would be.

Baylor looked every bit as uninterested. “Find. Your. Seat.”

“Damn, sexy. I love a bossy man.”

Green eyes narrowed on Chipper.

Chipper held up his hands in surrender. “We’re going. Tell me your name, though.”

Baylor walked away.

Chipper flashed Oakley an unrepentant smile. “I think he likes me. Do know who he is?”

Oakley shook his head at Chipper’s ego. He couldn’t even imagine what it must be like to be him. “Yeah. That’s Baylor Keates. He’s the wedding planner.”

They headed for the tables. Chipper released a low whistle. “Damn. He put all this together? There must be five hundred people here.”

Oakley nodded. It was impressive. They found their table and sat. Oakley was more than a little relieved when Chipper found his name card at a different table. Chipper was the type to monopolize the entire night. Oakley had asked Eric to join him for a reason. He wanted to spend time together.

Eric looked his way the instant they were seated. “Well, he’s definitely something.”

There was no denying that. “Yeah, but I imagine it takes a fuck-ton of confidence to become the MMA Light Heavyweight champion.”

Eric’s gaze slid toward the table where Chipper sat. Oakley followed his stare. As Oakley expected, he had everyone’s attention. “There are a lot of athletes here.”

Oakley took a drink of the tea in front of him. He winced. Oakley hated tea. “Yeah. Rocky has had a lot of clients over the years and met a lot of very talented athletes.” He motioned for a nearby server. At least she had just dropped off plates at a different table, so he hoped she worked there.

She was all smiles as she rushed to his side. “How can I help?”

“How do we get a real drink around here?”

She motioned toward a line of bars set up around the room. “Visit any station and they’ll help you out.”

He nodded his thanks before focusing on Eric. “What would you like?”

Eric tried the tea. He immediately set it away from him. “Do you mind seeing if they have some sort of soda, or even just water? I’m not picky, but I can’t drink that.” He motioned toward his discarded glass.

“On it.” He headed for the closest bar.

Jayme was already there, waiting for his drink. He flashed a smile at Oakley when he noticed him. “Hey. I take it you tried the tea?”

Oakley laughed. “Yeah. I’m more of a beer guy anyhow.”

Jayme glanced toward the table where Oakley had left Eric. He looked as if he wanted to say something. Oakley wasn’t surprised. He had been waiting for someone to be the first. “So, Jakk’s ex, huh?”

“He’s actually a really great guy.” Oakley wanted to say more and defend Eric, but he didn’t know how much Eric wanted people to know. He ordered a beer and a Coke.

“You know one reason he’s no longer with Jakk is because he cheated, right?”

Oakley’s gaze shot to Jayme. “Who? Jakk?” He wondered if Rocky knew that.

Jayme shook his head. “Eric. Rumor is he had someone else for more than a year before Jakk finally put him out.”

“Oh.” Oakley knew all about that, but he also knew something no one else did. It wasn’t true. One night, when they had been deep in their cups, Eric had confessed he had done a lot of things, desperately trying to make Jakk get real about them. One thing had been pretending to see someone else, hoping the jealousy or even rage would shake up the situation Eric had found himself in. Being someone’s dirty little secret was enough to break anyone. Oakley got it. It hadn’t worked, though, and it was just one more thing Eric had to live with. It hurt Oakley’s chest to see the way Eric punished himself even though he was the only one who got hurt. He wouldn’t humiliate Eric by admitting the motives of a broken man.

“I’m not worried about that bullshit.”

Jayme’s gaze moved over Oakley’s face, as if digging for the truth. “Okay. If you say so.” Jayme took his drink and walked away.

Oakley rolled his eyes. He didn’t need anyone to protect him. If anything, Eric was the one who needed to be warned. Oakley wasn’t like Jakk. He had no shame when he wanted someone, and he wanted Eric. Eric’s gorgeous face and sad soul had caught Oakley’s attention. Anyone he had ever been with could attest. That wasn’t a good thing. He didn’t quit.

Eric had never wanted to go home so badly in his entire life. He felt like everyone watched him and judged him. Eric couldn’t even find the will to get plastered. He worried a single drop of alcohol would make him puke… or cry. Either way, he would end up humiliated. Eric hated feeling judged. It upset him Oakley would ask him to do this. In fact, his paranoia had spread from everyone watching him to Oakley, setting him up for a huge bout of degradation. He was just so damn used to men fucking up his life. This entire situation was a nightmare.

“What happened to getting drunk and crying?”

Eric tried for a smile. He looked Oakley’s way. Oakley had made the inquiry close to Eric’s ear, where no one else could hear. When Eric turned his head, Oakley was still there. Eric had never been so close to him. His eyes were twice as beautiful inches away.

Eric forced himself to stay on topic. “I’m not in the mood to drink and I’m pretty sure I have no tears left to give.”

Several people were dancing. A love song played, and Eric wanted to die.

“Would you like to head back to the room?”

Eric was on his feet and headed for the closest door before the question died on Oakley’s lips. Oakley was hot on his heels. The walk to their hotel down the street was a silent one. Eric felt heavy. They had walked so they could get plastered. Now, Eric just felt empty and weak. He should have stayed, had a blast, and let the world see he hadn’t been broken, but he had been. Eric didn’t know how to put himself back together.

A loud, obnoxious-sounding wail escaped Oakley, making Eric jump in surprise. “You’re not going to love me anymore after tonight. I made you come and now you hate me. Your silence says it all.”

Oakley’s act was so over the top that Eric could only stare and smile while Oakley pretended to melt down.

He grabbed Eric’s arm and held on. “Please don’t hate me. I have no other friends.”

Eric laughed. “Bullshit.”

Oakley turned sweetly serious. “But you’re my best friend. No one matters the way you do.”

Eric’s eyes burned. He had to look away. It was true they spoke every single day for at least an hour at a time, but it hadn’t really occurred to him that he might be the only person Oakley spoke to that often. But when he really thought about it, Oakley was his best friend too. He really didn’t have anyone else.

Oakley linked fingers with him. “Seriously, I’m sorry I made you come. I never meant to cause you pain. There was just no way I could get out of this invitation and absolutely no one else I would come with.”

He couldn’t have Oakley thinking he caused Eric pain. “I’m not sorry. You’re right. You’re my best friend. If you suffer, I suffer. That’s how it works.”

A bark of laughter burst from Oakley. “Yeah. Weddings, in general, are pretty painful.” He got serious. “It seems unmanly to admit it, but I thought I’d be married by now. I mean, I’m thirty-six. Am I not supposed to be a settled adult by now? Fuck if I know.”

Eric’s chest hurt. “I understand. When I moved in with Jakk, I thought that’s where my life was headed. Now, look at me. Further away than ever from having my picket fence.”

“We should get married.”

A nervous chuckle escaped Eric. “Cute.”

“I’m being serious.” He sounded like it. Eric couldn’t deny that. “I like you way better than anyone else. You’re always the first person I want to talk to in the morning and the last voice I want to hear every night. No one else matters like that to me. You could get out of your aunt’s place, and quit, if you want. If you’re not working, you can travel with me. We’d have a blast.”

He was one hundred percent serious. Eric opened his mouth to say no. He didn’t want to be trapped in a loveless marriage, but no words came out. Oakley’s proposition was likely to be the only real chance he had of having a life.

Oakley bumped shoulders with him. “Come on. You want this. I can see it. You know we’d be happy.”

Eric looked over.

Oakley looked strangely hopeful.

Eric didn’t know what to say. “There’s a lot we’d need to discuss. Like, I’m pretty sure you don’t want to be celibate for the rest of your life, and I have no desire to be humiliated.” Until he said the words, Eric didn’t realize how badly he feared being the fool again. Maybe Jakk hadn’t cheated, but he had betrayed Eric on every other level.

Oakley pulled him to a stop. He went toe to toe with Eric. They were the same height. Eric found that sexy. In fact, everything about Oakley appealed to him. Oakley shuffled closer, making Eric’s heart beat a little faster. His expression screamed he would do bad things to Eric. Eric was ashamed to admit how badly he wanted that.

“I’m absolutely willing to share my bed with you and only you.” Before Eric could process that new bit of information, Oakley kissed him. An inferno lit. They both moved closer, as if they couldn’t stand an inch between them. Oakley held Eric’s hips, staying respectful. Eric didn’t want to be respected. He wanted to be touched. It had been so goddamn long since he felt anyone’s hands on his body. He ached. Oakley’s hard chest felt amazing beneath Eric’s palms.

Oakley pulled away. His heated stare had Eric swallowing in nervousness. He would be intense and probably liked it rough. “We’ll be fine in the bedroom department.”

Eric forgot what they were talking about. “Yeah.”

A triumphant-looking smile stretched Oakley’s lips. “I’ll make you proud to be my husband.”

Goddamn. Had he just agreed to marry Oakley? He couldn’t recall. His brain was too fuzzy. What the fuck? Oakley’s gorgeous eyes never wavered from Eric. Eric realized he wanted this. There was absolutely nothing Oakley could take from him that Eric hadn’t lost before. It didn’t matter this wasn’t love. This was better.