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D grinned as he heard Faith yell something at Xander. God, he missed them. "I'll look forward to it. Tell everyone else I said hi and that I miss them. Give them my number. I'd love to hear from them."

"I will. You take care." Xander ended the call.

D continued to lay there, staring at the ceiling. He really missed his old life. He tried hard not to think about it. There was nothing he could do to change his circumstances. Hearing from Xan hurt. It brought back all the pain that he'd shoved deep inside and refused to deal with. Anger and frustration were real, but he had no one but himself to blame. He'd been the one to get caught.

A soft knock drew his attention to the door.

"Sorry, just needed to grab my phone. I'd left it on the nightstand." Jeremy peeked in, then frowned. "You okay?"

D shrugged. "You can come in." He continued to lay on the bed, not wanting to move. "It was my best friend from the old team. Hell, my best friend from forever ago. We met when we were eighteen."

Jeremy sat down beside him. "Missing your old life?"

"Really bad after that call." D reached his hand out, finding Jeremy's. "I'm glad I'm here with you, but I miss my old life so badly sometimes. I miss my friends."

Jeremy gave his hand a squeeze. "How about we forget the lake and just go to my place?"

D was surprised that Jeremy could read his emotions so well. The last thing he was in the mood for was the lake. "You sure you don't mind?"

"Not at all. We can take the day and miss our pasts. The lake's not going anywhere. We can go another time." Jeremy gave him a sympathetic look. "I didn't have anyone as close as you did, and I miss my friends. I know it's hard."

D blew out a long breath. "I miss them all, but mostly Xander."

Jeremy nodded. "How about we get out of here and you can tell me all about him?"

D sat up and hugged Jeremy tightly. Somehow, he knew exactly what D needed. Fate might have taken Xander from him, but it gave him a gift with Jeremy. No matter how much he might deny what was happening between them, the truth was right there. Jeremy was inching into his heart, and if he wasn't careful, it was going to be something more than D ever thought he'd have in his life. "I'd like that."