Page 61 of Hush

When they got to his place, he practically ran up the steps, hurrying to his door.

“Tom.”

He turned, and froze. Mike had stayed on the sidewalk. He looked up at Tom, his expression set. Resignation. Regret. And a firm decision.

“Oh.” Looking down, Tom smiled, laughing at himself. “I guess you’re not coming in.”

Mike shook his head, slowly.

“Okay.” Damn it. Tom plodded down the steps, a rueful twist to his lips. “Sorry. I presumed.”

Mike didn’t say anything. He smiled. It was only a half-smile, and seemed sad. “I had a great time with you.”

“I had thebesttime with you.” Tom reached out, one finger tracing a line across Mike’s stomach. “I hope we can do this again.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Mike smiled, but his words were strained. He reached for Tom’s hand, squeezed it, painfully hard, and pressed his lips together. He seemed to search for something to say, gazing into Tom’s eyes like he was looking for something.

But then, he let go. “Night, Tom. Say bye to Etta Mae for me.”

“Night, Mike. Thank you. For everything.”

Mike smiled, said nothing, and walked away. He turned and waved at the corner, and then disappeared.

When his door shut behind him, Mike collapsed against it, sinking to his floor as he buried his head in his hands. Gasping, he sucked down giant lungfuls of air, over and over, trying to keep his heart from breaking. Trying to stop the tears from welling.

Kris was right. Damn him, Kris was right.

Tom was everything he dreamed about. Everything he wanted. Everything he yearned for.

But it wouldn’t work. Any relationship with him was doomed from the start.

He wanted a fairy tale, but, damn it, fairy tales weren’t happy stories. They all had a twist, and so did life.

Damn it all. Damn the world. Damn history, and time, and everything that had happened. Everything that would keep him and Tom from actually being together.

He’d had one weekend. One weekend where it felt like they were a couple, a matched set. He’d had one weekend where he got to feel what that was like. What a shared future with the man of his dreams would be like.

God, he’d have to avoid the courthouse tomorrow. Maybe the whole week. He’d go into headquarters, pull files on old threats. Make house calls. Drop in on anyone who’d threatened his judges and check up on them. Play the federal intimidation game.

Anything to keep away from Tom Brewer, and his own cracking heart.

Chapter 14

Hey you. :) Haven’t seen you yet today. Miss you.

Tom bit his lip as he sent his text to Mike. Monday afternoon, and he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the man.

What were they? Dating? Did two days constitute the beginning of a relationship? They hadn’t talked about it. He wanted to date, wanted a relationship with Mike, but… That lingering weight, thesomethingthat had hung between them on Saturday night, had roared back full force. Why hadn’t Mike wanted to stay Sunday night? Why had he slammed on the brakes? Why had he put distance between them?

Where was he today?

Niggling doubt yanked on his heart, scratched down his spine. He watched his phone, waiting.

[At headquarters. Reviewing threat assessments.]

Tom exhaled slowly.Everything all right?

[Yep. Routine stuff.]