Page 104 of Just Business

“Beginnings and beginnings.”

Eli laughed. “That, too.” He brushed Justin’s cheek with a kiss. “Go to sleep, Just.”

There was an order that was easy to obey.

Chapter Twenty-one

The day dawned for Eli like every other had recently. Justin slept next to him, his warmth and presence keeping Eli calm and grounded.

Thirty-four. Today he turned thirty-four.

He wouldn’t celebrate for another six months—he’d moved his birthday the year he left home because there was no happiness in celebrating life two days after mourning death. Eli exhaled and shifted, waking both Lavi, who had been sleeping on his feet, and Justin.

Lavi made a soft meow of protest and repositioned himself, dropping hard enough to make his point.No moving, human.

Justin rolled over and propped himself up on his arm. “Hey,” he said. “You okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m...” Worry marred Justin’s face, creased his brow. “You know.” Knew what today was.

“Yeah. Sam told me.”

Eli closed his eyes.Damn it, Sam.“I would have preferred to let you know myself.”

“I know. I said as much. He should have left it up to you.” Justin leaned over and kissed Eli’s shoulder, the warmth of his lips melting away the anger in Eli’s heart. “I guessed it was this week, though. You’ve been out of sorts.”

A polite way of saying he’d been a moody fuck the past couple of days. “I should have said something, but I don’t like thinking about it.” He couldn’t help thinking about it. Eli rolled toward Justin, dislodging Lavi in the process. “I’m sorry.”

His Kitty Highness marched up between them and flopped down. Justin absently scratched the fuzzy interloper behind the ears. “You’d have told me in your own time.”

Lavi stretched, purred, and rolled onto his back. Eli stroked under Lavi’s chin. “Please don’t do anything special.”

“I won’t. Not until July.” A grin full of teeth. “All bets are off then.”

The chuckle bubbled up naturally. “Looking forward to it.”

“Also, it’s my night to cook.” There was a bit of a glint in his eye, a twitch to that smile.

Dinner... He could handle dinner. That was routine and normal. “So it is.” Expectation formed and shoved the morass of the past out of the way. He didn’t bother to ask what Justin was making. That was always a surprise. Sometimes a good one, sometimes... less so as Justin struggled with new dishes. Still, they ate and laughed and... His breath caught and his heart rammed against his ribs.

It was his birthday, and for the first time since the day he walked out of his parents’ house, he wouldn’t be alone.

“Eli?” It was Justin’sare you okay or are you not?tone.

He pulled Justin close for a quick kiss, much to Lavi’s consternation. “I’m fine. You just... make the day bright.”

Justin’s smile was the only gift Eli needed.

***

Dinner was an excellent meal of eggplant stuffed with a mixture of lamb and spices. Brownies for dessert. With those, a salad, and rice, Justin had outdone himself. The kiss Eli gave Justin after lingered just long enough to leave them both breathless.

“Nothing special?” How he loved to see that flush on Justin’s neck. They cleared the dishes from the table.

“It was pretty easy, to be honest.” Justin placed the last of the flatware into the dishwasher, closed it, and leaned against the counter. “Trick is soaking the eggplant in water with lemon.”

Eli stole another brownie from the plate. “Feel free to make it again.”

Justin chuckled. “Had a feeling you might say that.” His smile leveled out when Eli picked up both baking pans and headed for the sink. “You don’t have to—”