Page 89 of Sweet as Puck

He shook his head, his eyes falling closed as a tear tracked down his cheek. “No,” he gasped. “I wanted you back.”

“Never going to happen.”

“I know.” He looked at me again and gestured over his shoulder in the general vicinity of the lounge area and added, “The girl—”

“Don’t.” I shook my head, and his shoulders fell.

He slipped his hands into his pockets and stared at the floor.

“Make this right, Chris,” I begged. I held my hands up before he could even lift his gaze and said, “I’m not asking you to come out—I’d never do that. But, for fuck’s sake, deny the rumours. Make up something. Tell them we were planning your birthday or, fuck, anything. Please.”

I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I unlatched the door, yanked it open, and nearly ran into Gauthier, who was blocking the doorway. “What the?” I asked.

“Are you okay?” he murmured, stepping aside but stopping me with his hand on my arm. He looked me up and down, probably checking to see whether I was in one piece, and relaxed his rigid stance.

He’d been guarding the door.

He’d heard everything.

“I won’t repeat a word,” he said again in that same soft voice that barely travelled to my ears. “You aren’t alone, Alec.” Hesqueezed my arm where he still held it and stared straight at me. His gaze didn’t waver.

And I knew.

Gauthier was queer too.

“I….” I blinked.

Gauthier smirked, his eyes dancing with humour. “It’s not every day that I stump you.” He dropped his hand and gestured inside the bathroom with a tilt of his head.

I was still trying to gather my bearings when the door closed behind me and the lock clicked closed again.

Mironov walked up, and every muscle in my body tensed. “Is he okay?” he asked.

“I… don’t know,” I admitted, sagging against the wall. “He needs a friend.”

“I’m sorry, Hux. Minns hasn’t told me what went down, but he said that I had it wrong—that everyone did. I thought you’d done the dirty on him.” Mironov buttoned up his jacket and planted his feet, waiting for me to react in some way.

I didn’t have anything to say to him, so I nodded and walked away, stepping straight into Cara’s arms. Roe was there too, but he held back, waiting for me to make the first move. I was grateful, but I just wanted everything to be simple for once. I just wanted to be myself, to let my guard down and not give a shit whether I was accepted or not.

“You’ve got a message,” Roe said quietly as he handed me my phone. His gaze was soft, imploring me to give him a sign.

I forced a smile and took it from him.

Grant: Check your email

I opened the one he’d sent me and stumbled back. Roe caught me after my knees gave out and led me to the nearby chairs. I sank into the closest one and looked at the email again. Before me was a contract summary—three years with the Seals at a salary of twelve million dollars.

Three years.

With the Seals.

They wanted me. They hadn’t traded me.

My lungs squeezed tight, and I fought to suck in a breath. Roe closed his hand around my nape and squeezed. I choked out a laugh that sounded more like a sob. Fuck me, I couldn’t believe it.

Everything I’d hoped for was coming true.

Regardless of what Minns did, the Seals wanted me. Sure, they could probably withdraw their offer if this thing turned to shit again, but for now, they wanted me.