Page 53 of Winning You

“Oh my god, Dad! Please set me on fire, Lucas. Please. I can’t take this.”

“That’s not funny,” Adele said tightly.

Gage groaned. “It’s been a million years. It’s allowed to be funny now.”

“Not to me.” Adele gave Lucas a pat one more time, then said, “Are you gonna hang around for the afternoon?”

“No,” Lucas said while Gage said, “Duh.”

Lucas shook his head. “Seriously, no. I just wanted to…”

“Borrow a cup of sugar?” Adele asked, a smile in his voice.

Lucas felt his cheeks heat up. “I just remembered sugar is super bad for you, so never mind. Anyway, I’ll call my Uber now?—”

“I’ll take you. Back to your place, yeah?”

Lucas bit his lip. He had an idea. Possibly a bad idea. Possibly a really fucking good idea. Possibly people would get fired idea. “Actually, I need to speak to someone at the health inspector office. Do you know where that is?”

“Yeah. Right next to City Hall,” Adele said. “You need me to go with you?”

While Lucas felt like he was going to choke on his own tongue, Gage sounded like he already had. He coughed loudly as Lucas tried for a big, sunny grin. “I think I can handle it.”

“You two are being weird, and I’ve decided I don’t want to know.” Adele touched Lucas’s shoulder. “Come on. I can give you a ride there. I have to pick up a few things before we leave town.”

Then he was gone, his steps heavy as he walked away. Lucas sighed and turned back to Gage, who yanked him into a hug. “You sure you don’t want to come? I might need you.”

“Yes. It’s time to put on those big-boy pants you claim you have,” Lucas said. “And if you actually need me, all you have to do is call. I’ll hitchhike if I have to. I’m super good at sex now. I can pay my own way.”

“You’re a fucking goblin.”

Lucas grinned, then grabbed Gage by the back of the neck and yanked him close. “I know. I love you so much. And please remember, whatever you choose, it’s okay. You’re allowed to feel how you feel. And none of this—and I mean fucking none of this—was your fault.”

Gage sagged in his arms and rested his forehead against Lucas’s shoulder. “I know. I mean…I think I know. I’m still trying to figure it all out.”

“I’m here. I adore you.”

Gage laughed softly and held him just a bit longer before Lucas made him let go.

The ride to the building next to City Hall was awkward as hell. Adele tried to make small talk, but it was obvious he was curious about what Lucas was up to. And there wasn’t a chance in hellLucas was going to tell him he was going to attempt office sex for the first time in his life.

Which would also be the second time having sex he’d ever had in his life.

When the car pulled up to the curb, he felt his stomach swoop hard, and for the first time in so, so long, he felt a little lost and unsure of his steps. “How far to the doors?”

“Not too far,” Adele said. He wasn’t the best at giving Lucas a verbal guide. “Like ten steps?—”

“Adele, you’re basically my other dad, so I mean this with love, but please don’t use steps. You’re a giant. Your steps are like ten of mine.”

“First of all, kid,” Adele replied with a small laugh, “you’re as tall as I am now.”

“Shut up.”

“I will not, because you are. And I know your steps are shorter than mine. You walk more cautiously. But I was going to say there’s a set of concrete stairs that wraps around a sort of…rounded corner. With a railing in the center of it.”

Lucas knew exactly what he was talking about.

“The doors are straight ahead. There are four of them, and the one on the far left looks like it has the automatic button.”