Page 21 of Worth the Wait

Joseph sliced into his omelet and took a bite, a blissful sounding sigh leaving his lips. He set his fork on the edge of his plate and looked straight at Bowie.

“This tastes like that little diner down the street from your new house,” he enthused, quickly covering his mouth with a hand and darting his attention toward Jack before focusing back on Bowie. The table fell silent while Bowie and Joseph regarded each other, then Joseph turned to Jack,

“Well, I guess we can tell him now.”

“I fucking knew it,” Jack said, clapping his hands together. “I can’t wait to tell Landon.”

“What?” Joseph asked, obviously trying to backtrack what he’d said. “Tell Landon what?”

“How long have you been fucking for? Come on, it’s in the open now. Tell me.”

“Who said we’re fucking?” Joseph countered.

Jack raised an incredulous eyebrow at him.

“Oh, so you just go to Kentucky for breakfast without telling anyoneandthere’s no sex involved?” Jack scoffed.

“We’re involved,” Bowie admitted.

“I know.” Jack laughed. “So when are you moving after him, Joseph?”

“We haven’t decided,” Bowie answered concisely while Joseph sat there with his mouth agape.

Joseph glanced at Bowie, snapped his mouth closed then looked at his omelet.

“Seize the day,” Jack suggested happily, the recommendation eating away at his heart even as the words left his mouth.

He was such a hypocrite.

But admitting as much would mean admitting he wasscaredto meet Callum. He’d said August, and it was getting closer to August, and Jack wasn’t any less nervous about the prospect of meeting face to face. What if their compatibility didn’t extend past the keyboard? They had both started looking for an online relationship because of their lack of interest in the commitment required for a real life partner, and now they were both talking about turning their relationship into that exact thing.

Jack would rather have what he had now then have nothing.

“What are you thinking about over there?” Bowie asked, circling his finger around the rim of his mimosa glass.

“Or who?” Joseph chimed in.

Jack shot him an accusatory glare.

“Don’t try to change the subject,” he chided.

“Looks like we’re not the only ones keeping relationship secrets,” Bowie said, taking a bite of Joseph’s omelet.

“That is good,” he told him before redirecting his attention back to Jack.

“I met someone,” Jack admitted. “Online.”

“Ohhhh,” Joseph said knowingly.

“Where does he live?”

“California.”

“Jesus. Could you have picked a state farther away?” Bowie laughed.

Jack rolled his eyes. “I didn’t pick him at all. It just…happened. It wasn’t supposed to turn into anything, but it kind of has.”

“Are you going to meet him?”