Page 36 of You Can Make Me (Carnival of Mysteries #28)

“I’m sure Denny didn’t mind. Hope you like pancakes?

” Dane gave a hopeful smile. When I nodded my head, he continued.

“Walter said Denny likes them. I didn’t get to cook much for Denny when he was at Scott’s house with us.

” He flicked water on the surface, and it bubbled up, so he reached for his batter.

“I learned how to cook from Tess. It was soothing for her. That kinda rubbed off on me, you know what I mean?”

“I do. My mom taught me to cook, but it’s a means to an end for me, not something I’ve ever put a lot of energy into. Denny’s a great cook. He…” Stupid tears.

Dane’s eyes widened and he hurriedly handed me a napkin. “I’m sorry?—”

“Don’t be,” I said with a humorless laugh. “Happens a lot. I’m like a pregnant woman or a pubescent girl. Side effect of my brain injury. That and headaches, though those are getting better.”

Dane poured the first pancakes out in perfect circles.

The smell of vanilla instantly made my mouth water.

“I don’t remember a lot. I remember the attack…

at least, I did after Holland came to the carnival to confront me.

But my memory was gone while I was there.

It was like he unlocked it, kinda like a Pandora’s box?

And after Ryan and Kal picked me up, bits and pieces kept spilling out.

I had no control. Some of that shit I wished I could put back in the box.

” He let out a breath then flipped the bacon. The sizzle made him jump.

“Did you want some help?”

“Nah, man, but thank you. You want some coffee?”

“Sure.” I was about to get up to get it, but he moved quicker than I could.

“Took me a while to figure out how to use all the gadgets out now. I ain’t ever used nothing but a Mr. Coffee, you know?

All of a sudden there’s them pods, or fancy Frenchy pressure thingies.

I don’t drink coffee myself, but I like to make it nice for Walter.

Whatever makes him kinda relax, right? Let the tension out ’til you feel like butter?

That’s the other reason I like to cook. Makes people feel good. ”

“That’s wonderful. I bet he appreciates it. And here I am just a big ole diva with Denny. I don’t know why he puts up with me.”

“Because he loves you, Cooper. You know that.” He fixed those otherworldly eyes on me, and something loosened in my chest. I couldn’t pretend I had it all together with this man. He saw through me.

“I know he does. The circumstances… I wish we’d gotten back together under different terms, you know what I mean?”

Dane laughed and scooped the pancakes off one at a time and placed them on a plate. “You like bacon? I didn’t make eggs?—”

“This is wonderful, Dane. Thank you. Really.”

He chuckled and shook his head as he placed some bacon next to the pancakes and set the plate in front of me.

He kept talking as he brought me utensils, a napkin, syrup, and he pointed at a caddy with sweeteners for my coffee.

He placed a tiny carafe of cream next to it and then went back to his pancakes.

“Walter was so confused when we found you. Denny lost his mind. And afterward? When Denny took you from the rehab place? Walter and Gene, they just kept wondering why. They’d be all, ‘How does he even know this guy?’ Don’t get me wrong, Denny’s a good guy.

He was real good about supporting Walter when he found me.

But they was all confused about you two.

” He laughed. “They knew Walter liked both guys and girls. But Denny…”

I rolled my eyes and laughed along with him. “Yeah. Denny. Wow. He didn’t know what hit him when I hit on him.”

“Yeah, Walter said he was as straight as they come. How’d you guys happen, man?”

I raised an eyebrow and took a bite of bacon. “I saw him, I wanted him, I came on strong.” I shook my head. “He made me work for it. We met at Gene’s in-laws’, I offered to drive him home. He was thoroughly confused as well. You know how with some guys, you just know? If you?—”

“Drop breadcrumbs, and they come after you.”

I barked out a laugh and covered my mouth. “I’m going to wake poor Denny. Yes, yes, it was exactly like that. He wasn’t ready that night, but I gave him my card, and I thought…maybe?” I flicked my hair back. “It was the first time since college that I’d doubted my wiles.”

I sounded awful, but something about Dane made me feel so welcome, so…

understood. Like a real friend. Other than Gene, who I never would have been friends with if it hadn’t been for Sam, I didn’t really have male friends.

Other gays were jealous or thought I would take their men, and straight guys acted as if the gay would infect them just by being in my presence.

I’d mistakenly thought that by coming out, I would find my people, but it was always women I was close with. This with Dane was…nice.

“So he came after you?”

“He reached out, texted me. I got brave and invited him to come see me in Las Vegas. I was so nervous. I’d won an award and had to give a speech.

I knew he was a steady guy, man of his word and all that, but I still wasn’t sure he’d show up.

” I sighed. “And he did. And it was everything I hoped for. We saw each other on long weekends over the next year and then… I was stupid. I thought he ghosted me, so I showed up at his house and threw a fit.”

“Ghosted?”

“Yeah, like, cut off all communication and disappeared. Like a ghost.”

Dane let out a big breath, like he’d been hit with a gut punch.

“What is it?”

He shuddered and went back to pancake making. He gestured to my food with his spatula. “That’s gonna get cold.”

“Sorry.” I took a bite of the pancakes, and they were decadent. He’d added vanilla, and they were thick and chewy, just how I liked them. He’d served real maple syrup, too.

“I did that to everyone in my old life. Tess, my mom. Everyone.”

“But you were attacked. That’s different. Your absence wasn’t voluntary.”

“Yeah. Just sad, though. They didn’t know that. I lost so much time. Lost Tess. When I came back, and Ryan was staying at her house? I think I knew. I could just tell when I walked in. That she was gone.”

“Oh, Dane. You lost so much.”

He gave a small smile and flipped more pancakes, his hand visibly shaking.

“I gained a lot, too. I’ll never know why the carnival was there at the exact place and time, whether Mr. Ame somehow knew what went down, or if it was coincidence.

Kal… Well, I’ll let him tell you his story. I don’t wanna speak if he’s not ready.”

“Ready for what?”

A seductive character with “bad boy” written all over him came sashaying into the kitchen, and he picked up Dane, kissing him on the cheek as Dane squealed. Bad Boy looked me over, and his eyes widened.

“Holy shit. You’re Cooper Harris.”

I started to smile—then I caught the thunderous expression from the tall man he’d come in with.

Big, beefy, with blond hair lighter than mine or Dane’s, and a scowl that cut so deep into his forehead, I wondered if even at his young age he had permanent lines.

I’d seen him at the house with Dane. With the board.

He was familiar. And different. Somewhere in the wheelhouse of different like Dane.

“Hi.”

“The gang’s all here, huh?”

I turned to find Denny in the doorway to the room, rubbing at his scruffy hair. He was only wearing boxers. Thin, skimpy boxers.

“Well, if it isn’t Detective Dennis Hamilton.”

Bad Boy strolled over to Denny, and I nearly fell on my face trying to get off the stool to…what? Step in front of him and lay claim to my man?

Denny hugged him like he did Walter or Gene, pounding on his back. Not like he did with me. I relaxed a bit. I caught Denny’s smirk, and felt my cheeks get hot. Oh, he knew exactly what was going on in my head.

“Ryan, Kal. May I introduce you to my boyfriend , Cooper Harris?”

Bad Boy Ryan turned around and gawked at me.

“No shit!” He turned back to Denny with wide eyes. “Not only do you come over to the fabulous dark side, but you snag yourself a bona fide gorgeous celebrity. Hot damn, Detective. Mad respect.”

“It ain’t Detective no more. I’m Joe Citizen now.” Denny walked him over to my side.

Ryan’s gaze flick to my cane and back to my face with interest.

I stuck out my hand, cringing inwardly when I saw him notice the scar on my forearm. God, what must they think about my face? I puffed up my chest and gave off confidence I didn’t feel. “Nice to meet you, Ryan…”

“Wells,” he said, and pointed to my chest. “Nice to meet you . You did a phenomenal series about addiction a while back. Watched that shit after I got out of prison. You’re good.”

Wells. Ryan. I knew that name. I looked down at my shirt, opened my mouth, and he laughed.

“Used to be the singer of Backdrop Silhouette. My fall from grace was quite public. You’re sporting merch from my new project there.”

“Right, I remember.” It dawned on me. The band. Dane was going to be playing with Ryan and?—

“Kallos. Alexandrou. Wells. His husband.” The big guy with the soft voice loomed over Ryan and had the same look I probably did when Ryan hugged Denny.

I stuck out my hand. Kal. Dane said he had a story to tell, too.

“Pleased to meet you.”

“Where’s Walt?” Ryan asked, looking around. He spotted the food, and his hand went to his stomach.

“Had to work. He said to tell you two to get comfortable in the main house. This place is on lockdown now that you’re here. I’m in charge,” Denny said.

Ryan cracked up and helped himself to coffee and a piece of bacon. “Summer Camp with Counselor Denny. Right on.”

I couldn’t help it, I pictured Denny in khaki shorts and a short-sleeved button-up with a funky hat, and I had to cover my mouth.

Den frowned as he pulled me in close. “You couldn’t handle it, Wells.

Besides, those camp counselor guys are usually pedophiles.

No thanks. I’ll go drill instructor on you, though, if you don’t behave.

” He held the back of my head and kissed me gently, his gaze traveling over my face. “You okay, baby?” he whispered.

“Sir, yes, sir.” I waggled my eyebrows, dropped my gaze to his boxers and back up with a pointed look.

“I’m surrounded by jokers.” Denny groaned. “Come on, Kal,” he said, shaking the big guy’s hand. “Be an adult with me?”

“Maybe when you’re not in your underwear.”

Everyone laughed, and it was fine. I was fine. Everything was fine. I could breathe.