Common Goal

No matter how sure he was in his heart that this was the right decision, he wasn’t ready for it to be real.

“So. Mocktails,” Kyle said, breaking the tension probably only he felt. He clapped his hands together. “Do you have any allergies?”“Cats,” Eric said.Kyle frowned. “Oh. I’ll have to change the recipe then.”

“Is this hard for you?”Eric took a moment to consider his question. He liked to consider every question before answering. “A little. Maybe. Not that I’m not happy for Scott, but I’ve been thinking about my own wedding, I guess.”The teasing sparkle was back in Carter’s eyes. “You can remember back that far?”“Shut it.”“I forget. Was Holly a war bride? Was she your nurse after the Germans shot you?”“All right, I’m going home.”

“Speaking of hockey players...” Maria sucked a gob of cream cheese off her finger, releasing it with a pop. “I saw you talking to Eric ‘Dream Daddy’ Bennett last night.”“Oh, you mean the straight man with a wedding ring on his finger? Yes, it was very promising. I expect him to call on me any moment now.”“Straight, old, and married. Isn’t that exactly your type?”Kyle flicked a sesame seed at her. “I also like them gay, young, and engaged. I’m very open-minded.”

Eric wondered what that felt like, to love a person so deeply that you become braver for it. Become better.

Everything else about Kyle had been a delightful surprise; why not his cock?

Kyle leaped out of his seat. “Yeah! Fuck yeah, Eric!”Kip laughed as he bent to gather his coat from his seat. “Looks like Benny’s got a new number-one fan.”“I’m happy for him,” Kyle said, though what he was actually thinking was I want to fuck him.

Eric kissed him like he was important, like Kyle was something precious, and Kyle couldn’t get enough of it.

“I’d better get cleaned up and go while I can still walk.”“You could—”Kyle pressed a finger to Eric’s lips, then moved it to kiss him sweetly. “I’m going to go home.”Please stay. “Okay.”

Kyle didn’t say anything, but he held Eric’s gaze while his lips curved into a slow, sexy smile. Eric quickly turned his attention to the painting, because it was safer territory. After that smile, however, the colors on the canvas seemed drab.