Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Jared studied him for a moment. “Marriage is a very serious commitment. You must be completely committed to your relationship. Isn’t it better to get this thing out of your system before the wedding and get on with your life?”
He received a withering look from Zach. “I really don’t need this advice, Jared.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” Jared said. “You know I’m right. You’re still in an open relationship. Get it out of your system before marrying Donna. That would be the best for everyone involved.”
Zach looked out of the window. “You’re terrible at giving advice,” he said. “You should have told me to keep my hands off him. Now I have a perfectly legitimate reason to do what I want.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
A harsh laugh left Zach’s throat. He stood and grabbed his jacket. “I’ll let you know soon.”
Jared’s frown deepened. Despite the advice he’d given Zach, the situation made him vaguely uneasy. Tristan was of age and more than capable of giving his consent, but…The situation was a mess. The fact that Tristan was Zach’s patient wouldn’t have been much of an issue—he would be a hypocrite to think that—except the nature of Zach’s interest in Tristan was different from Jared’s relationship with Gabe. Zach didn’t love Tristan—he didn’t even seem to like him. Zach just wanted Tristan and seemed to resent him a great deal for that.
“I know his groin is much better now, but keep in mind he’s still injured,” Jared said. Translation: no angry, rough sex with one of my injured players. “If you do it, be gentle.” A part of him couldn’t believe he was really having this conversation with one of his physiotherapists, but it had to be said. Tristan’s health came first and foremost.
Zach smiled, as if Jared had said something very funny, and left.
Jared was left looking at the door in mild puzzlement as it closed after Zach.
He was still looking at the door when it opened again and Gabriel sauntered into the room.
“Lock the door,” Jared said immediately.
Grinning and rolling his eyes, Gabriel did as he was told. “It’s not like we ever have sex here.”
“It doesn’t stop you from molesting me here,” Jared said with a look.
“Shut up, you love it.” Gabe straddled Jared’s lap and mouthed Jared’s cheek. “Mmm. Why do you always smell so good?”
“You smell better,” Jared said, pressing his nose into Gabriel’s cheek and breathing him in. Christ. Sometimes he thought it wasn’t possible to be so happy and so in love. He loved this boy. Loved him more than anything in the world.
His thoughts returned to Zach. He couldn’t imagine being in Zach’s position. Before he and Gabriel had become lovers, Jared had slept with other men, of course, but his attraction to them wasn’t even a fraction of what he felt for Gabe, no matter how handsome those men were. It made him wonder about the strength of Zach’s feelings for Donna. Was it really love if one was capable of wanting someone else so much?
But then again, it wasn’t his place to judge. He and Gabriel weren’t exactly the most normal couple in the world.
Gabe ran his fingers through Jared’s hair. “I saw Zach. Is he finally sick of Tristan and wants to quit?”
Jared wondered how he was supposed to answer that. “Sort of.”
“Sort of?” Gabriel pulled back and studied him curiously.
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not my secret to tell.”
“Jay.”
“No.”
“Jay.”
Laughing, Jared kissed him again and again, until Gabe melted into him, forgetting all about Zach and his brother.
Chapter 12
Sitting in his car, Zach stared at the house. There was light downstairs, but otherwise the house was dark and quiet. It still surprised him a little how ordinary the house was. Even his own house was bigger and flashier than Tristan’s. If he hadn’t known better, he would have never guessed it was a famous football player’s home. Maybe that was the point, because the security measures were non-existent. But then again, if the house had better security, he wouldn’t be able to watch it for half an hour like some creepy stalker.
Zach shook his head with a grimace. Enough.
He got out of the car and walked toward the house as drops of rain started falling from the sky.
Zach refused to hesitate before knocking. He’d been acting ridiculously for weeks. Enough was enough.
The door opened and he tensed, but it was just Lydia. “Hey.”
She blinked, looking at him in surprise. “Hey. Tristan said you quit.”
Zach shook his head. “Is he home?”
She gestured upstairs. “Yeah, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to talk to him tonight. He’s in a terrible mood.” Lydia made a face and stepped aside, letting him in. “Been the entire day, actually. I had to cancel a very important press event. His PR manager is mad at me. Me, not Tristan! How is that my fault he’s being a diva?”