Michael sighs. “Fuck if I know. Because with this one, there’s two things I need to get over. One, I’m afraid I’m going to get hurt. Physically. Two, I can’t even think about doing it without feeling like I’m being punished or degraded. Even when I know that’s not the case.”
“I can see why.” I gently draw him into my arms, rolling onto my back so he can rest his head on my shoulder. As we settle, I stroke his hair. “Give it time. It took time to get to where you are tonight, but you made it. You’ll get past this, and you’ll be able to be with other guys.” I kiss his forehead. “And I’m not going anywhere until you do.”
“Thank you.”
And God help any man who so much as looks at you the wrong way.
Chapter Fourteen
Nothing caps off a weekend and gets me ready for another week of drudgery like kicking back with the guys in the hot tub. We toast the fading weekend and the coming week, and relax.
“One of these days,” Michael says, sinking in up to his chin and holding up his glass to keep it out of the water, “I am so moving into a place with a hot tub like this.”
“You looking to move?” Ian asks.
Michael shrugs. “I’ve thought about it. I do like where I’m living now, though. It’s just tempting to move somewhere with a yard for Cody and, well”—he grins—“a hot tub.”
I chuckle. “They’re a pain in the ass.”
“So are you,” Ian says with a smirk. “But you’re worth the maintenance.”
“Hey!” I playfully kick him under the water, and he laughs and splashes me. Then I turn to Michael again. “If you’re thinking of buying, I can hook you up with the realtor who found us this place.”
Michael nods. “I’ll keep it in mind. Honestly, I do like my place. And the rent is good, but maybe when I finish off my student loans, I’ll start thinking about it.” With a quiet laugh, he adds, “I’m not sure if it’s a good idea for me to buy a place, though.”
“Why’s that?” Ian asks.
“Because at the moment, the only thing keeping me from having forty-seven dogs and a bunch of cats is my landlord’s pet policy.”
“Oh, good point.” Ian swirls his glass. “You could always buy in one of those places with a homeowner’s association. I mean, they’re annoying as hell, but they would put a cap on how many critters you can have.”
“True, true. I don’t know. Maybe I just need a big chunk of property out in the sticks. The commute would suck, but I’d have room for more than one dog.”
“Let me guess.” I arch my eyebrow. “So you can have a whole army of horses?”
“And goats.”
“And goats. Of course.”
Michael laughs. He brings his glass toward his lips, but pauses. “Oh, Ian, I mean to ask. How are your feet doing?”
“Much better,” Ian says. “The massage sure helped, and I’ve been sitting as much as I can during my lectures. Having the summer off should finish the job.”
I pat his arm. “Soon.”
“Not soon enough,” he grumbles and picks up his glass. “Good thing I’ve got Dionysus to get me through the rest of the year.”
“Nerd,” I say under my breath.
He snorts. “Oh please. You say that like you don’t get turned on listening to me read the classics out loud.”
Michael almost spits out his wine. “Say what?”
“It’s true.” Ian drains his glass. As he reaches for the bottle, he adds, “Isn’t it, Josh?”
My face burns. “Only because you read it like you’re reading erotica. It could be the damned phone book and it’d have the same effect.”
“Hmm. Might have to try—oh shit!” Ian turns the bottle over above his glass, but only a few drops spill out. “Gentlemen, I believe we’re out of wine.”
“Again?” Michael scoffs. “Why does this keep happening?”
I set my glass on the edge. “We should just move the wine rack out here. For convenience.”
“What?” Ian rolls his eyes. “The temperature would be all wrong. That’s why we bought a house with a wine cellar, remember?”
“Right, right.” I nod toward the house. “That’s also why you get to go get it.”
“Of course.” He kisses my cheek and stands. “More of the same?”
Michael raises his mostly empty glass. “Definitely. This stuff is great.”
“Beats the hell out of the stuff you brought last weekend.”
“Hey. Hey.” Michael huffs and rolls his eyes. “Excuse me for wanting to try something new.”
“Oh, it was a valiant effort, but…” Ian wrinkles his nose as he stands and wades toward the side so he can get out. “A for effort, I guess?”
“Mmhmm. Shall we talk about the pitiful excuse for a shiraz you brought out here before Christmas?”
I can’t help gagging at the memory. “Oh my God. He wins, Ian. Nothing will ever out-disgusting that bottle.”
“Fair enough. Touché, Michael.” Ian laughs and playfully claps Michael’s shoulder as he gets out of the tub.
And Michael isn’t fazed at all. He chuckles and takes another drink, but he doesn’t draw away. Doesn’t jump. Barely seems to notice that Ian touched him at all, never mind on uncovered skin. It shouldn’t be a surprise after that foot massage a while back, but it does get me thinking.
Michael meets my eyes and cocks his head. “What?”
“You don’t seem to mind being touched anymore.” I nod toward Ian just before he disappears into the kitchen. “Even with him.”