No Good Deed - Marie Sexton Page 0,103
Gray rarely interacted, and when they did, it was with a stiff formality that seemed at odds with the rest of the group. They were both being so careful, and Avery almost wished they’d just smile at each other instead. Jonas’s off-beat flirtation would almost have been preferable, but Avery figured they’d get there. It was all a matter of figuring out how to be friends after being lovers and then adversaries.
The card game wrapped up, and people began saying goodbye. Avery pulled Jonas aside, away from the others so they could talk privately.
“Is everything okay?” Jonas asked, touching Avery’s arm. “I hope I didn’t do anything to upset you.”
Avery was struck again by his sincerity, so different from the way he treated the others. The two of them needed to learn to relax around each other, which was exactly why Avery had decided to talk to him alone.
“I was wondering if you’d give me your phone number.”
Jonas’s surprise was obvious. “Of course.”
“I just thought…” Avery sighed, glancing toward the others to make sure they were still out of earshot. Not that what he was saying was a secret, but it didn’t concern them as much. “Look, I’m going to be honest here. I’ve been struggling with this. Nothing against you, but having my husband’s ex around on a regular basis wasn’t exactly on my wish list.” He took a deep breath. “But I don’t want to struggle with it. I want to be better than that. And so I thought maybe we could get together someday. Maybe hang out at the Tap House. Get to know each other as us, you know? Not as Gray’s ex and Gray’s husband, or Charlie’s husband and Gray’s husband. Just two people who might be friends.”
He felt like an idiot. His cheeks burned as he stood there with his phone in his hand, waiting for Jonas to respond. What a moron he was for having said so much.
“Oh, Avery.” And suddenly, Jonas was hugging him tight. “I would love that. You have no idea how much. I have this surgery in a few days, but after that, I’d love to get to know you better.”
“I’m looking forward to it too.” Maybe it wasn’t one hundred percent the truth, but it wasn’t a lie either.
Gray had of course had way too many beers at Charlie’s to be allowed behind the wheel, so Avery drove them home.
“What was that about?” Gray asked him as they left Charlie’s.
“I’m just trying to do better, that’s all.” He chewed his lip, thinking. “Taylor lived with Phil before River came along, and yet now, they’re best friends. If they can do it, so can I.” He shrugged. “I can try, at least.”
Gray took his hand and kissed it. “Have I told you today that I love you?”
“I never mind hearing it a second time.” Or a third. Or a fourth.
Gray leaned close, his lips finding Avery’s neck. His hand slid between Avery’s legs. “Watching you with River while I used the crop on you was seriously hot. I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing that again.”
“Oh, yeah? And what about watching me with Jonas?”
“Who? I don’t even know who you’re talking about. I didn’t see anybody there but you and River. And I only saw River because you were riding him like it was the Kentucky Derby and the finish line was in sight.”
Avery couldn’t help but laugh. “Poor guy. Not sure he signed up for that.”
“Are you kidding? I’m not exactly feeling bad for him. He had one hell of an afternoon.”
“I bet he sleeps well tonight.”
“He better.” He kissed Avery’s neck again. “What about you?” he asked, his tone suddenly soft and sincere. “After hanging out with the guy I didn’t even know was there, how will you sleep?”
Avery smiled, relieved that he didn’t even have to think about it. “I’m going to sleep just fine.”
Robert
Will couldn’t remember the last time he’d courted somebody, but that was definitely the word that came to mind when he thought of Robert.
A courtship.
He dressed carefully that night—his best jeans with heavy, black leather boots, one of the few polo-style shirts he owned, and his best leather jacket. Rob had seen him in his full leather regalia before, now that the leather club occasionally met at the Tap House, but Will hoped to take him to dinner tonight. Less leather seemed more appropriate for a casual meal.
He was fifty-three years old, and one of the few black men in the leather club he