Concealed Hearts (Hometown Jasper #4) - Nicky James Page 0,92
first.”
All eyes turned to me.
“If I understand correctly, there was some kind of office pool going on?”
Matthew’s eyes widened, and he flicked his gaze to John. Everyone else grew sheepish and looked elsewhere.
“We can forget it,” John said. “It was stupid of us. It should never have happened.”
“Oh, no. No, no, no. I will not brush this aside. You all felt the need to place bets on my love life. I think it’s time we settle the score. Who had Tomi as my secret lady friend?” I glanced from one officer to the next, each of them avoiding eye contact but unable to contain their grins.
“No one? I see. I think that means y’all have to pay me now since no one was right. Isn’t that how it works?” I tapped the table. “Come on, let’s see it.”
Groans rippled through the conference room as everyone dug for their wallets or ran to grab purses. The money stacked up. A small pile of twenties.
“That’s right. Maybe you’ll all think twice next time.”
Once everyone had paid up, I picked up the stack of money and counted it. “Looks like enough I can treat my man to a nice dinner.” More laughter. “Now cut the damn cake before Lucas fades away.”
“Finally,” Lucas launched for the knife and helped himself to a huge corner piece with loads of icing. He didn’t bother with a fork, lifting the cake to his mouth and devouring it in three huge bites. “So good.” Icing coated his lips and covered his fingers, but he groaned and smiled.
“You are such a slob. Clean your face, Goober, and come help me move more boxes.” Matthew handed Lucas a napkin with a shake of his head. Lucas wiped his mouth and fingers before following Matthew out of the room.
“Goober?” I hitched a brow, glancing at John.
“You haven’t earned a nickname yet?”
“No, can’t say I have.”
“Matt’s warming up to you. You scare him less every day. It will come.”
“I don’t want to be Goober.”
“That’s reserved for Lucas.”
“Not sure if he got the nickname because of his disgusting table manners,” Harriet said as she swiped at a pile of crumbs Lucas had left behind, “or because he follows Matthew around like a slobbering puppy everywhere he goes.”
“Kid’s got it bad,” Julie said, plating a few more pieces of cake.
I dashed my gaze out of the conference room door. “What? Are you saying?”
Harriet held up her hands. “I’m not saying anything.”
I turned to John and thumbed over my shoulder. “Is Lucas…?”
“Smitten? Yes. Gay? We don’t know for sure. He’s had a few girlfriends since he started here. Nothing serious.”
“Could be bi,” Harriet said.
“True. Don’t you have that gay man’s sixth sense about these things?” John asked me.
I gaped, mouth opening and closing. “I … Hey, I didn’t know Matthew was gay until the other day, clearly not.”
Harriet laughed as Julie handed out plates of cake, her humor unmistakable.
“I’m going to do a coffee run,” Julie said.
“I’ll come with you.” Harriet glanced from me to John and smiled. “These two need to talk.”
Once they were gone, and it was just John and me in the room, the tension I hadn’t felt since walking into the station returned.
John put his plate of cake down on the table before holding my gaze, all evidence of his good mood gone. “We’ve known each other what? Fourteen, fifteen years?” John asked.
“About that.”
“How could you think I wouldn’t accept you or stand up for you? You know me. You know what I stand for. Windsor, you’re one of the best friends I’ve got in town.”
“I know. I’m sorry. The thing is…” I crossed to the table and placed my piece of cake beside his, no longer as excited to dive in. “My family turned their back on me when I told them I was gay. They rejected me. Everything I thought I knew changed that day. When the two people I trusted and loved most in the world couldn’t accept me, it was hard to believe anyone else would. I love this town. I’ve dreamed of being Police Chief since I was in high school. I convinced myself I couldn’t have both. Honestly, I was a scared kid when I made those decisions. The more years that passed, the more impossible it seemed. I thought it was too late.”
“It’s never too late. If I’d had any idea…”
“I didn’t want you to. I didn’t want anyone to. I turned that side of myself off.”