Love Him Desperate (On the Market #5) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,66

Ronan right now.”

“Damn,” Kyle said quietly. “How’s that?”

“Uh,” Dmitri said, because he wasn’t sure what to say. “He’s a good boss. He’s nice.”

“His husband is stupid hot. I went through a phase where I sprained my ankle like once a week so my mom would have to take me in to have it looked at.” Kyle grinned, and there was something a little predatory behind it, but Dmitri thought maybe he was just reading into things. He’d never really been fair to people—not before his bad birthday date and especially not after. Kyle was clearly a sexual being, but Jonas had reminded him that sex wouldn’t be everything if the person was right.

And he deserved to be right to someone.

Lorenzo finished up with Charlie, and the two of them walked over, Charlie giving a look to Kyle, who saluted and hurried off. “Well, I think this is it,” Lorenzo said, threading his arm through Dmitri’s.

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. “Just have Rocco send over a list of what he wants done. I’m assuming Levi’s taking care of the food?”

“To be honest, I have no idea,” Lorenzo said with a cheerful smile. “But whatever’s going to happen, my brother is going to make it lavish.”

“I had a feeling,” Charlie said with a soft grin. He turned to look at Dmitri, and Dmitri found himself breathing a little easier under his gaze. “How are you doing? Heard school was kind of a bitch.”

Dmitri groaned. “God, is this town so bored that my mid-terms are gossip?”

Charlie chuckled and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “They are when my brother’s boyfriend is the town crier. I just wanted to say, if you need anything…”

“I swear, I’m good,” Dmitri answered quickly. He tried for a smile, and it must have worked, because Charlie gave him a nod and then a soft pat on the shoulder.

“See you kids later.”

He was gone after a few short strides out of the room, and Lorenzo tugged Dmitri even closer to his body. He’d never been friends with him the same way Raphael was, but he was free with his physical affection, and Dmitri found he liked it. He leaned in like it was easy, and Lorenzo slung an arm tight around his waist.

“So. You think it’ll be good? Will my spoiled Hollywood brother be impressed?”

At that, Dmitri smiled. “You know. I think he will be. When is this party?”

“Soon. We’re still working on the exact date,” Lorenzo said and tugged Dmitri toward the doors. “You’re not making big plans, are you?”

Dmitri shook his head, because no, he wasn’t. But then he caught Kyle’s eye on his way out, and something shook him. Maybe he would though—not this year. Maybe not even next, but he deserved a life with holiday plans and plus ones to town parties. He deserved this gentle snuggle as they walked out to the car.

And he deserved the rewards of all the hard work he was putting in with school and with his job and with his life.

He was tired, and right then, he was feeling very done chasing after things that would never be his. He’d love Raphael until he died, but it really was time to move on.

Dmitri stared at the pink envelope sitting on the passenger seat of his car, trying not to feel the way it was choking him. He had a few days, and enough in savings, but his budget was stretching too far. Wilder was getting along just fine without him, and he felt guilty asking for more hours when it would just take away from everyone else.

Ronan had given him every shift he had, but with winter approaching, things started to shut down. Cherry Creek was in a valley, so there was no skiing, no chalets, no winter tourism outside of the holiday market. It was the first time he realized he might not actually be able to balance all of these things at once.

Gwen could probably find him something cheaper, or he could go ask Jayden if he could have his old room back, but it felt like leaping backward in his journey, and that was somehow worse than getting through a Cherry Creek’s frigid winter with no heat. He had other options—plenty of them, but they would either make him feel like a failure, or force him to have a front row seat to Raphael’s new and improving love life.

The worst part was, if he took Raphael up on the offer for a room