it, Fitz. Jack is your person. Anyone who knows you two, who sees you together, knows it, but it’s up to you.”
Fitz nodded. He was miserable. This was awful. Would Jack really understand? Fitz did love him, and he’d never felt anything like this before for anyone. He could see himself growing old with Jack, see them having a family together. If he wanted a future with Jack, he’d have to risk something he swore he’d never risk again.
His heart.
Ten
“Really? You’re going to be all pathetic and broody instead of just working it out with him?”
Jack sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Too fucking early, Sacha.”
“I’m not the one who thought it would be a great idea to get drunk and pass out the night before you had to get up at the ass crack of dawn to install hurricane shutters. On a Saturday.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you too, asshole. Come on. Most people aren’t equipped to handle the kind of shit we are. Some dude comes flying at you, you take him down. We’re trained for that. Fitz isn’t. I mean, fuck, considering everything he’s been through since you two got together, I’d be questioning shit too.”
“Wow.” Jack stared at Sacha. “Was that you helping? Because that was so not helpful. It was the exact opposite of helpful.”
“For fuck’s sake. You get a boyfriend, and it’s nothing but fucking drama. Every other time you fight, and now when you should be fighting, you’re waving the fucking white flag.”
“What?”
Joker got out of the car and slammed the door, then spun to face Jack, his voice raised so he could be heard over the howling wind. “You go out with all these assholes who want to get with you because they think it’s going to be so fucking exciting, but the second they’re faced with the reality of it, they bolt.”
“Exactly. I thought Fitz was different.”
“Fitz is different, you fucking douche-nozzle.”
“Would you stop cursing at me?”
“No, because you’re a dick who can’t see how good he has it. Fitz loves you, you moron.”
“Do it again and I’m going to kick your ass.”
“We both know who’d kick whose ass.”
“Wait, what do you mean he loves me?”
Joker tapped the side of his head. “For someone who’s so fucking smart, you’re an idiot sometimes. Fitz loves you, and because he loves you, what happened yesterday was even more terrifying. Jack, you two haven’t been together long enough for him to know all of you. He knows you were Special Forces, but he’s never seen that part of you, and the first time he does see it, it’s you beating the shit out of some guy who attacked him in his living room, a guy who was probably let in by the guy who drugged him and tried to kill him in a car accident.”
Jack shook his head. “He pretty much ended things.”
“Right, because someone who’s clearly done with you spends the night missing you, leaving you voicemails about how sorry they are, how they messed up, to please call. Does Fitz strike you as the type of guy to do that with someone he isn’t crazy about? Those other assholes deserved the shit Chip left in their shoes. Fitz? No shit in his shoes.”
“Your dog is as messed up as you are.”
Sacha’s smirk took some of the edge off his words. “Yeah, well. We’re all a little fucked, but who needs normal?”
“Fitz,” Jack muttered, walking to the back of the Jeep. “He wants a normal, quiet life.” He lifted his gaze to Joker’s. “And there is nothing normal or quiet about us.”
Joker sighed. “I’m pretty sure when he said quiet, he meant a life without homicidal maniacs trying to kill him, not your loud-ass shouting at football, Red singing to his fuck-awful disco, Ace laughing at his own stupid puns, or Lucky’s voice in general. He’s been perfectly happy around us since he and Laz restored their friendship. Talk to him.”
Since when had Sacha—a man who broke out in hives at the mention of the word monogamy—become the voice of reason where romantic relationships were concerned?
Jack make a noncommittal sound and grabbed his toolbox from the back of the Jeep. They’d had breakfast, because Jack needed a big greasy breakfast to soak up some of the alcohol he’d stupidly consumed last night with Joker in his apartment. That was after Jack woke up drenched in sweat with a hairy dog butt in his face, thanks to Chip plastering himself to Jack’s side. He’d tried