Without Fear - Reese Knightley Page 0,42

prepared to take off at the drop of a hat.

He tucked toiletries, his wallet, and extra clothing into the backpack and placed it near the door. His cell phone he tucked into one of the pockets of his sweats.

The sound of the doorbell signaled the pizza was there, but for some reason, he stayed in his room.

He missed Frank. He missed Jett and Nathan and their camaraderie. They’d been only a few, but they’d been a team for the short time they’d been in Crumpet. And hell, did he ever miss Justin. But most of all, he missed Logan. His warm, green eyes, the surprise in them when he pulled one over on the sexy man, and those muscled arms holding him tight, giving killer hugs. Logan was the person he pictured his happily ever after with. The same person he’d walked away from. Macy hoped Logan remembered their conversation the day before and not just the handcuffs at the cemetery. He’d told Logan to save the words of love for later. He didn’t know how, but he knew that someday, he was going to return to Logan and they’d work this shit out. He had to believe that in order to function.

“Macy, pizza’s here,” Stanton called through the door, breaking into his thoughts.

“Yeah, I’ll be right out.”

Macy

The pizza tasted fantastic.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten. Was it yesterday? No, he’d had oatmeal for breakfast. Bleh.

Stanton finished his fourth slice and stood to rinse his plate at the sink. Macy ignored Flint, but he didn’t miss the way the man’s cold eyes ran over his face, taking note of his colored lips and outlined eyes.

Macy scowled back. It had been a long damned time since he’d let anyone make him feel like a freak for being who he was and he was damned sure not going to let this asshole do it now.

Flint huffed and took a huge bite of food.

“Got a problem?” Macy narrowed his gaze at the fucker.

“Girls wear makeup,” the guy said around a bite of food.

“I’d argue with you if I thought you had an articulate thought in your tiny little brain.”

Stanton barked with laughter.

Flint turned purple with anger.

Macy snorted and shoved back from the table while stuffing the last bite of his pizza into his mouth. Tossing the plate into the sink, he sashayed from the kitchen.

“I’m going to put on a movie,” Stanton said.

“Cool.” He gave Stanton a small smile, but didn’t stop on his way to his room. “I’m crashing out.”

He’d rather sit alone in his room than be around Flint. Heading through the living room, he shut his bedroom door and leaned against it.

He lifted the backpack from the floor and moved to sit on the bed before digging out the burner phone in his sweatpants’ pocket.

He was so badly tempted to call Justin, but no way in hell did he want Justin involved.

He could call Logan. No, couldn’t do that either. He had to stay away, but he could dream.

Macy smiled remembering the very first time Logan had come back to Crumpet and tracked him down. Macy had taken his lunch to the park to eat, just to get away from the café crowd, and Logan had found him. He’d never forget the surprise, pleasure, and trepidation he’d felt seeing Logan’s tall frame striding toward him.

Of course, Logan had brought Echo. And each time Logan came to Crumpet in the following months, the large dog was always able to track him down. In fact, once Macy had switched parks just for fun and Echo had happily found him a few blocks over.

“Trying to be tricky?” Logan had quirked one eyebrow.

The hunk’s t-shirt stretched around corded, muscled forearms and blue jeans fit snugly on an ass to die for. The man’s thick brown hair was threaded with gray and his green eyes were piercing.

Macy wanted to brush the hair from Logan’s forehead. Instead, he’d huffed and flipped his long hair over one shoulder and snickered.

Logan had sat across from him at the picnic table and started in on about his choice of healthy foods.

“What is it today?” The man had eyed the brown paper bag.

“Peanut butter and jelly,” he’d sniped back and held up a hand that stopped Logan’s words before they could emerge. It was comical, really, and Macy had found himself laughing.

“Don’t hate on the PB&J.”

Logan had snorted and crossed his arms, trying to look all badass. He’d succeeded, but Macy had suspected Logan had a soft heart.

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