Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
I hadn’t seen much of Gavin lately, but I knew him very well. I think he spent just as much time at my home throughout the boys’ grade school and high school years as he spent at his own place. He had a rocky home life growing up, and I was pleased I could provide a space where he felt safe.
Even though Gavin had been through a lot, he was a great kid with a good head on his shoulders. He was smart and grounded, and I hoped those attributes would rub off onto my somewhat flighty son. Granted, they hadn’t yet, even through a decade of friendship and four years at college, but I could still dream.
The door opened and I smiled widely at Wade. It was like looking at a younger version of myself; we were both tall with broad necks and shoulders, but my frame was more padded than his. My graying hair was thinner than his dark, curly locks, but we had matching slate gray eyes, and the same long, slim nose. We even trimmed our facial hair the same way, though his short beard was dark brown while mine was salt and pepper.
“Hey Dad,” he greeted as he pulled me into a back-slapping hug.
“Hey. Are you getting settled in okay?” Unfortunately, I'd been tied up with work and didn't have a chance to help him move in, but I hired a company to help the process go smoothly.
“Yep, the place is all done. Check it out.” Wade ushered me inside and closed the door behind us.
My jaw dropped in shock as I looked around the living room. I expected to see piles of boxes, which I came prepared to help unpack. But instead, the house was totally put together. The furniture was neatly arranged, stylish rugs lay on the floor, and nice decor speckled shelves and the walls.
“I’m impressed. I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting it to be this put together.”
“It was all Gavin,” Wade replied with a shrug. “He’s been busting his ass the past couple of days to get everything set up.”
That made more sense; if it had been left up to Wade, things would be left in piled boxes. But I wasn’t surprised that Gavin took care of things. He’d always been a responsible kid. At any rate, not having to unpack would give us more time to catch up.
“What would you like to do for dinner?” I asked, pulling my phone from my pocket, assuming he’d want to order something.
“It’s already taken care of. The food should be about ready, actually.”
I blinked in shock. “You cooked?”
“Hell no; I’d burn the house down. That was Gavin too.” He chuckled at my relieved sigh as I put my phone back into my pocket. “Come on, he’s in the kitchen.”
As I followed Wade towards the next room, the aroma of chicken and vegetables hit my nostrils, making my stomach growl. But what made my mouth water was the sight of a taut, round ass bent over as its owner pulled a dish from the oven.
My first thought was that the guys had someone visiting; that maybe he was even a boyfriend of Gavin, the lucky bastard. Whoever he was, I couldn’t look away. I stared unashamedly as he stood up, his sleek muscles bunching beneath his tight shirt as he placed the dish on the countertop.
The man turned to face me and my jaw dropped when a pair of familiar brown eyes locked with mine. I’d looked into them countless times before, but they’d always belonged to a scrawny, clumsy kid with shaggy hair. That was not the man who stood before me today.
“Gavin?” I squeaked out as my eyes quickly roved over him. His hair was cut high and tight, and his square jaw was shaved smooth. He had to have grown at least four inches since the last time I saw him, and his body filled out nicely. Very nicely; he was still slim, but I could clearly make out the cuts of his muscles, even through his clothes.
“You look…” I wasn’t sure what to say. Different didn’t seem to cover it. Sexy was more accurate, but that was a wildly inappropriate thing to say to my son’s friend. But damn if it wasn’t true.
“Hot, right?” Wade said, as though he’d read my thoughts. He flicked Gavin’s nipple before laughing and walking towards the dining table, while Gavin smirked and rolled his eyes at my son’s antics.
Many different thoughts and emotions tumbled around in my brain. Shock was front and center, though lust was being awfully pushy. And I couldn’t deny the spark of jealousy that lingered in the background.
But why was I jealous? Because Wade got to touch the nipple that I could see was now so hard and pointed I could hang a picture from it? Yep. But I had no reason to be jealous of the touch; the two of them always joked around. And unless something changed during his time at college, I knew my son wasn’t gay.