Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
And just like that, Ben was right back there, those awful hours when he’d been so sure he might lose Maddox, when he’d resolved to do whatever it took to keep Maddox safe. Maddox’s eyes narrowed and he dropped the smile. “You okay? You know, Ben, if this is some sort of post-stress reaction, you thinking you owe me—”
“It’s not,” Ben said gruffly even though he wasn’t ever going to outrun the realizations he’d had during that time, wasn’t ever going to get the image of Maddox pale and unresponsive out of his head. “This has been a long time coming.”
Maddox nodded sharply, some emotion Ben couldn’t name passing in his eyes. “Can’t help but feel like we’re on a rollercoaster and short a brake.”
“Hey, being the pessimist is my job.” Ben put a hand on Maddox’s thigh to still his restless jiggling. “How about you quit thinking we’re going to crash and burn?”
They approached their stop at the Old Town Market, and Maddox didn’t reply before following Ben to the front of the trolley. As Ben helped Maddox get the crutches set on the sidewalk, the two guys who’d been across from them on the tour approached.
“Hey, you guys local?” the taller of the two asked.
Ben made a noncommittal noise, not really wanting to strike up a conversation, but Maddox was helpful as ever. “Yup. Can we help you find something?”
“Yeah, actually. We were planning to go to Hillcrest this evening after exploring here. You guys have a favorite spot there?” The guy had a confident air, like he’d already pegged them as a couple. Which Ben supposed was nice—meant maybe he was doing his job, projecting the right sort of boyfriend vibes. “We’d like to find out where the locals go—had about enough tourists for the day.”
Now, wasn’t this a pickle? Ben had a whole long list of favorite Hillcrest gay bars, but he wasn’t sure that discussing which were the best spots to cruise was good date etiquette, and it sure as heck wasn’t a good idea to remind Maddox how he usually spent his free Saturdays.
But while he was dithering, Maddox offered a wide smile. “Start at the Brass Rail. Sure you’ll run into some other out-of-towners, but it’s a friendly place with a great, mixed crowd, and you can work your way to other places after.”
Ben nodded, happy to have been saved yet again.
“You guys wouldn’t happen to want to go out with us? Show us around?” The shorter man had dark eyes with thick lashes and a beguiling smile—the sort of promising flirt Ben was usually drawn to. And if he was back with Trey, he wouldn’t hesitate, but then he wouldn’t have to, as Trey would have already handled the introductions and been quietly planning for the inevitable foursome.
“Ben?” Oh no, Maddox didn’t just lob it to him. He was supposed to be the one with a quick denial.
Was this a test? Ben stared Maddox down but couldn’t make out much from the big guy’s placid expression. “Nah. We’ve got plans.” And he wasn’t lying there. He had all sorts of plans for turning Maddox inside out, none of which required an audience. “Sorry.”
“Guess we do.” A little smile teased the edges of Maddox’s full mouth. He’d probably never admit it, but that had totally been a test for Ben. One which apparently he’d passed, but it still made him grumpy as they wished the other couple well and headed out past the colorful carts with red umbrellas and stalls with wooden signs of the Old Town Market. It was very touristy, with prices to match, but he went slow and didn’t groan when Maddox stopped to buy a piece of Mexican pottery. See? I’m a great boyfriend.
“I’ve been looking for the right butter dish.” Maddox tried to balance the package with his crutches but quickly handed it over to Ben when that wasn’t working. “Hey, look at all the pet stuff over there!”
“Some people have too much money and time on their hands,” Ben grumbled even though he’d been one of those people once upon a time. God, he missed his dogs.
“You ever think of getting another dog?” Maddox fingered a brightly patterned dog coat. “My lease doesn’t prohibit it, you know.”
Ben huffed and made a dismissive gesture that made the package in his hand clink. “Not with both of us gone OCONUS so much. Wouldn’t be fair to a dog when we could deploy at any time.”
“What if—” Maddox’s words died when a woman in a big straw hat bumped into him, causing him to stumble into Ben.
“Whoa.” Ben managed to keep them from hitting the brick sidewalk. “F—”
“I’m okay. You?” Maddox cut off what Ben had intended as a torrent of curses. Yeah, Maddox did know him. Maybe too well.
“Fine,” Ben gritted out, even if he was going to need those ice packs back at the apartment, and all the good of the electro-stim session was negated. “Let’s find a place to eat. Get you out of the foot traffic.”