Pisces: From Behind That Locked Door by Pepper Espinoza Read Free Book Online

said as he returned his phone to his pocket. "Trying to work out a good time for a planning meeting next week. You know Jeni Jacobson, right?"
    "Yes."
    "She's a funny girl."
    Something in Jay's chest deflated until he thought he was in danger of collapsing in on himself. "Sure is."
    "Look, I propose we settle this silly cake versus pie dispute by going for ice cream. There's a place just up the road... "
    "You know, I don't really have time for dessert."
    Stephen blinked his surprise. But why shouldn't he be surprised? A guy like Jay always had time for dessert, right?
    "Oh, okay. Do you need to get back for something?"
    Yeah, maybe it's possible to get back in time to rescue my pride. "I do need to finish Ovid."
    "Ah, right. Sometimes I forget about the yoke of homework." Stephen stood, reaching for his wallet. "I'll get this."
    "No, I'll pay for my own," Jay protested.
    Stephen put a hand out to stop him. "No. It was my idea, I invited you, so it's my treat. You can get the next one."
    Since there probably wasn't going to be a next one, Jay didn't really see how this was fair. But he didn't want to get into an argument over it. This was already awkward enough without adding a scene on top of it. Why is that fat guy yelling at the other guy? One patron would ask another. I don't know. Maybe the other guy tried to steal his food?
    Stephen paid, grabbed a handful of the red and white mints Jay only saw at restaurants, and smiled in response to something the waitress said. In that moment, Jay had such a yearning for Stephen that he couldn't draw a breath. Spending so much time with Stephen had been a mistake. Now he knew exactly what he was missing out on, and what he'd be missing out on every day for the rest of his life. He ducked out of the restaurant, desperate for a lungful of breath air.
    "Peppermint?" Stephen asked, once he joined Jay.
    "Sure."
    The tip of Stephen's finger just brushed against Jay's palm as he passed the candy over. Jay caught his breath a little, but tried to mask the startled sound with a quickly added, "Thanks."
    "You've helped out with Pride before, haven't you?" Stephen asked.
    "Yeah, I was on the committee my junior and senior years. I volunteered before that."
    "Any interest in helping out again this year? We could really use it, to be honest."
    Jay would eagerly volunteer his nonexistent time except for one thing. "Is that why you were speaking to Jeni?"
    "Yeah, she's on the committee this year."
    "I'm sorry, but I just don't have the time."
    "What about that week? Can I ask you to man a booth or two? Please?"
    Oh good. Public torture. But Stephen was asking nicely, and his blue eyes had such a lovely tint in the sunshine. "Yeah, I can probably do that."
    "Thanks. But just so you know, I wasn't trying to bribe you or anything with lunch."
    "What were you trying to do with lunch?"
    Stephen laughed. He had a maddening tendency to do that whenever Jay was being serious. He wasn't sure where that laughter came from, but it lacked an edge. Jay had heard plenty of derisive and mocking laughter in his life, and Stephen's was nothing like that. Jay was so caught up in the shine of Stephen's smile that he didn't look away in time, and Stephen's gaze shifted over in time to catch Jay's eye. His laughter faded, but his smile didn't. Jay's heart slammed against his ribs once before settling back to its proper rhythm.
    "Thank you."
    "For volunteering? It's no big, I do every year."
    "No, for accompanying me. I've had a lot of fun today."
    "So have I." Jay finally looked away, unable to stand the force of Stephen's eyes. His perfectly sincere eyes. He didn't know what Stephen and Jeni had actually discussed, but he was stupid for thinking that Stephen had been laughing him. He wanted to apologize for being so stupid, like he'd insulted Stephen to his face. "I'm sorry I had to cut it short."
    "No, don't even worry about it. If you don't remind me, I'll just forget and I don't want you to fall behind on my