“You have to be happy! For him!” Royce begged as his eyes pleaded with Grant. He wanted to be the one. Royce wanted to pledge to do whatever it took to make Grant laugh every day, for the rest of his life but he couldn’t. He didn’t know what sin he’d commit before Waites had what he needed. He didn’t know if Grant would want him, by the time Royce completed his mission. “You have to laugh,” he urged Grant as he captured his face and kissed him. He was careful and whispered soothing words as he pecked at Grant’s lips. “We’re going to see what we can do about that.”
“Ok,” Grant sighed as he sank against Royce’s chest. He was wrung out and limp as he leaned into to Royce.
“Let’s go lay down,” Royce said as he led Grant from the office. He felt Grant tense and rubbed his arm. “I’m tired and I just want to hold you,” he promised and Grant hummed drowsily.
“I think that would be ok,” he mumbled and Royce’s pulse raced with anticipation.
“Good,” he said and he became giddy. He was over the moon and thrilled to his toes at the thought of watching Grant sleep. Imagine that.
Chapter 27
“I did it!” Grant laughed as he pumped his arms then grabbed the treadmill’s handlebars and held on as he let his head hang. His t-shirt was plastered to his body and sweat dripped from his nose and pattered onto the belt as he punched the button to turn down the speed. His legs were jelly but he finally got his five-mile run time back to forty-five minutes and Grant felt invincible. He was still carrying around the ghosts of cupcakes past but he had his pre-Audrey run time back and his beer belly was nearly gone. He wasn’t quite ready for abs but Grant felt a little less like a slouch next to Royce when they were out and it was getting easier to take his clothes off around him.
Grant was enjoying his invincibility and on his way to the kitchen to refill his water bottle when the silence on the front lawn caught his attention. He stopped and his brows fell and his lips pursed as his eyes flicked to the clock in the hall. It was 6:26. The sprinklers were supposed to be on. He left his water bottle on the banister and went to check it out. Grant leaned out of his door and looked to his right and left and his eyes narrowed. Sprinklers tick-tick-tick-tick-ticked away dependably across several of the neighbors’ yards. Grant waved at the paper boy on his bike but he felt a whiff of anxiety as he went to inspect the timer and the faucet on the side of the house.
“Who…?” Grant’s head pulled back in confusion and his hand froze as he reached for the faucet. It was off and the hose was disconnected. He scoured his brain for an explanation as he threaded the hose back on and reset the timer but it was still a mystery as he waited. Grant watched the sprinklers until they popped up and were running properly then crossed the yard. He gasped in relief and pulled up the front of his shirt and tucked it between his teeth so he could enjoy the cool spray as he pushed his hands through his hair.
“Hey! You must be Grant!” A man called and Grant swung around. Grant waved back limply as a young man waved from the Lees’ porch before he jogged down the steps and across their lawn. Grant was still waving and his shirt was still clamped between his teeth as a shirtless god in very short black running shorts strode toward him and offered his hand. “I’m Sam! Drew and Sally said I had to meet you,” he explained as he remained outside of the sprinkler’s radius. Grant finally released his shirt and tugged it down then whimpered at himself. His shorts, socks and shoes were getting soaked. He mustered the little dignity and confidence he had left and offered Sam a strained smile as he stepped out of the sprinklers and shook his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you. What brings you to Hopkins Creek?” Grant asked. It was a little like looking into the sun and Grant’s eyes watered as Sam smiled back at him. His drowsy brown eyes undressed Grant as they wandered down his body and Sam’s jagged cheekbones and jaw made him want to squirm. Grant fought to maintain eye contact and was afraid to let his gaze drift below Sam’s chin. He was already too aware of Sam’s sculpted pecs and abs and the bulge in the front of his very tight shorts. There was also the matter of his very toned thighs…
“I’m Drew’s little brother. I just took a job at the university and I’m crashing here while I get settled and find a place,” Sam explained cheerfully but Grant’s face fell.
“Really?” He asked. Grant knew the Lees had two adult daughters and that Sally had a sister in New York but Drew never mentioned having a brother. “I didn’t know Drew had a brother,” he said but Sam snorted and rolled his eyes.
“I’m not surprised. He’s always treated me like the annoying little brother and he never approves of anything I do,” he confided then slid Grant a cocky grin. “He told me not to flirt with the cute guy next door but that just made me more interested in meeting you,” he whispered. Grant shook his head and took a step back then jumped when the cold spray hit the back of his shorts.
“He probably meant Royce,” Grant said dismissively as he looked behind him. Sam laughed as he grabbed Grant’s wrist and pulled him away from the sprinkler.
“I’m pretty sure he was talking about you, silly,” he teased and Grant’s eyes widened as Sam towed him closer. “I’ve heard a lot about you, though. Want to go someplace that serves breakfast cocktails and get to know each other a little better?” Sam asked as he traced the collar of Grant’s t-shirt.
“Oh… Ummm…” Grant swallowed hard as he strained for a response or just a single functioning thought but his brain flickered and spluttered uselessly in his skull.
“Is everything all right, Grant?” Royce called and Grant jerked then leaned away from Sam. He heard another snort from Sam and there was a wicked gleam in his eyes as he released Grant.
“He was definitely talking about you,” Sam murmured to Grant before he waved at Royce. “You must be Royce. We were just talking about you,” he declared brightly. Grant pulled his eyes from Sam and Royce didn’t look pleased as he strode across the lawn in his pajama pants.
“Yeah… You should meet Sam,” Grant told Royce as he gestured at Sam. “He’s Drew’s brother,” he added and Royce raised a brow at Sam dubiously.
“Of course, he is,” Royce replied as he pushed his hand at Sam. Their hands locked tightly but Sam’s smile remained open and teasing as he watched Royce. The tension was excruciating and Grant squeezed his fists as the urge to scream swelled within him.
“He’s staying with Drew and Sally while he looks for a place. He’s taking a job at the university,” Grant repeated. His voice was a little too high and not as steady as he would have liked but things had officially taken a disturbing turn and it was better than screaming.
“That sounds plausible,” Royce stated as his eyes drilled into Sam’s.
“Entirely,” Sam replied. “I’ll be teaching Geophysics,” he added and Royce smirked.
“Really? Are you even old enough to be a professor?”
“I’m really smart,” Sam countered and winked at Grant.
“Are you? I’m an astronomy nerd, myself. Will you be teaching the multiverse hypothesis?” Royce challenged but Sam shrugged as he crossed his arms over his chest.