FIVE WEEKS AGO
Carter stoppedoutside a newly remodeled bookstore, Spellbound Sky. It had been there forever, but today Carter had the strangest urge to stop and visit. The inside was brightly lit, and from the window he could see all manner of crystals, books, incense burners. He had the urge to go in and see if the vibe he was getting was right. This seemed like an oasis in the city, one where he could decompress and simplybefor a time. He pulled the door open, the tiny bell tinkling to herald his arrival. The scent of jasmine and the sounds of the ocean crashing against the shore washed over him, soothing his already fractured nerves. His conversation with his mother about getting married and the discussion about Kara’s childbearing hips had him on edge. He knew he’d have to talk to his parents, and soon.
“Good morning!” a voice called out. “Come on in. I’ll be there in a moment. Just need to put this box—shit!”
A loud crash followed the expletive. He rushed inside, and found a red-headed man standing over a box of books that had fallen. Carter bent down to help pick them up, when he noticed the man’s eyes. They were beautiful, the kind of eyes Carter could drown in so easily.
“Thank you,” the man said. “I appreciate the help.”
“Hey, babe? What happened?” A second man hurried around the corner. Goodgrief, he was big. Huge, actually. With his close-cropped dark hair, goatee, and bulging muscles, he could have strolled straight out of one of Carter’s fantasies.
“The shelf slid, and I dropped the books.”
“Are you hurt?” the larger man asked, bending down to help.
“No, just feel stupid. I should have been using a rack.”
When the larger man leaned in and brushed a kiss over the other guy’s lips, a frisson of jealousy zipped through Carter.Why can’t I find someone who looks atmelike that? Someone willing to kiss a boo boo and make it better?
“Hey, thanks for helping out,” the larger man said. “I appreciate you taking care of my partner until I got here.”
His partner. Carter wanted that, more than anything. To be someone’s partner, their husband, their family.
“Oh, I was happy to do it. I wanted to be sure he wasn’t hurt.” Carter peered at him. If eyes were truly windows to the soul, this man had a beautiful one. “I’m Carter.”
He held out a hand. “Nice to meet you, Carter. My name is Benjamin Zabro. Friends call me by my initials, Beez.”
The other man extended a hand. “And I’m Alexander Cynod.”
“I call him Alcy,” Beez teased.
“And he’s got everyone else doing it too,” Alcy grumbled. He flashed a brilliant smile. “But I don’t mind.”
“It’s good to meet you.” Carter cocked his head. “Have… have we met before? You seem really familiar.”
“Not that I know of,” Beez said. “How about you, Alcy?”
Alcy pursed his lips and peered at Carter. His eyes sparkled. “No, I’ddefinitelyremember a cutie like you.”
Beez nudged Alcy with a shoulder, and the two of them exchanged a look. Carter felt certain they were communicating without words. Finally, Alcy cleared his throat. “Here’s the thing… we’ve never done this before, but... We were wondering… would you like to grab a cup of coffee with us?”
Are theyhittingon me?No oneeverhit on him.
Carter’s heartbeat raced. “I...” Then something inside of him overrode his brief flare of panic, and a tiny voice in his head told him if he turned down the offer, he'd regret it for the rest of his life. He took a deep breath. “I’d love to.”
They both beamed at him. “Awesome,” Beez declared. “The Starbucks down the street makes delicious vanilla lattes.”
Alcy sighed. “They’ve got these chocolate things he doesn’t so much eat asinhale.” Alcy patted Beez’s rounded tummy. “That’s how he gotthis.” Then he leaned down and planted a kiss there. “And I love him for it. Always wanted a bear to cuddle with.”
Another flash of déjà vu zipped through Carter. He felt oddly comfortable with these men, and he hoped to at least find a couple of new friends, if nothing else.
Maybe life was looking up.
Chapter Nineteen
Carter’s life had changed beyond recognition since the day he’d met Alcy and Beez, and he couldn’t have been happier. So much had clicked into place.
Their support had given him the courage to talk to his parents and let them know he didn’t want to work on computers for a job. He was surprised—no,stunned—when his mother told him they only wanted him to be happy. He wasn’t sure what had brought this change in her, but he kept waiting for the shoe to drop.