Page 60 of See My Words

Minh threw up his hands. “Well, in that case, sweetie pie, there’s not a whole lot else I can do.”

Scott felt a welcome little surge of adrenaline. “Since when have you backed down from a challenge, Minh? I’m sure between all of us we can figure something out.”

Minh raised his eyebrows before pointing to a nearby restaurant. “Well, in that case, let’s go have brunch and do some planning.” He belatedly introduced them to Julia and her fiancé, Brian, muttering to Rylan, “I’ve never seen them before in my life, but I’m a nosy bitch, and when I saw them standing here looking so upset, I got all up in their business, like it or not.”

Rylan chuckled. “Never a dull moment around you, Minh.” Minh winked at him, taking Julia’s arm to lead her off. Brian followed, confusion written all over his face, while Chris only looked amused.

Scott shook his head, leaning down to murmur in Rylan’s ear as they walked, “Jesus. Who falls for something like that?”

“Young college kids just starting out. An expensive life lesson, right? Always do your research and be suspicious of something that looks too good to be true.”

Scott winced, Tanner once again springing to mind, how he’d dangled the carrot of a better life in California right in front of his nose, and Scott, without a second thought, had bit right into it. Too good to be true, and an expensive life lesson indeed, since he’d paid both a physical and emotional price for it.

As if Rylan had read his thoughts, he took Scott’s hand in his, twining their fingers together and giving them a gentle squeeze. Scott squeezed back, wondering when, exactly, Rylan had become so precious to him. Again.

I love you.

The words stuck in Scott’s throat, but he firmed his lips, determined once and for all to try to put the past in the past, where it deserved to stay.

It is what it is.

And everything that truly mattered was right here at his side.

Chapter Ten

RYLAN SIPPED HIS MIMOSA, WATCHING as Scott gestured with the ballpoint pen he’d charmed out of their server. “That picnic area we saw on our hike the other day was just a short walk from a parking lot along a completely paved trail. Even if you have heels on, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“It’s so pretty there,” Minh put in, his voice a little dreamy. “Red rocks, the creek, all those trees.”

“Then, what, at least six picnic tables, Rylan?” Scott looked at him, and Rylan cast his mind back, unable to remember exactly.

“I think so,” he said tentatively. “I was a little, er, distracted at the time.”

Scott shot him a wicked grin, reaching under the table to dance his fingertips up Rylan’s inner thigh. “That’s right, you were,” he purred. Rylan grabbed his hand right as he was about cup his crotch.

“It’s a really fun place, that’s for sure.” Minh’s eyes were sparkling, and Rylan felt his face flush, aware of three other sets of curious gazes on him. Chris raised his eyebrow.

“We, uh—” Rylan stammered. “We were hiking and stopped to rest along the creek, and it was really—er, restful.”

Minh choked, and Scott took pity on him, to Rylan’s vast relief. “We’d hiked in from another location, but I’m almost positive I can find it again, and it had plenty of picnic tables. I think it’ll be perfect.”

“What’s your dress like, honey?” Minh asked Julia. “Does it have a train that will drag in the dirt?”

Julia picked up her phone and swiped, turning it to show Minh. “No, actually it’s a slip dress, see?”

“Oh, sweetie, that’s stunning. Is it hand-beaded?”

Julia nodded, beaming, and she and Minh launched into a detailed discussion of hair, makeup, and accessories.

Scott and Brian were scratching notes on a napkin, talking earnestly about logistics and money, so Chris put his arm along the back of Rylan’s chair and leaned over.

“What was that all about?”

Rylan flushed again. “Let’s just say,” he said drily, “that if the group of hikers who interrupted us had come along ten minutes later, they would have gotten quite the gay sex education.” Rylan shuddered. “And obviously I had no idea we were that close to a fucking parking lot.”

Chris’s eyes sparkled with mirth. “Hearing this makes me so happy, you don’t even know.”

Rylan gaped at him. “What, that I can’t control myself around two hot guys?”