Page 91 of Love On and Off Set

“That could’ve ended badly.”

“Right. But he and Alex are getting married in the spring.”

“All’s well that ends well.”

“Right. Except the two are at Susan’s beach house for New Year’s. She’s got something up her sleeve, and Jerome’s nervous as hell. He keeps surreptitiously texting Val.”

I grinned. “He thinks she won’t notice?”

“Jerome’s claiming it’s a family thing. Family he recently visited. I think…Alabama or something?”

“Yeah…something.”

“Right. Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see what she’s got in mind.”

“For sure. Tell Val he has to share…if he can.”

Seamus arched an eyebrow.

I laughed. “Okay, I know he’s sharing with you. Hell, Jerome knows he’s sharing with you. But you might sneak me a bit of gossip, right? You know I’d never say anything.” Which was the absolute truth. No one ever pried anything out of me.

Val returned to the table. After he plopped in his chair, he pressed a kiss to Seamus’s cheek. “I think it’s going to be a long night.”

“Oh?” I opened my eyes wide, trying for completely innocent.

After rolling his eyes, Val turned to Seamus.

Who shrugged and held up his beer—of which he had yet to take a sip.

Val laughed. “Nothing to report. Just a lot of jangled nerves.” He sipped his martini. “I’m so glad we’re not in LA. We might’ve been commanded to Susan’s lovely beach house as well.”

Seamus cuddled into Val.

A phone buzzed.

My friend yanked it out of his back pocket, swiped, and grinned. He showed the screen to Val before showing me.

Elouise, with her baby bump, had Jason on her lap. The young boy looked super happy as she read him a story.

“Kelci took the picture?”

Seamus nodded. “Elouise promised to read him five bedtime stories. Apparently, this is number four.”

“You know he’ll ask for more.” I grinned. Val and Seamus’s foster son was a voracious consumer of all the books he could get his hands on.

“Probably.” Val took another sip. “I’m sure Elouise will manage just fine. She started reading to him about an hour before his actual bedtime. Hopefully, he’ll eventually drop off.” He snagged Seamus’s hand. “You make me so happy.”

Seamus blinked.

I did as well. I wasn’t accustomed to Val’s overt affection. The men didn’t touch at the studio. Or not at least in front of anyone. Here, though, when amongst friends, they were open with their affection.

They kissed.

Myles and Hallstein wandered over. The set decorator, spotting the Val-and-Seamus smooch, threw his arms around his husband and planted a big smacker on his lips.

Hallstein, clearly caught off guard, took a moment to respond. By the time he did, Myles had some serious tongue action going.

Dade, whom I hadn’t noticed, hooted. The actor’s grin was pretty loopy as he sat with his husband Horatio’s hand on his shoulder.