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I picked up the shiny silver skillet from the back burner. “Where’d this one come from?”

Jordan smiled. “I ordered it from Amazon. It’s induction-ready, and it worked really well for frying the ham.” He took it from me and began running soapy water.

As I finished loading the dirty dishes, Jordan scrubbed down the stove and counters and washed the pots and pans. Once the kitchen was clean, I refilled my coffee cup and kissed Jordan’s sweet mouth. “Seriously, thank you. We can start cooking together when I’m home, if you want. I mean, I just follow a recipe if it’s something new.”

Jordan laughed. “You make it sound so simple. It really isn’t, trust me.” He hung the dishcloth over the faucet to dry while I closed the dishwasher and set it to run.

“How was your shift? Did you have another call after the youth center?”

“Thankfully, no. I got a full night’s sleep. So, what’s new with you?” I asked.

“Oh, the head of the record label has invited the band and our partners to his home next weekend so we can discuss the future of the band. I told River why I wanted to quit performing, and then I’ll have to explain it to Mr. Ashby. We’ll have to discuss money and insurance, which isn’t my forte, really.”

That was a surprise. “What’s to discuss about money and insurance?”

“We have a group insurance rate, and if I don’t work with the band any longer, I’ll have to get a separate insurance policy. There’s a lawsuit with the trucking company that’s still in process, and I’ll have additional medical bills while I’m finishing rehab. Regarding the money, I’ll still get a split of the royalties from the sales of the recordings I participated in, but I won’t get anything from new music.”

I hadn’t thought of the ramifications regarding him leaving the band. He had only told me he was considering it because he’d prefer to write songs instead. “Is it just because you don’t know if you can play guitar after you finish rehab? Do you still need to do your exercises or did you already do them?”

His PT had sent him away with homework. I helped him when he brought the instructions home, and I was happy to help him again.

“I did them when I couldn’t sleep this morning but tomorrow would be nice. Are we boyfriends?”

That surprised me. I wasn’t aware we hadn’t settled things regarding our relationship. “I love you. You love me. Doesn’t that make us boyfriends, or partners? Is that better? Do you not like the term ‘boyfriend?’”

“I don’t mind the term, but I wasn’t sure if you liked the term or if you’d rather not be exclusive. When we talked about it, I said I didn’t want to see anyone else, but you didn’t say the same, so I wondered if you still wanted to date others?”

I took his hand and led him back to the bedroom, unmaking the bed before I climbed in and put my coffee cup on the nightstand. “Join me, please…boyfriend?”

Jordan grinned as he took off his jeans and climbed in next to me, pulling the sheet over us. The weather was still moderate in El Segundo, but I hadn’t turned off the A/C yet. Maybe I needed to jack up the thermostat?

“You cold? We can turn up the temp inside. I know it gets cooler overnight. We can adjust the thermostat when we go to bed.”

“No, I just want to snuggle with you.”

“Okay. As for how we refer to ourselves, I’d definitely say we’re an exclusive couple. I only have eyes for you, and I’m sorry I didn’t answer you when you mentioned it early on. Boyfriend seems like it works better for younger couples, but since you’re young and I’m old, I suppose we can use it. Partner’s fine, though I don’t feel comfortable walking around and introducing you as my lover. It has a more intimate connotation, and I don’t believe it’s anyone else’s business what we do in our bedroom. How do you feel about it?”

I put my arm around his shoulders and pulled him closer, just then noticing he was wearing one of my CAL FIRE T-shirts. “You look good in my shirt,” I said, leaning over to kiss his neck just below his ear, gently gnawing on his earlobe.

“You put one on the end of the bed for me when you left yesterday morning.”

He seemed so pleased with the idea that I wanted him to wear my shirt that I couldn’t tell him I’d accidentally forgotten to take it with me to put it in my office. I’d just pick up another one at the station and remind myself to get things for him every once in a while to make sure he knew I was thinking about him.

This love stuff wasn’t as easy for me to pick up on as some guys made it look. Kit and River were a good example of a couple who made it look easy. I hoped Jordan and I would one day be an example of that easy kind of love.

“So, I have a question. You’re pretty clean-shaven and smooth everywhere. Do I need to trim the trees and clean the hedges? Is it something you don’t like?” My face flamed, but it was something I believed I should ask.

Jordan pushed his hand under my T-shirt and tugged on my chest hair. “This? You want to shave this? Absolutely not. I’m not smooth as you put it because of a hygiene choice. I just can’t grow hair easily. Have you ever seen Ripper, my dad? He’s bald on top and has a sad skinny ponytail. I’ll probably lose my hair in a couple of years, then you’re going to be stuck with a cueball, as the guys in his band call him. I love this hair, and as for this hair…” His hand snaked down my belly and under my uniform pants, landing right next to my pubic hair with his fingers stroking my hardening length.

“I’ll still love you when you’re bald. Will you love me when I have hair growing out of my ears and nose?”

Jordan giggled, so I tickled him. His legs were thrashing everywhere, and I laughed harder than I had in far too long.

“Stop! Stop! I’m gonna pee the bed.”

Jordan and I were both breathing heavily when I pushed him onto his back. I lay on top of him, not putting all my weight on him.

“So that’s a no to the grooming thing?”