Disappointment seeps through Cass. “Probably won’t happen, then,” he says, tugging his hand out of Obie’s grip. “Forget about it. It was just a thought.”
Obie’s eyes narrow. “Cass.Do you like him?”
For a moment, Cass glares at him.
And then he lets out an explosive sigh, slumps forward in his chair, and buries his head in his hands. “All right. Fine.Yes,I like JJ. I’m tempted to say that Ireallylike JJ, actually. I like how good he is with Desi. I like his protectiveness and his dedication and his loyalty. I like his fighting skills—hand to hand, grappling, escrima, all of it. And I—I do also like the way he looks shirtless.”
Obie gapes at him. “When did you see JJshirtless?”
Cass gestures vaguely. “Stalked him to the Sanctum one time. Not important.”
Ez nods at Cass’s hand. “Cass.”
“Ez.”
“You mentioned ‘prolonged eye contact and physical proximity,’” she says, “so tell me honestly: whereexactlydid you touch JJ?”
Obie chokes. Heat flames into Cass’s face. “Hisshoulder,Ez! Hisshoulder!”
Ez smirks. “If you say so.”
Obie unsubtly elbows her in the ribs. “But all that is beside the point,” he says, meeting Cass’s eyes. “You can like someone and not want a relationship with them. Hell, you could love someone and still not want a relationship with them. So what doyouwant, Cass? Do you want to try?”
Cass hesitates. Looks down at his hands as he tries to gather his thoughts.
Whatdoeshe want? Does he want to know JJ better? To memorize all the fleeting expressions that flash across his face and all the emotions that dance behind his dark eyes? To learn all of his favorite foods and movies and books and hobbies, and to show JJ all of his own?
Does he want to wake up every morning next to JJ, close enough to feel his body heat and hear his soft breathing? To make breakfast for him and Desi, to see his eyes light up when Cass prepares his favorite meals for lunch, to teach him how to cook dinner?
Does he want to stay up with JJ long after Desi’s gone to sleep, talking about their hopes and fears and dreams? To collapse into bed with him every night, all sleepy smiles and tangled limbs and JJ’s fingertips drifting over Cass’s side as they fall asleep?
“Yeah.” Saying the word out loud makes relief and terror swirl through Cass in approximately equal measures, but somehow?—
Somehow, he knows it’s the correct answer. “Yeah,” he repeats, nodding firmly. “I really think I do.”
Desi throws her arms into the air from her perch on JJ’s shoulders, grinning from ear to ear. “Fly market!”
“Flea market,” Cass corrects patiently, giving Desi one of those fondly amused smiles that make JJ’s heart shiver. “I’m glad they extended it an extra day this year. I love seeing all the priceless treasures that people try to sell for a dollar apiece.”
JJ shoots him a sideways glance, cinching his fingers more firmly around Desi’s ankles as she twists every which way to check out all the vendors. “Can you tell what’s valuable just by looking at it?”
Cass shrugs one shoulder, the corner of his lips twitching upward. It’s a new type of smile that JJ has recently started noticing, mostly directed at JJ himself. He’s trying not to get too worked up about it. “Sometimes.”
JJ lowers his voice. “Because you’ve been alive for a long time?”
Cass’s smirk widens. “No, I just watch a lot of antiquing shows,” he says, and he wraps his hand around JJ’s elbow, guiding him forward. “Come on. I noticed a table with some toys earlier. We might find something for Desi there.”
JJ falls into step next to him, trying not to fidget when Cass doesn’t release his arm. The fact that Cass seems to be getting more comfortable in JJ’s personal space is doingnothingfor his self-control and emotional stability, but he valiantly swallows down the fluttery sensation in his belly.
It’s been just over a week since their movie day in Cass’s living room, and the three of them have settled into a strange new normal. Desi is obviously the same as always, bright and cheerful and always directing their attention towards the most colorful distractions she can find, but Cass?—
Cass is different. He’s started to lean into their “fake dating” con a little more thoroughly, started to wrap his fingers around JJ’s arm when they’re walking through a crowd or to put a hand on JJ’s lower back when they’re strolling down Lakeside.
Like he’s trying to keep JJ as close as possible.
Which makes sense, JJ tells himself firmly, because physical contact helps to maintain the glamours. Cass is just trying to make life easier for himself, and now that he and JJ have settled into a less antagonistic relationship, he’s taking advantage of the fact that he can slip into JJ’s space without JJ protesting.
Not that JJwantsto protest. In fact, part of him wishes Cass would do it more.
