Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 140629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“Sure. I’m sure it will work out,” he said, just because he didn’t want to dim Caspian’s optimism, but he’d already lost hope that his life could change course and avoid the eventual crash-landing in prison or in a body bag. They needed to find a way to swap back, but Gunner had no future plans or ideas beyond that. The vague dream of becoming a piano teacher would be dead in the water as soon as he was back in his hulking body, with fingers that didn’t understand how to play and a brain that couldn’t read sheet music.
“There’s one more thing,” Caspian said, moving to sit on the edge of Gunner’s bed. Even so late at night, after carrying him to the ER, he smelled so good Gunner wished to open his pants and show him how much his help was appreciated. But Caspian squeezed Gunner’s shoulder in a very non-sexual way and spoke. “Alex is here.”
Gunner’s stomach clenched in panic. “Oh no. You want him to beat me up so we’re even?” He met Caspian’s gaze, unsure if he could take that right now when so pumped out.
But the handsome face froze. Was he having a stroke?
“Er… no. I want you to go to his room and grovel.”
Oh. Oh no. That was so much worse. Gunner’s cheeks already heated up from the shame of it. His tongue tied in his mouth, as if it didn’t want to produce words, and his expression must have made his opinion clear, because Caspian frowned.
“Gunner…” he said in warning.
“Okay. Okay. I’ll do it. I just… I’ll try not to mess up.”
“You will not mess this up, because I’m not going to court over this,” Caspian said in a stern voice that was annoyingly sexy.
Gunner couldn’t even discern anymore if he was doing this for himself or for Caspian, but for Caspian’s sake, yeah, he’d apologize, grovel, and kiss ass to Alex if need be.
He took a deep breath and sat up with a nervous smile. “Or we could like, go off the grid and never come back.”
Caspian stilled, and his arm slowly rested on Gunner’s shoulders. “It would be a dream, and we’d never have to wake up from it. But I can’t leave my family. I don’t want to.”
And Gunner would have never demanded that from Caspian. He gave Caspian a quick hug, because fuck knew how much longer they had with the swap, and he’d squeeze as much joy as he could out of every second together. “Just kidding, I wouldn’t leave Noah either. Let’s get this over with. Where’s Alex?”
Caspian’s nose rubbed the top of his head as he breathed in, and the tickle of air moving over Gunner’s hair was so pleasant he curled his toes, as if he’d been caressed deliberately.
“I don’t think anyone’s ever hit him like you did.”
Gunner groaned but let Caspian lead him into the bright hospital corridor. “‘Cause he was so fucking rude, and expected me to just take it. Is that what I should have done? Grinded my teeth and kept my mouth shut?”
Caspian shushed him by placing one finger across Gunner’s mouth and gestured at the empty corridor. Right, it was late at night, and many patients were asleep.
“I still can’t decide whether I’m angry at you or if I find the whole rabid twink thing sexy,” Caspian whispered, herding Gunner by gently pushing his back.
Gunner bit back a nervous laugh. He sure hoped it was the latter. “I’m not very good at apologies,” he whispered when they stood in front of a mint-green door. His hands were already sweating with unease at the upcoming confrontation, but Caspian didn’t leave him a choice and knocked.
A dull sound came from inside, but Caspian didn’t hesitate and opened the small room with several bouquets of flowers resting on a table close to the bed, as if Alex had suffered a serious accident, not a couple of punches to his face.
Wimp.
Gunner had to admit he barely recognized the man behind the dressing and heavy bruising, but Alex realized who’d walked in, because he went stiff and moved his hand toward a button on the wall, as if he were trying to suggest that he’d call for staff at even the smallest hint of hint of threat.
“What the hell are you doing here, dwarf? You have a henchman now?”
Gunner stuffed his hands into his pockets, simmering in the indignity of the offence he wished to punch off Alex’s lips.
“No… that… he’s my boyfriend,” Gunner mumbled. “No need to alarm anyone. I came to say… to say…” Caspian nudged his back. “To say I’m sorry.”
Alex stared at them, his arms folding across his chest. “You’re just scared shitless of having to deal with the police.”
Caspian spoke first, in a clear, stern voice. “No. He panicked because you outed him at a party. To his parents, their friends, and co-workers. That was really not cool, but errare humanum est. Let’s work it out between the three of us.”