Page 10 of Delay of Game

Zach watched him still, and it was the steady, fascinated expression on his face that made Nate do it. That and the courage or the stupidity that came from this week and lowered inhibitions.

He leaned forward to close the distance between them, and Zach tipped forward too, magnetically drawn into it. Zach’s lips under his were warm and soft, and they parted before Nate exhaled into his mouth. Nate opened his eyes and saw that Zach’s were closed while he inhaled. His eyelashes were dark against his cheeks and his hand, groping around reflexively, closed on Nate’s wrist.

Nate pulled away.

Zach exhaled and Nate watched the smoke curl from his lips and thought,that was my breath, it was inside of him. When Zach opened his eyes again, they were very wide and very dark. He looked stunned.

Well, itwasreally good weed.

It wasn’t a kiss. It wasn’t really a kiss. He never would have done that. It was just—

“Uh, I’m gonna go see what you’ve got in your kitchen before I smoke anything else,” Zach said, voice bright and casual. He pulled away and slid off of the chair. “I thinkyoushould probably eat something. And drink some water. I’ll be right back.”

Nate watched his retreating back, a little stunned himself.

Maybe he was going to have to rethink his week.

Maybe Zach had changed that too, along with everything else in his life.

Nate decided he had to lie down to think about that one, and so he did.

im losing my fucking mind, Zach texted furiously, once he slammed the door behind him.

Jammer replied almost immediately, which, considering he was still in Tulum, would normally have warmed Zach’s withered heart. As it was, it was kinda worrying. Like he’d been waiting by the phone for Zach to fuck it all up.

Told u it was a mistake.

ur almost never right about anything

Fuck u. Sup, tho?

Zach was about to typekind of kissed the captain and im gonna set myself on fire about itbefore he thought about it for longer than the panicked second it had taken him to send the first text. That would make at least two ways he could ruin Nate’s life, even if Jammer remained a true bro and took those secrets to the grave. Even though he trusted Jammer withhislife, or at least, with most life-adjacent things, he couldn’t trust him withNate’s.

Instead, he frowned at his phone for a minute.i’ve made some bad life choices. some really bad life choices

That’s not news, bro.

jammer for once in ur fucking life

Deep breaths, dude. Feel ur breath. Be present in ur body.

JAMMER NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR MINDFULNESS

Bro, I’m just tryna help.

Zach took a deep breath and felt his breath be present in his body. Or tried to. His body still felt like screaming and maybe throwing the phone at the wall. Instead, he said,im gonna set myself on fire

Maaaaaybe just work on healthy boundaries instead.

wtf jammer

Just sayin.

im EXTREMELY HEALTHY

Bro.

i am! don’t send me thinking face emojis!!!