Page 64 of Out of Reach

“Go to sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Hawk kissed him on the head, and Jude couldn’t help but smile. Maybe everything would be all right.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Hawk

Listening to Jude’s even breathing in the darkened room, Hawk marveled at the enormous change his life was about to take. He couldn’t fuck this up. This time, he had to be what Jude needed. He wouldn’t get a third chance.

Hawk thought of the possibilities. They could move out of the mansion…get an apartment together like West and Logan were doing. They might even be able to afford a small house, depending on what Jude decided he wanted to do. The prospect of living with Jude again sent tingles of excitement through him, and he realized it had been a long time since he’d looked forward to something.

After a while, Hawk realized he wasn’t going to be able to fall asleep. Slipping out of bed, he pulled on his sweatpants and climbed the steps to the main floor.

Jase was in the great room, drinking a beer and looking over a sheaf of papers. When Hawk walked in, he looked up.

“Hey. Why’d you guys leave so early?” Jase asked.

“We wanted some alone time,” Hawk said, sitting down on the wingback chair across from the couch.

“Ah, I see. And how did that go?”

“Great,” Hawk said, grinning.

Jase smiled back. “You look happy. I’m glad.”

“We’re getting back together.” Hawk cleared his throat. “I know I should have told you guys about Jude when the case came up, but I was shocked and worried.”

“I get it,” Jase said. “Just never do anything like that again. And just so I look good, tell West and Logan that I gave you a real tongue lashing about it.”

Hawk wiggling his eyebrows. “Sounds sexy.”

Jase threw one of the couch pillows at Hawk, who managed to catch it before it hit him square in the face. Laughing, he tucked it behind his back and said, “I think the club outing was a success. What about you?”

“Dex seemed to have had a good time. He danced with a lot of guys,” Jase said.

“Yeah, he really came out of his shell, didn’t he? The alcohol probably helped.”

Jase chuckled. “No doubt. He’ll probably regret that in the morning. Seo-jun and Colt had to carry him up to bed.” He scribbled something on one of the papers in front of him before setting them on the table and stretching. “You’ll be glad to know that I talked to my uncle a little while ago, and he seems confident Prescott has left the country. He’d be stupid to stay. No activity at any of his houses overseas, but obviously he isn’t going to hide where he can be found easily.”

Hawk nodded. He thought so, too, but wouldn’t be completely at ease until the man was arrested.

“So, why are you up here talking to me instead of in bed with your hot model boyfriend?”

“Working at the casino got my sleep habits all fucked up, but I’m going to head back downstairs now.”

“Goodnight,” Jase said through a yawn. He stood up.

“Goodnight,” Hawk watched his friend head up the back staircase before stepping out onto the balcony. He looked up at the sliver of a moon in the dark sky and thought about all the ways he needed to change. For Jude.

In the past four years, Hawk had had a lot of time to think about how to be a better person and boyfriend, but because he hadn’t been interested in dating, he’d had no opportunity to put any of his ideas into practice.

Jude used to complain that Hawk didn’t share his past with him. Hawk was a private person who didn’t confide much to anyone. His friends were all other Navy Seals who knew everything about that part of his life, and he didn’t like to talk about his family. He should have tried to open up with Jude, though. He realized that now. He needed to let Jude in so they could have the kind of relationship that lasted. He had a few days off now that his gig at the casino was over, and he determined he’d spend all of his time with Jude doing all the things he should have done in the past.

And he needed to do something else.

Looking at his watch, he figured his mother might still be awake at her home in Grand Rapids. He hadn’t talked to her in years, and his fingers wavered over the phone. Did he want to do this? There would be no going back. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let it out, then pushed the call button.

The phone rang several times before someone answered.