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everyone was going to be here.”
    Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “Where is your brain, idiot? Can’t you count?”
    Ian gulped and the butterflies in his stomach evolved into pterodactyls. With claws. For some reason, he’d assumed it would be easier if the whole brood were here. He’d only have to do this once and maybe no one would make a scene in front of the kids. Of which, he couldn’t hear one. This small, intimate family gathering meant there should be ample opportunity to bring it into the conversation, and now that he was so close to doing it, he wanted to puke. But he couldn’t wait any longer. Not only was this secret choking the life out of him, Kurt already knew, and Ian hadn’t asked him to keep silent.
    Then again, maybe testing the water with a smaller audience would be simpler. If he could only convince his sweaty palms of that.
    Instead, he started to redo the table as directed, trying desperately not to think about what he was going to do at dinner.
    “Can you help me?”
    Caitlyn snorted. “Not likely.” She gestured at her belly.
    “Then get the hell out. You’re in the way.”
    His sister’s glare should have burned him to a cinder, but at least she left, letting him gather his thoughts.
     
     
    R ICK frowned at Davy’s door. He should have called ahead—it would be so embarrassing to have to come back. He rang the doorbell and waited.
    Davy answered the door with a smile, which relieved Rick’s mind on one score. If his friend had been getting laid, it would have taken him a lot longer and he would have been grumpy.
    “Rick, what are you doing here?”
    Rick took a breath. “Hey, sweet thing. Left my keys here last night.” He gave Davy a little kiss on the cheek before pushing inside.
    “I thought that was your car parked on the street. Wait, you weren’t with Ian all this time, were you?”
    Wandering into the living room, he grabbed his keys and pocketed them.
    “No, of course not.”
    “I’m surprised you left your car here at all. I know I’ve been out of touch for a while, but you were always adamant about having transportation.”
    He did not want to have this discussion, nor did he want Davy speculating about why he might have broken those rules.
    “Your big, hunky cop around?”
    Rick bit back a groan. Why had he asked that? Davy was going to think he was obsessed. Hell, Rick still wasn’t sure if he’d gone home with Ian because he looked like Kurt.
    “Nope. Why, want to ask him about Ian?” Davy’s tone was teasing, playful, and Rick cocked his head, contemplating his friend. Davy had had a rough time of it, but Rick was so pleased his friend was happy.
    “No, not at all. Why would you think that?”
    “Dunno. Ian’s pretty hot. And you went home with him.”
    “Don’t read too much into it.” Rick kept his voice light, airy, and unconcerned. He wasn’t going to get sucked into asking about Ian like some teenaged girl with a crush. “It was nothing more than a one-night stand.”
    “Okay. Well, if you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
    Davy didn’t know why he had his rules. No one did. But they protected everyone, himself included.
    “No worries, hon. Just because you’re making happy families with his brother doesn’t mean me and Ian are soul mates.”
    Bitterness darkened his tone, and Davy’s brows drew together. Damn. He’d have to do better at keeping things lighthearted.
    “Seriously, though. Kurt’s at his parents’ for dinner. You want to stick around? I’ve got a nice Chardonnay chilling. We could call for Chinese.”
    Rick thought about going home. Or going out. Strangely, he wasn’t ready to use another man to erase the memories of Ian just yet. It had been a long time since he’d felt so stretched and satiated that he wanted to savor the feeling for a little longer. He also didn’t want to brood all night. Given his strange mood and uncharacteristic behavior with Ian, if he was alone, that was all he’d do.
    “Sounds