The Swap by Devon Rhodes

Author:Devon Rhodes [Rhodes, Devon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-63477-575-5
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2016-10-26T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

IT WAS a strange mix of elation and melancholy Tommy took with him when he left the title company’s office with the keys to his house. Heading to his new place alone just drove home his single status, and he wished he had someone to share the moment with. Immediately Jim came to mind, but he ruthlessly quashed that tangent.

Despite their joint efforts, their friendship had been strained at best over the past two weeks. They’d seen each other almost daily, and every time Tommy was near Jim, he remembered the way that heavy body had felt pressing him into the sofa cushions, the way Jim’s taste and scent had seeped into his memory, the sound of Jim’s groan as he reacted to Tommy’s movements. He still yearned for Jim, missed their closeness.

Then he would recall the distance Jim had—consciously or not—kept him at, and it was like a splash of cold water to his arousal. Needless to say, it made being around Jim awkward and draining. They limited their conversations to construction work and sports. Tommy hadn’t realized how often they had usually talked—and about such a wide variety of topics—until this tension had settled in.

Even worse had been noticing, one night last weekend, Jim’s truck had been gone all night. Tommy waited the next day for Jim to mention where he’d been—surely an overnight trip warranted a mention—but no explanation had been forthcoming. Jim had come back from wherever he’d been in a surly mood, but Tommy had gotten only a terse “nothing” in response when he’d asked what was wrong. Tommy dejectedly took that as more proof Jim wasn’t interested in putting any effort into their friendship and pulled further away himself. He would be glad when he got moved into the new place and couldn’t be witness to Jim’s comings and goings anymore.

Speaking of which….

Tommy pulled up in front of his house. A frisson of excitement zinged up his spine. His house. He climbed out of his pickup, only to notice his wasn’t the only truck parked along the curb. He’d pulled up right behind Jim’s pickup, but a quick glance showed no driver. A bit puzzled, he walked toward the house. And saw Jim… sitting on his front porch step.

A bubble of excitement broke free even though his cynical side went after it with a vicious pin.

He’s just here to get to work and earn a buck.

But the expression on Jim’s face wasn’t avaricious or, worse, uncaring. It was happy and proud. Another bubble of positive emotion welled up inside Tommy, taking his breath away.

“Hello there, sir. I’ve been admiring this fine place, and I’m wondering if you know who the lucky owner is.” Jim’s banter sounded so familiar, yet it rang with nostalgia, not recent experience. Still, something within Tommy was eating it up.

“Why, that would be me.”

“Congrats, man. You did it.” Jim dropped the act and pulled Tommy into a back-thumping hug. “I’m proud of you. Is it okay if I come in with you and take a look?”

Tommy flushed with pride but shrugged casually.

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