The Doctor's Orders by Heidi Cullinan

Author:Heidi Cullinan [Cullinan, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 978-1-64080-850-8
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2019-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

JARED WASN’T going to bring up Nick potentially moving in with him to any of his friends, but the subject came up on its own when he went over to Simon and Jack’s the week after the Fourth of July holiday for what everyone had started calling their monthly family dinner. Originally family dinners had been weekly and on Sunday, but with everyone’s busy schedule, monthly was so much easier. Sometimes they had more than one a month, for special occasions. Sometimes because of scheduling they ended up practically back to back or nearly two months apart. They moved the meal anywhere from Friday night to Sunday night, depending on who was on call and who had what community obligation. Sometimes they met at a restaurant, sometimes they brought takeout to someone’s house. Their gathering meal could be anything from a light brunch to a full-on five-course dinner. The one requirement was they all had to attend. Everyone stayed as long as possible, and everyone spilled the tea on whatever was going on with their life.

Sometimes, though, the others spilled the tea for them.

The family dinner was at Simon and Jack’s condo this time, Jack making miso-marinated salmon steaks and a wild rice pilaf to go along with his arugula salad and hot-and-sour soup. Jared had brought some bread and wine, Owen and Erin had brought more wine and a homemade pie for dessert, and the evening was shaping up to be delicious and perfect in every way.

But Jared didn’t have even half a glass of wine down before he was seated on the couch with all eyes on him.

“Jared.” Simon regarded Jared with concern. “Is everything all right with you?”

Something about the way Simon asked made Jared pause. “I’m fine. Great, actually. Why do you ask?”

Simon and Erin exchanged knowing looks. Jared turned to Owen beside him, confused, but Owen was equally serious. Jack, finishing up the last details of the meal in the kitchen, glanced up from his work as if he too were eager to hear about Jared’s state.

Jared pursed his lips. “Okay, guys. What’s this all about?”

The others glanced at each other, clearly silently deciding who was going to do the explaining, but unsurprisingly it was Owen in the end who spoke up. “Well, we heard a rumor you’re holding out on us, not letting us know you feel lonely.”

Nick, you blabbermouth. How much did you tell them? Jared cleared his throat and sipped his wine. “I see.”

Simon leaned forward. “Why didn’t you say something to us? We would have helped.”

Owen appeared equally affronted. “Did we make you think you couldn’t talk to us for some reason? Is that why you refused Erin and me when we tried to get you to move in with us?”

“Would you have rather moved in with Hong-Wei and me?” Simon added.

“Stop.” Jared held up his hands, sloshing the wine in his glass dangerously. “I don’t want to move in with any of you, and no one has made me feel unwanted.

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