Chapter 17 - Jack

“I wondered why you weren’t home.” Hunter leaned over the porch railing just like he always had. A smirk curled his lips, hungry and devious. “It’s not like you to go out.”

“What are you doing here?” Jack asked. He didn’t want anything to do with Hunter’s mind games.

“Harsh.” Hunter pouted. “I thought you might be happy to see me. I thought maybe you missed me, because I know I’ve been missing you.”

This was how it always went. Every time they broke up, Hunter took time to lick his wounds and do all the hooking up he wanted to before he came back to bat his eyelashes at Jack. Jack had always taken him back despite the toxicity of their relationship. The truth was, he was afraid of being alone. Hunter was easy, safe, and familiar. It didn’t matter that he slept around or that he was emotionally manipulative—when they were together, Jack didn’t have to worry that he’d be a bachelor for the rest of his life.

It wasn’t until recently that he’d freed himself of such troubled thoughts. But now with Hunter back and last night’s botched encounter on his mind, it was harder to remember that he didn’t need Hunter to be complete.

“Don’t lie to me, Hunter,” Jack said. “I know that you’re full of shit. You didn’t miss me.”

“How could you say something like that?” Hunter’s pout intensified. “You don’t know what I’ve been through, baby. You don’t know how much I missed you every step of the way.”

The garage door closed. Jack looked over his shoulder to see Craig approaching. The car seat was slung over his arm, Isaac’s diaper bag strapped across his chest.

Hunter saw him, too. His gaze hardened. He looked Craig over, lips tight and expression calculating.

“Uh, hi,” Craig said as he approached. He stopped beside Jack.

“Hi,” Hunter said. His eyes roamed Craig’s body, looking him up and down. “Who are you?”

“I’m Craig.”

“I mean, like… what are you doing here?” The hostility in Hunter’s voice was masked by saccharine sweetness that made Jack sick. It was always the same routine. Docile, sweet, soft Hunter would say things without meaning them in order to get on his target’s good side. Then, once he was in, he’d let his true self emerge.

Lane had warned Jack since day one about Hunter’s behavior, but Jack had been blinded by love. Or rather, manipulated by Hunter so he didn’t see it.

Now he knew better.

“I’m staying here for the next few months,” Craig said. “Jack invited me.”

Hunter’s gaze swept back to Jack, assessing him. Jack stood bold and as emotionless as possible. He didn’t want Hunter to get a read on him.

“For…?”

“Why is it any of your business?” Craig asked, feathers ruffled. Jack was glad to see him take a stand against Hunter, if only because it made Jack feel like Craig was taking his side and backing him up.

“Oh. Well. I’m Jack’s boyfriend,” Hunter said.

“Ex,” Jack interjected.

“Whatever.” Hunter waved his hand dismissively. “So I want to make sure that he’s only seeing men who live up to my standard.”

Jack covered his face with his hands, utterly embarrassed. He’d left the pizza box in the car, knowing full well that he was going to need all his resources now that Hunter was around.

“You need to tell me why you’re here, or I’m going to have to ask you to get off my property,” Jack said when he’d composed himself enough to speak. He dropped his hands and looked at Hunter head on.

Hunter’s predatory gaze was impish. “I already told you why I’m here—I wanted to see if you missed me.”

“I don’t,” Jack said solidly. Of course, there were some things he missed. He missed having the warmth of another body next to him in bed. He missed having sex. He missed having someone to talk to and laugh with late at night when there was no one else around. But he didn’t miss Hunter. Jack was worth more than someone so abusive. “If that’s all you have to say, then can you please leave?”

“Why would I do that?” Hunter asked. He glanced in Craig’s direction. “It looks like you have a new friend to introduce me to. I’d really like to get to know him.”

Was Hunter so desperate for attention that he was trying to hit on Craig, or was he trying to get into Jack’s good books by playing nice with Jack’s friend? Jack didn’t care to find out Whatever Hunter’s plan was, it wasn’t going to fly.

“I’ll have Brad and Roman escort you off the premises if you don’t leave,” Jack said, voice steely. No one would want to mess with the two ex-SEALs.

“Roman?” Hunter arched a brow. “It looks like there’s a lot I’ve missed since I’ve been away. Don’t you want to catch up?”

Jack took his phone from his pocket. As he unlocked the screen, Hunter huffed and headed down the porch steps.

“Fine,” Hunter said. “If you want to be boring, you can go on being boring. It’s not like I can stop you.”

“Goodbye, Hunter,” Jack said firmly.

Hunter brushed by him, bumping into Jack’s shoulder on purpose. Jack stood his ground. He’d broken up with Hunter for good. He wasn’t going to take him back.

Secretly, Jack enjoyed the feeling of being desired. After Craig had shot him down this morning, seeing Hunter come crawling back to him was appealing—it just wasn’t appealing enough that Jack wanted anything to do with him.

Hunter made his way to the sidewalk. His car was parked further down the street.

“I’ll be in touch later,” Hunter promised. “Looks like you’re grumpy from your trip out.”

“Please don’t,” Jack called back. He didn’t want to be drawn into Hunter’s games again. Jack had thought he was finally free of them. “Goodbye.”

Hunter got into his car and left. Jack watched until he’d turned out of the duplex. With a lofty sigh he shook his head.

That wasn’t the kind of thing he needed after a serious talk. Jack was emotionally drained. He desperately needed some alone time.

“Do you think you’ve got Isaac?” Jack asked. He climbed the porch steps and opened the front door, letting Craig and Isaac in first.

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Craig said.

“Then I’m going to go to the gym for a little.” Jack closed the door behind himself and headed straight for the stairs. “You need anything while I’m out?”

“We could use some more baby food.” Craig unclipped Isaac from the car seat and held him. Isaac’s fingers curled in his shirt, and he tugged with his tiny fists. Craig didn’t seem to notice. “Besides that, I can’t think of anything.”

“I’ll make sure to pick some up,” Jack said. He took the stairs quickly. “I’ll be gone maybe two hours, max. You want to grab the pizza from the car while I’m getting ready?”

“Yeah. Will do,” Craig called up to him.

It was back to the same old routine. Back to normal.

But how could Jack ever feel normal again now that he’d seen his wildest fantasies come to life?

He’d work it out at the gym. There was a lot he needed to process.

Dumbbell squats. They were around as simple as Jack could get. The burn in his hamstrings and the tightness in his core was reaffirming. He let the physical strip away the mental.

What a hellish day it had been.

Jack squatted. He kept the arch in his lower back steady as he did, focused on holding form. The dumbbells clutched in each of his hands weighed him down, and as he rose, he found himself struggling.

He needed to start hitting the gym far more regularly.

I knew what falling for Craig was going to do to me. I knew to expect this. So why does it hurt so much?

He squatted again, letting the burn dole out his punishment. He’d been stupid and thinking with his dick.

And I’m going to stop thinking with my dick before I let myself do something stupid… something like sleeping with Hunter.

The thought repulsed him. Jack made a face and righted his posture. He couldn’t stand to think of himself back with Hunter. Not now. Everyone had been so proud that he’d finally found the courage to tell Hunter goodbye for good. He couldn’t disappoint them.

Am I more worried about what they think of me, or what I think of myself?

Jack squeezed his eyes shut and went down again. The pain was good. The pain kept him centered. He’d go back to work and drown his brain out with numbers and figures, and in his downtime, he’d help Craig with Isaac or numb himself with exercise. Craig wasn’t here to stay forever, and Hunter would get bored and give up the chase eventually.

All I need to do is make sure I stay the course and I’ll be fine.

Jack picked himself up and descended into his last squat. He was going to feel it tomorrow. The burn was more than welcome. It would serve as a reminder of how stupid he’d been.

I’m going to get through this. It’s going to be okay.

Jack put the dumbbells back and wiped them down. His palms bore the impressions of the metal grips and they smelled tinny. Jack wiped them on his shorts and left the weight room to hit the track. He grabbed his water bottle on the way.

Other joggers already circled the track. A group of them approached, and Jack waited until they had cleared before he fell into line behind them. He ran at as steady a pace as he could maintain.

Craig had been honest with him. It was more than Jack could say about himself. He’d never sat Craig down to admit his feelings, and he’d certainly never told Craig how much he valued having him around. It didn’t feel right. As long as he kept his thoughts secret, Craig wouldn’t have to be bothered by them.

No one needed to know.

Jack breathed in, focusing on the way the soles of his shoes hit the track and the movement of his body. People made mistakes. He wasn’t angry at Craig in the least for the night before—he was only angry at himself. Rule number one was to never fall for a straight guy. There was no rule number two. Jack had pushed it and now he was in uncharted territory.

The next few weeks were going to be interesting.

He made several laps around the track until his speed dropped and his lungs grew tight. When he’d tired himself out, Jack slowed into cool-down mode for a lap, then walked off the track. He slung back a mouthful of water from his water bottle.

Problems were always felt insurmountable immediately after they were uncovered. He knew that if he gave the situation time, he’d find a way to make things right.

If he could make things right.

Jack headed to the locker room to shower and change. With any luck, he’d work out his own emotional hangups and Craig would have a good time with the rest of his visit. Besides, with Isaac there, they both had someone else to focus on.

It was going to be fine.

Jack stepped beneath the gym shower and let the water wash away his worries.

One little indiscretion wasn’t the end of the world. He had this.

He just needed to trust in himself.