Chapter 8

Evan pushed the plate aside. “I’m not really hungry,” he said as he helped Kasey open the bottle of syrup. “You eat it.”

“No, you, Daddy.” Kasey squirted syrup on his plate. “Charlie made it for you.”

Charlie stepped around the breakfast bar until he stood beside Evan. His stomach brushed against Evan’s elbow, and it was all Evan could do not to fall into the touch. He could feel his friend’s muscles, sheathed beneath his shirt, fluttering at the brief contact. Then Charlie leaned against him and dumped another pancake onto his plate. “Eat up,” he said, his voice soft now they were so close together. “I’ve learned to cook over the years.”

“I’m really not that hungry,” Evan protested, but when Kasey frowned at him, he picked up a fork and began to cut the pancakes into tiny triangles.

“That’s a good boy,” she said, diving into her own food.

Evan laughed, surprised. “You hear that?” Charlie asked, nudging him playfully. “You’re such a good boy.”