Chapter 16: Chapter 16

“No, it’s okay.” Jake smiled.

It wasn’t quite the full-wattage, bone-melting smile that Jake was capable of, but it still had Barry wanting to push the man into the display of canned peaches to taste his plump lips.

“Barry?” Jake asked.

“You are so fucking beautiful.”

“Huh?”

The look on Jake’s face that was part confusion and part amusement had Barry realizing he’d spoken his thought aloud. “Oh, fuck.” He turned away and tried to get his blazing cheeks and quickly beating heart back under control.

“Well, thank you, but maybe the canned fruits aisle in Wal-Mart ain’t the best place to be saying stuff like that.” Jake chuckled. “Even if it is true.”

Barry laughed, turned around, and socked Jake in the arm. “Arsehole.”

“Oh, your English accent is sooo cute.”

Barry huffed and marched down the aisle. Over his shoulder he said, “We need more coffee. I noticed we were almost out this morning.”