Colby had a small sip of coffee. Sam did too, mirroring the gesture, hoping to not offend any more than he unavoidably and apocalyptically had.
The coffee was dark and rich and sweet, faintly blueberry-kissed. Gorgeous.
“I did have fun.” Colby’s voice landed lonely, bewildered, wistful. “I liked doing this, I think. Not this part, obviously. But…dressing up, thinking about how I’d look…thinking you might like the surprise…”
“I do.” Jason cuddled him more closely. “I do, I told you that, you remember me saying that, earlier? You heard me say so? I love that you did this. That you wanted to do this. For us.” The pain in his voice stuck a claw into Sam’s stomach and twisted. Evisceration. On the spot. Right here on a brass-buttoned chair.
“I’m sorry it went so wrong.” Colby flipped throug
