* * * *
Over dinner, they talked about Scouting and school, letting Ebon take center stage in the conversation.As they watched the movie with the boy between them, though, Kit was surprised to feel a strong hand close over his along the back of the couch. He glanced over, and Max actually winked at him.
“Practice,” he whispered.
Kit didn’t care if it was real or not. He felt a surge of heat as the long fingers threaded between his.He wanted nothing more than to lean over and rest his head on Max’s shoulder. How long had it been sincehe’d actually just held hands? How had he not realized how much his body craved the simple touch of another human being? He felt warm and safe, and Ebon’s bedtime struck all too soon.
“I want Mr. Hill to read me a story, too,” Ebon said with a yawn. “I got The Haunted Library at school. It’s funny.”
Kit sent the boy into the bathroom to shower, put on his pajamas and brush his teeth. “You don’t have to…”