Page 127 of Bonus Game
Kingston’s question died before it could fully leave his mouth as Allen immediately curled against him, and the room fell quiet.
Jake reached for the remote and turned off the TV. He didn’t say anything, but Allen could tell he was worried because his movements were a little too jerky. A little too on edge.
It wasn’t every day Allen let himself be carried around, and the fact that he’d willingly allowed Riley to haul him across the penthouse like an oversized stuffed animal had immediately tipped Jake off that something was wrong.
“Everything is okay,” Allen said before Jake and Kingston had any more time to panic. “It’s better than okay. I just feel so relieved that I kinda wanna pass out.”
Jake looked from Allen to the door, like he was trying to discern answers from his limited actions since entering their home. “I thought you were going to work?”
That was the lie Allen had told Jake to keep him from following him to the meeting, so he understood why he was so confused.
“I didn’t go to work,” said Allen. “I was in a meeting…with your dad.”
Jake’s gaze snapped to the door as if he expected Everett to stroll into the penthouse with a shout of surprise. “What did you need to talk about with my father?” he asked, not once removing his eyes from the door.
Allen didn’t think there was an easy way to reveal the information, so he plastered a smile on his face and did his goddamn best.
“Boys,” he said, poking Kingston and Riley to make sure they were paying attention. “I want you to meet the new general manager of the Halifax Citadels—Jake Valero.”
He couldn’t see Kingston’s reaction since he was sitting in his lap, but Allen had a front row seat to Riley’s mouth falling open, and Jake’s wide-eyed shock.
No one made a sound. Allen wasn’t even sure if any of them were breathing until Kingston began shaking under him with strangled laughter.
“Holy fuck,” Kingston said, repeating the words when he shoved his face into the back of Allen’s neck, his laughter growing until Allen was bouncing around with him.
“You—” Riley started, then closed his mouth and swallowed a few times before he tried to talk again. “That was your crazy plan? You’re a fucking beauty, Ally. I don’t know how you convinced Everett to do that.”
Jake fidgeted in place, wringing his hands together repetitively, looking panicked. “But I can’t work for my father’s real estate company and be a GM. I would fall behind and fail at both positions.”
Allen patted Kingston’s thigh before slipping off his lap and making his way over to Jake. He crawled on and straddled him, leaning into his space. “Can I ask you something? Do you want to be the GM, or did I overstep?”
Jake had already begun shaking his head halfway through the question, instantly putting Allen’s fears to rest.
“I want it more than anything. I didn’t think my father would be willing to consider me for the position, so I didn’t ask.”
Allen pressed a chaste kiss to Jake’s lips and beamed at him. “Then congratulations, Mousey. You’re going to do great, and I’m going back to school so I can take your job in a few years.”
Jake blinked slowly, and Allen waited patiently for the realization to settle in. The moment it did, Jake’s face lit up with a smile so full of happiness that warmth flooded through Allen from head to toe.
“I see what you did,” Jake said, chuckling. “I bet he loved getting to set you up right where he wanted you.”
Huffing, Allen kissed Jake again, attempting to distract him before he could continue picking on him about the subject.
“Uh, guys?”
Allen drew away from Jake and found Kingston frowning at them, looking thoroughly disgruntled.
“Can we celebrate?” Kingston asked, practically vibrating with excitement. “I’m glad you’re happy sucking face, but between the dating, the presents”—he gestured toward the three plushies sitting on the other end of the sectional—“and Jake’s new job, I feel like we should dosomething.”
“Yeah,” Riley interjected, immediately jumping to his feet and stalking toward them. “Like a dog pile for one thing.”
That was the only warning Allen got. One second, he was sitting comfortably on Jake’s lap, and the next, Kingston and Riley had launched themselves at them.
Allen yelped as the two men crashed into the sectional, crushing him and Jake into the cushions beneath a chorus of whoops, laughter, and too many hair ruffles.
“I’m so happy for you, man!” Riley shouted over the chaos.
“You got the job!” Kingston added, sounding just as excited. “That’s huge!”
