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Excerpt

“I leave in two weeks,” Molly hisses across the table at me.

I glance around the busy restaurant, trying to avoid his eye. “And?”

“You haven’t worked out anything.”

“Sure I have. My parents said there’s room there for me.” Reluctantly. And I wouldn’t at all be surprised if the room is a tin shack they’ve put together in the backyard.

“We both know it’ll be a nightmare.”

“Well, I don’t have much—”

“Hey, guys,” comes a deep, familiar voice from behind me. “Sorry, I got caught up with work.”

Keller takes the third seat at the table, and all my annoyance funnels away as a rushing sound fills my ears. I’ve been avoiding him since I spent the night at his place, and I was hoping I could leave Kilborough completely without having to set eyes on him again.

Because holy fuck, he looks good. His knee is hovering right by mine under the table, and I have no idea how I can be so hyperaware of something that means sweet fuck all to him. He hardly even glances my way before directing a smile at Molly.

“You already miss me, don’t you?” he teases.

I want to answer with a solid yes, but I keep my jaw clamped tight. Just being in his presence is reminding me of how much I do miss him, how bad it’s going to be when I move, and the ache building in my chest is something I could have done without today.

Molly conveniently didn’t tell me that Keller was gonna be here, which has me on guard. He’s never hidden Keller joining us before.

“I will,” Molly pouts. “I’m going to miss you both.”

“Aww, but we’ll visit you,” I tell him.

Molly snorts. “Good luck getting Dad on a plane.”

“Hey, I could do it,” Keller says defiantly. “Probably.”

I laugh, and the gorgeous bastard sends me a cheeky wink. It reaches deep into my gut and knocks me off center, making me want to ask him to do it again and again.

“I’m so worried you’re going to be lonely without me, Papa Bear,” Molly says.

Keller gives him a bemused look. “Who’s the parent here?”

“Speaking of parents …” Molly flicks me a look, and I’m suddenly all too aware of what’s about to happen.

“Ah, Molly—”

“Will’s moving back in with his! It’s going to be horrible, Dad. They don’t love him like we do.”

Oh.

Holy.

Fuck.

No.

Keller’s head snaps around toward me. “You’re moving?”

“Surprise?”

“I thought you were trying to find somewhere to stay here?”

“I was, and I failed.”

“So you’re both leaving me?”

It’s hard to meet his eyes. “It’s not like I wanna go.”

“So stay.”

“And be homeless?”

“Fuck.” Keller shifts back from the table, and at least seeing him look annoyed about the situation helps feed that stupid lovesick part of my brain.

“Dad has a spare room,” Molly says softly.

He’s staring at his water glass, but there’s no way he could be unaware that his words have brought me and Keller to a standstill.

“No, I couldn’t …” Even if I really, really wanted to.

Molly shrugs and looks up at his dad. “You don’t want him to go, and I don’t want him to go, so …”

Keller thinks it over for way too long to be comfortable. I try to brush it off again, but he shakes his head, and when those dark eyes meet mine, my brain goes offline.

“The room’s yours if you want it.” His lips twitch. “I’m okay with it … if you are.”

He doesn’t need to clarify. Even saying that much with Molly right there is a risk. But I’m following. If I’m okay to go on pretending like nothing happened between us, then so is he.

“Are you sure?” I don’t even want to ask it. Wanna just tell him no and head home and pretend like I’m totally fine with that outcome. But home is the last place I wanna be, and even though living with Keller is my idea of a goddamn nightmare, I’ll do it if it means I get to stay in Kilborough.

Keller grins. “Been a while since I had a roommate. Good idea, Mols.”

Molly looks from his dad to me, but his smile doesn’t reach all the way into his eyes. “Hey, with each other for company, you might even forget to miss me.”

“There’s no way.”

“What he said.” Keller nods my way. “I could never forget you, bub.”

Molly hurries to pick up his menu. “Ready to order?”

I get the feeling that’s not what he wants to say at all, but when I glance over at Keller to see if he’s picked up on anything, I find him looking my way, expression soft.

The butterflies in my gut are out of control.

I’m finding it impossible to believe this might actually be happening.

And terrified for the day that it does.

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Other Titles Within this Series

ROOMMATE ARRANGEMENT

Divorced Men's Club - Book One

PLATONIC RULEBOOK

Divorced Men's Club - Book Two

BUDDING ATTRACTION

Divorced Men's Club - Book Three

EMPLOYING PATIENCE

Divorced Men's Club - Book Four

About the Author

Saxon James unapologetically writes happy endings for LGBT+ characters.

While not writing, SM is a readaholic and Netflix addict who regularly lives on a sustainable diet of chocolate and coffee.

Member of SCBWI.

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