Rosko, Mandy - Night and Day (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) by Mandy Rosko

got himself disowned over this—who the hell was he kidding? He was going to get disowned—Ben could potentially find himself out of a job if his parents didn’t feel like reassigning him. But his longtime friend didn’t seem to care about that. Either that or he was hiding his fear very well and was secretly sweating over his list of qualifications to be a bodyguard.
    Ben was great at what he did, but he’d done it with Cedric for so long that if his parents gave him the can and denied him a reference, he could really and totally be fucked.
    Cedric didn’t want to cost Benny his paycheck, but the man just kept on smiling. It looked real and felt real, but there was just something a little off.
    “You’re serious?” Cedric asked.
    Ben surprised him by pulling him into his arms and hugging him. Cedric couldn’t remember the last time they’d hugged. It was a little long, and slightly awkward, but eventually they slapped each others’ backs and pulled apart.
    “Just don’t let something happen that makes you miserable for the rest of your life.”
    Cedric couldn’t even form an answer to that. He was just too… touched.
    Ben had offered to stick around while Cedric broke the news to his ill fiancée and parents, and while it was appreciated, he didn’t want anyone holding his hand while he did this. He’d always hidden behind Ben’s happy attitude and strength, and he’d had enough. He needed to face his next challenge head-on like a big boy.
    They’d be upset, but they’d also get over it. Without him, of course.
    Eventually Ben bade him good luck and disappeared to search for other duties when the shit hit the fan.
    Cedric showered, shaved, dressed in his best, and went down to the breakfast room. He was the first one there and decided he might as well eat. He helped himself to his favorite dishes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and brown toast, along with freshly sliced Royal Gala apples and strawberries with whipped cream for dessert. He ate in silence as he waited, fully aware this was going to be his last meal in this house.
    Though it was stalling and cowardly, he couldn’t entirely help it. It just wasn’t done to throw such terrible news at one’s parents first thing in the morning.
    No sooner had he licked the last of the cream from his thumb did both his mother and father come in, his aunt Sheila trailing behind them. The three looked as though they’d been awake for hours already, even though it was the early morning. There were no sleep bags under any eyes, they were perfectly dressed, and the women’s makeup had been expertly applied. Each had to always look great, even amongst the family.
    Already Cedric was starting to remember just how much he wanted to get out of here.
    He rose to greet them. He placed a gentle kiss on his mother’s hand—he still couldn’t look her in the eye—shook his father’s firmly—even though he still hated the old bastard—and because the situation called for it, what with her daughter being ill, he kissed his aunt on the cheek.
    Her blue eyes sparkled a little at the warmth, which he figured she above all would need. Not only was her little girl sick, but he would be breaking the engagement this very day.
    “How are you, Cedric?” Sheila asked as she took a seat. His mother had already taken the liberty of plating some toast and jam for the both of them. They poured their own teas from the kettle on the table.
    Though he’d finished his breakfast, he sat down with them. “Very well, thank you.”
    “Your cough is gone, then?”
    Oh, right, he’d been faking sick.
    “The throat feels fantastic,” he said, aware that his father was staring at him.
    His aunt was only half a sun sprite from her father’s first marriage to a wealthy human girl—a fact most knew instantly upon introduction because of her name. Had she been full blooded, she would have been given a name with a softer S sound, but instead had been given a name with the coarser Shh —but