“Right.” He plays with a rock, flipping it back and forth between his fingers. “Most people are settled down by my age.”
I snort a laugh. “Dude. You have two examples of people who aren’t right in front of you.”
“Yeah, but I want it. Maybe you don’t.”
“And Bowen?”
“That’s his story to tell.” Hawthorne’s jaw ticks. “We should probably head down.”
“Yeah.”
We both rappel down then gather up our gear. Hawthorne is silent now, and I know I got in his head, but if there’s something there between him and Bowen, it’s way better that I know sooner than later before my heart gets involved. It would be just my luck to find a dude I click with and lose him to his suddenly awakened best friend.
* * *
BOWEN
I’ve been pacing the living room like a moron most of the day. I should be relaxed for once, knowing Thorne has company on a climb. It drives me crazy when he goes alone. It’s just that I thought they’d be back by now. I’ve also spent the hours imagining their conversation. Do they have things in common? Will they become climbing buddies? And if they do, where does that leave me?
I shake my head, swooping up my beer from the coffee table and taking another swig. I should be happy. I won’t have to worry about Thorne being alone out there now. It just feels weird. I know something is happening between Aldis and me, but can I really give him my heart when I’m desperately in love with Thorne?
That’s so dumb though. When will my heart get with the damn program and realize Hawthorne is not a fucking option. I groan, sinking down onto the couch. I finish off my beer just as the front door opens and the guys clamor in, dropping heavy gear and laughing.
They’re laughing.
I guess the day went well, so why do I feel like I could be sick any second now?
“Hey, Bow,” Hawthorne says, giving me a grin and a head nod.
“Hey, babe,” Aldis says, leaning over the back of the couch to kiss my cheek.
“Did you guys have fun?”
“We did,” Aldis answers.
Hawthorne nods, toeing off his shoes. His hair is all windblown, his cheeks red from the sun and laughing. He’s fucking gorgeous, but then there’s Aldis, his skin slightly more tan than it was this morning, his eyes focused on me, telling me how much he wants me without a word.
“You’re staying for dinner, right?” I ask.
Aldis nods. “Can I shower though?”
“Of course.”
“You go first,” Hawthorne offers.
“Thanks, man.”
Aldis walks down the hall while Hawthorne sits on the coffee table in front of me. “He’s cool.”
“I like him. He’s a good climber?”
“Damn good. It’s a nice challenge for me to keep up with him.”
“That’s awesome.”
“Yeah. Anyway, I can get out of here if you want to be alone with him.”
“No. I planned dinner for all of us. Plus, you know you need to rest after a climb.”
A sweet smile pulls at his lips as he holds my gaze. “You’re always looking out for me.”
“Always. You do the same for me.” I peek over my shoulder. “So, you think he’s a good dude, right?”
“Yeah. I got good vibes. I think he really likes you too.” He reaches for my hand. “Is this the part when one of us finally gets locked down?”
“I don’t know about all that. I barely know him.”
“That’s my point. It’s new, but you’re already having him stay over and making meals for him. You like him.”
Nodding, I glance at our connected hands. “I do, but it’s early.”
Neither of us says anything for a few seconds until I can’t hold back my thoughts any longer.
“I like you hanging out with us too.”
Hawthorne tilts his head. “You do?”
“Yeah.” I smile. “So hang out tonight. You guys can tell me all about your climb, I’ll understand none of it, and we’ll carb-out on some chicken parm. Sound like a good time?”
Hawthorne’s smile lights up his face. “Sounds like a great time.”
I have no idea what I’m doing, but for now, I’m holding on to both of them as tightly as I can.
Chapter Seven
Hawthorne
“This is incredible,” I groan around a bite of chicken parmesan. “If I’d have known all these years that all it would take is fantastic sex to get you to cook every day, I’d have…” I trail off, not exactly sure how I was planning to finish that sentence, my whole body flushing with heat.
“You’d have what?” Bowen cocks an eyebrow at me, and Aldis tilts his head.
“I’m curious to know that too.” Aldis smirks, and I get even hotter.
My eyes lock with Bowen’s, and the hot feeling changes, not cooling at all but shifting from embarrassment to…something else. My stomach flutters, and for a second, my chest feels too heavy to draw in a proper breath. Am I having an allergic reaction? Am I dying? Did seeing Bowen naked the way I did break me somehow? Because I haven’t felt the same way since, and I can’t put my finger on what it is.
I know I’m staring at him too long when his own cheeks start to turn a light shade of pink, but he seems incapable of looking away either. I finally manage it, clearing my throat and shoving another bite of food into my mouth. When I glance over at Aldis again, I find him looking between the two of us, his expression resigned for a moment before it shifts to a sort of harsh determination.
He flashes me a smile when he catches me looking at him, and we fall into a safer conversation about the best camping in the state.
“Am I overstaying my welcome?” I hear Aldis ask Bowen quietly as the three of us clean the kitchen after we’re finished eating.
“What? No, not at all. I don’t know how many days you’re comfortable wearing the same clothes, but you don’t smell too bad yet.”
I bite back a quiet laugh at Bowen’s teasing, my heart twisting in a way that’s confusing as fuck. I’m glad he’s happy. It’s nice to see him all wound up over someone for a change, and Aldis is actually cool as hell. So why do I keep getting the urge to break Aldis’s fingers one by one every time he touches my best friend?
Aldis chuckles, the sound a deep rumble like a far-off summer thunderstorm, creating the same kind of unexpected electricity in the air.
A second later, he sighs. “I actually do need to go home tonight. I didn’t bring my laptop, so I’m sure I have a hundred emails I need to deal with.”
“Do you have to go right away? Maybe we can watch a movie first? Or, hey, we could see who can do more push-ups in a row.” There’s an edge of neediness underneath Bowen’s joking tone that sends another hot spike of jealousy through me.
Fuck, that’s exactly what it is, jealousy.
I glance at the two of them out of the corner of my eye as I finish drying the last dish. Aldis brushes a casual touch along Bowen’s back while he slips past him to put the leftovers into the refrigerator. They’ve only known each other for a few days, and he already feels comfortable enough to touch him whenever he likes. I’ve known him my entire life, and I don’t even feel that way, not really.