Travis nodded, lulled into a trance at just the possibility of an us with someone like Bailey. Someone who still had stars in their eyes, someone who was still excited by life instead of jaded. Someone who had a good head on their shoulders and really lived life with no regrets.
“Us. I like that. You got a deal.”
Right on time, the waitress reappeared with their drinks, a sweet tea for Travis and a coke for Bailey, and then took their food order and disappeared. They decided to share a pizza, and with a grin, Travis got to repeat his joke for someone to actually laugh at.
“I’m a meat guy,” he said with a wink.
Bailey snorted, but the smile on his face was genuine as he ordered them a pizza with bacon, sausage, Canadian bacon, and extra cheese.
The pizza was delicious, the company divine, and the conversation easy. Though he hadn’t been on a date before, from the way they talked late into the evening and left right before closing, Travis thought it was a pretty damn successful one.
By the time they made it back to the inn, Travis was imagining all the ways he could thank Bailey for such a wonderful first date.
The night air nipped at his neck and sliced through his coat as they walked from the truck to the front door. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face if he tried. Bay’s hand was clasped tightly around Travis’s, and the butterflies in his stomach refused to settle the fuck down. They had to be throwing a rave or some shit in there, and Travis almost chuckled at the thought. Instead, he squeezed his fingers around Bay’s and when the gesture was returned, paired with a soft side glance, the butterflies morphed into something warmer, something dangerous.
“You know, it’s not a proper ending to a date until you walk me to my door and kiss me goodnight,” Travis teased. Though he had much more in mind than a simple kiss.
Bay chuckled, the sound bringing back memories of the night before, and his entire body tingled in anticipation. “I can do a lot better than a simple kiss goodnight.”
“Bet.”
“That’s a bet I’ll win,” he growled.
Their laughter echoed out across the porch, following them inside. Bay didn’t release his hand as they crossed the threshold, instead only picked up the pace as he headed for the stairs.
But they never got that far.
Someone stepped out from the kitchen, but Travis didn’t get a glimpse of them at first, because Bay came to a complete stop without warning, and Travis bumped into his back. Once he caught his footing, he realized Bay wasn’t only stopping to be polite to the new guest, but he was absolutely frozen to the spot. Travis eased up beside him, glancing to the newcomer and offering a polite smile, but his gaze was drawn to Bay.
His face remained blank, but the tic in his jaw was crystal clear. Travis studied the newcomer again, just to see who exactly could bring Bay to a complete and total halt.
He was tall and slim, slimmer than even Travis, but fit, not just lanky. His hair was dyed a loud green, and maybe sporting what was possibly a swatch of paint over his chiseled jawline.
Travis could sense the tension between the two, the tightness in Bay’s shoulders. The stranger’s penetrating gaze was searching, the smirk on his face almost mocking in his barely contained excitement… to see Bailey?
“Maxx,” Bailey greeted dryly.
Then Maxx’s gaze dropped to their linked hands, and his smirk fell away. Bay’s fingers tightened around Travis’ once before releasing him, and the butterflies in his stomach turned vicious with anxiety. Bay’s trance finally broke and he turned to Travis, searching his gaze before tilting his head toward the stairs. “Go on up. I’ll join you in a bit.”
Travis schooled his expression and nodded, heading toward the stairs with one last glance at the newcomer. What kind of person had the power to turn that’s a bet I’ll win into “in a bit?”
There was only one answer.
An ex-boyfriend.
BAILEY
Seeing Maxx again was like a sucker punch to the gut. On his date with Travis, he’d totally forgotten about the new guest and everything that went along with his return. But even worse was the way Travis hid behind his expressionless mask as he went upstairs. It was Bailey’s own fault, since he’d asked him to leave, but watching his retreating back was not something he enjoyed. He’d much rather be following him up to his room and continuing their… date.
“What are you doing here?” he asked bluntly, lowering his voice so as not to wake his mother.
“My uncle died,” Maxx replied, as if that explained everything. It didn’t.
“Good riddance,” Bailey snarled before he even realized. It reminded him of everything they’d shared and only infuriated him. “But what I meant was why are you staying here? What about your mom’s place?”
“I didn’t want to stay with my parents, that’s all.”
Bailey crossed his arms and scoffed, “Sure. Well, welcome back to Holdengate, enjoy your stay, and—”
“Bailey, wait.” Maxx reached out and grabbed his arm as he tried to shove past him.
He stilled and stared straight ahead, jaw ticking as he tried to rein in his emotions. Only a few people on Earth had the power to test the control Bailey projected, and Maxx was number fucking one.
“Okay, fine—I wanted to see you,” he admitted. “Do you really think I’d come all the way here for a funeral for him?”
Bailey glanced away at the reminder of exactly why they both hated that damned uncle so much.
“Why would you come to see me?” Bay gritted out.
“Because I hate the way we left things,” he said, sliding his hand down his arm as if to hold his hand.
The hiss of their skin brushing was loud in the hallway as Bailey jerked his arm away and rolled his eyes at the audacity. It filled him with a sense of triumph that Maxx’s touch no longer had the power to render him useless. “We? We didn’t leave things any kind of way. You left.”
Maxx winced and ducked his head sheepishly. “Okay, so if you wanna put it that way—”
“That’s the only way there is to put it. You were here one day and gone the next with no warning.”
“That’s not fair. You knew I wanted to get out of here. Don’t act like it was totally unexpected.”
Bailey ran a hand through his hair in order to keep himself from strangling the new guest. “Yeah, I figured in a few months, years. Not the next fucking day.”
“I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry. I just knew that if I didn’t leave… I never would.” Maxx stepped back and crossed his arms, leaning against the doorjamb leading into the kitchen.
“Shitty timing,” Bailey grumbled.
“I know. That’s what I regret the most,” he murmured. “I left you here alone to deal with everything.”
Bailey scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah, I can’t say having my heart shattered right after my dad died was the best feeling.”
Maxx refused to meet his gaze, looking down at his booted feet. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“Is that all you came here for?” Bailey questioned sharply.
“I suppose, yeah. Got a hot date?” he retorted with a smirk, though some of his confidence had faded.