4
Dan
We sataround Ross’s new firepit, keeping warm from the dip in temperature since the sun dropped about an hour earlier. While spring was well and truly here with the days warming up and the sun dipping a little later, the evenings still had a small bite.
We’d also had a couple of weeks of much-needed rain, the only reason we could actually give Ross’s new firepit a test drive.
“Throw the bag.”
I leaned over and picked up the giant bag of marshmallows, checked the clip was on, and then launched it at Craig.
He snatched the bag out of the air with a “Thanks” and put a giant marshmallow on his camp fork. Those had been my genius idea rather than relying on twigs.
There was nothing worse than enjoying a gooey marshmallow to only have to start picking splinters out of your mouth.
For the past week, I’d been heading to Ross’s after work and helping him with his firepit. He’d told me more than once I didn’t have to stop by every day, but screw that. Spending time with him had become one of my favourite things, despite the past few weeks not seeing him quite as often. But as soon as his school holiday had arrived, I’d put up my hand to help with the firepit he planned to make. Finally spending a bit of time with him was too good of an opportunity to miss.
Me hanging out with Ross had been noticed by pretty much everyone in our small circle of friends. It made me uneasy, but Ross and I weren’t dating, so I had nothing to worry about.
Craig had spent more time with one of Ross’s work friends, Alec, a good guy. When I’d first met the man, there had been a twinge of something very close to jealousy when I realised how often he and Ross hung out. But apparently, that was before I returned and “stole” him away.
I’d perhaps grinned, a little too happy at that.
Plus, there was the reassurance the guy was straight, and from hearing some of the stories he and Craig had shared since I’d been home, there was no questioning the legitimacy of that.
A loud yawn tore out of me, and I stretched my arms and shook my head.
“Keeping you up?” Craig asked.
I yawned again. “All good. Just relaxing.”
“I said you were taking on too much last week, working full days, then here, and all bloody day today.”
My eyes shot open wide at the bite in Ross’s words, and I frowned in his direction.
Even in the shadows of the dancing flames, I could see his frustration, and I had little doubt guilt was the reason behind that.
“Don’t be daft. It’s fine. I said I’d help, so I did.”
“But you look halfway ready for bed already.”
I shrugged. “Stop stressing over it. It’s not like it was a hardship coming and giving you a hand. Plus, you gave me a sweet deal.”
Craig choking on his beer drew both of our attention in his direction. He sat up, coughing and wheezing, hand over his mouth. “Fuck,” he spluttered.
“What’s a matter with you?” I eyed him speculatively to make sure he could take a breath so wouldn’t keel over, but also wondering what—
As soon as I started with that train of thought, I figured out his reaction. “Dinners. Your brotherfedme.”
That just got me a quirked brow in return, and I rolled my eyes at him. Glancing away, my attention moved to Ross. He was shaking his head at his brother, so I had little doubt he’d caught up.
“Stop worrying about what happens between me and Dan and focus on the mess of women you keep getting yourself involved in.”
I would have laughed at the incredulity in Craig’s “What? What have you heard?” if my brain wasn’t caught on Ross’s words. Did he want something to happen? Was he feeling this connection as much as I was… beyond that of friendship?
My mind continued to question every touch, every smile, every lingering glance, but fuck, I had to be sure. When I’d come back to town, I’d promised myself time to build up to something, wanting to make sure my attraction to Ross wasn’t based on the idea or fantasy of him.
We’d changed so much over the years, and I refused to risk what we had if I screwed up somehow and made things awkward as fuck.
