It didn’t take him long to figure I was lousy at it.
“Yeah, but this is different now, right, with us being together?”
The question was there in the lilt of his voice, and a look of uncertainty flashed in his eyes.
I smiled softly and reached out and took his hand while we waited at the bar to be served.
“It doesn’t have to be different. We still hang out, have fun. The difference is you get to take me home.” I leaned in closer and beckoned him to follow suit so I could whisper close to his ear. “And I get to make you scream out all those dirty words to me.”
Dan jerked his head away so fast he almost clipped my nose. “You want to skip the drinks and go and do that now?” His pupils were dilated, his breathing shallow.
I grinned, loving that I had this effect on him. That balance, how we had the power to turn each other inside out, was a hell of a thing.
“What’ll it be, Ross, the same again?”
I jolted at the sound of Ben’s voice. Clearing my throat, I offered him a smile while wondering if my face was glowing red or not. “Yeah, thanks, Ben. Plus a Great Northern and a Fifty Lashes, please.”
“On it.”
Ben walked away and Dan groaned beside me.
I glanced over at him and smiled. “Just one beer and we’re gone.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “One beer, no matter what either of them say.”
Amusement flashed, thick and fast, understanding exactly what he was talking about. There was no doubt both Craig and Alec would bitch about us leaving after only one more drink.
A few minutes later, we set the drinks on the table, and Dan grouched at my brother. “Stop being an arsehole and move.”
Craig’s eyes were wide, his ability to feign innocence not working. “What? I left you two chairs.” He looked at either side of him and the two empty chairs.
Alec chuckled. “You never had a problem before with seating arrangements.”
“Don’t you bloody well start.” Dan shot him a look that had Alec laughing louder and raising his hands in front of him. “Just saying.”
“Fine. I’ll sit here and Ross can sit on my lap.”
I laughed. “Uhm, no… Ross can’t sit on your lap.” I rolled my eyes and sat down, luxuriating in the happy flutter in my heart that Dan was needy.
“Bloody hell. You’re just gonna sulk if I don’t let you sit next to him, aren’t you?” Craig said, shaking his head at Dan. “This is going to take some getting used to.”
Dan shrugged, then grinned when my brother moved. I watched on and focussed on my brother.
I believed him when he said he was happy for Craig and me. Still, I didn’t want this to impact his and Dan’s relationship, especially as I understood part of Dan’s reluctance to start anything up with me was because of concern about a friendship fallout. They’d been best friends forever, even when Dan left for a different pace of life for a while, so I couldn’t imagine that happening.
Dan took my hand in his and pulled my attention away.
“You okay?” He dipped close to ask.
“Yeah. Just thinking is all.”
“About?”
I shrugged, not wanting to open this up for discussion. But I would have a private word with my brother when I got the chance. While I didn’t need to clear the air, I wanted to check in on him and perhaps offer my own reassurances. “Nothing important. Honest.” I’d tell him later that I’d chat to my brother. Keeping it a secret was unnecessary, but that could wait till we were alone.
“Okay.” He accepted my response readily, and I squeezed his hand in thanks.
“Is that still the plan?”
