“Wecoulddo this.”
“That’s what Robinson said.” His face shocked taut again. “Sorry. I needed some advice. No details.”
He went to his friends to try and figure this out?“Well, I always thought Robinson was the smartest out of all of you.”
Aras rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry I’m making this weird. I know what I want, and I know what makes sense, and they’re not the same thing.”
Dane knew he wasn’t going to suddenly solve this. So he…approached from the side. “Is there a reason you seem so much more relaxed when it’s just me?”
Aras shrugged. “Probably because my skin doesn’t feel like its on fire when I’m hanging out with you. Unlike the rest of this giant stupid production.”
Chapter twenty-two
Aras
Oncethewordslefthis lips, Aras regretted them. It was too much out of nowhere, and he could tell as much from the expression on Dane’s face. “Sorry. Not my place to unload.”
“Well you can’t just leave it like that.” Dane popped up and flicked on the overhead lights, then sat back down cross-legged, giving Aras his full attention. “I mean you can, but you can also tell me whatever it is you feel comfortable with. I…you doing okay?”
Of course Dane was concerned. Aras had chosen one hell of a turn of phrase. “I’m fine. I just…do you like people? Crowds?”
Dane shrugged. “I don’t mind them.”
“Well I don’t like them. At all.” He really didn’t care much fortalkingabout his distaste for other people either, but he was the one who was so stupid he let the cat out of the bag. “I hate being around people. I don’t do socializing very much, and that’s on purpose.” It was a bit childish, and definitely avoidant, but he grabbed his cake and picked at it, pulling apart one layer from the pale brown buttercream, but not taking any bites. “I didn’t do the math on it very well when I agreed to do the show. Didn’t want to let anyone else down, so I wouldn’t have said no even if I had.”
“But you act different with me than you do with the rest of the crew, too.”
Aras nodded. “Not proud of that. Trust me. I guess I’ve figured out that they can take it, so when I lash out, they get the brunt of it.”
“And you think Evander and Ozzy are annoying.”
Aras fought back a smile. “Pegged me right on that one. Love ‘em, but there’s a reason I never moved in with either of them.”
Dane raised an eyebrow. “You moved in with one of them?”
“After Robinson got out of prison, he wanted to move out of Jake’s place. Didn’t like feeling like he was a burden, but also had a hell of a time finding work. He moved out of Jake’s, told him he found a place. Moved in with me for three more months or so before he got a chance. He’s a damn good plumber, so once he was on the job, he was solid.”
“So you like him?”
“I like all the guys. Even when I think they’re annoying.” He scratched at a nonexistent itch on the back of his neck. “But getting through the camera crew and the lighting and the other contractors and hair and makeup and everyone else…I figured out that it’s a lot easier to get time to myself if everyone wants to stay away from me.” Aras sighed. “Present company excluded.”
“That’s just because you like my dick.”
Aras knew it was meant as a joke. That was the most obvious thing in the world. Knowing it didn’t prevent the barb from finding a soft spot and digging in. “I hope you don’t think it’s sex. I was low-key into you for months before I ever saw it. Not that your dick isn’t great.”
Dane moved a little closer. Not touching or anything, but closing a bit of distance and bringing his body heat in. “I’m glad you feel comfortable around me. But that doesn’t really address the mixed signals very well.”
Aras sucked in a long breath and looked up at the ceiling.Guess I didn’t dodge that bullet after all.He forced his gaze back down so he was making eye contact with Dane. He deserved Aras’s attention. This was important shit to discuss. “I shouldn’t be doing that to you. I know we can’t be a thing, but I keep pushing for it anyway. Selfish desires. Maybe I convinced myself at first that we were just being friendly and that was okay, but clearly I’m not stopping at friends.”
Finally, Dane moved all the way in, wrapping Aras in a hug. A surprisingly strong hug, which Aras leaned into. Leaned really far, until the two of them fell back onto the bed. Then somehow, Dane held him even closer. “Hear me out.”
“I don’t think I have much choice.” Aras gave a playful—he hoped—wiggle of his torso in Dane’s grip. “You’re too strong for me.”
“Bullshit, but whatever works.” Dane pressed his forehead to Aras’s, so close that Aras couldn’t focus on him properly anymore. So he only listened while trying to keep his hard-on from ruining the moment. “Pine Point Fixer-Uppers is a one season affair, right?”
“Assuming it doesn’t do well, yeah.”
“Right. And we’re most of the way through filming. Then we might never see each other again.”
