Page 102 of More than Need

“I found you, didn’t I?”

“Touché.”

Gideon slid into his arms, and Riley kissed the top of his head, nestled under his chin, before he could think twice. It didn’t matter anyway. Quinn knew; it’s not like they were outing themselves.

Quinn’s eyes warmed, and Riley knew there wouldn’t be any more lectures coming from that front. “I should go,” he said reluctantly. “Will said something about movie night, and I’d hate to miss getting a good seat.” He glanced between the three of them. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I don’t,” Riley admitted. A terrifying truth.

Quinn patted his shoulder on his way past. “Come out and have dinner with us soon,” he said. “Nice to meet you, Dawson.”

“Yeah, you too.”

The silence left in Quinn’s wake felt even more awkward than the first one.

“Is this where you break up with us?” Riley asked as the silence continued. He didn’t think so, considering the bag, but he’d rather they get it out in the open.

Dawson let out a breath. He unfolded his legs and dropped them to the floor. He leaned back on the bed, bracing himself with his hands. His T-shirt rode up a little, revealing an expanse of skin and the trail of hair that led down. “No, it’s not. I don’t want to do that. I just needed time to think, to not feel like so much of a piece of shit.”

“And how did that work for you?” Riley hoped that it had helped. Didn’t want him to feel bad when he’d done nothing wrong. Sadie had no claim on either of them. She could accept it, or not. That didn’t change how much Riley wanted Dawson in his life.

“Not well.”

“What are you doing here, then?”

“I can’t stay away from you. I want to fix things with Sadie, and I’m going to. Maybe it’s wrong, but I’m not willing to sacrifice us to do it.”

“And how are you going to do it?” Riley asked. Did he have a plan, or was he merely putting on a brave face and hoping for the best?

“I don’t know yet.”

Gideon flicked on the kettle. “I think this calls for hot chocolate,” he said. They’d spoken at length about the situation while Dawson had been MIA, and they were no closer to finding a solution.

Even if Riley chose to speak to Sadie, it wouldn’t undo the trust that had been broken between the two friends. It irked Riley that he couldn’t do damage control there. That he couldn’t control what happened next.

“Does that come with alcohol?” Dawson joked.

Gideon eyed the two glasses by the sink. “I think Riley started the party without us.”

“Quinn has a way of making me need to drink,” Riley said. No need to mention that he’d had them both.

Gideon nodded in understanding.

Riley stood between Dawson’s legs and tipped his chin up with a finger. “Are you alright?” he asked gently. He thumbed the dark circles under Dawson’s eyes. He hadn’t been sleeping. Riley had to admit that he and Gideon were having the same issue. They all slept better together.

“I’ve known Sadie since we were kids. We lived down the street from each other, and she used to climb the fence into our backyard. We’ve been friends ever since. Now she hates my guts and won’t even talk to me, and I can’t even blame her for it. She didn’t do anything wrong. Me, on the other hand…”

Riley pinched Dawson’s thumb between two fingers. “Are we a mistake?”

“What? No!”

“Then how can you have done something wrong?”

“I’m not sure that logic works here, but I appreciate that you’re trying.”

Riley kissed him slowly, cradling his face. He pushed Dawson down onto the bed, following him. He rolled Dawson’s top up, sliding underneath to his warm skin before lifting it up and over his head.

Their eyes met, a moment of perfect clarity, and then they were kissing again. Slow slides and gentle strokes of their tongues. Steady, calming. Connection.

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