Page 36 of Beyond the Summer

"How could I not notice you?"I teased."You're seriously the hottest man alive."

His cheeks flushed pink as he helped me thread the curtain rod through the holes in the fabric."Does this mean I can sleep in your bed?Or maybe that's a bad idea.

"What about you in my bed could be a bad idea?You're a high-quality snuggler."I reached out, ruffling his hair.But he didn't laugh.Instead, lines of worry creased Sutton's handsome face.

"Nothing, I just…" He sighed and looked away."It's nothing."

I softened, rubbing soothing circles on his broad back."Hey, it's going to be okay."

Sutton scoffed."Said with the confidence of someone who has had everything in his life work out perfectly."

As we hooked the curtain rod to the ceiling, I went quiet.I tried to convince myself that he was hurting and lashing out, but he didn't know me or my life well enough to say something like that.I wanted to kiss him, wanted him to be sweet and snuggly the way he'd been all break.Instead, I was watching him transform back into the man I'd first met—even his body language was changing.

"We're here!"Parker's cheery voice rang out as the cabin door banged open.

I stepped back, glancing towards Sutton.Before break, Parker had encouraged me to hook up with Sutton, so I didn't think he'd be upset, but suddenly it still felt like a betrayal.Sutton stiffened, his face shuttering.I watched him for a beat as the walls went up and his eyes went cold.

He was back to his cocky jock mode, and it was a little creepy.

Parker threw his bag on his bed and turned towards the curtain, a smile breaking out on his face.Ravi was following close behind with an armful of shopping bags, looking slightly harassed, but somehow still happy.Their eyes were bright, faces flushed from the summer heat, or maybe more.The space between them practically crackled with energy.

Forcing a smile, I backed away from Sutton, who flopped face-first into his bed.

"Holy shit, this is your surprise?"Parker said, sliding the curtain closed so it hung between the two bunk beds."This is perfect.Honestly, why don't the counselor's cabins all have these?We could all use a little privacy now and then, especially after spending weeks getting dating advice from campers."

"Dating advice?"I asked.

Ravi nodded."Some of the campers noticed Parker had a crush on me and gave him tips.Some of them were quite insightful."

"They were not!That's a thing of the past, though," Parker said."Now I've won him, I don't need tips!"

I tried to focus on Parker's animated chatter as he launched into a play-by-play of their days off, including something he'd done to embarrass himself in front of Ravi's family, but my attention drifted to Sutton, who stood up and slipped out of the cabin.Parker and Ravi both ignored him.

As Parker recounted a particularly humorous mishap involving Ravi's sister, who had somehow accidentally come out as gay on vacation, Ravi chimed in with additional awkward commentary, causing both of them to dissolve into laughter.They leaned into each other, completely engrossed in their shared mirth.The intimacy of it made my chest ache for something like that with Sutton.Something open and sweet and good.

"Hey guys, I remembered I need Sutton's help checking… the, uh, something for my brother," I announced, wincing internally at the flimsy excuse."We'll be right back."

Parker flashed a confused, brows-up look, and Ravi simply nodded, waving us off.

"Sure, you do that.Take your time!"Parker singsonged."We have to get settled in, anyway.And thanks again for the curtain, it's perfect."

Feeling my face heat, I slipped outside, looking around for Sutton as the door shut behind me, muffling the sounds of Parker and Ravi's continued banter.He was sitting at the base of a big ponderosa tree in the square, staring down at his hands, looking for all the world like the saddest, loneliest boy alive.

"Come with me," I ordered as I stalked past, for some reason not at all nervous that he'd not follow.I led him down a short path that led to a little gear shed—the one we stored backpacking supplies in, and closed and bolted the door behind us.

I turned to face him, hands on my hips."We have to get through the session.You won't be able to avoid them forever."

Sutton exhaled shakily, his gaze skittering away from mine."I can try.They fucking hate me, anyway."

I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking about what it was going to be like to be with someone who didn't get along with my friends.But the fun we'd had over the break was still fresh in my mind, and I knew without a doubt that I wanted Sutton.I wished he could show everyone the things he showed me when we were alone.

"My head is so fucked up," he whispered brokenly."I don't even think Parker would mind that I found someone."He glanced up at me, his eyes wide and hurting for an instant."I need you.And you'll be right there, and I won't be able to…"

I grabbed his hips and pulled his body against mine at the same time that he surged forward and captured my lips in a searing kiss.

I broke away and met his eyes."I guess I didn't need to worry you'd ditch me after sex."

"Shut the fuck up," he grumped."You cast some kind of spell on me with your big dick and your hugs.And the kisses.How do you do that with the kisses?"

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