Page 72 of Silas's Sweetheart

“Easier said than done,” Wilder muttered.

“Right, let’s get started,” called Ethan.

It was dark by the time they returned to the cabin, aching in places he’d never have considered possible. Covered in dust and convinced he’d be tasting the stuff for months to come, Ziggy wearily trudged up the steps.

Inside, he flicked on the light. It cast a dim glow over the twin beds and the small chest that separated them, a lamp sitting atop it. A built-in closet and a door leading into a shower stall were basically all there was inside the small space.

“Do you wanna shower first?” Silas asked quietly from behind him. The sound of the door closing made the situation even more real.

Out on the ranch, Ziggy could ignore who he was sharing with, much the same as his friends had done. Only problem with that? Nothing changed reality.

Ziggy didn’t look in Silas’s direction, something he’d refused to do after the first hour with how a denim clad Silas showing how he got that toned body had done him no favors. None. He’d fought his snake repeatedly until he had a headache over how often it got miffed at not watching Silas work.

“I’m easy,” he muttered through dry lips, searching for the cool box Ethan’s information said would contain bottled water for them.

Silas, as if knowing his thoughts, went to the closet and pulled out the cooler. Opening it, he pulled out two bottles. “Here, I’m sure you’re thirsty.”

A bottle of water appeared before his face when he didn’t initially step closer to Silas, forcing Ziggy to glance in the other man’s direction. Situation aside, he didn’t want to come across as rude.

“Thanks.” He took the water, opened the cap and drank deep. Suddenly, he found his throat dry for a whole different reason when Silas wore a sexy grin that was way too fucking familiar.

“You did great today. Ethan was impressed.”

Ziggy gave a chin raise, keeping his attention on the bottle of water he brought back to his lips to occupy them when he wanted to demand Silas strip and…

Keep going.

No, it’s over. Dating someone else now.

We haven’t had a date. You canceled.

We aren’t cheaters.

That’s right, we don’t want to cheat on Silas.

Ziggy groaned and threw the empty bottle into the small trash bin next to the cabin door.

“You okay?”

“What’s going on here?” Ziggy demanded, too tired and annoyed with himself to play games.

Silas chewed on his bottom lip as Ziggy held his gaze, searching for the answers but finding none.

“I made a mistake.”

“How so?” Ziggy asked cautiously, while his snake wiggled its tail.

“I should have been honest with you, and asked for clarity about Frey.”

Ears thumping with his pulse, Ziggy took a step closer to Silas. “Why didn’t you?” he asked hesitantly, feeling the hope rise along with his snake.

“’Cause I was a coward.” Color stained Silas’s cheeks, but he never looked away. “I dated a boy in school…” Silas’s gaze dropped to the floor and Ziggy reached out to take hold of his free hand.

“Talk to me.”

Silas released a deep sigh, his fingers intertwining with Ziggy’s, giving him a thump to the center of his chest at how right it felt to be touching again, even when it was simply holding hands.

“Do you know the story of how Booker and Taylin came to be my brothers?” Ziggy frowned, shaking his head. “It was the night I got attacked by a group of students.”

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