Page 14 of Spring Breakup
“Yeah. It covers those trees.”
Tendrils of uneasiness spread over Dean’s shoulders.
“It’s awesome,” Leo said. Everything was awesome to Leo. He was golden and loved and talented.
“Yeah.” Dean took a shaky breath. It was terrifying.
“I’m going to head back to the cabin,” Tyler said, his voice full-on Eeyore. “I’m covered in mud. Again.”
“I’ll go with you. I’m soaked,” Dean said. He felt funny. Something wasn’t quite right. “You two go on ahead. Get lunch, wait out the rain.”
Rosie and Leo put up some mild resistance, but within minutes, Tyler and Dean were walking back to the cabin together, and Rosie and Leo were heading into an adventure, happy as clams.
“So… teaching,” Dean said after too many minutes of silence.
“Yep. What about it?”
“Well, we both do it. I thought it would be a good conversation starter.”
Tyler nodded but didn’t say anything.
So it obviously wasn’t that good a conversation starter.
“What do you want to talk about?” Dean asked. The steady patter of rain against Dean’s face and body was driving him out of his skin. He needed a distraction.
“Do we have to talk?” Tyler asked, which was so antisocial and grumpy it made Dean smile.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Sports, then.” Tyler waved his hand like the topic didn’t matter one bit.
The rain picked up. It was loud enough that Dean had to yell. “Veto.”
Tyler huffed. The rain had darkened his hair under his hat, and it stuck to his neck and cheeks. His cheeks were pink from the cold.
“Here. Hold on.” Dean halted Tyler with a hand on his arm.
“You want to stop?”
“No, just…” Dean gently removed Tyler’s beanie. It was sopping wet and surely hurting more than helping. Tyler’s eyes widened. “You have a hood.” Dean flicked Tyler’s hood over his head, sending a spray of water droplets everywhere. It was wet on the inside, but it would be better than the hat.
“Oh.” Tyler blinked several times. “Thanks. We’re almost back.”
“Yeah. We should keep moving.”
They eyed each other. Tyler kept opening his mouth and shaking his head, like he had a million things to say.
“What?” Dean asked.
Tyler shook his head. “So last night… I, um. Fuck, I’m bad at this. I saw—”
A low, distant rumble cut him off.
“What’s that noise?” Dean asked, his heart jumping into his throat.
“I don’t know.”
The sound lasted all of thirty seconds but seemed longer. He felt the rumble in his bones. They both froze to listen, but there was no visible source.
