Page 17 of Spring Breakup
“Uh. Sure,” Tyler said.
Dean took off his own wet coat and wet jeans, which were a very silly choice for this type of weather. He changed into a pair of gray sweats and a T-shirt. He found the aqua sweatpants Tyler had worn to bed and grabbed him a random tropical shirt from the top of his duffel bag.
He knocked on the bathroom door, and Tyler opened it.
A lot of things had thrown Dean for a loop that day, but Tyler in nothing but plaid boxers topped the list. Dean didn’t understand why exactly. He had seen it all the day before. But Tyler’s hair was wet from the rain, and it had started to curl into angelic ringlets around his face. His legs were pale and vulnerable-looking, and he had a large, red birthmark that stretched across his left knee and down his calf. His body was solid with an appealing layer of fat that made Dean want to grab on.
“Dean.”
“What? Oh, right.” Dean handed the clothes over.
Tyler’s phone rang, and he dove for it before putting it on speaker so they could both hear. Rosie was on the other line.
Rosie and Leo had gotten a room at a restaurant and hotel called Dog Salmon Saloon, and townsfolk were telling them to settle in for the long haul.
His friends were getting an adventure, and they would take it in stride. They were undoubtedly only sad to not have their luggage full of sex toys with them.
Tyler idly scratched his bare stomach, and Dean had to tear his gaze away. “I’m going to shower,” Dean blurted, interrupting Rosie as she gushed about the halibut she’d ordered for lunch. “I want to warm up.” It was roasting in the cabin, but the bathroom was the only place he could easily get privacy without being rude.
“Oh, of course,” Tyler said. He was standing at the sink, mostly naked, but quickly got dressed and moved out of the way.
“You should try the sauna to warm up,” Rosie suggested. “Take advantage of the amenities we’re missing out on.”
Dean met Tyler’s eyes. A sauna with Tyler sounded simultaneously heavenly and torturous.
“That’s a good idea,” Tyler said. “Might as well make the best of a shit sandwich.”
* * *
Tyler had never beenin a sauna, and he wasn’t impressed. He had sweat beading on his nose and pooling at the backs of his knees. And the air felt dry, not steamy like he’d expected. Maybe they had done something wrong.
The sauna had a wood stove and one dim light. It would have been romantic if not for the sweat.
Dean, wearing short swim trunks that showed off half a floral thigh tattoo, had a towel wrapped over his shoulders and hadn’t opened his eyes in five minutes. He was on the bench directly across from Tyler, and their knees were almost touching. Tyler was pretty sure Dean was asleep, so he didn’t even have enjoyable company with which to share the unpleasant experience.
And speaking of sleep, where would they both sleep? Not in the same room. This was not an only-one-bed situation. They were stuck together in a cabin that was more than big enough for two people, but it felt like an imposition to take over Rosie and Leo’s bedroom. Their bags were still up there.
Tyler assumed Dean would have fewer qualms about invading their space considering he was seemingly in the habit of… invading their space.
“Why did you and your boyfriend break up?” Tyler blurted, and Dean didn’t react.
“Incompatible expectations,” Dean murmured.
“Did I wake you up?”
“No.”
Okay then. Dean was just closing himself off from Tyler. Probably because he didn’t want to talk. Tyler could understand that. He hadn’t wanted to talk earlier, but since then, he’d been front seat to an avalanche, and his whole body felt full of bees.
“What expectations were incompatible?” Tyler asked. “Like monogamy expectations or views of the future?”
Dean opened his eyes, and Tyler felt like he’d stirred a lion from a deep slumber. It was exciting.
No.Notexciting. That was ridiculous.
It was annoying.
“Monogamy? That’s your topic of choice?” Dean said. He had a knowing smile on his handsome face, so Tyler clearly hadn’t hidden his curiosity about Dean’s relationship with Leo and Rosie.
