Page 8 of Returning Your Love
“Shitty,” I answered honestly, once more giving him my full attention, not bothering to keep my lips upturned. His eyebrows dented inward, creating a deep furrow between them. Smudges beneath his eyes suggested he hadn’t been sleeping well, and I yearned to spoon the hell out of him and demand he get some rest. “How about you?”
“Same.” He spoke low as though trying to hide how he really felt from everyone chatting around us. Typical of Chaz to put on a false front to appease his asshole father, who wasn’t even at Frenchie’s.
That need to comfort and help my best friend, same as all through our childhood, rose inside me as it did whenever he seemed to be hurting. “Maybe we can?—”
“Chief!” Coach’s holler pulled my attention toward the bar’s door, which once more stood open.
Dad strode inside, his uniform slightly wrinkled from having worked all day. His best friend Dexter, the captain at our small firehouse, followed behind him, white teeth flashing from his wide grin.
I’d often wondered why the two of them hadn’t hooked up. Dad had admitted to being bi when I came out to him in high school, and it was no secret around town that Dexter liked dick. But I assumed crossing best buddy lines didn’t always end well, and I expected they both appreciated their friendship too much to fuck around and find out.
If Chaz had evenhintedat being curious about dick, I would have gladlyjumped over that line and pushed to help him “find out” for sure. In secret, of course, because I’d been destined for the NFL, where being anything but straight wasn’t exactly smiled upon.
Dad headed our way, and I glanced at Chaz to find him staring at me.
Neither of us said a word, and if I hadn’t known better about him liking women, I’d have assumed he was drinking me in as though he’d been as starved for the sight of me as I’d been for him.
Wishful thinking.
Suddenly needy as fuck, I bro-hugged him once more and shoved rising fantasies to the back of my mind, determined to enjoy the parts of him that I could have. To make the most of my time in Pippen Creek before I figured out what to do with the rest of my pitiful life.
“Your dad still have that old tent?” Chaz asked, and I put a foot of space between us, my grin returning, because the immediate future was suddenly fucking bright as hell.
“Not sure, but I’ll buy a new one if you’re suggesting what it sounds like you are.”
“Guys weekend at the pond?” he questioned, and the lack of including his wife hit me low and hard even though things between us wouldn’t go anywhere near where I lusted for.
Still, the chance to have him all to myself?
“Fuck yeah, I’m in,” I agreed, my grin easy andreal.
“Jamie—good to see you, kid.” Dexter clasped my hand and yanked me in for a quick hug, tearing my attention fully off Chaz. “Sorry shit worked out like it did.”
And just like that, the lack of end goals returned, dragging me down like a defensive lineman hellbent on tackling me into the ground.
“Same, man, same,” I mumbled, nodding my acceptance of his condolences.
“Chaz!” Shelly called loudly, waving at her husband. “Get your fine ass over here and do a shot with me!”
Chaz grimaced and nodded. “I’ll catch you later, Jamie. We’ll make plans.”
He ambled toward Shelly, who held two shot glasses in her hands.
He’d erased my sense of drifting without purpose for a few minutes, but seeing them in the flesh together caused my heart to ache twice as bad as having an aimless existence.
But goddamn, that ass. Made my mouth water.
“Sutton said you haven’t gone on any ride alongs yet,” Dexter said, pulling my attention away from a man I had no right lusting over. “That used to be your favorite pastime back in middle school when you weren’t hanging with those two.”
Memories of driving around with Dad in his cruiser after Mom abandoned us trickled through my brain, sending a fond ache through my chest. The sentimental moments just kept hitting hard tonight.
“Dad?” I asked, glancing at him.
He grinned. “You’re welcome to join me whenever you want. Can’t believe I didn’t think to suggest it before now with how bored you’ve been at home.”
“Tomorrow work for you?” I asked, excited to have something to look forward to.
“Swing by the station whenever. Just grab coffee and some scones before you show up.”
