After Silas left,I tried not to think too much about what I’d set in motion. The sex was incredible, of course. We had great chemistry and had from the start.
But sexual chemistry wasn’tallwe had. At least, not from my perspective. There was an emotional connection that had grown these past couple of weeks. Silas wanted casual, and I knew—regardless of what I promised him—it would never bejust sex.
Not to me, anyway.
Maybe it made me an asshole—or more likely, a wishful fool—but I was really hoping it wasn’t just sex for him, either.
Silas told me he might never be ready for more. I believed him. I just couldn’t let him go without a fight. Even if that fight mostly involved putting my heart on ice while I waited for Silas’s to warm up to me.
I showered, redressed, and ran by Squealin’ Pig BBQ to grab lunch for Branson and me. Hopefully, the food woulddistract him from how long I’d been gone. Maybe he’d believe that a tux fitting had taken damn near two hours?
“I got lunch!” I called as I stepped inside.
The store was coming together, shelf by shelf, even with our supply delays. Branson had set up a display of binoculars, scopes, and trail cameras—as well as a very cool and pricey set of binoculars with a camera built into them. These were great for hunting or birdwatching, but also just for capturing beautiful views when out hiking.
“About time,” Branson said, emerging from the backroom. “I thought you were gonna miss the call with Bolton.”
“Just out hunting and gathering,” I said with a grin. “Too bad I didn’t have those badass binoculars. I could have hunted down this pig a lot easier.”
“They’re nice, huh?” Branson joined me by the display. “They came in while you were gone.”
“Really nice,” I agreed.
Branson glanced at me, then did a double-take.
“Did youshower?Why would you—” He stopped short, a shit-eating grin spreading over his face.
I was already shaking my head, but there was no derailing him now.
“Holy shit, you had some afternoon delight! That tailor must have been really hot.”
I rolled my eyes. “You know it wasn’t the tailor, idiot.”
He punched my arm hard enough to hurt. “You and Silas? Tell me everything.”
“No. Besides, you don’t want to heareverything.”
He shrugged. “What, because he’s a guy? Who cares? Hot is hot.”
Branson had never come out and said it, but I was pretty sure my brother wasn’t totally straight either. Hedefinitely preferred women, while I preferred men, but we were both some flavor of bi when it came down to it.
He took the barbecue over to the check-out counter and started unpacking it. I snagged a metal stool and perched on it.
“Seriously, though,” Branson was saying. “This is big news. Caitlyn will be so excited.”
“You can’t tell her.”
He paused and shot me a look, eyebrow lifted. “Really? You want me to keep a secret from my briderightbefore my wedding? That is not a good look, bro.”
“I get that, but we’re not, like, together. So there’s nothing to tell her.”
Branson cocked his head. “But you slept together.”
“Yeah.”
“And you seriously like the guy.”
“I do, yeah.”
