“I’ll keep that in mind. You fucking nailed it, bro,” Miles said as they approached. “What’s up, boys?”
Connor brightened. “We’re gonna head to the beach.”
“How’d it go?” Tyler asked.
“Fine. Just our boss being neurotic as always,” Miles said.
Jason’s eyes tensed. “Isn’t there that red tide, dangerous algae thing? I thought that’s why we didn’t go down yesterday.”
Ryder sat up. “Yeah, there is, so we can’t go in the water, but it’d be a shame to miss the beach at South Beach, no?”
“Good point,” Jason said.
That settled it. We were off, leaving most of our things behind in hopes of claiming our spot while we were gone. The waves lapped at the soft white sand at the perfect pace, and the sky was bigger than I’d ever seen it. The water was so turquoise it made our inability to jump in painful.
Ryder was back to only talking to me, and we fell behind the other guys. Again, I didn’t mind. I’d never felt so cool in my whole life. We were chatting about the benefits of HIIT workoutsversus endurance, when I said, “Yeah, but it’s better to get your chest popping than pop a blood vessel on a small hike…” I trailed off, too distracted by his hand on the small of my back.
He was guiding me away from a jagged piece of driftwood I didn’t see, but it felt… different. More than at the bar. It was gentle but firm, and the smile he gave when I looked at him was just so… I couldn’t describe it. And it made me feel… Not bad, close to butterflies in my stomach, but more than that.
Ryder left his hand there for one second longer than necessary. Then threw his head back in laughter, reacting to what I had said. It wasn’t funny. I didn’t even mean for it to be funny, but he laughed anyway. He’d been laughing at my jokes, or lame attempts at them, the entire trip.
It was the first time I had to consider—was Ryder flirting with me?
Then he pushed me and said, “You really are oblivious. Don’t worry about popping a blood vessel on some theoretical hike, worry about breaking your ankle on this beach.”
No, he wasn’t flirting. That was impossible. He liked guys, yeah, but not all human males. Not me. Forsure,not me. But what if he did? What if Ryder did flirt with me? Would that be the worst thing in the world?
No, it wouldn’t. If I had to be honest with myself, which I was pretty shit at, I’d like it. I was already into his attention, and if it came with the ego boost of him thinking I was attractive? Yeah, I’d be into that too. Real into it. Just, you know, not with my dick.
???
Dinner was better than great. We found this awesome place, dressed a little nicer, and had a great time. The bar was better.Or bars. We were in high spirits. Well, except when the brothers interacted.
The weird tension escalated to the point where I was sure Connor and Jason noticed, too. I hadn’t had a single moment alone with the groom-to-be, and tried to pay it as little mind as I could. No reason to spend brainpower on something that I wasn’t even sure was happening.
It’s better when I don’t overthink things. When I was a little kid, years before we moved and I met Miles, I worried about every little thing. What if I hit the ball off the tee wrong, and it breaks my nose? What if robots invade while I’m at school and I never see my mom again? What if the batter hits a line drive right into my brain? A little league coach gave me the best advice I’d ever received before or since: “Just don’t think about it.”
Easiest and most effective thing I’d ever learned. Now I just keep my thoughts level and smooth, and I haven’t felt that creeping, crushing sense of dread inyears. Or at least when I do, I just stop myself and keep it moving.
The third place of the night was the biggest we’d been to yet. A large central bar took up the sunken middle space, and booth alcoves lined the walls. There were over a hundred people in there, but it didn’t feel packed, just crowded. The music thumped, but wasn’t too loud, so you could still hear the person next to you. All with this Art déco deep green-and-gold vibe.
Ryder wasn’t hitting it heavy, yet his arm rarely left my shoulders. It was odd, but I didn’t think too much of it. He wasn’t even talking to me, just using my body as a thing to lean on, which meant he was engaging with the rest of the guys.
“Nah, I’m good. Can’t do shots tonight,” Ryder said to Tyler after being asked. “But I’ll do a vodka rocks.”
Tyler turned away to place the order, and Connor said, “Watching your weight, bro?”
Ryder laughed, rocking my body along with his. “No. Well, yes, I always am. But I want to feel as non-shitty as I can tomorrow morning. Vodka rocks always does me good.”
Drinks in hand, we got the lay of the land. Tyler and Jason wanted to post up at one of the open booths, saying they wouldn’t be open for long. Connor wanted to fuck, and since no one in the booth had a vagina, he opted to pass. But to his disappointment, Miles agreed with the others, and we found a booth near the corner.
“Fuck. That’s what I’m talking about,” Connor said not a minute after we had settled into the giant semi-circle booth.
“What?” Miles craned his neck to see.
“Those girls are checking us out. I’m gonna introduce myself. Come with me. Dangling something they can’t have always makes what they can look better.”
“Am I just a piece of meat to you?” Miles laughed.
