Chapter Eighteen
“When Damon texted,he said he wanted to meet in the hangar at noon,” Cort said, pulling a t-shirt over his head. The soft gray material slid down his body, clinging to his broad shoulders and the patches of skin still damp from their shower. “In about anhour.”
Cam, who hadn’t been able to stop himself from watching the show, turned his focus to buttoning his own shorts as Cort slid both his phones into his pockets and turned around. He looked down at the dresser, which held an assortment of things he’d removed from his own pockets yesterday - door key, wallet, cell… Cort’s lucky quarter. Cam grabbed the coin and held it tightly in his palm before slipping it into his frontpocket.
“You’re going to meet him,” Cam said neutrally. It wasn’t a question. From what Cort had revealed, everything he’d had done up to this point was to help his brother, so despite Cam’s hurt, this was not a surprise. It was simply the sort of person Cort was. He had a loyalty which had been embedded in him sincechildhood.
“Weare,” Cort said. He walked across the room and wrapped his arms around Cam from behind, leaning down to rest his chin on Cam’s shoulder. His wet hair tickled Cam’s neck as their eyes met squarely in the mirror. “You and me, Cam. From here onout.”
It sounded too good to be true, so it probably was, though Cam figured Cortwantedto believe it. He realized intention and reality often operated on two separateplanes.
Still, he gave Cort’s reflection a halfhearted smile. “Okay.” He grabbed his wallet and put it in his backpocket.
Cort shook his head and smiled. “You don’t believe it, but you’llsee.”
Cam nodded. They’d seealright.
A knock at the door had them both turningsimultaneously.
“I thought he said at the hangar?” Camasked.
“That’s what the text said.” Cort moved toward the door, taking up a defensive position to one side. With his hand, he motioned Cam to move back, out of sight of thedoor.
Cam rolled his eyes. What the hell did Cort think was going to happen here? He shook his head firmly. Cort had never been the boss of him, and certainly wasn’tnow.
Cort gestured again, his green eyes kindling with warning, sending a thrill up Cam’sspine.
With a sigh, Cam walked into the bathroom. From here, he could only see Cort in profile as he took a deep breath then cracked the door open an inch. His head went back in surprise at whoever was out there. “What the hell are you doing here?” hedemanded.
“I could ask you the same question,” a deep voice replied, and Cam’s eyes widened as he recognized it. “Bas?” he said, stepping back into theroom.
Cort opened the door wider, giving Cam a clear view of Sebastian and Drew standing in the hallway, while still blocking their entry with hisarm.
“Little brother,” Bas said, and Cam saw something like relief in his eyes. He was showered, dressed in impeccably clean trousers and a fitted polo, and his eyes had lost their haunted look. It was an amazing - and confusing -transformation.
“You’re fine, Cammy?” Drew demanded. He looked from Cort to Cam and back again, his eyes narrowing on Cort’sface.
“Yes, yeah. Of course,” Cam said, just as Bas told Cort, “I’ve seen your facebefore.”
Cort shook his head and his voice had a steely edge. “We haven’t met.Yet.”
Bas put his hand on Cort’s forearm and took a step forward, a demand for Cort to move aside. Cort didn’tbudge.
“Cam,” Drewsaid.
Cam rolled his eyes. “Cort, let themin.”
Cort’s jaw hardened as he glanced back at Cam, but he finally relented, allowing both men to step inside. Cort moved along with them, staying between Bas and Cam, almost protectively. Cam rolled his eyes again.Like he had anything to fear from Bas orDrew.
“Whatareyou two doing here?” Cam asked Bas, hands on his hips as he repeated Cort’s question. “You didn’t tell me you were coming when I stopped by the other day. And my God, you look so much… better,Bas!”
Bas glanced from Cort to Cam, obviously not liking Cort’s position. “I changed my plans yesterday. I arrived earlier this morning. I need to speak to you.Alone,” he added, when Cort made no effort tomove.
“I told you he thinks he’s dating this guy,” Drew murmured to Bas, clearlydisapproving.
“Wearedating,” Cort confirmed. He folded his arms over his chest and glared at Drew before glancing back at Cam.Do you want me to leave?Cam’s stomach somersaulted. His choice, and Cort would let him do this alone if he wantedto.
He was tempted for a minute, but he stared into Cort’s steady eyes, which seemed to be begging,Trust me,Cam.
