“Fine.” Cain rolled his eyes again. “But it’smyarm, andmystupid choice, right? You’renotresponsible for me.”
Damon’s jaw locked and he looked stubbornly out the windshield, like he wouldn’t argue the point.
“Right, Damon?” Cain persisted.
Damon turned to face him. “I feel pretty damn responsible. Why wouldn’t you let Eli look at it last night?” he demanded before Cain could reply.
Cain’s teeth clacked together, and it was his turn to look at the endless blue sky and road laid out before them. “I was tired. I… didn’t feel like it.”
“Really? That’s why?”
“Of course. Why else?”
“I dunno.” Damon shrugged. “Eli seemed to feel there was some personal issue.”
Cain glanced at him quickly. “No.”
“It wasn’t that you thought there was anything happening between Eli and me?”
“I-I mean, no. That’s not… It’s none of my business if there is,” Cain said adamantly. “That had nothing to do with… anything.”
“Huh.”
“Huh?What do you mean,huh?”
Damon shook his head, but Cain could see a strange light dancing in his eyes.
“Eli is straight,” Damon said.
Cain scowled. “Yeah, well, so amIif you go by popular opinion.”
“No, Cain. Like, we’ve had a conversation about it. He has zero interest in men. And there hasneverbeen anything between us but friendship.”
Cain blinked.Alright, well… Good. That was good.
“None of my business,” Cain said dismissively, but Damon reached over and grabbed his chin, turning Cain’s face toward his.
“Isn’t it?” Damon asked.
“Is it?” Cain whispered, and Damon shrugged, but the smile on his face made something bright and warm flare to life in Cain’s chest. Oh, this was dangerous. This was so, so dangerous. He was way too happy about the fact that Eli and Damon had never been anything but friends, and way,waytoo happy about the idea that Damon thought this was his business.
“I don’t like you being hurt,” Damon whispered. “Just… for fuck’s sake, don’t get hurt again.” Damon moved his hand from Cain’s chin to cup the back of his neck, his thumb dragging along Cain’s jaw.
Cain laughed shortly. “Oh, saysyou, Mister Drop-and-Roll with the fucked-up leg.”
“That’s different,” Damon insisted.
“Sure,” Cain said, but he glanced at Damon and both of them burst out laughing.
Damon dragged his hands up and down his face, and Cain could hear the scratch of stubble against his palms. “Alright. I’m sorry. I’ve been an asshole. I’ll be better, okay?”
Cain nodded shortly. “Apology accepted,” he said magnanimously. “And I guess… I guess I haven’t been particularly mature, if we’re being honest. Now we can—”
But before he could move to shift the car back into gear, Damon was reaching a hand over the console, dragging Cain toward him by the back of the neck. Their lips met in a drugging kiss.
Momentarily startled, it took Cain a second to respond, but when he did, he surged forward, pushing Damon back against his headrest. Cain poured every ounce of his hurt, frustration, and annoyance into the kiss, and Damon took every bit, threading his long fingers through Cain’s hair and groaning into Cain’s mouth. It was hot, frantic, and perfect - tongues dueling, teeth clacking. But then Damon tugged his hair and pushed back, taking the kiss deeper and gentler - calming, soothing, and reassuring.
When they broke apart a minute later, Cain’s head was spinning and his breath was coming in pants.
