Cort sighed and cast his eyes toward the ceiling like he was asking for divine intervention. “Love advice, twice in one day?” he muttered to the heavens. “Really?”
“What?”
“Nothing. The universe is out to get me.” Cort shook his head like he was resigning himself to something. “So you andMcMann.”
“Yeah. Me and Drew.” Just saying the words feltright. Him and Drew. It had always been him and Drew. “Wekissed.”
Cort’s eyes widened and he leaned closer. “Reeeeally? You and the counselor finally hooked up? Do tell! I’ve been watching you two dance around each other for months now. Pretty sure all of ushave.”
“Don’t be anass.”
“Tiger can’t change his stripes, Seaver,” Cort said, pointing his beer bottle at Bas. “So, when did this kisshappen.”
“Uh. Whichtime?”
“More than once? Damn, Seaver.Damn.”
The laugh that bubbled out of Bas’s chest surprised both of them. “The first time was on Halloween. Well, no, thefirst-first time was back while we were kids in summer camp, but ah… that doesn’t really count.” He frowned. “I don’t think. Doesit?”
Cort scratched his temple. “I… guess it counts only if you want it to?” hesuggested.
“Right. Okay, so then that was the first time. And the second was onHalloween.”
“Halloween,” Cort repeated. Bas watched him connecting the dots mentally, no doubt thinking of how tense things had been between Bas and Drew for weeks, and then how Bas had disappeared off the gridaltogether.
“I didn’t take it well,” Bas admitted. “The first one, when we were kids… that was mostly a joke. Or, I let it be one.” He pushed both hands through his hair, grabbing at the strands. “And I thought this would be the same, but it gotrealpretty quick. Drew had been drinking, and he told me… he told me he’d wanted to do it for a long time.” Bas lifted his eyes to Cort’s. “I didn’t expect it to be like that. Threw me, youknow?”
“Didn’t expect it to bewhat?”
“Well… awesome.Hot.” Bas lookedaway.
“But itwas.”
“Yeah.” Bas sighed. Bas fell silent as the waitress returned with their food and departed again. “Messed me up how hot it was. Drew and I have been best friends forever. Longer than Cam has been alive, even. And in all that time, I’ve never been attracted tohim.”
“But you arenow.”
“I… Yes.” He thought of Drew’s lips, of his brown eyes when they were hazy and unfocused with lust. “Yes, now I definitelyam.”
He looked up at Cort, waiting for a reaction - shock, confusion, maybe evenangeror disbelief that Bas could suddenly feel this at hisage.
But Cort just nodded and dipped a chip into the guacamole, like straight men admitted having crushes on other men every damn day in hisworld.
Bas wasn’t sure how to feel aboutthat.
“Damn!” Cort said, crunching the chip. “This shit is good! You know, I never liked guacamole when I was a kid, and then Cam convinced me try it again a few months back. Fuckingdelicious.”
“Uh. That’s good?” Dealing with Cort’s conversational shifts was like herding kittens. Freakin’exhausting.
“Anyway, back to what you were saying.” Cort washed down his chip with some beer. “I’m not seeing the problem. You’re attracted to him, he’s attracted to you. You’re practically married already, you’re so close. Grab some lube and go for it.” He shrugged and pointed a fatherly finger at Bas. “Be safe,kiddo.”
“Are you being deliberately obtuse? I amstraight, Cort.That’stheissue!”
Cort blinked in surprise, then his gaze softened. “Evidence would suggest otherwise, Sebastian,” he saidsoftly.
“I’ve dated women. Had sex with women.Enjoyedsex with women, even.” Bas’s voice sounded bewildered to his ownears.
Cort grinned and winked. “Me too. Lots. Not that I’m one to kiss andtell.”
