Dane shook his head. “No. I’m fine. The peanut butter was different.”
“It’s fresh ground. Nothing but peanuts and a bit of salt.”
“I think I like that.”
“Good,” Bas said. “I have more. And it’s easy to get. I’ll make up a bed for you. There is plenty of room.”
Bas got up and headed to the sink where Adam and Ru were working. The two of them moved in sync, as if they were bound by some invisible cord. When they were together, they were almost always touching. Bas hoped that Dane wasn’t hurt by it, though he knew Dane was watching them closely. Bas put his palm on the back of Ru’s neck and leaned in close to whisper, “He’s ready to talk to you.”
Ru nodded and passed his towel off to Adam. Tommy joined Adam at the sink, while Ru sat down beside Dane. Bas left them to it and headed off to get another room ready. Would Adam and Ru be staying the night too? What about Tommy? No kidding about a full house. He passed Paige’s room. She and Marissa were giggling, but the door was open and Paige was dressed in thick tights, a plaid skirt, and a soft sweater. He couldn’t recall ever seeing her so confident or gorgeous.
“If I were into girls, I’d do you,” he told her from his spot in the doorway.
Paige blushed. Marissa grinned.
“She’s got a great figure. And that hair is gorgeous.”
“Agreed. I’ve got a thing for redheads,” Bas admitted.
“Yeah? Like the one in the kitchen?” Paige asked. “He’s cute. Shy.”
“And straight,” Bas told her. Or at least in love with someone else.
She shook her head. “Maybe bi, or demi, but with the way he assesses everyone, he’s not straight.”
Bas stepped into the room and shut the door, hoping his voice didn’t travel. “He has an eating disorder. I think he’s just trying to figure out what’s healthy or not. I have no idea what he actually sees,” Bas whispered. “I hope that when he looks at me or Adam or any of us he sees healthy, normal people and wants to be that. But I don’t think it’s sexual. He’s sort of infatuated with someone, but even that’s not sexual. He’s afraid of being gay.”
“Right. ’Cause gay people want to be gay?” Paige asked him. Bas shook his head, not sure how to explain Dane to them. He just wasn’t like most people.
“’Cause an attractive boy finding you interesting would be bad?” Marissa piped up.
Bas shrugged. “’Cause he’s not ready to look outside himself, yet. He’s got to get better.”
“I dunno. He’s already a rainbow pony. Maybe he just needs someone to see him and love him as he is to finally become that unicorn he wants to be,” Paige said.
Bas nodded. Maybe. But Dane had a lot to overcome, yet. All Bas could do was be supportive and hope the man continued to improve. He couldn’t deny that he found Dane attractive, but the last thing Dane needed was someone pushing intimacy on him. They both had demons to overcome before reaching that level. Bas was okay just making another friend.
He headed to one of the newly decorated rooms to set out clean sheets and cover any mirrors. He wondered if he should cover all the mirrors in the house, or if he even had enough towels to do so.
