"Yes, since then." He tilted his head as a pang of jealousy made his chest ache. Though he kept it well hidden, he longed for Mason’s life. Dancing every day, being on stage… it was everything he’d ever wanted, but couldn’t have. "Is being a professional dancer everything you thought it would be?"
Mason's face lit up. "And more." He smothered his smile by pressing his lips together. "Sorry."
"For what?" He stared at Mason, saw the worry wrinkling his friend's brow. "For living your dream?"
Mason dipped his chin a fraction.
"I chose to teach instead of dance. You've nothing to be sorry for."
"You regret it though, don't you?" Mason asked quietly, his voice and face about as serious as they ever got. "Sometimes."
"Yeah," Adam admitted. "Sometimes. But it's not your fault. You shouldn't feel bad." He leaned over the table and prodded Mason's knee. "Don't feel bad. Okay?"
Mason stared at him and then turned to acknowledge the arrival of their waitress and the first of the dishes they'd ordered, a fresh grin lighting up his face. They chatted as they ate, mostly catching up on the things they'd both been doing since they'd last managed to see each other, which had been several months ago.
"I have to ask you a favour," Adam said, as he polished off the remnants of his food. His stomach was satisfyingly full. The rich spicy flavours of the sausage dish he'd just finished still lingered on his tongue. "Mum and Dad are doing a bit of a marketing drive, to drum up new business. Luc is helping them and—"
"Luc?" Mason sat up straight, his face tense, eyes narrowed.
"Uh... yeah."
Adam should have known Mason wouldn't be massively receptive to anything relating to Luc. It had been Mason who had picked up the pieces when Luc had turned into a massive jerk. It had been Mason who he'd turned to when Luc had moved away for good and the tension at home had gotten too much for Adam to bare.
"Luc is helping them," he picked up. "He wants you to be the dance school poster boy."
"Me?" Mason jerked his head back a little as he spoke. "Why?"
Adam stared at him for a second, dumbfounded. "Because you're the school's success story."
Mason sucked his lower lip in, an action which dimpled his chin in the most adorable way. For a moment, Adam's body remembered all the things it had loved about Mason, but he pushed those thoughts away. He and Mason hadn't been together for a long time and he knew neither of them were interested in revisiting what they'd once had.
"He should use you," Mason said.
"Me?"
He grinned. "When guys see you on posters and flyers, they'll come running. Maybe you'll attract some girls too," he added with a wink.
Adam rubbed his hands over his thighs. "You're saying no?" he asked, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice.
"I don't think I'm your guy. You're the face of the dance school, not me." Mason sighed. "I can ask my Artistic Director if you can have permission to use a couple of our publicity shots, okay? But if Luc wants a poster boy, you're the one he should be using. You're the face people will see when they join the school, not mine."
Adam wasn't convinced but nodded anyway.
"Let's head back to the hotel," Mason said, grabbing his jacket as he stood. "I can grab a shower and then you can tell me what's really on your mind."
"Sure." Just thinking about it made Adam’s palms sweaty. He knew he needed to talk to Mason; his friend was great at giving him a sense of perspective. However, he wasn't looking forward to admitting to anyone—even Mason—that he had the hots for his stepbrother.
***
The hotel Mason was staying in was so basic, there wasn't even anyone at reception. The room was small, with very little space between the double bed and the wardrobe. The quick glance Adam got of the bathroom before Mason vanished inside it, was of a space with a toilet, sink and shower cubicle that was only just big enough to manoeuvre; you definitely wouldn't want two people trying to get ready in there. Adam found himself glad he was only going to be staying a couple of nights. It wasn't that he didn't want to spend longer with Mason, but he liked his space. He told himself he was relieved he didn't have to keep hopping from hotel to hotel for most of the year.
He busied himself with sorting out somewhere he could sleep. He could only just open the wardrobe door fully, as it banged into the bed. Inside, he found a spare blanket and pillow and started to lay them down on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Mason asked from behind him.
Adam twisted around. Mason's hair was damp, the stage makeup was completely gone from his face and he was wearing a slim fitting T-shirt and a pair of boxers. He'd definitely lost weight but had gained more muscle definition.
"Sorting out somewhere to sleep."
