"Damn, you're consistent," Drew notes. "Gavin, you created a monster."
"Natural talent," Gavin says, and the pride in his voice makes me warm. "Should see him with data analysis. Fucking beautiful."
"Gavin's got it bad," Rex stage-whispers to Tyler.
"So bad," Tyler agrees.
"Can we not?" Gavin complains, but he's fighting a smile.
"Not what? Discuss your obvious?—"
"Ethan!” Tyler suddenly yelps. "Did you just… did that go in my pocket?"
We all turn to see Ethan looking innocent while Tyler fishes ice out of his back pocket.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You little—" Tyler lunges, Ethan dodges laughing, and suddenly they're chasing each other around the room like children.
"Jesus Christ," Drew mutters. "Every-fucking-where we go."
"They're happy," Jaren says mildly.
"They're nauseating."
"You're jealous," Rex decides. "When's the last time you got laid?"
"When's the last time you threw an axe that hit the target?"
While they bicker, I notice Gavin watching Tyler and Ethan. They've stopped running, Tyler crowding Ethan against the wall, both breathless and grinning. The look on Gavin's face is...
Wistful. Definitely wistful.
My stomach sinks. Right. He's figuring himself out. He's probably thinking about what it would be like to have that kind of love. To be open like that.
"Get a room!" Drew shouts.
"Tried that," Tyler calls back. "You assholes followed us here."
"We came for the axes, not the show."
"Your loss. We're very entertaining."
"Can confirm," Rex adds. "Thin walls in the house."
Ethan goes red. Tyler just looks smug.
"Okay, that's enough sharing," Gavin intervenes. "Back to throwing before someone says something we can't unhear."
The rest of the evening passes in a blur of competition and chirping. I relax bit by bit, especially when Jaren keeps including me in conversations, and Gavin stays close, occasionally correcting my form with brief touches that scramble my brain.
"You survived," Gavin says as we're leaving. The others have scattered to the bar, but Gavin waves them off. "I'll get Doc home."
"I can Uber?—"
"Nope. I dragged you out, I'm taking you back." He bumps my shoulder. "Besides, we never finished the list."
The ride home is quieter. I'm pleasantly tired, possibly slightly buzzed from the beers Rex insisted I drink, "For accuracy!" which made no sense.
