“That’s what I keep telling you,” Aidan said, slinging an arm around Dawson’s shoulders. Chill and relaxed in a way that Dawson was still getting used to. “You’re just finally listening.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dawson grumped. Hating the guilt that swirled in the base of his stomach. “Mark us down for all of them, going forward.”
“Seriously?”
“You can afford to buy two more of us steak on a weekly basis,” Dawson argued.
“It’s not about that. It’s just been pulling teeth getting you to doanythingwith the team, and now, suddenly, you’re there and you’re there with the rookie. Yousureit’s not like that?” Aidan was not usually the kind of guy who teased. Especially not overthis.
But Levi’s dick apparently had magical properties.
“Jeez, way to make a guy feel bad,” Dawson said. Hesitated. “Well,worse. Way to make a guy actually feel worse.”
“Daws,” Aidan said sympathetically. “I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“Honest to God, if I did, you’d be my first call,” Dawson promised. That made him feel itchy, too. Everyone expecting him to talk about his fucking feelings, and that was the last thing he wanted. He just wanted to focus on anything else.
Of course, he hadn’t been doing a very good job of that, either.
“Good,” Aidan said. Giving him one last squeeze. “I’ll put you and Cam down for the dinner. And it’s good you’re hanging out with him.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dawson said, brushing the praise off.
It was the least he could do, and he could definitely stand to do a little bit more.
Chapter 4
Ithadbeenalong day. Cameron was tired, in a way he wasn’t always on Tuesdays.
The repetitive field goal practice had taken it out of him, and he hadn’t even been the guy making kick after kick, like a machine that didn’t even know how to miss.
He was nearly to his car, the sun setting behind the players’ parking lot, when a voice stopped him.
“Hey, wait up.”
Cam turned, surprised at the voice and the guy it belonged to.
He couldn’t remember the last time Dawson had gone out of his way to spend so much time together during a workday.
Even after yesterday, running into each other at the pool, he hadn’t expected this.
He figured you out. He saw right through you. Knows exactly what fears are going through your head.
But even if that was true, Cam hadn’t gotten even the tiniest hint that Dawson judged him for it.
“What’s up?” Cam asked, slowing to a stop a dozen yards from his truck.
“Shit.” Dawson exhaled hard, putting his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. “I’m gonna regret that tomorrow.”
“Probably.” Cam shouldn’t be endeared but he was. For a split second, he wondered if Daws was going to ask him to do something else he’d regret in the morning.
“Come on,” Dawson said, gesturing towards his SUV. “Get in.”
Oh God,washe?
“What? Uh. How?” He wasn’t proud of how his voice stuttered, but how was he supposed to keep it level?
Dawson rolled his eyes. “We’re going to dinner, rook. You good with that?”
