“Ugh, the demon twins,” Dawson muttered.
“Hey, they’re pretty nice,” Cam argued.
“Don’t let them betoonice to you,” Dawson warned.
“What?” Confusion crossed Cam’s face.
“Just . . .don’t let Lane charm you.”
Cam was straight-up frowning now. “Lane’s not interested in me.”
Dawson considered saying that he shouldn’t be, but that would probably come across shitty, like nobody, ever, should be interested in Cameron, when actually the opposite was true.
There wereplentyof reasons why anyone would be interested in Cam. It felt like Dawson had spent all day turning them over and over again in his head.
“See you in a bit,” Cam said, when the elevator hit his floor.
“I’ll order an Uber for us,” Dawson said, and Cam gave him one last look before the doors shut behind him.
Dawson dumped his stuff by the door and, after showering again, headed to his bedroom and its walk-in closet. He had clothes in it, of course, because he had to wear clothes every day, but it had been so long since he’d actually cared about looking good.
He still wasn’t sure he cared, but when he grabbed the first shirt off the hanger, he did at least glance at the mirror and make sure he didn’t look embarrassing.
Positively, Aidan could give a shit about what he was wearing, so he wouldn’t catch any strays for wearing a variation of what he’d worn the last few times they’d gone out to Vault.
Maybe if he was actually trying to hook up, he’d make an effort.
But the idea of going through all the small talk and posturing and then maybe if everything went okay, figuring out how twolives meshed together all over again? Dawson’s skin crawled. He didn’t think he could do it. Maybe he should download an app. Or he could stick to what was easy and what was already working, which was his right hand.
After checking his email, responding to a message from his agent, and spending thirty minutes flopped on the couch watching ESPN and sucking down a Gatorade in anticipation of the booze he’d probably be drinking, he headed downstairs.
There were a handful of figures scattered around the front of their building, but only one caught Dawson’s eye.
He was wearing jeans that fit his ass like a second skin, and a dark button-up that hugged him in all the best ways. Emphasized the curve of his hips, and the slenderness of his waist. Dark hair curling over the smooth tan skin of his neck.
Dawson did a double take and angled himself a little closer as he waited for Cam. Hewasfine with his right hand, if he could think of guys like this when he touched himself. And this guy was worth thinking about; Dawson’s gaze kept getting caught on shoulders and thighs and the tiny bit of visible skin he could see between hair and collar. Imagined, for a single second, what it would feel like under his tongue.
And then the guy turned around and Dawson nearly choked.
It was Cameron.
Here was the thing: Dawsonknewthe rookie was attractive. Had known it but was steadfastly ignoring it, for a hundred very good reasons.
But it was going to be even harder to ignore it now.
Dawson debated running away, despite that he’d never been a coward, even through the worst of the shit he’d been through. Gave himself a firm pep talk-slash-warning and then headed over to where Cam stood.
“Hey,” Dawson said. Suddenly wishing that he’d not just grabbed the first Thunder-branded polo shirt he’d found in the closet.
“Oh, hey.” Cam grinned, giving Dawson’s shoulder a pat. “Looking good.”
Dawson wasn’t sure he’d go that far. But Camwaslooking good. Good enough to eat.
Down, boy.
“Uh yeah. Thanks. Ditto.” Dawson forced his gaze to slide past Cam’s front, then down to his phone. “Car should be here in a minute.”
Cam nodded, like everything was normal.
