Duke shrugged, clearly unbothered. “I can’t say I’m into guys, but itisinteresting. Plus the gossip is top-notch, especially on this team. Who else is fucking who? I want in on the ground floor.”
“Nobody but Aidan and Levi,” Nate said.
“Yet,” Duke retorted.
Dawson willed his flush away, but before anyone could comment on how poor of a job he was doing—or before, even worse, Cam noticed—Aidan announced that the waitstaff was about to come around and take orders, so they should all take their fucking seats sometime this year.
He ended up seated towards one end of the table, Wes—a late arrival, which after the whole convo Dawson had been having with Nate, Duke, and Cam, was probably a relief—on one side and Cam next to him. Within easy view of Dawson, which was both a good and a bad thing.
Wes was only a few years older than Cam, but Dawson, observing over the edge of the menu he was supposed to be reviewing, wondered if they’d end up friends.
HewantedCam to have friends. Wanted him to be included. Wanted him to be a significant part of this team because hewas,and it mattered to Dawson that his teammates saw him the same way Dawson was beginning to.
But despite that, there was a thread of jealousy, ofenvy, that wound its way through him.
He wanted to be the guy making Cam laugh.
He wanted Cam to be the sunshine brightening all his shadows, dismissing his heartbreak.
What if Cam did that for Wes, instead?
It would be fine. Itwouldbe fine. Because Dawson was not interested, and even if he was stupid enough to be, the reality was he was currently a wreck of a human. Hardly good for anyone in this state.
Dawson glanced pointedly back at his menu.
“You alright?” Nate asked.
It was embarrassing that he’d been spotted. “Sure, yeah,” Dawson said, as easy as he could.
“Sure thing. That tenseness in your shoulders has nothing to do with the rookie over there,” Nate said under his breath.
Dawson forced himself to relax. “I’m good,” he repeated. Nate didn’t look convinced, but it didn’t matter because that was the moment the waiter appeared next to him, ready to take his order.
He ordered a steak and a salad, side of mushrooms, and a glass of red wine, telling himself that they just had the walkthrough tomorrow.
It was a good event, full of laughter and some pointed teasing, but then Aidan had been hosting these dinners for years. Still, he appeared to be really relaxing into the job in a way he hadn’t ever before, and Dawson was sure that was entirely because of the guy on his left.
Levi was in great form tonight, arm casually slung around Aidan’s shoulders. He’d nudge him every minute or so, and whatever observations he was murmuring into Aidan’s ear were making him laugh in a way that Dawson didn’t think he’d ever seen before.
The dinner wound to a close, guys beginning to depart in pairs. A few of them were making plans to go out for another drink, after, but Dawson knew he had too much resting on this game—everygame, if he was being honest—to spend too much time drinking two days before he had to be in top shape, physicallyandmentally.
He collected Cam and detoured on the way out of the restaurant to say goodbye to Aidan. Aidan, whose head was tipped in close to Levi. They weren’t kissing currently, but it wasn’t too much of a stretch to imagine they might’ve been a minute ago, or Levi might say fuck it and plant one the moment Dawson and Cam left.
“Hey, we’re off,” Dawson said, and Aidan rose, giving him a quick hug. “Thanks for thinking of us.”
Cam was silent next to him. Thinking of how he wished he might be the guy in Levi’s position?
Dawson needed to get his head examined, that much was clear. He’d mentally imagined Cameron with practically every guy here during this stupid dinner. Every guy excepthim.
“’Course,” Aidan said. “Feel free to show up every week.” He shot Cam a separate smile, bright and genuinely welcoming. “You too, rook.”
“Uh yeah, sure. Thanks,” Cam stammered.
A minute later they were on the sidewalk again, Dawson pulling up the Uber app on his phone.
“Should I warn Levi you’re going to try to steal his man?” Dawson half-joked, trying to ignore the burn of jealousy in the base of his stomach.
“No.No. God.” Cam rolled his eyes. “You’re embarrassing.”
