They didn’t need to have this conversation right here—frankly, they shouldn’t be having it at all, but having it in the hallway of their building wasworse—and Dawson pushed into his space, until they were nearly pressed together in the tiny entryway of Cam’s even smaller apartment.
Dawson opened his mouth and snapped it shut. “Nothing.”
Cameron was still smiling, but the corners of his lips turned up farther, into a sly little look that shouldn’t have turned Dawsonon, but did. “You can’t do that. Come on. What does Aidan have to do with this? And how are you looking at me?”
He had two options: tell the truth or run away.
Dawson told the truth. “You’re . . .well, you’re attractive, okay? And Aidan would probably be pissed if he knew about it.”
“What, andwhat?” Cam demanded. He pressed a palm into Dawson’s chest.
“Aidan—”
Cam laughed like it had been startled out of him, and it sounded like bottled sunshine. Dawson wanted to roll over like a dog and just bask in it. “I don’t want to hear about Aidan,” he interrupted. “I want to hear aboutyou.”
Dawson was sure Cam was hardly annoyed about it—he hadn’t seemed that way, anyway—but it still felt embarrassing to admit to the attraction. Especially like this. God, at one point, he’d had moves.
That day felt so far removed it was like it hadn’t ever existed at all.
“I’m divorced, not dead,” Dawson muttered. He waved his hand. “And you’re . . .well, you know.”
“No, I don’t, which is why I keep asking,” Cam said. He hadn’t moved his hand, and now his fingertips curled into the fabric of Dawson’s sweatshirt.
Like if Dawson tried to get away, Cam wasn’t going to let him.
“You’re hot, okay?” Dawson swallowed hard. He wasn’t going to add,and I’m attracted to you, because he thought that must be obvious enough and also because he wasn’t stupid enough to take this even further.
“Thanks.” It turned out Cam had an adorable divot of a dimple when he smiled that wide.
“You’re welcome.”
Neither of them moved, but Dawson knew he needed to, before he did something even dumber than admit to Cam’s face that he was hot.
“So you gonna tell me about this Aidan thing?” Cam asked.
Dawson made a face. “No?”
Cam had the nerve to laugh delightedly. “Yeah, I think you are, Daws. Come on. What doesthishave to do with Aidan?” His fingers dug more insistently into the thick fabric covering Dawson’s chest.
“Nothing, really—he’d just tell me it was a bad idea. And he would be right.”
“What would be a bad idea?” Cam gazed at him guilelessly. “You’re attractive, too.”
Dawson groaned under his breath.
“It would be better—easier—if you thought that about just about anyone else on the team.”
“Maybe not Aidan or Levi,” Cam said thoughtfully. “Or Wes.”
It was the worst thing Cam could’ve told him. Or maybe the best. Dawson was unclear. “Actually, Wes—”
Dawson wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed that Cam interrupted him before he got the whole thing out.
“Wes’s still hung up on his ex,” Cam said, and for the first time since he’d opened the door, there was a whisper of a frown on his face.
Dawson glanced away. “Yeah, he is.”And I’m still fucked up, a real hot garbage fire.
“This isn’t a big deal,” Cam said and patted Dawson’s pec reassuringly before he finally pulled his touch away.
