“It’s your fault,” I shot back.
Great, now you sound just like Tanner.
“Uh, no. I’m not the one who got all growly and possessive. And I sure as hell didn’t make you think about whatever has you ready to shove my face in your lap right here in the car where anyone could see.”
“You like it when I get pissed off about people mistreating you?” I knew he did, but I wanted to hear him say it.
“Fuck yes, I do.” He squeezed the bulge at the front of his jeans. “You look like the boy next door, but then you do that caveman shit, and I almost bust a nut.”
He glanced toward the house, and I thought I saw a curtain moving in one of the front windows.
“Come on. We can call them and tell them we’ll be back for dinner instead,” Tanner suggested. “They know what it’s like to be in love. Hell, they’ll probably do things Ireallydon’t want to imagine my brother doing to my best friend as soon as they know they won’t get caught.”
“Oh, but we should put those thoughts in his head about whathisbest friend is going to do to his baby brother?”
“After all the times I’ve had to listen to him brag about the girls he’s banged, I think it’s time for a little turnabout,” he quipped.
I shook my head and kissed the tip of his nose. “Baby, we are not going to torment Deegan. Now, let’s get in there so you can apologize to Haley for being a miserable brat.”
I gave it about fifteen more seconds before she threw open the door and ran across the yard to find out what was taking us so long. Tanner gave me shit for not talking to Deegan, but I’d learned earlier that I wasn’t the only one trying to avoid their best friend. The difference was Haley wasn’t content to wait for him to get his head out of his ass and she called to check up on him.
I slid my hand to the small of Tanner’s back as we walked up the front steps. It was a small gesture, but one that would remind Deegan that we were really together and there was no room for him saying anything stupid. I finally relaxed when it was Deegan who opened the front door and immediately pulled me into a one-armed hug.
“It’s good to see you, man.” He ushered us into the house, greeting Tanner the same way. My heart rate slowed seeing him acting like nothing was horribly different. “I hear I have you to thank for reminding him how the phone works?”
“Well, if we’d had to wait on you, technology would have advanced so far, phones were non-existent,” Tanner teased. Deegan put him in a playful headlock and his squeal had Haley rushing into the foyer.
“What in the— God, would the two of you knock it off before you break something?” She turned to me, hugging me tightly. “Thanks for calling. He’s missed you.”
“It’s only been a little over a month,” I protested. A lot of people would never understand how it had been natural for the two of us to keep in touch every week, even when our lives led in very different directions. And those who did thought I was an idiot for hiding my sexuality from my best friend for as long as I had. I was beginning to agree with them, but Tanner and I had both promised we were through living with regrets.
“If you think about it, it’s been closer to a year since the two of you really got to hang out,” Haley pointed out as she dragged me through the house to the kitchen. “The wedding doesn’t count. We were all so busy, trying to keep their mom from making a scene, that no one got to relax.”
I chuckled, taking the beer she offered me. “I suppose that’s a fair point. I still think you’re crazy for marrying into that family.”
“Andyoustill have time to save yourself,” she teased. “Things are going good for the two of you?”
“They are,” I confirmed, not even trying to hide the dopey smile on my face. “We’re both trying to live in the present instead of beating ourselves up over lost time. And it’s not easy being so far apart, but he’s worth it.”
“I’m happy to hear you say that.” She hopped onto the counter, so we were eye-level. I tried to keep from busting up when she pursed her lips in what, I was pretty sure, was supposed to be a scowl. “Remember, if you hurt him, you’ll have to deal with me.”
“And by that, you mean you’re going to make Deegan beat me up?” Haley was about as intimidating as a church mouse. I knew she had spunk, but she was teeny and sweet enough to give a person cavities.
“Whose ass am I kicking?” Deegan asked as he and Tanner joined us. I smiled when Tanner approached, lifting up my arm so he could cuddle up against me. “Shit, do the two of you have to be all mushy in front of me?”
“Basically, yeah. We’ll call it payback for all the times you drunk dialed me, pissing and moaning about how much you liked Haley, but she wouldn’t give you the time of day.”
Deegan threw a towel at me. “Traitor! What happened to the bro code? You’re not supposed to spill my secrets like that.”
“Well, then you shouldn’t give me shit for hugging my boyfriend.” Just like that, any awkwardness evaporated. Deegan and Tanner joked around like I hadn’t seen them since they were young, and Haley and I stood back and gave them time to reconnect.
“How are you going to convince him to move?” Haley asked as I helped her put together a late lunch. My brow furrowed, wondering if Tanner had said something to her about our ongoing disagreements about if and when he’d move closer to me. “Oh stop. He hasn’t been whining, if that’s what you’re thinking. But face it, one of you have their shit sorted out and the other works at the mall. It wouldn’t make sense for you to come home, even if we’d all love it if you did.”
As I listened to Deegan and Tanner bantering back and forth as they played a video game, guilt washed over me. This had been the only place he’d ever called home, and with him starting to get along with his brother, it didn’t feel right to pull him away from that.
I knew Tanner would follow me anywhere, but I felt my priorities shifting. It wouldn’t be easy for me to uproot my life, but both of us could be close to the people who mattered to us.
“Dammit, Ryan, what are you thinking? I know that look.” Haley leaned against the counter, holding a spatula in her hand.
