“Senior year was tough.”
“I remember.” Noah’s eyes softened. “Sorry for bringing it up.”
Damn Noah. Straight people shouldn’t be allowed to be so nice.
“It’s fine.” Ramin swallowed and fought back a blush. “Anyway. I love the water. Lakes, rivers. The ocean. Doesn’t matter.”
“Really?” Noah shifted, pressing his knee against Ramin’s. For someone with ridiculously hairy forearms, Noah didn’t actually have much leg hair. There was a manspreader on Ramin’s other side, so he couldn’t pull away; he waited for Noah to do so instead, but he didn’t.
Damn Noah for not being homophobic, either.
“I love the water, too. Growing up, my parents took me to Lake of the Ozarks all the time. I take Jake when I can, too.”
At the sound of his name, Jake perked up. He pointed toward a collection of colorful buildings in the distance and asked, “Is that where we’re going?”
“It’s a little farther,” Angela said. “And sit properly, please.”
Jake planted his butt on the plastic seat and started in on an endless stream of questions about Bellagio: how big it was, how many people lived there, whether you could fish. Noah gifted Ramin another one of his sparkly eyed smiles.
He looked so beautiful then, his hair fluttering slightly in the wind. He brought a hand up to shield his eyes from the sun, giving Ramin a perfect view of his bicep in action.
Ramin made himself stare out at the lake.
He hadn’t believed in God for a long time. Not since his mom got diagnosed with cancer. But it certainly felt like some sort of divine comedy of errors that he was here, stuck on a boat next to Noah. Why couldn’t he have found a seat next to a handsome, single Italian man? He could be getting dicked down off the starboard bow or something.
Instead he had to sit here feeling Noah’s body heat. Smelling hissweet, woodsy cologne. Listening to his deep, smooth voice as he talked to Jake.
This was going to be a nightmare.
“Are we walking the plank?” Jake asked, reaching for Ramin’s hand as they disembarked. Ramin folded it into his, surprised how well it fit.
“Why? Did you mutiny?”
“Arrrr,” Jake said, closing one eye and making a hook with his free hand.
Ramin laughed, guiding Jake to the side once they’d reached land so Noah and Angela could catch up.
“Okay, have fun today,” he said, but Jake held on.
“Do you have to go?”
“Uh…” He did. Right? They were on a family vacation. He was just… wandering. He looked to Noah for help.
Rather than helping, Noah just smiled. “Don’t you want to at least see the wine store?”
“Uh…”
Ramin waited for Angela to object—someonehad to be the voice of reason—but she was on her phone, turning on the spot so the compass would align. Ramindidlike wine. And Jake was still holding his hand, and seemed comfortable, and he was so adorable with that mop of chestnut hair.
“Please?” Jake smiled up at him, gap-toothed, brown eyes glowing with warmth. He had his father’s eyes.
Fuckety-fuck. Ramin had never been able to resist Noah’s eyes.
“All right.”
fourteen
Noah
