Declansipped his beer. All he could think of right now was how stupid he’d been toworry that Ash would judge him harshly for this.
Ofcourse he wouldn’t. Ash was the best person he knew. That was why they werefriends.
“Idon’t deserve you,” Declan said, tearing off a piece of garlic bread, since itwould have been rude to refuse.
Andbecause itdidsmell good.
“Well,you’re stuck with me anyway,” Ash said, grabbing another slice of pizza. “I’mproud of you.”
Declanlooked up at that, meeting Ash’s eyes.
Proud?Ash wasproudof him?
“Forbeing brave enough to question your assumptions. It’s a big deal. You should beproud, too.”
Declanlicked his lips, considering that. He didn’t feel brave. He felt like an idiot.
Buthe sure liked hearing that Ash thought he was brave.
“Thanks,”Declan said, focusing on his beer instead of Ash’s face.
He’dmade a few mistakes lately, but it was all working out okay.
Hewasn’t evenslightlyready to think about Ash’s offer, not yet, butmaybe he would be once he slept on it.
Eitherway, it was good to know that his world wasn’t about to come crumbling downaround him. That was all he wanted right now.
That,and his half of the pizza.
“Ineed time,” Declan said. “I don’t know how much, or what exactly I’m gonna dowith it, but… not tonight?”
“Thatwas a general, open offer,” Ash responded. He was being almost frustratinglycool about this.
Ofcourse he was. Healwayswas, always had been. Declan had just never beenthrough anything that felt this dramatic before.
Maybehe was making a big deal out of nothing.
“I’mnot saying no.” Declan shifted on his chair. He was negotiating experimental sexwith his best friend.
Andhe’d thought that moving to the middle of nowhere was going to be the strangestthing he did all year.
“Kindagetting that,” Ash said, a tiny smile turning up the corners of his lips.“You’re cute when you’re nervous.”
Declanblushed, his cheeks burning with the rush of blood. Ash never called him cute.
Itwasn’t a bad thing at all. If this was what being on the receiving end ofromantic attention from Ash was like, maybe Declan could be into that. Very intoit, even.
“You’renot nervous?” Declan asked.
Ashshrugged. “I’ve had sex with men before. You probably don’t have anything Ihaven’t seen.”
“Yousay that now, but what if I’ve got two dicks or something?”
Ashlooked up at Declan. “Do you? Because I’m going to have to insist on seeingthat.”
Declanlaughed, and as soon as he did, the tension he’d been carrying just flowed outof him. This was fine.
Heand Ash had never been in the habit of talking about sex before, but theycouldbe. They’d gotten comfortable with a lot of things about each other. They couldget comfortable with this, too.
