“So you two are on the science side of the table now,” Ryan said, looking between Oscar and Freddie. He was smiling, but it didn’t quite seem to reach his eyes.
Probably because he wasn’t a huge fan of strangers. Oscar had come to the conclusion that Ryan being comfortable in his company was a rare and precious gift, and he planned on holding onto that. Even if everything between them cooled after this weekend, he wanted to be Ryan’s friend.
Neither of them seemed to have so many that they could afford to knock back the opportunity to make another one.
“Guess we are,” Freddie said. “So are you guys sticking around a while longer, or…?”
“They’re supposed to be all mine for the weekend,” Anna interrupted. “But if you're about to ask if you can borrow them, I think that could be arranged. That is, if you boys don't mind?”
“Not at all,” Oscar said. This was what would keep the whole family on-side, which was the point of this weekend. Ryan was just an unexpected bonus.
“I thought you wanted to go see if those alligators were crocodiles?” Ryan asked.
Which was a surprise, considering he’d been against the idea the first time Oscar brought it up.
“I'm allowed?” Oscar asked.
“You let him tell you whether or not you'reallowed?” Freddie asked, raising an eyebrow.
“He’s the one who has to fill out the insurance paperwork if I get eaten,” Oscar defended. “And I like to think he’d miss me.”
“Maybe a little,” Ryan said, offering Oscar a small, grateful smile.
“Oh, you two are…” Freddie gestured vaguely between them. “Right, got it.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Oscar teased, grinning over at Ryan. “But I saw him first.”
Freddie chuckled at that, grabbing the last pancake that no one else seemed to be able to fit. “So these crocodiles… you think I could come with? It’d be cool to get a lesson from an expert.”
Oscar shrugged. “They’re on your property,” he said. “I don’t see why not.”
“Awesome,” Freddie enthused around a mouthful of pancake. “Lemme finish breakfast?”
“Take your time,” Ryan said, sitting back and sipping his coffee.
“You're coming too?” Oscar asked, surprised. He’d assumed Ryan would want to keep his distance.
Ryan paused for a moment, looking between Oscar and Freddie. “I mean, if I'm invited…”
“Of course you're invited,” Oscar said. “Obviously. I just thought you wouldn't want to get any closer than necessary.”
“If you say it's fine, I trust you.” Ryan tilted his coffee cup side to side, swirling the last mouthful around before tossing it back in one go. He winced, shuddering a little, and then set the coffee mug down again with a hollow clunk.
“Last mouthful’s always bitter, right?” Freddie said, looking up at Ryan with interest.
Huh.
Well, if Freddie was gay, or bi, or… something, that would have explained why Anna had been so enthusiastic about him and Ryan being a cute couple. She probably looked at their presumed happiness and saw something she wanted for her son.
Which was sweet, really. The more Oscar learned about this family, the more he liked them.
“I promise I won't let you get eaten,” Oscar said belatedly. “I’d miss you, too.”
Ryan smiled a tiny, shy smile over at him in response, and it was just sweet and sincere enough to make Oscar’s heart flutter.
He’d done worse things than pretend to date a man like Ryan for the weekend. It was a shame it'd all be over afterwards.
