If he was going to keep doing that, I was going to have to ditch the tight jeans.
“Don’t worry about it, really,” Blake grunted. “Moving is hard. And expensive. Take a minute to get back on your feet. We’re glad to help out. Hell, you’re Peyton’s little brother.”
And there it was. I let out a slow breath. He still saw me as some kid, and why wouldn’t he? But Blake was being helpful, and I hated the idea that I would come across as ungrateful, so I swallowed my pride and smiled. “That’s really generous,” I said. “Thanks.”
But still, I made a note in the back of my head to slip the guys some money. Moving in with Blake and Casey was the next closest thing to admitting defeat and returning home, and I needed to prove I could take care of myself.
Blake brushed by, and I caught a scent of piney body wash. For just a second, I stood there, distracted and holding a box over my crotch, before Blake walked by again and I snapped out of it.
I resigned myself to just living with an excruciating teen crush for the next couple of months. It wouldn’t be forever, and I could grit my teeth and make it through.
Maybe things would feel more chill with another guy there, I hoped, remembering Casey, although in the same moment, my eyes caught on Blake’s ass as he leaned into the truck.
At least there was no way my brother’s other best friend could be as hot as Blake.
* * *
Casey answeredthe door to the squat, two-story house, and my jaw practically dropped.
He was as hot as Blake. Unbelievable.
“Hey, Russell. Good to see you, man,” he said, then threw an arm over one of my shoulders, pulling me into a half-hug.
“Good to see you, too,” I managed to answer. “Blake’s pulling the truck up back.”
“Come on in,” Casey offered. “We can meet him in the alley.”
He was wearing a pair of jeans, slung low on his hips, and a faded T-shirt. Like Blake, Casey looked shockingly older than my memory of him. He’d grown a full beard, which was dark against the warm copper of his skin, and I noticed that he’d refined his look, too, with stylishly long hair up top, a tasteful leather bracelet, and tattoos that stuck out from under his sleeve.
I followed him through the house, past the comfy-looking leather couches, a nice stereo system, and a scattering of framed photos on the wall. “Your place is so nice,” I said.
Casey glanced over his shoulder with a grin. “What, you thought we still lived like pigs and ate Doritos all day?”
I laughed. “My mom used to get so annoyed when Peyton got cheese dust everywhere.”
Casey jogged down a couple of steps, which turned to the back of the house. “This back entrance leads to your basement room,” he said, then popped the door open to the backyard, and behind it, a garage and an alley. “Feel free to have people over. You been meeting any cuties since you got to town?”
I followed him down into the alley as Blake backed the truck up. “Cuties,” I said, then forced a laugh, like it was casual. “No, I haven’t really had the time to try dating in Pittsburgh yet.”
Or back in Forest View, for that matter, or West Creek before that. But I’d rather spare Casey my depressingly short dating history.
He waved to Blake, guiding him as he backed the truck up. “I’ll take you out. I’m a great wingman. And there are plenty of amazing women in the city, you’ll see.”
Blake jumped out of the truck. “Are you already trying to hook him up with a date? Damn, man.” He turned to me. “Don’t worry. Casey does the same to me. Just tell him to shut up if you want him to mind his own business.”
I stood there, my mouth hanging slightly open. I had just assumed my brother would tell them I was gay, but I guess Peyton had other things on his mind.
Casey and Blake both looked at me. They were only inches apart, and it was actually kind of dizzying seeing them together again. The two just kind of belonged beside each other in my head, and standing there in the December cold, it was like they’d never left each other’s sides.
“I don’t know if I’m trying to date right now,” I said, “but, um, I’m gay.”
“You’re gay?” Casey asked, surprised. He looked straight at Blake. “Did you know he’s gay?”
Blake shoved his friend on the shoulder. “Don’t talk about people like they’re not here. And no, I didn’t.” He turned to me. “That’s cool. There’s a decent gay bar in the neighborhood, if you ever want to check it out.”
My heart felt like it was going to explode, it was pounding against my ribs so hard. I was embarrassed that they didn’t already know, although that didn’t make any sense. I’d only come out about a year ago, and they were obviously not homophobic, so why should it matter?
“Peyton, man,” Casey said, rolling his eyes. “Wait, he told you I’m bi though, right?”
