“It sure is.”

They said their goodbyes and Mason drove off. When he got home he did exactly what he told Gavin to do—rubbed one out thinking about Gavin. Then, he sat in bed naked to figure out the work schedule.

Every shift Gavin worked, he worked with Mason.

***

It was Tuesday. Gavin hadn’t seen Mason since their day out on Sunday. He would be working Wednesday, Friday and Saturday this week, and he pretty much had nothing going on until he went in for his first day tomorrow.

I should go see my parents… It wasn’t the first time he thought that the past couple days, yet still he didn’t go—just continued letting his fingers strum his guitar.

Bang, bang, bang, bang! A loud thump came through the front door before, “Let me in, you hermit!”

As he stood, Gavin set his guitar down and rolled his eyes at Braden. As soon as he opened the door, his loud-mouthed friend started speaking again. “You move to Blackcreek because you missed me so much, yet I haven’t seen you since the wedding. What’s been going on?”

“Back porch?” Gavin asked.

“Sure.”

They headed out and sat down. “I didn’t move here because I missed you.”

“Sure you did. So what’s been going on with you?”

“Not a lot. I got a job.”

“No shit?” Braden put his feet up on the porch railing. “That was quick. I figured the process would take more time getting hired at a school.”

Gavin made it a point not to look at Braden when he replied. “I’m not working at a school.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that, either.

“Teaching at a music store or something?”

Still no eye contact. If he did, Braden would push harder. His friend already didn’t know when to quit. “Nope. I’m a bartender.”

He felt Braden’s eyes on him.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I just…don’t know what I want to do.” And that was the truth.

“Fine. Fair enough. Can we talk about the bite mark on your neck?” Braden jammed his finger into the tender spot by Gavin’s throat. “Looks like you move a lot quicker than you used to. Good for you.”

Gavin shoved him. “Fuck you.” When Braden sat there watching him, Gavin knew he had no choice but to continue. This Braden wouldn’t let go. “It’s nothing. It was Mason. Considering he’s my boss, it’s probably better that we got interrupted before much of anything could start.” He wasn’t sure why he didn’t share more about their day—the skydiving and the hike. Gavin wanted to keep that to himself.

“No, actually, it’s not better that way. I assure you, getting off is always the better alternative to not getting off. Do you like him?”

What were they, twelve? “I don’t know him. He’s sexy, so there’s a part of me that likes him.” Gavin winked at Braden. “He’s a cool guy to be around.” He got Gavin to go skydiving with him. He wasn’t sure he would have done that with anyone else, yet it had been an easy yes with Mason. “I enjoy his company, but—”

“But nothing. You’ve always been like this. You just let life pass you by. You don’t really go after anything. You’re always tightening your own reigns. If you like him, go after him. If you don’t know, at least get laid. Have some fun, Gav. Live your life. You deserve it. There’s nothing wrong with who you are.”

“I know that.” And he did. He didn’t know what held him back more often than not. Why he was willing to let life pass him by and keep himself in the shadows.

“Preventing yourself from enjoying your life isn’t going to make them change their minds. This is a new start. Let yourself have it. Or at least let Mason fuck your brains out. Jesus Christ, I’ll hire you a male escort if I have to.”

“I’m not that hard up. I don’t have to pay for it.” Gavin chuckled but didn’t really feel it.

“Hey,” Braden said, more seriously this time. “You’ve done everything right in your life. You’ve been a great son, a good friend to me, and you were a good first boyfriend, too. You’ve sacrificed enough, don’t you think? Isn’t it about time to find out who Gavin Davis really is?”

Yes. “And I’ll learn that by letting Mason fuck my brains out?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. I’m sure you’ll have a whole lot of fun regardless.”

With that, Braden pushed to his feet and said his goodbyes. Gavin didn’t move from his spot on the porch.