Eric went over the files on his desk, but he wasn’t really reading them. The words and numbers were just incoherent blurs in his mind.

The bowling party thing for Luke and Adam was tonight. It was just the sort of low-key, everyone-interacting kind of thing that Adam and Luke would come up with, the bastards, because Adam could pretend all he wanted, but he was just as gung-ho about getting everyone together socially as his fiancé was.

Eric knew he should go, for just a few minutes, if only to say hello and congratulate Adam officially. He’d been shocked, genuinely shocked, when he’d been invited to the wedding months ago. He and Adam had been having lunch, and Adam had just tossed an invitation at him.

“It’s not a fancy thing,” Adam had told him. “We’re having the reception at the bar, for crying out loud. But I want you to be there.”

Eric hadn’t realized that he’d become important enough in Adam’s life to warrant Adam wanting him at his wedding. Enid was going, of course, but Enid wasn’t a work friend whom Adam got lunch with sometimes; Enid was Adam’s best friend, whom he’d opened a law firm with.

It had been a long time, Eric was realizing, since he’d really had close friends. His old friends from college had sort of dropped away. He saw them on social media, would like a status or something, but it wasn’t much. When Hank had asked him about movie nights and hanging out and going drinking, Eric had felt something twist painfully inside of his chest.

He didn’t have that, not with anyone. And sure, romance was nice, but friends were important too, and he’d let that fall by the wayside as well.

He wanted to go — and not just because Hank was going to be there. Although he was stupidly focused on the idea of Hank being there, and that was something that Eric was steadfastly ignoring.

The last thing he needed was to get involved with Hank. It could compromise everything that he’d been working towards. Everything he’d done to make his father proud.

He knew that he and his dad hadn’t always seen eye to eye. Dad had accused Eric of not having enough drive, of not being ambitious enough, not going for a competitive enough field. Dad had wanted him to be a lawyer — like Adam, ironically — or a Wall Street banker, something that was powerful. He wanted his son to reach for the moon.

Eric hadn’t ever had that kind of drive, but he at least wanted to succeed in his field. To be able to say, Hey, Dad, I made it. I’m one of the youngest executives in my field. I’m making a huge salary; I’m living in a fancy apartment in the upper-class district; I wear a suit to work every day. I’m doing everything you wanted me to do.

He didn’t know what Dad would honestly think of him. He’d always gotten the impression that he just wasn’t quite good enough for his father, no matter what he tried or how well he did in the eyes of others.

Eric shook his head and blinked several times, trying to focus his eyes on the papers in front of him.

He wanted to go to the bowling party. Part of him was panicking about it, though. He wouldn’t know anyone except for Adam and Hank, and sort of Enid, and he could charm people into turning over their properties, but the idea of talking to a bunch of strangers … it had been a long time since he’d been to a party, that was all.

The guys from the bar would be there, and that was kind of comforting. But what if, as they got to know him better, they didn’t like him? What if Hank had told them about him, and so now they all hated him?

They’d all grown up with Luke and Hank, hadn’t they? They’d have a certain amount of loyalty towards not just Hank, but his family as well; their parents probably all knew each other.

Besides, how many of them, or their families, had been kicked out of their homes or their family businesses by Eric or by one of his coworkers? If they knew that Eric was basically one of the men who’d changed all of their lives, and according to some people not for the better, how would they react?

Not favorably, that was for sure.

And then there were his own social skills. He wasn’t trying to sell these people on anything. And they weren’t the rich, fancy schmucks he had to schmooze with at company mixers. When it came to socializing with regular people, he was shit out of practice.

And Hank.

God, fuck, how the hell was he supposed to deal with all that was going on between him and Hank?

A part of him was excited to see Hank and that — that kind of terrified him most of all. He wasn’t supposed to be excited to see the guy who was going to make it impossible to get his promotion. He’d been serious when he’d told Hank about going to his city council, but he was also kind of hoping that the council would rule that there was nothing they could do. He needed that promotion, dammit, and he’d earned it; he just had to clear this last hurdle.

So he really shouldn’t be so happy at the idea of seeing Hank again. Sure, having sex with someone tended to make him feel a little weird around them afterwards, but it was just the whole chemical thing. Sex never made him feel gooey or sappy inside, or at least not usually, but he couldn’t help his thoughts as they’d drifted to Hank over the past few days.

Hell, Hank was the real reason he couldn’t concentrate on these damn files. He was nervous about actually having a friend again, and he was nervous about going to something with all of these guys whose families he might’ve helped his company to screw over … but most of it was about Hank.

Eric had never done anything as crazy as having sex in his office. Never. He wouldn’t have dared to risk his job that way, and he’d never been attracted to anyone enough to even entertain the idea.

But then he’d met Hank, and now he couldn’t stop thinking about him, like some kind of lovestruck teenager. He’d never even been a lovestruck teenager; was this some kind of delayed hormonal reaction, or something?

Besides, he and Hank weren’t compatible, personality-wise. They’d managed to have one civil conversation where they were only kind of snapping at each other, and it had been … interesting. Eric had spilled his guts about his dad, and Hank had been surprisingly open about his family.

They seemed to have that in common, at least, the expectations of their family. But it wasn’t like it was really common ground. And it had definitely been … not exactly normal date conversation. It had been oddly deep and vulnerable, but it had also been about figuring out this mess that they were both stuck in, trying to understand where the other was coming from and their priorities.

There had been the way they were before they knew who the other one was … that warmth and spark, the way Hank had made him laugh, the way they’d drawn closer at the bar top without even realizing it until they were only an inch apart. The way Eric had been unable to even think beyond the idea of getting his hand down Hank’s pants, and vice versa.

Eric shoved those thoughts out of his head. That had been some initial spark, sexual attraction masquerading as something more. It wasn’t the first time that someone had thought that simple sex was something more, perhaps even love; hell, Hollywood had plenty of stories about that, as did the bitter single people at the bars around the city.

He couldn’t explain the feelings that were working their way through him, but he was pretty sure that he didn’t want to. Not while it was still so confusing, and he had no way of figuring out how either of them were going to get out of this situation without one of them getting screwed.

Eric set aside the papers. It was close to the end of the work day, and it was pretty clear that he wasn’t going to get any more work done in that time.

He packed his things up and looked down at himself, at the suit he was wearing. Probably not appropriate bowling material.

Ugh.

By the time he packed up, got home, showered and changed, he’d managed to make himself a proper nervous wreck. All during the drive to the bowling alley, he kept thinking that he should turn back. Would Adam really miss him if he didn’t show up? Adam hadn’t officially invited him to the bachelor party, anyway, although Eric was pretty sure that Adam had mentioned it at lunch a couple of weeks back.

He shouldn’t make things awkward for Hank, or for anyone else. He should just give up on this whole thing and turn around.

But he couldn’t make himself make the U-turn, and he ended up pulling into the bowling alley parking lot just a couple of minutes late.

When he walked in, he saw that everyone else was already there: Hank, Luke, Adam, and the friends he’d been introduced to at the bar.

There were a few other people as well — the guy named Preston that Eric had met briefly, and Enid, and even Seth, Luke’s younger brother.

“Nice to meet you,” Preston said, shaking his hand and looking him up and down. Eric politely ignored the heated once-over. “Again, I suppose.”

Eric felt a presence at his back and somehow didn’t even have to turn around to know that it was Hank. He could just tell — possibly from the smell of him, the one that was becoming a little familiar to Eric … and he kind of hated that he could recognize it, the spicy scent that lurked beneath the odd kitchen smell that clung to Hank at all times thanks to his job.

He also liked it, kind of wanted to lean into it, and he didn’t know what the hell to make of that.

“Really, Preston?” Hank said, not quite glaring at Preston but not looking too happy with him either. “This is about Luke and Adam, not about you flirting.”

“I was just saying hi,” Preston protested.

Eric rolled his eyes. “I’m going to go say hi to Luke and Adam, congratulate them, all of that stuff, seeing as that’s why we’re here,” he said, pointedly ignoring both Preston and Hank.

He also ignored the weirdly pleased feeling of possession that came with Hank’s behavior. Hank didn’t mean anything by it; he was just trying to be helpful and get someone he knew was annoying off of Eric’s back. Preston was the overly-aggressive guy that Adam had warned him off of at the bar, anyway.

Luke and Adam were standing together with Seth, making sure everyone had bowling shoes and that the lanes were set up, while Seth had a stack of pizza boxes in his hand and seemed to be asking about where to put them.

Adam grinned when he saw Eric, but Eric noticed that there was a surprised light in his eyes. “Hey, you came!” Adam said, walking over and giving him a hug. “Good to see you!”

“Yeah, I was glad I could make it,” Eric said honestly. In that moment, it was true. It was worth the anxiety to see how happy Adam was. Eric hadn’t realized how much Adam valued their friendship, and it made Eric feel content in a way he hadn’t in … well, long enough that he couldn’t remember.

“You must be Seth,” he added, turning to take some of the pizza boxes from the lanky teen and helping to spread them out.

“Guilty as charged,” Seth replied. “Adam’s mentioned you a few times; it’s nice to meet you.”

“From what I hear, you’ll be taking over the firm one day,” Eric replied.

Seth shot Adam a devilish grin, and Eric could suddenly see the resemblance between him and Luke, despite the differences in body type and age.

“Hold on, I’ll just add your name,” Luke said, typing Eric’s name into one of the games — putting his name right after Hank’s, in fact.

Eric didn’t know how to protest without explaining why he didn’t want to be on the same lane, in the same game, as Hank, but he felt an odd flutter in his stomach at the idea.

Jesus, this is not high school, he told himself.

“Okay, we’re all set up!” Luke called.

“Pretty sure we’re supposed to be doing all of this shit for you,” Jake pointed out as everyone wandered over. “Not have you hosting and doing all this shit for us.”

“Because you’re so great at hosting parties,” Adam replied, herding everyone into their teams.

There was some story behind that, one that everyone besides Eric seemed to know, and he swallowed the feeling of being left out — the bitter taste that slid down the back of his throat. It wasn’t like he wasn’t used to it; he just had forgotten what it felt like, to see the being left out in action, instead of just knowing it intellectually.

“Jake forgot he was having the party,” Hank said quietly.

Eric tried very hard not to jump. He hadn’t noticed Hank coming up behind him again. He turned, looking at him. “What?”

“Jake had this party, I forget why, and he forgot he was having it. Woke up to Luke banging down the door, asking if everything was okay.”

Eric snorted. “Is he forgetful?”

“Nah, he just doesn’t like people. Except Matthew.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” Eric said, noting how Matthew was being unnecessarily handsy in showing Jake how to throw the bowling ball properly, while Travis stood to the side and made bad puns about fingers going into holes.

“C’mon,” Hank said, and Eric tried really hard to ignore the way his stomach tightened at the sound of Hank’s lower, graveling tones. “Let’s get started if we want to kick their asses.”

Eric groaned. “I should’ve known you all would be competitive.”

Turned out that the two teams were headed by Adam and Luke, with Eric and Hank on Luke’s team, together along with Seth, Lance, Matthew, and Davis.

“You guys better be good,” Davis said. “I can’t bowl for shit.”

Eric hadn’t played in years. Not since he was twelve or something, at some kid’s birthday party. “You won’t be able to depend on me, either.”

“We’ve got Lance,” Luke said dismissively. “He’s the best.”

The game started, and Eric was … surprised at how easy it was to hang out with everyone.

There were obviously a lot of inside jokes that he didn’t get, but Hank was always there to helpfully explain them to him. Hank stuck pretty close the whole time, or maybe Eric was sticking close to Hank. He wasn’t sure.

It just was that other than Adam, who was on the other team, Hank was the person Eric knew the best. It made sense that he’d end up gravitating towards him, right? It didn’t mean anything more than that.

Yet, somehow, they always ended up sitting next to each other on the bench watching the others take their turns, yelling or booing.

At some point they got into a discussion about comic books, which turned into a bit of an argument. Not a real argument, though; they’d had two of those now, and Eric knew what those felt and sounded like, thanks. This was more … lighthearted, banter almost.

“Listen, just because you had a crush on Spiderman doesn’t mean you get to say he’s a better character than Captain America,” Hank said.

“Yo,” Jake called out, snapping his fingers. “Hank, you going to actually take your turn? Or do you want me to do it for you?”

Hank’s cheeks went oddly pink. “Sorry,” he said, getting up quickly and hurrying to take his turn.

Eric felt kind of sheepish, especially when Jake raised his eyebrows at him like it was somehow Eric’s fault that Hank had gotten too wrapped up in their conversation. Maybe it was his fault? It was just … a good conversation.

He hadn’t expected to get along with Hank so well without sex being on the table. They obviously had chemistry — wild, out of control chemistry — but they’d argued the rest of the time. He hadn’t planned on actually enjoying his time with the guy.

It might have been that their inability to argue — everyone else being there and not wanting to ruin their good time — meant they got to see that they could actually enjoy one another’s company, the way that they had at the bar when they’d first met.

Of course, when they’d first met, that conversation at the bar had led to hand jobs … but hey, Eric was already muddled enough in his head. He didn’t need to tangle this web any further.

“You two are really comfortable around each other,” Lance noted.

Lance was the quietest one, Eric had noticed. Most of the men were loud and raucous. Jake and Adam were quieter in volume, but always had a snarky comment or two to add. Davis wasn’t burly and yelling, more like an excitable puppy.

But Lance, Eric had seen, tended to keep quiet. It made sense, considering how loud and boisterous Travis was; they balanced one another out.

“We’ve met a few times before,” Eric said, not exactly sure how to say we’re probably just comfortable around each other because we’ve had sex without making the whole thing sound like some torrid affair.

Lance nodded, his face neutral and open. “He’s usually really tense,” he noted, indicating Hank. “He’s not as close to us as the rest of us are, you know? But he’s very open around you.”

Eric wasn’t sure what to think about that. It could be the sex, or … nope, no, he wasn’t going to think about that. That way lay madness.

“So, have you two done any actual dates since the bar?” Lance asked.

“What?” Eric asked, confused.

“The bar; you guys hooked up, I thought, or it seemed that way…” Lance trailed off. “I’m sorry; did you two not start dating? Luke wouldn’t say anything, but that’s what we all thought. You two disappeared together, and — I’m sorry.”

“Ah, no, we’re not — we’re not dating.”

Lance nodded, still looking thoughtful. “My uh, apologies, then, I guess. Sorry.”

“No, no worries.”

Eric couldn’t help but wonder if he and Hank were really acting like that much of a couple around one another, for their friends to think that they had gone on dates, were actually dating. He did feel relaxed around Hank, more so than he’d expected. And that arousal was still there, that extra awareness that came with wanting someone. And he’d appreciated how Hank had nipped Preston’s affections in the bud…

“What’re you guys talking about?” Hank asked, sinking down into the seat next to Eric. Eric could feel the heat of his body, smell him, and it really didn’t help that he knew what Hank looked and felt like when his clothes were off.

Eric had know idea what to say to answer Hank, but Lance just shrugged and said, “I asked if we’ll be seeing him at the bar more often.”

Hank looked oddly conflicted about that. “It’s a long drive,” Eric said, hoping to stave off any awkwardness, and save Hank from having to lie and say that he wanted Eric to stop by, when he obviously didn’t. Who wanted the guy who was trying to kick your family out to be around even more?

“Adam does it,” Hank pointed out.

“Adam lives here; he’s commuting for work, not leaving his work and his home to go to a bar.” Eric scrunched up his face. “Sorry, that came out harsh. The bar’s great, and so are you guys. I just don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.”

Lance made a noncommittal humming noise and glanced over. “Ah, Eric, it’s your turn.”

Eric hurried over to grab a bowling ball. Lance and Hank kept talking, in low enough voices that Eric couldn’t overhear them. What were they discussing? Nothing bad about Eric, right? He hadn’t just screwed this all up?

There was an annoyed huff behind him, and then Hank was taking the ball from him. “Your wrist is all wrong.”

“What?”

“Lance is the expert, but he’s too nice to say anything, so I’m telling you for him,” Hank said.

Eric didn’t know what to think with Hank adjusting his wrist and showing him how to hold the ball properly. Hank was pressed all up against his side, and the smell and feel of him was enveloping Eric, all but assaulting his senses. It felt as though he couldn’t breathe properly, but in a good way.

“There.” Hank stepped back. Eric hadn’t realized until that moment that he was leaning on him, but now he nearly fell over and had to take a step forward, like he was heading for the lane, to cover it up.

This grip was better — it didn’t put a strain on his wrist the way the other position had. It felt more precarious, like the bowling ball was going to fall out of his hands, but Hank told him that was just how it was supposed to feel, and that his fingers were actually secure.

The bowling ball flew down the lane, crashing straight into the middle and sending all of the pins scattering.

“Holy shit, you got a strike!” Seth yelled.

“What kind of language was that?” Luke immediately said, completely spinning on his heel to glare at his teenage brother.

Eric turned to grin at Hank, before he even realized that he was doing it, grabbing him by the shoulders and feeling Hank’s hands settle at his hips. “I actually hit it,” he said, laughing.

“I noticed; congratulations,” Hank replied, looking pretty damn smug.

Someone — he was pretty sure it was Jake — cleared his throat, and Eric realized that he and Hank were pretty much pressed up against each other, how Hank’s hands were low on his hips, how Eric could so easily slide his hands from Hank’s shoulders to around his neck. It was just on the border of intimate, just enough to have Eric’s heartbeat hammering in his throat.

He stepped back, although it looked like Hank was stepping back at the same moment, and Eric moved out of the way so that Luke could take his turn bowling. Eric saw Paul and Davis sidle up to Hank like wolves that had just caught the scent of prey. He wasn’t sure what had just happened, but it had been … awkward.

He had instinctively touched Hank, sought him out, reached out for him. And Hank had already been there, reaching back.

Eric didn’t know what to do with that. It kind of scared him with how right it felt. How it had just been natural to turn to Hank.

So he did the cowardly thing, naturally, and retreated to get another slice of pizza. Enid was sitting there, thank God; someone he knew fairly well already who wasn’t connected to Hank and the whole group, just Adam.

“Enjoying yourself?” Enid asked, passing him the pepperoni.

“More than I thought I would,” Eric replied honestly, sitting down with her on one of the tall barstools. “You?”

Enid nodded, smiling as Adam bowled while Luke playfully teased him, touching him, trying to throw him off his game. “I remember when Adam first flew out here. I never would’ve expected all of this to happen.”

“He and Luke were literally on opposite sides of the courtroom, weren’t they?”

“Yup. Adam risked a lot to help Luke out. Of course, it wasn’t just because he knew it was the right thing to do. Definitely some personal feelings involved.” Enid threw him a sly glance and then indicated Hank. “Kind of like with you two.”

Eric glared at her, probably the only one at this party besides Adam that he was comfortable doing that with. “Enid. No. It’s not like that.”

“Sure seems like that, what with how you two can’t seem to stay away from each other for more than thirty seconds,” Enid pointed out.

“That was … I wasn’t doing that on purpose.”

“Isn’t that part of the point of dating someone? You’re so close to each other and gravitating around each other, and you don’t even realize it.” Enid smiled, looking down at her wedding ring. “I’ve been married for a year now, and I still tend to do that. It’s when it’s subconscious that you know it’s something powerful.”

“Well, there’s nothing powerful going on here.”

“You sure? Because he looks at you like he wants to eat you alive.”

Eric clamped down on his automatic response of he already kind of did. “You’re exaggerating, Enid; you always do that. Just because you helped Adam out with Luke doesn’t make you the relationship guru.”

“Says the man with what, two friends, and no love life, to the woman who’s happily married.”

“Doesn’t mean there’s anything between Hank and me.”

“But you want there to be, and he wants there to be, and I don’t see any reason why there can’t be.”

“I’m the one who’s trying to get his family to sell their land,” Eric admitted. “That’s plenty of reason why there can’t be.”

Enid grimaced in sympathy. “Maybe you should talk to Adam about that one; sounds a lot like what he went through with Luke and the custody battle.”

It did, actually, but Eric wasn’t about to approach Adam about anything like that. First of all, not tonight, when they were supposed to be focusing on Adam and Luke. Second of all, that would mean that there really was something, or the potential for something, with Hank.

Enid sighed. “Would it really be all that bad?” she asked. “Eric, you seem really comfortable around him. You’re always so stiff. I think you jumped out of your chair the first time I touched you.”

“You snuck up on me and put your hand on my shoulder; I had no idea you were even there.”

“Semantics,” Enid said, waving her hand vaguely through the air. “The point is that you aren’t a touchy-feely, relaxed kind of guy. Adam was the same way.

“But you seem really loose and relaxed around Hank, and I don’t think you even realize that’s how you’re behaving. Maybe you two aren’t anything right now, and I understand that the whole … land property thing could be an issue, but he’s just lighting you up. And I don’t mean that as an innuendo; I mean I haven’t seen you like this around anyone else, especially in such a short timespan.”

“I got on with Adam almost immediately.”

“Really? Because you sure did a good job of hiding it. You were always so quiet and cranky; you’re lucky it just made Adam more determined to be your friend and get you to open up, instead of just deciding you weren’t interested.”

Eric hadn’t realized that was how his behavior came across. “Am I really like that?”

“Oh, yeah. Workaholic vibes up the wazoo. You acted like it was a personal affront that you had to take a lunch break. But Adam saw through it, don’t worry; he realized you needed a friend.”

Eric realized that he probably owed Adam a hell of a lot more than he thought he had. He hadn’t realized he’d come across as so surly and unapproachable, especially when he’d felt a kinship with Adam almost immediately.

“But this guy?” Enid clucked her tongue. “Damn. If you two aren’t dating, then you sure fooled me.”

Part of his mind was still protesting that it was a bad idea, and there were some very legitimate and good reasons as to why. But he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if they did date.

The sexual compatibility was definitely there. He still fantasized about what it would be like to get onto a proper bed and have at it, take their time, really try different things and explore each other in a way that they hadn’t been able to the last two times. At least they’d gotten to full-blown sex the last time, and just the memory of it made Eric’s legs shake just a little, but in the best way.

And he was surprised at how — maybe eager wasn’t the right word, but it was something similar — with how Hank was constantly in his space. That couldn’t be all Eric, could it?

“He’s even jealous,” Enid added, sounding like this was the most adorable thing she’d ever encountered.

“What? Okay, now you’re just being ridiculous.”

“Oh, so him getting close to you and glaring at Preston whenever Preston gets near you, even though Preston stopped flirting with you after the first two minutes of you walking in here, that’s not jealousy at all.”

“Adam tried to warn me off Preston as well; apparently the guy’s got anger issues, or something? He’s just being nice.”

“Uh-huh.” Enid raised an eyebrow at him as if to say I don’t believe you in the slightest. “Well, take it or leave it; it’s just my opinion. But I think you deserve to have someone in your life like that. You’ve been lonely for far too long, man. Work isn’t everything.”

Eric’s instinct was to say that work was everything. It wasn’t just work, it was a career, a profession, and that defined a man. But he wasn’t sure anymore if that was his own inner voice speaking, or just his dad’s.

He didn’t know what he wanted anymore … and that scared him.

So he didn’t argue with Enid, just nodded, and then, as if to drive the point home and make him even more conflicted, Hank walked up. “You all good?” he asked.

Eric nodded. “Yeah, great, just catching up with Enid here.”

Hank smiled at her. “Good to see you again, Enid.” Eric didn’t miss how Hank braced himself against the countertop at Eric’s side, his arm almost but not quite around Eric’s shoulders. Eric wasn’t even sure that Hank knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe this was all subconscious for him as well.

Maybe Enid was right. Eric did feel comfortable around Hank. Loose and easy, far more than he’d expected.

It could be just that Hank, other than Adam, was the person he knew best out of the group, but Eric suspected that it wasn’t just that. He remembered how they were together in the bar, before they’d learned who the other one was, the easy way that Hank had made him laugh, the banter about pickup lines.

Perhaps that was how they really were together, their natural instincts towards one another, and the rest was just white noise. Maybe he’d been looking at this the wrong way, through the wrong end of the telescope.

He looked up at Hank, who now had the height advantage since he was standing and Eric was sitting, and wondered about how easy it would be to just lean back into Hank’s chest, soak up the support and the warmth.

He wasn’t all that sure that Hank would object.

“Hank!” Luke called. “It’s your turn!”

“That’s my cue,” Hank said, but he couldn’t seem to stop staring at Eric.

“Yo! Hank!”

“I’m coming, hold your horses!” Hank said, and then he finally turned away.

“Oh yeah,” Enid snorted. “Totally nothing there. Definitely don’t date him. Uh-huh.”