Gabe snuck up behind Jonah in the far corner of the gym. The guy seemed to be in another world, watching Cameron slowly walk on the treadmill. “Enjoying the view?”
Jonah jumped, whipping his head around then smacked Gabe right in the middle of his chest. “Don’t do that!” he scolded, furrowing his eyebrows. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Well, if you weren’t so caught up in the scenery, you would’ve heard me come up to you,” Gabe teased, shifting his eyes in the direction of the guy on the treadmill. Poor man happened to glance over, and spotting both Gabe and Jonah watching him, his feet faltered, and he grabbed on to the railings to catch himself.
Cameron was a younger guy, mid-twenties, short, auburn hair. He couldn’t have been more than five foot nine, and his baggy clothes did nothing to showcase whatever kind of body he had underneath. Still, his face was gorgeous enough for Gabe to overlook everything else. “Still claiming he’s not the object of Savior Jonah’s preoccupied mind, hmm?”
“I’m not a savior, Gabe, and I’m not preoccupied.” Jonah said, completely unconvincingly, as he turned his attention back to the younger man.
“He doesn’t look too young for you.”
Jonah looked at Gabe feigning nonchalance and failing miserably. Jonah was an open book to anyone who spent five minutes with the sweet man. “I already told you, I just want to help him. Besides, it would be completely unprofessional of me to date a client―”
“Former client,” Gabe corrected. “You said you’re not training him anymore.”
Jonah sighed in frustration. “Whatever. I can’t help him if he doesn’t want me to.”
“Have you ever asked yourself where the strong pull to help him is coming from?” Gabe motioned his hand around the gym. “I see plenty of people in here in worse shape than him, plenty of people with horrible form on these machines. Why him?”
Cameron shifted his eyes to look at them again. When he saw they were still watching him, his face flushed beet red. Nervously, he stopped the treadmill, pulling his shirt out and away from his stomach as he stepped off the machine. He had his eyes glued to the floor and rushed into the locker room.
“Great. Now look what you did,” Jonah said in frustration.
“You started it,” Gabe retorted childishly, grinning.
Jonah hung his head and laughed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Shit, I’m sorry. I think I’m losing my mind. I don’t know why it matters so much. Once I start my own business, I won’t see him anymore, and my obsession with wanting to help him will be forgotten.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Of course. It’s a lost cause.” Jonah bent down to pick up a free weight someone had left on the floor and placed it back on the rack.
“How’s all that going? Did you decide what you’re going to do? I saw there was a storefront across from the library that’s for sale.” Gabe picked up another weight from the floor and handed it to Jonah.
Jonah exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “I don’t know what to do. Buying something scares me. To have a mortgage, and then on top of that, I’ll have to buy all of the equipment, and pay my rent. At least with having it in my home, I’ll only have the one rent to pay.”
“It looked like there’s an apartment on the second floor. Then you’d only have the mortgage.”
“It’s still going to be tough buying the machines, though.” Jonah put the weight back then walked over to another bench and picked up an abandoned bottle of Gatorade.
Gabe followed, wondering how the hell people could be such slobs. “Well, then maybe that’s your answer. Start off in your home and get yourself into a position to buy in town. I still think plenty of people will sign up, since they don’t want to travel the distance here, short as it is. Convenience is really important.”
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Jonah said with absolutely no conviction at all, his attention back on the man that had just walked out of the locker room with his bag in hand. It seemed they’d scared him off…again.
“It will all work out, Jonah,” Gabe said, squeezing Jonah’s shoulder.
Jonah smiled, but the gesture looked like it was forced. “Are you going to Nate’s on Saturday?” Obviously, he was aiming to change the subject.
Gabe casually shrugged his shoulders. “You mean the man that is most recently giving yours truly—and I quote—‘a chance’?” Gabe asked nonchalantly, as if getting the man to agree to that had been a piece of cake. “Yes, I’ll be there.”
Jonah gave Gabe a skeptical look. “Seriously?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“No, it isn’t. I’m sorry. You just surprised me, that’s all. I mean, I was with you when he…you know…” Jonah looked down sheepishly.
“Stood me up?” Gabe finished Jonah’s thought.
“Well, yeah.”
“Hmm…yes, well, he’s come to his senses. Besides, the reason he couldn’t make it that night was because Lily was sick.”
Jonah was still looking at Gabe with uncertainty, and it irked him. Jonah opened his mouth to say something then closed it again.
“What, Jonah? Spit it out, for God’s sake.” Gabe rolled his eyes and huffed. Here came the part he was used to. Don’t hurt him, Gabe. Don’t play games, Gabe. Blah, blah, blah, Gabe.
“Just be careful,” Jonah said with concern in his eyes. “I can see how much you like him, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“What?” Gabe was taken aback, not expecting that response.
“I told you, you deserve to be happy, just like the rest of us. All I ask is that you don’t throw your heart at the man until he’s ready to catch it…and he will be. I have no doubt.” Jonah’s smile this time was warm and endearing, and it floored Gabe.
“How do you know?” Gabe cleared his throat, despising the vulnerability he knew was in his voice. “That is…how do you know that he will catch it?”
Jonah placed a hand on Gabe’s cheek, his face showing nothing but compassion. “Because you’re worth it.”
God, how Gabe wished that Jonah was right. He’d done nothing but think about that day at the lake—Nate’s mouth on his, Nate’s body pressed against his, the feel of Nate’s hot skin in his hand, gliding along the hard column beneath. And for the first time in his life, Gabe could honestly say his confidence faltered when he thought about what it all meant. He went from chasing the man down, to being his friend for a heartbeat, and then, in the next breath, he’d been pinned up against a tree by that gorgeous man, feeling Nate tremble from his touch. It all seemed so surreal, so terribly out of reach, and yet completely in his grasp—all at the same time. He’d just have to take it day by day. The last thing he wanted to do was scare him off. And if Jonah had faith that Nate would, in fact, be willing to accept him then he would wait.
Nate watched through the window of the gym, his face growing increasingly hot, his heart pounding. Rage boiled inside of him so fast it swept from his feet, up through his body, and took his breath away. Had Gabe been playing both of them all this time? They sure as hell didn’t look like just friends. No doubt, Jonah had no idea the games Gabe was playing, because if one thing was clear, it was that Jonah wasn’t that guy. There was no way he would get caught up in anything with Gabe if he knew Gabe and Nate were―
That they were…
Shit, what the fuck are we anyway?
Nate said he’d give them a chance, but he hadn’t come out and said anything about being exclusive. This angry jealousy that raged inside of him and threatened to spill over made it clear to him though. If Gabe wanted anything with Nate then there would be no one else. Fuck, he didn’t even realize until this moment that he wanted Gabe like that. He’d be damned if Gabe thought he’d jack him off then go lend a hand to Jonah.
Man, fate had a way of kicking you in the nuts. Nate wasn’t even a member of this gym, but he’d made a trip to the hardware store across the street and saw Gabe’s car parked in the gym lot. He sure as hell got more than he’d bargained for.
Trembling anger had him clenching and unclenching his fists as he watched Gabe kiss Jonah on the cheek, the men entirely too close for comfort. The guy infuriated him and made him crave him at the same goddamn time. Glancing at his watch, he realized his mom would be there any minute. The last thing Nate needed was for her to see him watching Gabe outside of the gym like a fucking creeper. No, he’d have to wait until Saturday to approach Gabe. Right now, he needed to get back to work and try not to take his anger out on the bathroom he and Brody were remodeling.
Saturday came quickly, and Nate had been debating what he was going to do about the situation ever since he saw Gabe and Jonah the other day. There was a voice inside his head telling him he was overreacting, but as it got closer to the time for everyone to show up, that voice got softer and softer. He’d been completely ignorant when it came to Eric and the men he was fucking behind Nate’s back. There was no way Nate would be humiliated—fucking gutted—like that again.
“Daddy, can I wear my Cinderella dress for the barbacube?”
“You mean barbecue, Lilypop.” Nate carried a cooler over to the side of the deck by the grill, placing it on the ground. He’d already filled it with burgers and hot dogs and just needed to pour the ice in.
Lily followed, her colorful bracelets clinking together as she skipped behind him. “Yeah, for the barbacube. So can I?”
“I don’t know―”
She interrupted, pleading with him in the dramatic way only a five-year-old could over wearing a princess costume. “Please Daddy? Molly is coming, and I want to show her!” She was bouncing on her toes, the way she did whenever she was excited about―or trying to talk him into―something.
“You’ll be too hot.”
“No, I won’t,” she whined.
A flash of her ten years from now, crying over a boy, or getting into a fight with Molly over said boy, had him caving. You had to choose your battles, especially with a five-year-old. Nate sighed and crouched down in front of her. “Yeah, sure, honey. Just be careful not to rip it.”
“Yay!” She hugged him then ran into the house to change.
“Knock! Knock!” his mom’s voice called as she opened the gate, walking into the backyard with his dad following behind.
“Hey, guys.” Nate stood back up and reached onto the deck for the two bags of ice he’d put there. Dropping the first bag on the ground a couple of times, the solid block broke into pieces small enough to spread around the cooler.
His mom came up next to him and waited for him to empty both bags. Then she leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Hi, honey. I made brownies and potato salad. Where should I put them?”
Nate pointed in the general direction of the house. “Uh, potato salad on the table on the deck and the brownies inside. I’ll bring them out later.”
“Okay. Where’s my sweet pea?”
“Changing into her Cinderella dress, as is customary for any successful barbacube.” He laughed, using his daughter’s word.
“Barbacube?” his mom asked, and both of his parents started laughing.
He gave them a look as if to say where do you think I got that from?
“Ah, well, I’ll just go see if she needs any help.” She smiled and walked up onto the deck to put the food down.
His dad clapped his hands together once loudly then rubbed them together. “Okay, point me in the direction of the beer.”
“Good idea. White cooler on the deck. Grab me a Sam’s, would ya?”
“You got it.”
Twenty minutes later, pretty much everyone had shown up—everyone except Gabe and Jonah. That white-hot anger simmered below the surface, threatening to drive Nate crazy. He stole side glances at the gate to his backyard and watched the time on his watch. Finally, after another fifteen minutes Gabe and Jonah showed up, joking and laughing together as though it didn’t matter they were so late.
Okay, so fifteen minutes wasn’t that late, but still…
“I knew I should’ve asked Owen and Brody for a ride. Hell, if I’d walked I would’ve been here on time.” Jonah pushed Gabe’s arm playfully.
“Hey, I never said I was a punctual person. Actually, you should know this by now. You seem to have figured out everything else about me,” Gabe replied.
Nate walked over to them, stopping in their path and in turn making them both stop and look at him. “You came together?” As soon as the question came out of his mouth he wished he could take it back.
Both men stared at him for a moment before Jonah laughed. “My truck broke down yesterday, so I asked Gabe if he could pick me up today. I don’t know what I was thinking. This guy isn’t on time for anything.” Jonah bumped his shoulder into Gabe’s and furious heat flooded Nate’s body again.
Shit. What the hell was wrong with him?
Nate cleared his throat, crossing his arms, and shifted from one foot to the other. “Um, well, there are burgers and dogs on the grill, and the beer’s up on the deck in the cooler. Help yourselves.”
Jonah smiled and walked around Nate toward the stairs leading up to the deck.
“Ah, yes…barbecues and beer. I suppose they go hand in hand.” The look of distaste on Gabe’s face was measurable.
“Yeah, pretty much.” Nate nodded, and then mumbled, “But then it’s a possibility that I got a bottle of merlot. You know, in case someone has a preference.” Nate looked everywhere but at Gabe’s face, but he could still feel Gabe staring at him.
Gabe moved in closer, their body heat creating a thick wall around them even though they weren’t touching. “So you do care.” The words were a whisper floating on the hot air between them.
Nate didn’t want to react here, knowing there were several nosy eyes focused on the two of them. “Thought I’d save myself the trouble of having to hear you bitch,” he teased, taking a slight step back.
Gabe closed the distance again, leaning in and whispering in a coy voice, “Hmm, you’re right. There are so many other worthwhile things I could do with my mouth and I’m starving.” Nate’s cock twitched at the implication. Gabe pulled away and smirked seductively. “Let’s see if I can find me something juicy to eat.” In Gabe fashion, he winked then headed in the direction of the grill…swinging those damn hips and that fine ass.
Damn that sexy man.
Gabe seriously knew how to drive Nate crazy. He showed up with fucking Jonah, of all people. Someone Nate couldn’t even hate because he was so damn nice all the time. Seriously, no one was that nice all the damn time. But how the fuck was Nate supposed to convince himself nothing was going on there when it was the second time in the past couple of days he’d seen them together? Maybe this thing was a huge fucking mistake all together.
Nate turned around and locked eyes with Gabe just as he was taking a bite of a burger and he felt the tremor all the way down to his toes. It was too fucking late. The guy had wormed his way into Nate’s life, and damned if he wasn’t beginning to want him there. As if Gabe knew exactly what he was thinking, he slowly licked a small spot of ketchup from his plump bottom lip. Tempting me with my favorite condiment and that perfect fucking mouth. Then he proceeded to lick his fingers. Nate groaned as his traitorous cock reacted again. He needed a distraction right now.
Beer. Get yourself a goddamn beer and chill the fuck out.
With another Sam’s in hand, Nate was finally able to relax a little and enjoy the day. He tried to ignore the fact that Gabe sat at the table next to Jonah all day. Granted, Owen and Brody were sitting at the same table across from them. So where else did he expect Gabe to sit? Nate could stand there watching him, or he could take the initiative and go sit with him.
There was a chair open to Gabe’s right, Jonah occupying the chair to his left. Nate went up onto the deck, standing in front of the chair. He debated for a second before pulling the chair a little closer to Gabe and sitting down. The looks of surprise coming from Owen and Brody didn’t escape him, but he ignored them. It was obvious at work that Gabe had told Brody things had changed between them. Hopefully, he didn’t tell him everything, but Nate wouldn’t put it past Gabe. The man was less than discrete about anything.
Trying to focus, Nate pulled his attention to the conversation his friends were having when he sat down.
“We have to do something to celebrate,” Owen said, looking at Jonah.
Not really sure what they were talking about, Nate asked, “Celebrate what?”
“Jonah is done with his classes.” It was Gabe who answered, squeezing Jonah’s shoulder. Nate stared at Gabe’s hand, willing him to release the guy. “He didn’t walk in the commencement ceremony, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate. It’s party time.”
Jonah took a sip of his beer, smiling at Gabe. “Yeah, well, if I don’t get a couple of clients lined up, it’ll be crying time. That’ll suck.”
“Are you kidding? Jonah, you’re brilliant and gorgeous. Getting clients will be a piece of cake. Is that the right saying for a nutritionist? It’ll be a piece of broccoli.” Gabe winked—fucking winked at the guy—and his hand was still on Jonah’s shoulder. It was on the tip of Nate’s tongue to ask if the two of them wanted to be alone. Borrow his bedroom, perhaps?
By the time people began to leave, Nate’s jaw was aching from clenching it for the last two hours. He’d gone back over to the cooler for the sixth? Seventh? He’d lost count how many beers he’d had. Feeling body heat behind him, he knew Gabe had followed him over.
“Good thing you don’t have to drive anywhere. How many is that now?” Gabe asked.
“Yeah, well I hope you didn’t drink too much. How will you drive your boyfriend home?” Nate muttered.
“What?” There was humor in Gabe’s question, and it pissed Nate off. They were staring at each other. He knew there was anger in his own eyes, but couldn’t calm down. “What are you talk―”
Nate’s mom chose that minute to interrupt. “Nate, honey, I told Lily that as long as it’s okay with you, she could sleep over tonight.” She looked between the two of them and asked, “Is everything okay?”
Suddenly realizing he still hadn’t acknowledged his mom’s first question, Nate said,” I think Lily should stay home tonight.”
“But Daddy, I want to go with Grammy and Pop! Why can’t I?” Damn, did his little girl have bionic ears? She ran across the small yard, tears quickly forming in her blue eyes and began spilling over as she clung to her grandma’s leg.
“Lilypop…” He hesitated, trying to come up with a good reason.
“Nate, it’s Saturday night. Wouldn’t you like a night alone or…you know…” His mom looked between him and Gabe again, and Nate’s face heated within seconds. Jesus, did his mom really have to go there?
“Ma,” Nate warned, refusing to look in Gabe’s direction knowing a smug grin would be spread across his face.
“Daddy, please!” Lily was full-blown crying now, still clinging to his mom’s leg.
Nate was being a bastard, and he knew it. There was no reason to say no other than to hide behind his little girl for fear of being alone with Gabe. “Okay, Lilypop.” He reached down and picked her up, wiping away her tears. “Stop crying, you can go with Grammy and Pop. Come on, let’s go pack some things.” He left Gabe standing there and carried Lily inside the house.
Half an hour later, Lily left with his parents, and the last guests slowly trickled out. Nate stood in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher and practically dropped a platter when he heard the back door open and close.
He spun around, looking for who had just come in. “Shit, you scared me.”
Gabe smiled and walked over to the counter by Nate. “Want some help?”
“I thought you left.” Nate barely looked up from what he was doing, his tone clipped.
“To drive my boyfriend home?” Gabe asked. Nate abruptly stopped what he was doing and took a deep breath. “I’m assuming you meant Jonah? Owen and Brody drove him home.” Gabe moved closer and ran a finger up Nate’s back, a shiver following in its path. “I never thought I’d see the day, and although I should be offended, I must admit…it’s exhilarating.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Nate muttered.
“You know, I much prefer you in blue though, to match your eyes. Green really isn’t your color, even if I’m honored that you’re saturated in the color over me.” Gabe’s hand moved to the base of Nate’s neck, his fingers lightly brushing over his skin.
Nate’s breath caught, and he closed his eyes, trying to regain logical thought through the feeling of Gabe gently rubbing his tingling skin. “I-I have to clean up this mess.” Well, that was a pathetic attempt at changing the subject.
“Tell me, Mr. Black, do you usually have this problem, or has this reaction been reserved for me?” Gabe was entirely too close now, his breath hot against Nate’s ear.
Nate swallowed hard and mustered up all the strength he could to say with some kind of force, “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Hmm…” Gabe removed his hand, took a step back and toward the door. “Well, I suppose I could see if Jonah is more capable of following a simple conversation.”
Nate had no idea what the hell came over him, but within seconds, he’d yanked Gabe back and pushed him up against the fridge, knocking over a box of cereal that was on top. Nate’s body caged in Gabe’s as he said in a deep, strained voice, “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Ah, there it is. Who knew Nathan Black had a jealous streak?” Gabe had a self-satisfied smile on his face, his hands gripping Nate’s waist.
“I’m not jealous, pretty boy.”
“Oh no? Could’ve fooled me. You know, I bet Jon―”
Nate closed his mouth over Gabe’s in heated fury. Time for talking was over. Nate didn’t want to talk anymore, and he sure as hell didn’t want to hear Jonah’s name one more goddamn time.