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Robby thought back to his night at the club and shuddered. That was a bust, but Kane probably had a point. “How? Where? You make it sound so easy. But a meat market is not the answer.”
Brick made a strangled noise against the back of his hand. “Meat market?”
“Don’t pretend like you’re a prude,” Kane scoffed. “Or do you think Robby’s one? It’s you who is always saying he’s not a kid, brother.”
The telltale reddening of Brick’s neck meant Kane had hit the nail on the head.
Robby stared at him in disbelief. “You think I’m avirgin?” He laughed at the absurdity of the idea, but there was no joy in it. “Do you have any idea the kind of stuff I had to do just to survive when my parents kicked me out?”
Brick’s face paled, and Robby could’ve kicked himself.
“I’m sorry.” He forced a smile. “Forget I said anything.”
“I understand better than you think.” A haunted look reflected in Brick’s eyes.
He couldn’t imagine his badass friend ever feeling as trapped and desperate as he’d once been, but he recognized the truth when he saw it. He nodded his understanding, then looked away.
“So, the club scene is out.” Kane broke the tension as if the other men hadn’t just nearly bared their souls. “What do you like to do for fun?”
“I play PlayStation.”
Kane frowned. “You meet people playing games?”
Matt entered the room quietly and pulled a water bottle from the cooler on the floor.
As he turned to walk away, Robby reached out, his hand touching Matt’s arm for a split second. “Hey, wait. How was your first day at the new job?”
Matt paused, then glanced from Brick to Kane before ducking his gaze. “It was fine.”
Brick waved his hand at nothing in particular. “We’ll let you get back to it, Robby.” He turned to Kane. “Come give me a hand upstairs.” The big men made their way out of the room with the subtlety of two drag queens at a burlesque show.
Or maybe it was only obvious to him, because Matt didn’t give them a second look. Instead, he let out a breath, and his shoulders relaxed. He ventured deeper into the kitchen and cocked his hip against the counter. “It was so much easier than I thought it would be. Most people ordered beer, really, or simple drinks like Jack and Coke. I only had to Google three times.”
“Awesome!”
Matt grinned. “I didn’t have to talk to anyone, except to say thanks. And the best part? I walked out of there with a hundred and fifty bucks in tips, which isn’t even counting what I’ll get on my paycheck. You know how much this is going to make a difference to my family? One weekend in tips will pay my mama’s light bill.”
He’d never seen Matt so animated, so…happy.
“I owe this all to you, Rob. I would have never thought of bartending on my own.” Matt reached out for Robby’s left hand with his right one and pulled him closer before wrapping his other arm around for a brief hug.
It ended in a second, but the contact lasted long enough for him to learn the feel of Matt’s body against his own. Almost exactly the same height. Maybe a little more muscle mass, but not too big and not too small. And the smell of him, fresh cotton and man.
He gripped the island to still his shaking hands.
Matt’s grin froze into place, seconds after he stepped back. “I—I mean, uh, sorry.” He held his hands up in front of him. “I didn’t mean to—”
His heart fell, and something hard and angry rose in its place. “What? Touch me?” He didmeanto enjoy it. Dammit! The hug had been…amazing, and he’d ruined it. Or Matt had ruined it. Either way, the other man’s reaction practically screamedhands off.
Robby scoffed. “Don’t worry. I get the message loud and clear.” He gestured to the area around him. “This is my dancing space. That is yours.”
Matt’s forehead wrinkled, the mangledDirty Dancingreference obviously lost on him, and it only drove up Robby’s embarrassment…his anger…at himself—and at Matt, who was a much more convenient target.
“Icancontrol myself around you, Matt,” he seethed. “Gay people do it all the time. And you won’t catch it. Your manly man-ness is safe.” With the words still hanging in the air, he hugged his clipboard to his chest and walked out without looking back.
Not even an hour later, Robby wished he could take it all back. Still, he hid out in the trailer like a chicken all day—even skipping lunch—until Matt left to go home. Then, he rushed to catch Brick before the big man climbed inside his blue Chevy pick-up.
His friend narrowed his eyes at Robby’s fast approach. “What’s wrong?”
