Page 5 of The Cubby Hole

Maybe love would come and go, but best friends could still last forever.

And there we were, pushing forty and still playing wingman for each other.

I slung my leg over a stool and sat, watching Austin continue to shoot glances our way. Ben sat beside me with his back to him.

I was just playing my part in the inevitable by pointing Austin out to Ben. “You could’ve come up here early,” I said. “Had the cabin to yourself for a night.”

Ben shrugged, his arm brushing mine. “I wanted to hang out just the two of us.” His face was awfully close for a room so big and empty. I told myself it was so we could converse over the music, but for a second I could’ve sworn he was using his pretty blues on me… I couldn’t have imagined why he’d be stalking me when there was an eager muscle cub only ten feet away.

Austin finally bounced over, his vibe really more Tigger than bear. “What can I get you guys?”

I ordered a Miller Lite from their limited canned beer selection, and Ben murmured he’d have the same. Even though his eye-fuck game was strong, Ben wasn’t that great at chitchat. To a stranger, especially outside the world of the campground, he probably came across as either possibly straight or just unapproachably hot.

Although a flirt like Austin wouldn’t be easily deterred by Ben’s shyness, I attempted to bridge the gap with some small talk. “The decorations are looking good,” I said when Austin set down our beers.

Austin leaned on his elbows across the bar, close enough that I could smell his cologne. “Yeah. Jim and Ryan are going all out. It’s gonna be epic.”

Ben looked over Austin’s head, making a big show of admiring the blue lights on the wall behind the bar, the fake classical temple columns, the puffy clouds.

I took a guess at the theme. “Heaven on Earth?”

Austin smirked. “Saints and Sinners.”

“Cool. We’re piggybacking off your party.” When Austin looked confused, I clarified. “It’s our birthday tomorrow.”

“Wait.” Austin looked between us. “You have the same birthday?”

“Yep.”

“Wow. That’s so cool! And you guys are… together or…”

I smiled and blinked slowly. It was something I was used to explaining. “Exes who stayed friends.”

“Right on. Very emotionally evolved.” Austin kept glancing over at Ben, trying to invite him into the conversation. “Just the two of you here, then?”

Ben seemed content to let me do all the talking.

“For tonight. We have some friends coming in tomorrow.” I told him about the boys in the band, which led to talking about me being a music producer.

“Oh, Eric!” Jim must have overheard our conversation. He abandoned the decorations to Ryan and bustled over, eyes flashing with excitement. “Please tell me you met Luke when you checked in.”

“Pretty blond guy? Kinda looks like a happy-go-lucky Kurt Cobain?”

Jim shared a look with Austin, and they both laughed.

“Oh my God,” Austin said. “He totally does!”

Jim put his hand on my wrist like he was sharing a great confidence. “Honey, he’s a singer-songwriter. A total sweetheart and very talented.”

I glanced at Ben and raised an eyebrow. On the drive earlier, he’d listened to me bitch about how the boys needed a front man if they were ever going to get anywhere as a serious band. “He sings?”

Jim nodded emphatically. “Beautiful voice. Fantastic guitar player. He’ll be performing at the bonfire Saturday night. You have to check him out.”

“I’ll do that.”

Jim changed the subject to decor, and we oohed and ahhed over the various ideas they intended to execute in the space. “So, what are y’all planning to be?” he asked. “Saints or sinners?”

Ben and I hadn’t thought about it, let alone discussed it, but in unison, we said, “Sinners.”