Nick almost choked on his food. That was exactly the type Bryce was.
“I see you know him well. So, this woman, it was obvious she was the competitive type. I finish my sob story and then walk away. Bryce is confused out of his mind. Ten minutes later I peek back inside and guess who’s sitting next to Bryce? That was the first time I helped him get laid.”
“Now wait a minute. I didn’t need your help. I could have done it on my own.”
“Of course you could, sweetie.” Christi pat his leg but then winked at Nick.
The stories kept coming after that—high school, and afterward. She spoke about Bryce’s family like they were her own. The whole time Nick wondered why they had broken up. Why they were still pretending to be together for Bryce’s parents and why they weren’t just really together.
He wanted that—a close relationship with someone. Wanted it so fucking much it made his chest ache. He’d always known he wasn’t the kind of man for a string of random hook-ups. It’s part of the reason why what happened with Jill devastated him so much. Part of the reason he’d stayed and tried to tough things out when in hindsight he should have seen them pulling apart.
He wanted to be with someone he felt comfortable with, someone who knew him, who laughed with him. Unfortunately for him, the only person he’d ever had that with was the ex-wife, who left him for another man.
***
“Go long!” Bryce called out as Nick jogged backward. Bryce pulled back his arm and threw the football to the other man. Christi went after him, and then the two of them stumbled on each other, falling to the ground.
Christi had a hand on Nick’s bare chest. Bryce and Nick had both taken their shirts off not long into the game. It was fairly dark, the porch lights and the moon making it so they could see. She dropped her head back and laughed, Nick doing the same, when Bryce felt it—the cramp in his gut at the sight of the two of them together.
His oldest friend and his newest one. It was great that they got along, but...well, he guessed he’d never really played well when he wasn’t the center of attention. Some might call it a character flaw, but all Bryce knew was it was just who he was.
“Okay, the two of you. That’s enough. You suck, Nick. You weren’t supposed to let her get the ball. Throw it back to me and I’ll show you how it’s done.”
Christi used the hand Nick offered her to stand, and Bryce stood around watching them like an idiot. He walked over and downed the rest of the beer in his bottle.
“I’m done. I’m going to puke if I play anymore. You two finish.” Christi walked over to the porch, sat on it and leaned her head against the house. “I’m drunk.”
Bryce was feeling it as well. Still he wasn’t ready to go in yet. “Toss it back,” he nodded at Nick, who threw him the football.
They kept that up for a few minutes, random comments from Christi here or there about hot, sweaty men playing with balls.
When Nick threw the ball to him again, Bryce caught it and cocked a brow at his friend. “Betcha I can score on you.”
“You can try, but I don’t think you’ll get very far,” Nick countered.
Game on.
Bryce hugged the football close to his body as Nick moved toward him. He flexed his arm muscles as he did and Bryce couldn’t help but laugh. “Not sure what you think you’re gonna do with those little things.” Really, the guy had a nice body. That was okay to think, wasn’t it? He didn’t mean nice like he wanted him, but he obviously kept in shape, with defined muscles and a six-pack.
“We’ll see about that.” Nick ran toward him. Bryce faked left, then went right, but Nick didn’t fall for it the way he’d hoped so he hung back. “Giving up already?” Nick asked.
Not fucking likely. Bryce made a quick move, ran right and slipped past Nick. It didn’t last long before the other man’s arms were around him—sweaty skin against sweaty skin, and then they were both on the ground, a tangle of limbs.
“Oh, fuck. I’m too old and drunk for this shit.” Bryce dropped his head back and looked up at the sky. His chest heaved in and out. Nick was touching him, and not moving, their arms entwined and Nick’s leg over his.
Umm...he wasn’t sure this was normal. But they were both drunk. For all he knew Nick didn’t even realize he was half lying on Bryce.
“Yeah, me, too.” And then he was gone. No, not really gone, but he’d pulled away. Stopped touching Bryce the way he knew the man should. The air on his skin where Nick had touched suddenly felt like too much.
