Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Brenner directs us to lay the drywall flat, and we remeasure, Brenner drawing a line where Payton needs to cut. While we’re waiting for Payton at the saw, Brenner hooks his arm around Taylor, drawing him in for a fat kiss. It sucks not being able to get my hands all over Ryan right now—not because it’s a secret, but because he’s on the roof today.
Brenner nibbles at Taylor’s bottom lip, lingering for a minute before Payton finishes sawing and says, “Are you guys trying to make me cut myself?”
We all share a laugh before Dax heads toward us with a two-by-four.
“Hey, man,” Brenner says, “could you check with Miles where he put the sander?”
Today Dax and Miles are working on the same part of the house, but since their explosive exchange, they’ve kept their distance. Miles occasionally cuts a glance Dax’s way, like he’s one move away from snapping and tearing our friend a new one. Who knows what his deal is, but the way Dax’s eyes bulge at Brenner’s suggestion tells me that’s a bad idea.
I’m wondering if no one mentioned the incident to Brenner, but then Taylor nudges his shoulder, and they sneak each other a look. “Oh, right, the whole beef thing,” Brenner says. “I can ask him when I’m finished with this.”
“That’s probably for the best,” Dax says.
When the drywall’s ready, we install it, and then Brenner and Taylor head off to find the sander. Dax and I are putting nails in the drywall when a familiar scent hits my nose. Ryan hooks his arms around my waist, drawing me close, and I glance over my shoulder. “If you’d surprised me, I could have hit you with my hammer.”
“All good. I got about a hundred and fifty pounds of muscle…and a hard hat.” He grips the edge of his hat, tilting it like he’s sporting it for a commercial.
I spin toward him. As usual, he’s not wearing a shirt, so it’s just flesh and sweat, making him fucking irresistible. Although, I tense up when I notice his shoulders are a little pink. “Someone needs sunscreen.”
“We applied some a few hours ago. You timed, remember?”
“Yeah, and you have to reapply every two hours. Plus, you’ve been on the roof all day, so turn around.”
“Ooh, he’s getting bossy. He does that whenever he’s feeling toppy,” he tells the guys, and before I can admonish him, he says, “Shut it? Yeah, I know, I know.”
I slip the sunscreen out of my back pocket and take his shirt out of his belt loop, using it to pat down his shoulders and back before applying.
I make sure to get his shoulders good, to ensure he won’t get too red. “Still think you might get a burn here,” I warn him.
“Nah. Knowing my skin, it’ll be tan by tomorrow.”
When Ryan turns around so I can get his chest and abs, he says, “This is totally turning Dax on, isn’t it? Watching my man lube me up?”
Dax shrugs. “It’s not not turning me on.”
I laugh because really, I’m having the same issue. Slathering him up reminds me of how much muscle mass there is to cover on the guy, and it takes me a minute to finish with his abs before I make it up to that thick chest, ensuring I get in the dip between those pecs, which he flexes, and I can’t keep from smiling.
“So…” Ryan says, “I know we’re only starting the summer, but we haven’t really discussed when we’re gonna have our date.”
“When were you thinking?” I ask because I can tell by that smirk he’s got something on his mind.
He doesn’t hesitate. “Tonight.”
I tense up. As much as I want to go on a first date with Ryan, I don’t think there’s any way to make tonight happen. “We’re gonna be messy and tired after today. We’re not gonna want to go out.”
“Exactly,” Ryan says, and now he’s really caught my interest. “What if we made something for dinner?”
“Well, we don’t want to impose on—”
“I’m heading out tonight,” Dax interjects. “Not planning to be back until late.”
I look between them. “Did you guys talk about this already?”
Ryan wears a guilty expression, the sort he used to have when he violated some rule at Alpha Theta Mu. For a change, I’m both impressed and relieved. The idea of a night in with him, doing something more than watching TV or playing games, sounds nice. And very us.
Dax mouths, “Go on the date. You should do it. He’s cute,” then winks, making me laugh.
“What do you say?” Ryan asks. “A fun night in with your favorite guy?”
29
Ryan
It’s like right before a big game—not the kind I’m nervous about, but the one where I feel like we’re about to kill it. Excitement mixed with the dopamine rush…and this buzz. I never felt it outside of football until I started seeing Mart, and it’s really going now that he agreed to have a date night with me.