21. Nico
NICO
Mark, Josie, and a few of the single dairy employees were gathered around the table by the time I made it back to the farmhouse. I wanted to make sure I got in one more dinner with my best friend.
One thing I’d always loved about the Frost family was that they never wanted anyone to feel lonely. As long as I’d known them, they’d been inviting strays like me to dinner, and it looked like Mark and Josie were carrying on the tradition. Anyone who needed a family could find it with them.
“This all looks incredible, Josie,” I said as I slid into my seat. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Josie started passing me dishes, and soon my plate was piled high with spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad. “How’s everything going on the mural?”
“Just finished it today, actually.” I muffled a yawn. “I’m hoping I can hit the hay early tonight because this week really fucked with my beauty sleep.”
Mark grinned. “I have some of those under-eye mask things if you want to use them.”
Diego, one of the farm’s longest employees, snorted into his iced tea. A chorus of chuckles trailed down the table.
“Everyone needs good skincare,” Mark said with no shame.
“And this has nothing to do with the haul of Korean skincare Josie’s mom just brought back from her trip to Vietnam?” Diego said, covering his wide smile with his hand.
“I didn’t ask her to schedule a layover in Seoul,” Mark said. “Nor did I request gifts. I already have Josie.”
The chuckles became full-on laughter, as Mark fluttered his eyelashes in Josie’s direction and she batted his arm.
“Man, I think I just puked in my mouth,” I said, flashing a wide smile.
Josie peered in my direction, her gaze too piercing. “One day you’ll find somebody that turns you into a sappy mess, and we’re going to give you so much shit.”
“Unlikely.” I gave her a wink and turned back to my spaghetti before she saw too much in my expression. Time to steer the conversation elsewhere. “What’s the art scene like in Sleighbell Springs these days?”
“Well,” Diego said. “The drag scene over at Sleigh Queen is unmatched. Aiden makes those crazy sweaters everyone’s obsessed with. And we have a craft store that draws decent business.”
“Why do you ask?” Mark sopped up spaghetti sauce with his garlic bread, trying to play it cool, but of course, I could see right through my best friend.
“Just curious what’s changed since I left.” I shrugged. “Some things are exactly like I remember, and in other ways, I hardly recognize it.”
Josie sent me a knowing smile. “I’m sure there are other businesses in town that would be interested in murals if you’re looking for excuses to come visit more often.”
I shrugged noncommittally. Sure, there was a part of me that wanted exactly that: an excuse to come back.
Permission from the universe to move to Sleighbell Springs, draw Christmas caricatures of the kids on the weekends, and find myself a studio where I could paint.
Another part of me worried I wouldn’t be able to maintain the momentum from my solo show from all the way in Vermont.
Would I be able to make enough money to live?
“I’ll ask around,” Mark said. “I’m really happy you visited, Nico.”
I wasn’t sure if he’d feel the same if he knew I was falling in love with his little brother.
“Me too.” I reached over to squeeze his shoulder.
As the meal wound down, we all helped move the dishes back into the kitchen and set up an assembly line to get everything cleaned up. Josie had her slipper-covered feet up on the couch, and I brought her a beer.
“Do you mind if I take some of the leftovers to Cam?”
“Of course not,” Josie said with a grin as she accepted the beer. “He’s always in here stealing my food anyway.”
“Thanks, Josie.”
I grabbed a plastic container to fill with noodles and sauce and wrapped some garlic bread in a cloth napkin.
“I see your appetite hasn’t changed since we were teens,” Mark said, watching me.
“Oh, no”—I refused to make eye contact—“this is for Cam. I figured he might be hungry when he gets off work.”
I stole a glance in his direction to see if I could detect any suspicion, but he had a wide, oblivious grin on his face.
“Thank you for trying so hard to mend things with him,” Mark said happily. “I know you can’t control things from his side, but it means a lot to me.”
The corner of my mouth tilted up, hopefully enough of a smile to hide how awkward I felt. “Of course. You’re my best friend.”
Mark slapped me on the back before heading to the couch to snuggle his almost-fiancée, and I fled.
Later that night, I chased Cam up the stairs to his apartment.
The spaghetti I’d brought over barely made it into the fridge before I was unzipping his work jeans and sliding my hands inside.
Cam growled when my fingers ran along his half-hard cock, outside his underwear.
I grabbed his ass, pushing the pants and jock he was wearing to the tops of his thighs.
He looked so good like this: panting, eyes hooded, clothed aside from the erection jutting out from his hips.
Our kisses were frantic, wet tongues battling and hands grabbing at each other. We didn’t even turn the lights on as we stumbled to his bedroom. Clothes dotted the path behind us like Hansel’s breadcrumbs.
I let the sweetness of Cameron’s whispers lure me under the covers, lure me into his body, convince every protective wall in my heart to crumble.
He opened for me easily, and while I wasn’t sure what the future held, I was going to make sure I laid myself bare for him here in this bed.
Every moment we were apart when we hadn’t needed to be, every word I wanted to say about how perfect he was, every impulse that was begging me to stay—I needed him to feel it.
The wide expanse of his broad chest, rounded pecs, and soft belly nearly did me in as I buried myself inside him.
“Harder,” he said, and I did as he asked.
“Don’t you come yet,” he said, and my body obeyed.
“More, Nico,” he pleaded, and everything I had was his.
Cameron melted under my touch, and I licked the sweat from his chest. His hands threaded with the hair at the back of my neck, and he pulled so hard I groaned.
I left marks on his neck and his collarbones until my thrusts had him crying out with ecstasy.
My release spilled into the condom as I clung to him.
I didn’t even realize I was crying until Cam wrapped me in his arms and began kissing the tears from my cheeks.