Page 7 of Burning Up

“You just… Well, we thought it might be good for you to eat and hang out,” Matt said.

Bryce sighed. They were trying so hard to be kind, and he shouldn’t resent that, but he had to set things straight. “I don’t want either of you to think I’d let you down out there when it counts. If I thought I would, I wouldn’t be here.”

“Never crossed my mind,” Matt assured him.

“I’m fine. Really. I just have to psych myself up before heading out on a call.”

Toby nodded. “Most guys do, right? I know I do.”

“So how do you like Durham?” Matt asked.

He was thankful they were willing to drop the subject. “It’s good so far. I know people complain about traffic, but after Atlanta, it’s great.”

“I bet,” Matt said. “You get out much? Other than at the bar.”

Bryce could have given a dismissive answer but instead he decided to tackle things head-on. “Not much, honestly. I guess I’m becoming a homebody.” Was he? Damn, what had happened to him?

Old age, baby.

“So no wild nights partying?” Toby asked.

Bryce grinned. “Don’t you think I’m a bit old for that?”

Matt looked up, truly startled. “Seriously?”

Bryce raised his brows. “When I go dancing these days, I feel like a dinosaur.”

“You’re the hottest dinosaur I’ve ever seen,” Toby blurted out.

“Toby.” There was that warning tone in Matt’s voice again.

Toby’s cheeks colored. He was such a fascinating combination of shy and bold. Bryce knew Toby’s interest should concern him—and Matt’s, which was less obvious but clearly there.

Where had his own boldness gone? He’d always spoken plainly in the past, told people exactly what he was thinking. If he wanted a man, he said so. Of course, in Atlanta he’d never wanted a man, or two, who also happened to be part of his unit. But back then he would have at least returned the flirtation. He wouldn’t have pursued it, but he would have played the game and enjoyed the attention. Even now, he had to admit he was flattered. Who wouldn’t be by two young, hot guys wanting him? But he wished he could interpret whatever undercurrent there was between them. They obviously didn’t agree on how—or maybe whether—to pursue him. The last thing he wanted to do was screw up their… friendship.

The waitress showed up then with their food. Still unsure how to handle Toby’s boldness, Bryce almost chickened out and asked her to box his up so he could go. Instead, he took a much stupider tactic. “Could I get a Bloody Mary?”

“Sure.”

“That’s a great idea,” Toby said. “Bring one for me too.”

Matt looked uncertain, but when the waitress looked at him, he said, “Sure why not. One for me too.”

The guys didn’t talk much while they ate. Most of the comments they did make were about how good the food was.

When they finished up, the restaurant was getting crowded, but the line for tables wasn’t too long yet. “Another round?” Toby asked, lifting his glass.

Why the hell not? “Sure.”

They ordered more drinks, and Matt suggested they take them outside on the balcony where there were barstools. Bryce wondered what all the families dining with their small kids thought of them drinking on the balcony at nine AM. Of course with his schedule, he often didn’t know night from day anyway. It could just as easily be nine PM for him. Though he had to admit he was starting to feel that second drink.

He should head home before he said something he shouldn’t. The longer he stayed with Matt and Toby, watching them—the line of their throats as they swallowed, the way Toby pushed his hair off his face and tilted his head toward the sun, the contemplative expression on Matt’s face as he studied the perfect summer sky—the more something stirred inside him, something that hadn’t come online often, if at all, in the last year.

“So what did you think about the Bulls game last night?”

Toby groaned. “Seriously, you’re asking him that. I hope you’ve got all day.”

Matt rolled his eyes. “The ump clearly had it in for them. I mean, did you see those calls? A baby could have done better than that.” Matt continued in the same vein for several minutes, seemingly not even pausing for breath. He jiggled his leg, and it moved more quickly the more agitated he got until Bryce felt the vibration two seats over.

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