Page 9 of Burning Up

Toby laid a hand on Matt’s arm. “All right, but give one of us a call if you want a ride to get your truck later.”

Bryce nodded. “Yeah, I will.” But he wouldn’t. He’d bike over after he got some sleep. He didn’t need to be in a small space with them, easily close enough to touch. Fuck! How was he even going to work with them in a few days when he couldn’t get the image of them dancing out of his mind?

5

Bryce woke later that afternoon, his mouth dry and his head throbbing. He’d only had two Bloody Marys. They wouldn’t have fazed him a year ago, but he’d been concerned by how much he was drinking to dull his senses in the months after the Atlanta fire, so he cut back drastically to prove to himself that he didn’t need it.

He squinted at the clock as he forced himself out of bed. It was five, so he’d been asleep about six hours. He’d slept through his alarm, but at least he wasn’t late for work, and he ought to be plenty awake for his shift at the bar that night.

As he showered, he tried not to replay the conversation he’d had with Matt and Toby or to contemplate how awkward things would be at work later that week. He couldn’t help but be curious about their relationship. Matt didn’t seem to be as comfortable about pursuing him as Toby was, but Toby had been offering a three-way, hadn’t he?

Bryce had always preferred to focus all his energy on one man, on making him beg, on telling him what to do to make them both lose their minds, but Matt and Toby were making him rethink that. He had no doubt that having them both would be mind-blowing.

Damn, it had been too long since he’d been laid. Maybe tonight after Nathan’s he’d go looking for a quick fuck.

The evening went by swiftly. The bar was crowded, first with people watching baseball, then with those who stayed or came for post-game celebratory drinking or commiserative drinking or just plain drinking drinking. Around eleven, the later-night crowd poured in. By one AM, Bryce was exhausted despite his long nap. Mason’s boyfriends, Gray and Jack, had found seats at the bar. Mason stopped to chat with them and take their drink orders. Bryce caught them glancing over at him. What had Mason said? Hopefully not anything about Toby and Matt.

At least if Gray thought Bryce had his eye on someone other than Mason, he might stop acting like such an asshole, though Mason said that overprotective attitude was just Gray being Gray, as if it were endearing. He’d told Bryce he was a lot like Gray himself. No way was he that grumpy. At least he didn’t use to be.

Gray had to know Bryce’s flirting with Mason was just in fun. Bryce didn’t really do any serious flirting these days. Mason was safe, easygoing, and so taken that Bryce could be his old self, knowing there wouldn’t be any unwelcome consequences, like actually having to make an effort with someone. He scowled as he carried a tray of dirty glasses to the kitchen. He really needed to get laid.

Yeah, by Toby and Matt.

That is the last thing I need. A bunch of fucking complications.

Are you so sure it would be complicated?

We work together.

If a conscience could shrug, his did. There are other arrangements that could be made. You saw that position they posted for the fire marshal’s office.

He scowled. He’d been thinking about applying for an investigator position with the fire marshal in Atlanta, but after the fire that rocked his sanity, he’d gone into survival mode. He didn’t need to go trying to change jobs when he hadn’t even been in this one a year yet. He stomped back into the bar, not realizing how fierce he looked until he glanced at a customer and she flinched.

“Sorry. I was just… thinking about something.” He really didn’t want to piss off any customers at Nathan’s. He’d fallen into this job when he discovered the place shortly after moving to Durham. He’d struck up a conversation with Mason and mentioned that he was looking to pick up some bartending shifts. Mason sent him right to the office to interview with Elizabeth, the manager, and he was hired the next day.

The woman smiled. “That’s okay. You must have been thinking of something pretty awful.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I was. What can I get you?”

“Absolut and lemonade.”

“You got it.” He made her drink and handed it across the bar. “On the house.”

She frowned. “Oh, you don’t?—”

“I do.”

“Well, okay. I don’t suppose it could come with your number.”

Dammit. Now he was being too nice. “I’m honored, but—” Mason slapped him on the ass as he walked by, obviously having picked up on the situation. He gestured over his shoulder toward Mason. “He’s more my type,” he said.

“Ah.” She smiled, not looking at all hurt, thank goodness. “Thanks for the drink.”

“You’re quite welcome.” Bryce smiled back at her. Why was it he could flirt with female customers and guys who were taken, but not with guys he actually wanted? Ridiculous. He had to get back out there.

He glanced down the bar and saw Jack watching him and snickering. “Bastard,” he mouthed.

Jack flipped him off and Gray actually smiled. Mason probably had said something or else Gray’d had enough beers to make him jovial.

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