Page 14 of Digging Deeper

“I know, right? He’s also really sweet, though he’s more energetic than Nana. And, of course, he has pit bull in him.”

He scrolls through the pictures, then stops to watch the two videos, one of each dog. When he finishes, he looks at me with a frown. “I really thought it’d be easier to help you, but I’m not sure I can pick one.”

I groan. “Come on, Drix, you’re supposed to be my final vote.”

“Why me?”

I shrug. “I dunno, but I was counting on you to pick.”

He narrows his eyes. “You just want me to be the bad guy.”

I roll my eyes and sigh. “Okay, so… maybe, justmaybeyou’re a little bit right about that.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can be the bad guy here.”

“Sonofabitch!”

He chuckles. “I have no idea how you’re going to pick between those two.”

I groan again, and without thinking about what I’m doing, I lean my forehead on his shoulder—which turns out to be a grave mistake because he smells like a mixture of sweat and the cologne he’s been using lately, and it makes me want to lean into his neck and take a big whiff. And maybe even lick him.

“You might have to go with the eenie-meenie-miny-moe tactic.”

“Ugh, you’re no help whatsoever.”

“Sorry.” He smiles a little, with his head tilted down at me.

And that’s the moment I realize I’m still leaning on his shoulder. Not only leaning on it, but cuddling my cheek into his muscles to stare up at him.Oh my god, what the heck am I doing?

Patient. He’s a patient.

And Holden’s brother.

And he’s not even gay! Stop barking up the wrong tree.

Immediately, I stand straight up and clear my throat.

Before I can run away, though, he says, “My brother’s bringing dinner up soon, do you have plans?”

“Um, what?”

He glances away for a moment before refocusing on me. “Would you want to… stay and eat dinner with Holds and me?”

My eyes widen. “Really?”

“Jesus, Gavin, I’m trying to be nice here. Can you give me a break? Fuck.”

I open my mouth and no words come out for a few seconds before I say, “Y-yeah. Um, yes, that would be… cool.”

“I’ll text him to tell him to grab you something, too.”

“Thanks.” Glancing around the room, I realize I have no idea what to do with myself now.

“He said he’s at the take-out place now, so he’ll be here soon. Want to play cards while we wait?”

“Um… sure.”

It’s awkward as hell until Holden shows up—not on Drix’s end, only on mine—but when he gets here, I’m a nervous wreck. What if Holds notices that I’ve been checking out his brother? Holds has always been able to read me like an open book, so what if he takes one look at me and realizes it?

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