Page 9 of Bond Strength

Declan pivoted around in his seat and delivered me a flat look. “I’m beginning to believe you’re stalking me.”

I lifted my free hand. “Hey, I’m just a friend stopping to say hi.”

“Declan, you’re cheating on us?” A slim, attractive guy gasped, placing a hand on his chest. “I thought we were your only friends outside of your siblings.”

“Friend is a bit of a stretch.” Declan took a sip of his beer.

“Ouch, my poor, tender heart. I’ve known the Brannons my whole life.” When we were younger, we’d all been thick as thieves, Declanand I especially. However, as we got older, I’d got drawn in too many directions, and we’d drifted, something I regretted to this day. When people wanted my attention, I struggled so hard to turn them down.

However, all that had gotten me was being worn the fuck out and lonelier than ever.

Surrounded by friends and family, always getting invited to parties and cookouts, but never feeling like I got the chance to connect.

“Mm, so you’ve got the dirt on young Declan,” the slender guy said, all but vibrating in his seat. “Come sit with us.”

My lips quirked. Declan shot his friend an irritated look, but he wasn’t saying no. I sure as fuck wouldn’t pass up the invite. And with how close the other two guys were sitting to each other, the available spot was right next to Declan. Maybe I should be paying more attention to my phone to see if my hookup had arrived, but truth be told, the moment Declan walked in through the door, BottomsforDays was the last thing on my mind.

“My name’s Henry.” The slender guy extended his hand. “And this is my boyfriend, Jacob.” The big bear of a guy next to him bobbed his head, clearly the quieter type.

“I’m Noah. How do you know Declan?” I asked. As long as I could remember, Declan’s social circle consisted of his family with the occasional friend. But he didn’t need the outlets. He’d be just as fine sitting by himself and working on whatever his brilliant mind concocted. Meanwhile, if I didn’t have someone with me or at least en route, I’d be dissolving into an anxious mess. Part of me had always envied his confidence, his self-reliance.

I’d wanted to be around it constantly, but when I started making friends with different groups in high school, he’d slipped through my fingers.

“We’re his coworkers,” Jacob said. “We’ve all been at the same company for five years now.”

“And yet he continues to be an enigma.” Henry leaned against his boyfriend. Their comfortability was clear, the way they existed in each other’s spaces. I envied that. As much as I told myself I was happy with the single life, once in a while, I longed to have someone in my corner, someone who was mine. Even if they’d probably get sick of how little time I’d have to offer.

“I’ve answered any questions you have.” Declan adjusted his glasses. “I think you’re looking for excitement that doesn’t exist in my life.”

“Uh, I’m pretty sure working on longer-lasting batteries to submit to NASA is exciting as fuck,” Henry said.

A thump was followed by an “ow” from Henry. Declan shot daggers his way. Curiosity flushed through me. I wanted to know what project he worked on, but he clearly wasn’t in a sharing mood. Sitting this close to him, I couldn’t help but drink in his crisp scent, the evergreen cologne he’d been wearing since high school. Life was so chaotic and changeable, and I adored how little had shifted about Declan Brannon.

His lush lips were pursed as he stared into his beer again, those blue eyes hypnotic. The way his shirt hugged his slender frame sent my brain to very filthy places.

“What do you do, Noah?” Jacob asked, his quiet demeanor setting me at ease.

I shifted in my seat, my knee accidentally knocking against Declan’s. The shock of contact sent a thrill up my spine. Declan froze but relaxed a moment later. I chewed on my lower lip. Shit, why did the scrap of contact affect me more than half of the hookups I’d been on?

“Contractor,” I said, trying to break through the spell being in Declan’s proximity cast over me. I’d seen him more in the past week than I had in years. “In fact, currently fixing this one’s masonry issues.” I jerked a thumb at Declan, who rolled his eyes.

“I don’t know why we haven’t found routes to make houses indestructible anyway.” Declan scratched at the tabletop with his fingernail. “If we funneled better materials into building them, we’d have less degradation.”

“Maybe that’s their kink,” I teased.

Declan shot me a glare. “What are you, Rory?” Henry burst into laughter, and Jacob smirked, so at least I wasn’t batting zero at this table.

“Ew, never compare me to your brother,” I said. That was the last way I wanted him to see me. My phone buzzed, and I slid it out. Message from my potential hookup. The tug to stay with Declan roared stronger than ever.

If I didn’t open it, I wouldn’t have to respond. I could exist in this moment a little longer. When we were apart, I sometimes forgot about how strong a pull Declan had always had on me. But whenever I spent prolonged time around him, the first crush energy that had existed from my early teenage years swept in and never left.

“So, what conversation did I interrupt?” I asked.

“Doctor Who, baby,” Henry said. “Not sure if sci-fi is your vibe or not—”

“Fuck yes.” I craned forward. I never got to have these conversations with my coworkers or the folks I hung out with. Straddling the line of geek and jock was always a weird one as if you couldn’t be a baseball junkie and also enjoy a good debate about who the best Doctor was.

“Okay, then, favorite villain. Dalek or Cyberman?” Henry asked. I grew aware of the weight of Declan’s gaze on me. Maybe he tooremembered when we’d stay up late marathoning the old Who seasons. Any alternate reason was wishful thinking on my part.

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