Page 22 of Rainbows Over Cedarwood

Chapter Eight

“How about I drive?” Colt squeezed his key fob. “I’m not sure why, but I want to be in control of this situation.” He could accept Ashley being strong for him for so long, but right now he needed to know he had his friend with him.

“Fine by me.” Ashley fell into step beside him. “It’s nice not to have to be in charge for a moment. Which one is yours?”

“The dark-gray SUV. I like having the extra room.” He opened the door for Ashley then tossed the money bag and his wallet into the backseat. He’d worn the wrong pants to shove his wallet into his back pocket. If he did tuck his wallet into his pocket, he’d get a cramp in his back.Not sexy.“Hold this.” He pushed his cell phone into Ashley’s hands.

“No problem.” Ashley settled on the passenger seat.

Colt rounded the hood. He glanced up at the windshield. Ashley looked so right in the car. He had to be nuts. They were friends—acquaintances—at best. They hadn’t gone beyond the quick kiss and embarrassing infatuation. Not embarrassing for him, but awkward because they hadn’t had a chance to decide if they were even compatible. He’d gone from crushing to pushing. He couldn’t deny he wanted to fuck Ashley three ways into next week, but come on. He needed to know the tension between them wasn’t just one-sided.

“This is nice.” Ashley clicked his seatbelt into place. “Better than my little car.”

“But it’s the best you can afford? I’ve been there. All through college, I had this piece-of-crap car that had duct tape holding the fender in place and a bungee cord keeping the trunk shut. She looked like hell, but she was reliable. I only got this when she died and I could afford something better.” He checked the backseat for the money bag and his wallet then shoved his key in the ignition. “Ready?”

“I am.” Ashley sighed. “What happened? Tell me everything.”

Everything? Sure, but not yet.He’d hit the high points first. “The coalition decided they needed to picket. They don’t like having a gay man running the local watering hole.” He backed out of the parking spot and started to exit the lot. “Where are we going?”

“Ma’s on Oleander Lane. Can’t miss the house. It’s the only split-level on the street.” Ashley kept the phone on his lap but reached for Colt’s right hand. He laced their fingers together. “Ma and Wyatt are all I’ve got left, but I’m here for you.”

“Yeah?” He stole a glance over at Ashley in the light of the red traffic signal. He was smitten. Definitely attracted to Ashley. He squeezed Ashley’s fingers. God, being with Ashley felt good. He shifted in his seat and hoped his erection wasn’t visible.

“What about you? Got any family around?”

“No,” Colt replied. He cleared his throat. “My parents are long gone. I was a late-in-life baby. Mom thought she couldn’t have any kids. She hit thirty-nine and gave up the birth control. I showed up nine months later.” He grinned. The longer they talked, the easier the conversation came. “Dad was forty-one. He died a couple years back from a heart attack and she went a year later. Loneliness, I think. They were happy together and it’s just as well.”

“Ma would adopt you. She’s like that—taking in charity cases. Plus she thinks you’re cute,” Ashley said. “She seems to have turned over a new leaf, too. I don’t know.” He pulled his hand away from Colt’s and folded it in his lap.

Colt missed the comfort of Ashley’s touch. “What do you mean?” He turned onto the side street leading to Oleander Lane. He almost wished the drive would last longer. He didn’t want to leave the privacy of the car and their conversation, but he did want to find out why Ashley had pulled away.

“She’s okay with me being gay. That’s big for her. A month ago, she still wasn’t comfortable with her son wanting to put his cock in ass. Now she says she’s cool with it. She’s more welcoming to Wyatt, too.” Ashley shrugged. “Maybe she did change, like she said.”

“Then I can safely assume she’s not part of the coalition?”Please, God, let her not be.

“No, that’s not her style. She suffered in silence and among her girlfriends. When I brought Wyatt around right after he was born, she was convinced I’d be straight because I had a kid. Then Danica passed and I didn’t do what she wanted. It took her five years, but she’s come around.” Ashley pointed at the windshield. “Turn here. That’s her house.”

Colt parked in front of the garage. “So she thinks I’m cute. What about you?” He turned off the engine and faced Ashley. “I was pretty forward when I kissed you in the bathroom. Am I a charity case or is the crazy way I feel one-sided?”

“It’s not that simple. I’ve got a kid to think about. I can’t jump into something.” Ashley stuffed his hands between his knees.

“You’ve been burned a lot, huh?” He wished he could go back and beat the fuck out of the people who’d hurt Ashley. But then he’d have to kick his own ass. He’d been the kind of guy to pass on a man like Ashley because of a kid.What a jerk!

“I’ve learned not to expect too much.” Ashley scratched his forehead. “Is it warm in here? Or just me?”

Colt glanced over at the window beside Ashley. The glass fogged over. “It’s the both of us.”

“Oh.” Ashley touched the window, trailing his fingers through the condensation. “I haven’t fogged up a window in a long time.”

“We could do so much more than fog the windows.” Colt leaned forward, jabbing the console against his ribs. “Want to try?”

“No.” Ashley touched Colt’s cheek and half-smiled then pulled away again. “Part of my hesitance is Wyatt. I don’t want to dive into something and have it blow up in my face because the stuff in my life affects his. If it’s not a safe situation, then I don’t want in. The other part is my ex. He fucked with my head and it’s because of him I’m scared to go there again.”

“To put yourself out there?” He appreciated Ashley’s honesty, even if he wanted more than Ashley could give.

“Yes.” Ashley met Colt’s gaze. “I’m cautious.”

“I won’t hurt you if at all possible. I’ve been dicked around, too, and I know how that feels. It’s no fun. I refuse to put anyone in that situation.” He let go of Ashley’s hand and slid his palm over Ashley’s cheek. “I’d like to go on a real date—with Wyatt along, too. I want to see what can happen if we give this a go.”

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