Page 2 of Through the Fire: Matt & Adam

“Alistair is a nice guy and a gem with apartment pricing, but he’s slow as crap with repairs. Got everything?” Adam asked.

“Go figure. I’ve got stuff I need to get done today.” He patted his pocket for his keys then flipped the lock on his door. “Let’s go before I fill the hallway with smoke.”

“No problem.” Adam stepped out of the way. “My door is unlocked.”

“Are you going somewhere?” Now he felt a little weary of going over to Adam’s. “If I’m imposing...”

“No. I ordered Thai while you were packing. It’s just around the corner, so it won’t take long. I got enough for the both of us, but I’ve got to run downstairs to get it.” Adam grinned. “Promise. I’ll be right back.” He opened his door for Matt then strolled down the hallway.

Matt paused in the doorway and watched the sway of Adam’s ass. God, the man had a nice butt, just enough to grab during sex. He snorted. Like he’d know what it would feel like to fuck Adam. That opportunity wasn’t going to come around.

He ducked into Adam’s apartment and closed the door. When he turned, the scent of Adam’s cologne wrapped around him. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but the woodsy scent comforted him. He gazed at Adam’s personal space. Computers took up most of the horizontal spaces. He wouldn’t have pegged Adam as a computer geek. Looks definitely deceived.

Matt placed his bag on the couch. He wanted to sit, but he wasn’t sure whether he should. He didn’t want to disturb Adam’s things.

Behind him the door clicked open. The smell of the tangy food entered the room. A hint of smoke followed as well.

“That didn’t take long.” Adam strolled around Matt and dropped the plastic bag on the counter. “I got two orders of chicken stir-fry and extra rice. There’s water and soda in the fridge. Help yourself.”

“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” Matt said. He picked up his bag. “I’m intruding.”

“You sound just like your brother.” Adam stepped between Matt and the door. “I offered you a place to work on whatever it is you’ve got to do in a smoke-free environment. If you were intruding, I wouldn’t have asked you in.”

“My—my brother? What are you talking about?” Matt asked. Adam knew Nick?

“Nick told me all about you.” Adam took the messenger bag from Matt and put it back on the couch. “Get some food. We’ll talk while we eat.”

“I’m confused.” He crossed the small apartment and sank onto one of the barstools. “How do you know Nick?”

“The U of San Fran here in Santa Rosa. Your brother and I were roommates all four years.” Adam grinned again. “I got homesick for Arizona, and he’d get homesick for Ohio and tell me stories about you.”

“Huh.” He stared blankly at the foam food containers. His brother never mentioned knowing Adam. If he had, then Matt wouldn’t have waited so long to make a move. No, he would’ve waited. He hated to be shot down, and getting turned away seemed to happen to him often.

“Nick taught me how to ask a girl out, how to use every cheesy come-on in the book and how to kiss.” Adam plopped down beside him. “Funny, I miss the guy.”

“I do, too.” Matt bowed his head. “I’m sorry. I wish I knew you were friends with him. How is he? I haven’t talked to him in six months.”

“He’s out fighting the wildfires in the Ventana Wilderness. They’ve got some contained but not much. I just instant messaged him two nights ago.” Adam opened the containers. “It’s hot, dirty, and not going out.”

“At least he’s safe for now.” He hated not talking to his brother, hated that they’d argued before Nick left. He sighed. The food smelled divine, but his stomach churned. He’d lost contact with his brother over a guy—a guy who’d ended up being a real dick. He’d wanted to call Nick a hundred times but didn’t. Why? Fear. What if Nick never forgave him? What if the fucking fire claimed Nick, and he never got the chance to say he was sorry? He only had himself to blame if they never got the chance to reconnect.

Adam slid one of the containers to Matt. “Eat.”

“I can’t.” God, he was becoming so emo. He hated being emo.

“Why? Because I know about Garig, the dick?” Adam offered up a spoon. “I’m going to level with you. Nick told me about Garig. Nick’s my best friend, and I knew how that dick worked him over. He wasn’t pissed that Garig had a fling with you. What pissed him off was you not coming clean.”

“Why—why didn’t you bother to tell me this before now?” He grasped the spoon. “I mean, you are close to my brother, and you live next to me. You could’ve said something.” A thought occurred to Matt. The reason Adam probably kept quiet was the kissing thing—Adam and Nick were together. That’s why they messaged each other. He’d been fantasizing about his brother’s boyfriend. Well, shit.

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