Pretend

Page 2

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to take over like that. I’ve been traveling so I haven’t played much.”
“Don’t be. You only gave me a complex. I might never pick up the damn thing again.”
Gavin stepped off the stage, grabbed the beer and took a drink. “Mind if I buy her?”
“Hey now.” Mason laughed. “You don’t even have any guilt for making me feel like shit in my own bar? Just want to buy my guitar, huh?” He nodded to the other chair at the table and Gavin sat down.
“What kind of man would I be if I passed up on that kind of opportunity if it just fell into my lap?” He tugged on the right lobe of his ear and gave a shy smile. Mason couldn’t tell if he meant to be flirtatious or not. Mason definitely saw it that way, though.
He hadn’t been able to get a read on the guy until now, but whether he realized it or not, Gavin definitely eyed him appreciatively. Mason leaned forward, his arms on the back of the chair. “Not the kind of man I’d be interested in.” He loved flirting and wanted to test the waters with Gavin.
Gavin pulled away, and Mason figured he’d read the guy wrong. But then he gave Mason another grin, his eyes running down Mason’s body. He was interested, so why pull back? Mason cocked a brow at him, and then damned if Gavin didn’t lean his way again, though he still looked a little unsure.
Right as he opened his mouth to say something, there was another creaking sound. Damn it. Someone came into the bar. Still, Mason didn’t move. He watched Gavin, waiting to see what card he played.
It was Gavin who turned to see who came in before taking a long swallow of his beer. Then another.
Mason waited another second and then stood, walked to the counter and served the couple who just came in.
He wasn’t there three minutes before Gavin brought an empty glass over and set it in front of him. “I’m late. I didn’t realize the time.” He set a bill in front of Mason and added, “I have to go.”
And then he did just that.
Oh well. Win some, you lose some.
***
Blackcreek, Colorado.
Gavin Davis never expected to live this close to where he’d grown up. Not since the day his high school boyfriend Braden Roth talked him into leaving. Not that Braden had to convince him much. He’d always known he needed to leave Colorado, he just hadn’t had the balls to do it until the bigmouthed, and even bigger headed, man had told him he could.
Braden was good for shit like that. It had meant the world to a teenaged Gavin. He hated to admit he’d needed Braden back then. He’d wanted him for a long time afterward as well. It wasn’t that Gavin had been in love with Braden; he just had that kind of personality. One people were attracted to—one that had made Gavin feel normal when he’d always been told he wasn’t. And he definitely hadn’t been crazy enough to think Braden had been in love with him, but for a while, they’d worked. Hell, he’d never even imagined Braden settling down, yet that was part of the reason he was back right now.
Gavin knocked on the door to the small house. Immediately, someone pulled it open.
“’Bout time you got your ass here, man. Come here.” Braden pulled him into a hug and Gavin returned it. His body relaxed, feeling at home after seeing his good friend again.
“So, where is he?” Gavin asked when they separated. “I never thought I’d see the day that Braden Roth would settle down.”
“Wes is working today. Come on out back. Jess is playing and I need to watch her.”
Braden was not only settled down, but he also had the responsibility of a little girl. This whole thing would take some getting used to.
Gavin followed Braden through the house and out the backdoor. There was a wooden swing set in the yard with a curly-haired girl pumping her legs.
“Wes and I built this for her here, though I’m not really sure why since we live at Wes’s place.”
“I appreciate you letting me stay here.”
“Eh.” Braden shrugged. “It’s just sitting here anyway. Might as well have someone living in it. I’d been thinking about renting her out anyway. Might as well have a friend staying here.” Braden turned toward the little girl. “Come over here, Squirt. I want you to meet my friend I told you about.”
Her hair bounced up and down as she jumped off the swing and ran over to them.
“You’re uncle Braden’s old boyfriend. Uncle Wes is his boyfriend now, though.” She crossed her arms, eying Gavin up. He bit back a laugh. Jessie was made of fire. He could see that.