“Just checkin’ to make sure you’re all right.”
“Fine, why?” he asked, not bothering to look Braydon in the eyes.
“No reason.”
Ethan knew his brothers had stopped questioning him in recent years. Sometimes he wished they would push him to talk because there were times when he feared he would be overwhelmed by everything he managed to keep bottled up inside. But he knew they were better off not knowing Ethan’s deepest, darkest secrets. It was in their best interest if he kept himself distanced, which he had become a pro at.
“Wanna play pool?”
Ethan lifted an eyebrow and looked up at Braydon’s face, still not looking him in the eye. “Do I ever want to play pool?”
Braydon had the decency to laugh and then he clapped Ethan on the back before walking away.
That was about the extent of his conversations with his brothers these days. Generally, Ethan managed to stay far away from them when they were in public because it always seemed to be that Ethan drew the negative attention that he didn’t want his family involved in. He knew without a doubt that his brothers wouldn’t stand for the shit that Ethan was put through from the bigots in their small town, and that was the main reason he kept them at arm’s length, even though he knew it irritated the shit out of them.
Focusing on his beer, Ethan forced his thoughts to remain in the present. He didn’t need to relive the past, and he certainly didn’t need to get his hopes up about something that wasn’t going to happen.
So it would be in his best interest if he focused on the only thing he knew… finding a way to be content with being alone.
Chapter Eight
Beau knew he should go inside, but he couldn’t bring himself to get out of the truck. Maybe if he waited long enough Ethan would come outside. As it was, he had been sitting in the parking lot of Moonshiners for the last half hour, and it was getting late. But he was trying not to get his hopes up.
What was he going to do? Confront Ethan in a public place?
Actually, that’s exactly what he was originally planning to do. It was the least he wanted to do. Ethan had managed to avoid him throughout the day, and Beau was ready to talk. Didn’t matter that he was going to use the excuse of needing to come by and get his tools from the Walker Demolition shop tomorrow. That was just his way in.
But, the opportunity never presented itself, and after going by Walker Demo twice, he had finally given up. After all, he wasn’t going to chase Ethan.
Then why are you parked outside by his truck?
Beau shook his head, dislodging the thought. Ok, so yes, he was sitting in his truck like a pathetic loser when he could’ve been inside shooting the shit with his friends. Instead, he was hoping that Ethan would turn in early tonight, and he would have a chance to talk to him.
As though he’d conjured the image right from his thoughts, the door to Moonshiners opened and Ethan stepped out into the night. Once the door closed behind him, effectively muting the blare of country music coming from inside, Beau released his steering wheel and sucked in a breath.
He waited until Ethan walked passed on his way to his truck before he called out, “Hey.”
He could’ve sworn Ethan rolled his eyes. The idea made him smile. Although Ethan was playing hard to get, Beau knew good and damn well that Ethan felt whatever this was that was churning between them. It was omnipotent, there was no way he could avoid it.
“I’m off work, Bennett,” Ethan muttered, but had the decency to stop close to Beau’s open window.
Wanting to be closer, Beau climbed down from his truck and stood just a few feet away. “Good to know. I’m not here to talk about work.”
“In that case, I don’t have anything to say to you.”
Ethan turned to walk away, but Beau halted him with a very low, “Wait.”
Beau wasn’t sure what was supposed to happen next, but what did happen hadn’t been in his plan. A second later, he found himself slammed up against his truck, Ethan’s big, warm body pressed solidly against him. He had to squeeze his hands into fists to keep from reaching for the man, pulling him even closer so he could taste him.
“When are you going to learn, Bennett?”
“What is it you think you’re teaching me?” he asked, locking eyes with Ethan.
“You don’t want this,” Ethan said, his voice low.
Arguing seemed to be a futile option because honestly it wasn’t going to get him anywhere, so Beau waited patiently to see what Ethan would say next. After all, at the moment, he had everything he wanted: Ethan plastered up against him, the hard ridge of Ethan’s cock belying his denial of what was going on between them, and the bewildered expression on Ethan’s sexy face.