Текст книги "Reckless"

Автор книги: Nicole Edwards

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

Thirty-One

“What are you doing out here?” Gannon asked as he joined Cam out on the back deck.

It was two o’clock in the morning.

“Just thinking,” Cam told him, peering back at Gannon over his shoulder.

“About?” Gannon took a seat in the chair beside Cam.

“You. Me. Us.”

That surprised Gannon, but he tried not to show it.

“I think I need to get back into counseling,” Cam said, his voice softer than before.

Gannon swallowed hard.

“I know that you have to travel, and the last thing I want is for that to come between us. It’s not fair to you.”

“Or you,” Gannon told him.

“True. And I was wondering…” Cam paused, looked over at him. “Would you consider going with me?”

“To counseling?”

Cam nodded.

“Of course.” He’d be honored to go with Cam.

“Good.”

Good? That was it? Gannon wasn’t sure what to say, so he didn’t say anything at all.

“What if they can’t fix me? What if I’m permanently fucked up?”

The fear in Cam’s voice told Gannon he was serious.

“We’ll get through it, Cam.” He wasn’t sure how, but Gannon was willing to do whatever it took.

“I really am sorry. You didn’t deserve what I did to you.”

“It’s over now,” Gannon said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees while he looked over at Cam. “One thing I’ve learned, you can’t live in the past. One day at a time. One breath at a time.”

“I love you, you know?” Cam smiled.

“I love you, too.”

“This won’t be easy.”

“Probably not,” Gannon agreed. “But it’ll be worth it.”

Cam nodded, then turned back to peer out at the trees.

“You hungry?” Gannon asked. They hadn’t bothered to eat after they’d gotten back to the house, choosing instead to spend their time in bed, then moving to the shower shortly thereafter.

“I’d cook, but your freezer’s empty,” Cam replied.

“I’m sure I can come up with something.” Getting to his feet, he stared down at Cam. “Give me a few minutes. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.”

Another nod from Cam and Gannon headed inside to cook.

Half an hour later, just as he was finishing the stir-fry he’d tossed together from the frozen chicken strips and the bag of frozen vegetables he’d had—which, according to Cam, had equated to nothing in the freezer—Cam came back inside to join him. They ate in comfortable silence, then cleaned up the kitchen together. Without a word, Cam took Gannon’s hand and led him back to the bedroom.

As though they’d done it a million times before, Cam crawled into bed, and Gannon climbed in after him, spooning against him.

Holding Cam, feeling the slow rise and fall of his chest, hearing him breathe… It was truly the best feeling in the world.

Well, aside from making love to him.

But this was good, too. Different good.

And for the first time in a week, Gannon slept.

Cam opened his eyes to see the first rays of the sun slipping between the wood blinds in Gannon’s bedroom. Sleep hadn’t come quite as quickly as Cam had thought it would, although he’d been pleasantly exhausted, but only because he hadn’t wanted to close his eyes.

He didn’t know how long he’d stayed like that, but at some point, he must’ve fallen asleep, because now he was awake, the sun was coming up, and Gannon’s arms were still around him.

And just as it had been last night before he’d drifted off, his mind was spinning from everything that had happened since yesterday when he’d gone to the airport to pick Gannon up.

What it all meant.

Cam was overwhelmed by so many things. There was so much Cam wanted to tell Gannon, but he didn’t even know how. Only because he didn’t think there were words that could describe the magnitude of what he felt for the man. Hell, it was crazy.

For the first time in his life, Cam was ready to introduce someone to his father.

It felt strange, complex even. As though he couldn’t contain everything he was feeling.

And today, moving forward felt different, too.

While he’d been sitting outside last night, Cam had actually thought about getting married.

Freaking married.

Never in his life had he considered that, but he’d gone so far as to imagine picking out a ring, getting down on one knee, and proposing to Gannon. Hell, he’d even thought about the wedding.

Yep, definitely crazy. That’s exactly what it was.

They’d been going slow this entire time, and suddenly Cam felt as though he was trying to fast-track things.

Did Gannon even want to get married? That was something Cam didn’t know about him.

“Mmm.”

Cam smiled when he felt Gannon’s breath on his shoulder, his erection pressing against his ass.

“You’re insatiable, you know that?” Cam muttered, tightening his hold on Gannon’s arm, which was still tossed over Cam’s stomach.

“I blame you,” Gannon whispered, his voice rough from sleep. “What about you?”

“What about me?” Cam rolled to his back, turning his head so he could see Gannon.

Gannon’s hand slid lower, wrapping around Cam’s dick.

“Looks like you’re insatiable, too.”

Before Cam could answer, Gannon’s head disappeared beneath the blanket.

“Ah, fuck,” Cam hissed when Gannon’s smooth lips wrapped around the head of his dick. Not wanting to miss the show, Cam forced the blankets off, revealing Gannon, who was lying on his side facing Cam, knees up by Cam’s chest, propped up on one elbow as he sucked him.

Placing an arm over Gannon’s hip, Cam caressed the smooth skin there as Gannon slowly sucked him, their eyes locked together. It was so hot to watch him, to see how much he enjoyed doing that. Cam knew the feeling because he loved it just as much.

Which gave him an idea.

“Roll onto your back,” Cam instructed, turning onto his side.

When Gannon was on his back, Cam crawled over him, straddling Gannon’s head, while Cam’s mouth hovered above the heavy length of Gannon’s erection.

“Perfect position,” he said softly, fisting Gannon’s cock and guiding it into his mouth.

The sixty-nine position wasn’t an easy position. Sure, doing it was easy, but maintaining focus was far more difficult. With so much pleasure assaulting him, the heat of Gannon’s mouth working over his cock, Gannon’s fingers teasing his balls, Cam found it difficult to focus on returning the pleasure.

He tried.

He really, really did.

But it seemed that Gannon was hell-bent on driving Cam completely out of his mind. Minutes later, Cam was on his back once more, and this time Gannon was between his legs, bent over and sucking Cam for all he was worth.

Cam didn’t look away, sliding his fingers gently through Gannon’s hair, doing his best not to pull him closer, not to shove his dick as deep into Gannon’s mouth as it would go.

“Damn,” Cam mumbled. “You want me to come in your mouth?”

Gannon didn’t say a word, just met Cam’s gaze and sucked harder, faster, using his fist to stroke Cam right over the edge.

“I’m gonna come,” Cam warned. “Take all of me. Everything.”

Gannon didn’t stop, bobbing up and down, taking Cam as far as he could until Cam passed the breaking point, sputtering nonsense as he came, erupting into Gannon’s mouth, eyes still locked on him.

Yeah, if he’d thought he was attempting to fast-track things before…

This certainly hadn’t helped.

But right now it didn’t matter, because it was time to return the favor.

Thirty-Two

The last two days had gone by in a blur. For nearly seventy-two hours, Gannon had had Cam all to himself. Not once had they left his house. Hell, they’d rarely left his bedroom.

It had been incredible.

Now, as Gannon sat at his desk, reviewing one of the reports his operations manager had provided him, he could hardly focus. He knew he needed to, but thoughts of Cam continued to interfere with his good intentions.

“Hey.”

Gannon looked up to see Milly stepping into his office, a huge smile on her face. “Hey.”

“Have a good weekend?” Her tone said she already knew the answer to that question.

Gannon leaned back in his chair, smiling at her.

Milly quickly turned and closed his office door, then lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “How’d it go? Did y’all work it out?”

“We did, but I’m sure you already knew that.”

“Since I didn’t get a phone call, I assumed.” Taking a seat across from him, Milly regarded him steadily. “If you expect me to apologize, I’m not gonna do it.”

Gannon laughed, leaning forward and resting his arms on his desk. “I didn’t figure you would.”

“But it worked, didn’t it?”

“What? You sticking your nose in my business?”

Another smile, this one had her cheeks turning pink. “You would’ve done the same for me.”

Maybe. Gannon tried not to interfere in other people’s business, but he had to admit, Milly was probably the one who’d salvaged the most important relationship Gannon had ever had.

“Did he stay the weekend?” she asked, curiosity making her crystal blue eyes sparkle.

“He did.”

“You’re not gonna tell me the details, are you?” Milly’s smile turned into a frown.

“Nope.”

“At least tell me when the wedding is.”

Gannon choked and spurted, sitting up straight and trying to catch his breath. “No wedding.”

“Not yet, you mean.”

He didn’t know what he meant. At this point, he was simply content to continue moving forward with Cam. They’d been through a lot, and because Gannon would continue to travel, he knew that they had a long road ahead of them. Milly might’ve saved the day this time with her quick thinking, but she wouldn’t be able to do it going forward. Not every time, anyway.

Counseling would probably do them good. No matter what, Gannon was willing to give it a shot. Anything to help Cam, because he’d seen it firsthand when he’d mentioned Singapore. The mere thought of someone going away sent Cam spiraling into a panic attack.

“You think it’ll get easier for him?” she asked.

“What?”

“The traveling?”

Gannon shrugged. He didn’t know how things would go in that regard. He wanted to believe that Cam could eventually come to grips with it, but even he knew it wasn’t that simple. And like Cam, Gannon still had his own fears, as well, knew they could get out of hand with little effort. He’d merely managed to keep them contained all these years, tucked away in a box. Out of sight, out of mind.

He’d done a pretty good job of dealing with them until that night when Cam had broken up with him. They might’ve worked things out this time, but he still worried. What if Cam did it again? What if they couldn’t get past the fact that Gannon had to travel to keep his company running smoothly?

Those were questions Gannon wouldn’t have answers for until the next time. Or the time after that. All in all, his love for Cam still scared him, still made him wary.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t willing to go the distance. To persevere.

“Y’all are good for each other,” Milly told him, brushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “Don’t let him screw it up.”

“Him? What about me?”

“Well, if you fuck it up, I’ll just kick your ass. But you’re my best friend. I can do that.”

Gannon chuckled. “I appreciate what you did, by the way.”

Milly’s smile lit up her entire face. “I figured you’d be pissed.”

He’d wanted to be, but she’d saved his relationship, convinced Cam to give him another chance. So he couldn’t be too upset. “Just don’t do it again.”

Holding up her hands, fingers crossed, Milly said, “I promise.”

Of course she did. That was Milly.

“But you have to promise me something in return,” she prompted.

“What’s that?”

“I want to be the maid of honor at the wedding.”

Gannon felt his face flame from embarrassment. As much as he liked the idea of marrying Cam, spending the rest of his life with the man, they had a long road ahead of them. They’d made it this far, but it had been rocky to say the least. Being optimistic was one thing, but jumping into something that he still had doubts about was something else entirely.

He loved Cam. There was no doubt about that. He wanted to spend every waking moment with the man.

However, he had a feeling that loving Cam might possibly be the hardest thing he’d ever done.

“What’s up, part timer?” Dare greeted when Cam walked into the office.

Cam gave his friend the finger, smiling as he did. Even Dare’s taunting couldn’t affect Cam’s good mood. He’d just spent an entire weekend with Gannon. Practically three entire days they’d been together, and from the minute he stepped out of Gannon’s front door that morning, he’d been ready to go back.

Dare clutched his chest dramatically. “Ouch. I’m hurt, man.”

“Thanks for fillin’ in for me,” Cam told his friend, grabbing the coffee carafe.

“No problem. Just remember my generosity in the future when I need to run away for the weekend.”

Cam looked away, his neck heating as he thought about how he’d spent the last three days with Gannon. And it had been the best damn weekend of his life.

“How was it, anyway?” Cam cast a sideways glance at Dare.

“No problems on this end. Teague took one of my appointments, but that’s it. Honestly, it was kinda slow.”

Reaching for the appointment book after pouring himself a cup of coffee, Cam looked up to see Roan heading toward the door.

“That’s my cue to jet,” Dare whispered loudly, then bolted out the back, mumbling as he went. “Do not want to see the fiery crash this morning.”

Cam glanced over his shoulder, then returned his attention to the door when the alarm sounded. Because of the chime delay his friend had already entered the building, so Cam studied him briefly, noticing he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days. His hair was mussed as though he hadn’t bothered to brush it. And to go along with the scraggly appearance, Roan did not look happy.

“Mornin’,” Cam greeted, watching him.

“Yeah,” Roan replied, not looking at Cam.

Shit.

He couldn’t say he hadn’t expected Roan to be pissed at him for taking a few days off without talking to him first. If he had to guess, Roan had been surprised since Cam rarely took time off, and never did he take more than one day off at a time.

Nor did he spend the weekend with a guy. But in his defense, Gannon wasn’t just any guy.

Cam decided to extend the olive branch, not wanting the tension between him and Roan. “How’s your sister?”

Roan glared at him. “Fine.”

“She go to rehab?”

Roan stopped a few feet away, staring at Cam as though he didn’t know him. “What the fuck do you care?”

Cam felt as though he’d been slapped. He didn’t know what to say to that, didn’t know if he should even attempt to smooth things over with Roan or merely give him some space. Had something happened to Cassie? Or was Roan seriously pissed at Cam?

Then he remembered his conversation with Dare.

Why didn’t Roan give me this encouragement?

Are you fucking serious? The guy can’t see past his own love for you.

What? What the hell are you talking about?

Ah, hell. I forgot. You can’t see it, either. He’s so fucking in love with you—or thinks he is—it’s awkward to be in the same room with the two of you together.

Cam still didn’t believe it. There was no way Roan had feelings for him. No matter what Dare said.

Only, standing there now, it looked as though Roan’s anger was directed at him. Since Cam had called Dare and asked him to fill in, he couldn’t imagine that Roan had been inconvenienced by his absence.

Could it be true?

Was Roan jealous? Of Gannon? Or was something else bothering him?

“I care,” Cam retorted. “She’s like family.”

“Then I guess you shoulda been here,” Roan snapped.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Cam spat, angry that Roan would treat him this way. They’d been friends for too long for Roan to act like this.

“Not a goddamn thing,” Roan yelled. “Why don’t you go back to your boyfriend and leave me the fuck alone?”

No.

God, no. It couldn’t be true.

Cam didn’t say a word, didn’t know how to address this in a civil manner. Not to mention, he didn’t want to jump to conclusions. Accusing Roan of being jealous—when there wasn’t anything to be jealous about because their relationship wasn’t like that—would only piss him off more.

Roan held his stare for another few seconds, then spun around and hauled ass out the front door, not looking back.

Cam remained where he was, confusion and, yes, anger replacing the giddiness he’d felt that morning when he’d woken up beside Gannon.

Just when he’d thought he had overcome the toughest hurdles this relationship had brought thus far, Roan had to go and do this.

Thirty-Three

At seven o’clock that night, Gannon stepped into the marina office, hoping to find Cam, but a quick perusal told him that Cam wasn’t there.

But Dare was.

The man’s head lifted from the magazine he’d been reading, hazel eyes leveling on him. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Gannon glanced around, trying to appear casual. “Cam around?”

Dare leaned back in his chair, flipping his ball cap around backwards. Gannon noticed, unlike most of the other times he’d encountered Dare, the man was shirtless. It was hard to miss the muscles in his chest flexing as he crossed his arms. “Everything cool?”

Gannon wasn’t sure at this point. He’d texted Cam several times throughout the day, letting him know he’d be stopping by if Cam was up for company. Never heard from him. Then, when he’d left work, before he’d pulled out of the parking lot, Gannon had shot off another text, letting him know he was on his way. And when he still didn’t get an answer, he had attempted to call only to get Cam’s voice mail.

It appeared as though Cam was avoiding him. Or perhaps that was his own insecurities talking. It was possible that Cam was just incredibly busy, making up for taking off the weekend to spend with Gannon.

“Yeah,” Gannon said. “Just wanted to see him.”

“How’s work?” Dare asked, getting to his feet and moving to the counter.

“Good. Busy.”

“Any upcoming trips?”

Dare seemed oddly curious, but Gannon didn’t mind. Considering he knew that Cam was close to them all, he welcomed the casual conversation.

“Yeah. Gotta go back to California in a couple of weeks.”

“The travelin’ thing…” Dare said, resting his arms on the counter. “It’s not easy for Cam.”

He knew that already, but still, Dare’s blunt assessment of the situation sparked Gannon’s curiosity. He knew he shouldn’t encourage Dare because it was an invasion of Cam’s privacy, but he couldn’t help himself. The words simply came out. “I know. It’s been tough, but I think we’ll make it work.”

“Think?”

Gannon swallowed hard, trying to figure out what Dare expected from him. What was he supposed to say?

Dare continued to study him. Gannon fought the urge to fidget.

“You’re good for him, you know.”

Well, that wasn’t the direction he’d expected the conversation to go, but it did help to alleviate some of the tension. “Thanks.”

“It’ll take him some time, I’m sure. But don’t give up on him.”

He hadn’t planned on it, but still, something seemed off about this conversation. “Is there something I need to know?”

Dare glanced behind him, then met Gannon’s gaze again. “Do you love him?”

Gannon didn’t feel comfortable telling Dare how he felt about Cam, so he lifted his eyebrows in question.

Dare smiled. “Fine. Not my business. But if you do, just fight for him. That’s all I’m sayin’.”

Fight for him?

Gannon forced his jaw to remain closed, although he was sure he looked as confused as he felt. He wanted to know what Dare meant by that, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask. Nodding, as though he understood completely, he looked around again. “So, is he here?”

“Out in the shed. He’s been runnin’ around like crazy today. I think he’s helpin’ Roan put some stuff up.”

The door chimed and Gannon looked back to see a young couple coming in.

Dare smacked the counter, nodded at Gannon, then greeted them with a smile.

Gannon gave a curt, two-finger wave and then headed outside. He needed to talk to Cam.

Making his way down the pier, he noticed that the doors to the shed were open, so he figured Cam and Roan were still inside. He didn’t want to surprise Cam, but he didn’t know what else to do. Maybe Dare was right and they’d just been busy, which was why Cam hadn’t answered him.

But if not, and Cam had once again gotten cold feet, Gannon knew he needed to address it before they took two steps back and ended up right where they’d started.

Considering how much work it’d required to make it this far, Gannon damn sure wasn’t about to let that happen.

Cam had followed Roan out to the shed, wanting to get him to talk. After the way they’d left things that morning, he couldn’t sit by and allow this rift between them to grow. If he didn’t address it now, he risked losing Roan completely. And that wasn’t something Cam was willing to do.

Clearly something was bothering Roan, and Cam needed to get to the bottom of it, even if he didn’t want to know. And if Roan’s issue had to do with Cam and Gannon, he definitely didn’t want to know.

For weeks now, Roan hadn’t been himself. Every time Cam attempted to talk to him, he found himself shut out. At first, he’d thought it was just the summer months arriving and work increasing. Then, he’d figured it had to do with Roan’s sister and her relapse.

Now, he wasn’t so sure it had anything to do with those things.

They’d been friends for so long, and Roan had always talked to him when he had a problem, and now it seemed as though his best friend was purposely avoiding him. Which made Cam think that Dare might be right.

Although he hoped that wasn’t the case.

He really hoped that wasn’t the case.

“Hey,” Cam called out to Roan when he stepped into the shadows inside the large shed they used to house tools and extra equipment. He’d expected to see Roan moving things around or getting supplies.

That definitely wasn’t what Roan was doing. “What’s wrong?”

Roan’s head jerked up, his hands sliding up to wipe what looked a hell of a lot like tears from his face.

“Is your sister okay?” Cam asked, immediately assuming something had happened to her.

Dare had filled him in earlier after Cam’s failed attempt to get Roan to talk. According to him, Roan’s family had attempted to get her into rehab, but she’d refused to go. Dare hadn’t expanded on the details, probably because he didn’t know the details, but Cam knew how hard that must’ve been on everyone.

And Roan was right about one thing, Cam hadn’t been around much lately. He should’ve asked about her more often, offered to go with Roan to see her even though Roan had shot him down the first time.

“Yeah,” Roan said gruffly, getting to his feet, turning his back on Cam.

“Then what’s wrong?” Cam asked, placing his hands on his hips and watching Roan closely.

“Nothin’.” Roan moved toward the opposite wall, messing with one of the life jackets hanging there.

Cam studied him momentarily. As he saw it, he had two choices. He could either walk away, accept that Roan was pissed at him, and leave this thing between them unsettled, or he could confront Roan by pissing him off and forcing him to address the issue.

Cam decided to go with option two. “Bullshit. If nothin’s wrong, then why are you hidin’ in here?”

Roan’s body twisted around, his golden eyes pausing on Cam’s face. “I’m not hiding.”

“Sure looks like it to me.” And now that he’d gotten Roan’s attention, Cam didn’t want to argue. Lowering his voice, he added, “Talk to me, man. What’s bothering you?”

He fucking hated this silent treatment.

“Something’s obviously wrong, Roan. And I’m pretty sure you’re pissed at me. I deserve to know why.”

“Nothin’ to talk about,” Roan said and Cam knew he was lying.

“So you’re in here having a breakdown for no fucking reason?”

“Fuck you,” Roan bit out.

Cam held his ground when Roan moved toward him, hands balled into fists. Maybe he was a little masochistic, but he definitely preferred Roan pissed than seeing him falling apart. That was so unlike him Cam didn’t even know how to approach the issue.

“Talk to me,” Cam said, keeping his voice low, even.

Roan’s gaze remained locked on Cam’s face, and he fought the urge to squirm. Something was definitely up, but he couldn’t, for the life of him, figure it out.

“Where’s Burgess?” Roan asked.

“His name’s Gannon,” Cam corrected. Again. No matter how many times he did, Roan still insisted on calling Gannon by his last name.

“Where is he?”

Cam shrugged. He figured Gannon was at work. He hadn’t talked to him all day. Since he hadn’t charged his phone all weekend, the damn thing had died on him, and he’d hooked it up in his apartment earlier, figuring he wouldn’t need it.

“He back from his trip?”

Roan already knew the answer to that. Cam wouldn’t have been gone all weekend otherwise. Still, he answered, “Yeah. He got back on Friday.”

“Is that where you were all weekend?”

Cam nodded.

“I thought y’all broke up.”

Cam didn’t want to go into the details of his relationship with Gannon. “We worked things out.”

“So you’re not gonna freak the next time he goes on a trip?”

Cam narrowed his eyes at his friend. Roan was baiting him, he could tell. And he didn’t fucking like it one bit. Roan knew Cam better than anyone. He knew how hard it was for Cam. Hell, when Holly and Keith had gone on their honeymoon, Cam had been a basket case. His father had had to sedate him to keep him under control.

And that same terrifying panic had returned when Gannon had left.

But they were working through it. Because Cam loved Gannon.

Cam met Roan’s eyes, confused by the antagonizing tone. Frowning, he tried to figure out if Roan wanted that to be the case, for Cam not to be able to deal with Gannon traveling. “Why would you ask that?”

Roan shrugged. “It just seems like he doesn’t care that it bothers you.”

“It’s his job,” Cam countered.

“Yeah? And his job’s more important than you are?” Roan rolled his eyes. “Doesn’t sound like a stable relationship to me.”

Cam took a deep breath, trying to contain the anger that threatened to erupt. Before he could say anything, Roan spoke again.

“Look, I’m sorry.” Roan’s tone had softened, his eyes pleading.

Cam took a step back, baffled by Roan’s complete one-eighty. One second he’d been provoking Cam, the next he was apologizing.

None of it made sense. His best friend was acting really strange.

“Cam…”

The hair on the back of his neck stood up in warning. That tone of voice… He’d never heard Roan talk like that, and if he wasn’t mistaken…

“I need to tell you something.”

Cam lifted an eyebrow, forced himself to stand in place when Roan took another step closer.

“Ever since you and Gannon started goin’ out…”

Cam waited, not breathing. Praying that Dare wasn’t right. That Roan wasn’t going to say something now that could alter their friendship forever.

“It’s been hard for me.”

“What?” Cam asked, confused. “What’s been hard for you?”

When Roan’s eyes dropped to Cam’s mouth, it all became very, very clear. The uncomfortable silence thickened, making it impossible to breathe. His best friend could not possibly be saying…

“I’m in love with you.”

Someone cleared their throat, and Cam’s head snapped over to see Gannon standing in the doorway, his eyes wide as he stared between Cam and Roan.

Holy fuck. Had he heard Roan’s admission?

Roan took a step back instantly and Cam did, too. It was as though they’d been busted doing something they shouldn’t have been doing. And the heartbreaking look on Gannon’s face made Cam’s stomach churn.

“Sorry,” Gannon said softly as he turned to walk away. “Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“No, wait,” Cam called after him, starting toward the door to follow. He would’ve given chase except Roan grabbed his arm.

“Cam. Don’t leave me hangin’ here.”

Cam stared at Roan. “I… I don’t…” Glancing at the door, Cam realized he needed to go after Gannon. He had to settle that first, then he could talk to Roan.

Maybe.

“I have to talk to Gannon,” he blurted, pulling out of Roan’s grasp and lunging for the door, not bothering to look back at his friend.

His best friend had just told him he was in love with him. How could that be? And if that was the case, why the fuck hadn’t Roan said something before now? Not that it would’ve made a damn bit of difference. Cam didn’t have those feelings for Roan. He never had. Sure, they were friends, and Cam would do anything for Roan, but there was no chemistry there. As far as Cam was concerned, Roan was like his brother.

“Gannon, wait!” Cam called after him when he reached the pier, but Gannon seemed to pick up the pace.

When Gannon practically broke into a jog across the parking lot, Cam took off after him, running full out. He didn’t stop until he nearly tackled Gannon against his car.

“When’d you get here?” Cam asked, winded from the short run.

Gannon’s eyes widened as he stared back at Cam, but he didn’t say anything.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” he added.

“Obviously.” Gannon’s eyes narrowed; the pain Cam saw there broke his heart all over again. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You didn’t,” Cam told him, reaching out for Gannon’s hand, unable to help himself.

But Gannon pulled back from him instantly.

When he reached for the door handle, Cam put a hand out to stop him. “Don’t leave. We need to talk.”

Gannon shook his head, not bothering to look at Cam.

Cam tried to see the situation from Gannon’s point of view. He could understand why he was upset, but he definitely didn’t want Gannon to get the wrong impression. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

The hurt look on Gannon’s face disappeared, replaced by something Cam had never seen before.

Anger.

Disappointment.

And the strange pinch in his chest made it hard to breathe.

Just when he’d thought they were making progress. Working through their issues. It looked as though they’d only circled back to where they’d been before, back to when they’d been guarding themselves from one another, fearing the worst.

Now, it looked as though that tension had the chance to escalate into something Cam wasn’t sure he could handle.

There was no way he could let Gannon walk away from him now.

Cam didn’t think he’d survive it again.