Tossing the stone, Rafa laughed. “Nope. Frenchmen are wasted on Ashleigh. Now French—” He bit off the women just in time. Keeping his gaze on the river, Rafa laughed again, a reedy sound this time. “Um, French pastries are more her indulgence. She’d never cheat. No worries.”
“Hmm. Glad to hear it.” Shane’s voice was even, but did he sound a little…skeptical? Suspicious?
He’s gay too. He’d understand. Maybe I should just tell him the truth. Maybe he’d even…
Shaking his head, Rafa grabbed another stone from near his feet and launched it. Maybe Shane would what? Like him back? It was crazy to even fantasize about it. But he couldn’t deny that it would be wonderful to be out to a man he could trust. Not that Ashleigh wasn’t understanding, but sometimes he really wanted to talk to another guy.
He went to the pack and pulled out the thermos of cold water. He gulped some down and offered it to Shane, who eyed the bottle. Rafa flushed. “Oh, sorry. I forgot cups. Shit.”
“It’s fine.” Shane’s fingers brushed Rafa’s as he took the thermos. “Thanks.”
Rafa watched Shane’s throat work as he swallowed, and heat shot through him. Ducking his head, he busied himself with the food. “I made sandwiches and stuff. Nothing fancy. You probably don’t even want one.”
“You brought food?” Shane smiled. “Of course I want some.”
“You do? Cool. Um, here.” He thrust up one of the foil-wrapped sandwiches.
After he took it, Shane glanced around again. “Thanks.”
Rafa sat on a flat rock by the water’s edge. “Why don’t you sit?”
Shane shook his head before taking a bite. He moaned softly, and Rafa dug his nails into his palm. “Damn. This is amazing. Did you make the bread?”
He couldn’t help but beam a bit. “Yeah, earlier this evening. It was still a little warm when I wrapped up the sandwiches.”
“Mayo too?” Shane glanced left and right.
“Yep. I didn’t make the beef, though. Or the provolone.”
Shane smiled, his cheeks creasing. “Would be a challenge to make a cow.” He peered into the trees again.
“It’s seriously fine. There’s no one out there.”
Shane peered down at him. “Those are what we call famous last words, Rafa.”
Hearing Shane say his name gave him a highly inappropriate thrill. “Good point.” He got to his feet so Shane wasn’t looming over him. “There are some cookies too. Peanut butter snickerdoodles. Oh, I should have asked if you have allergies.”
“I don’t. Love peanut butter.” Shane took another bite of his sandwich. When he swallowed, he asked, “So why are we here in the middle of the night?”
Because I wanted to go somewhere it was just the two of us for miles. Rafa shrugged. “I like this spot. I thought it would be pretty with the moon. Guess I’m getting a little stir crazy at home. Probably because it’s not really a home. Even with the third floor to myself, staff still come up there. You’re never really alone in the White House.”
Shane watched him with an intense gaze. “You’re not alone here either.”
“I know, but it’s different with you.”
“Different how?” Shane still watched him.
Rafa grabbed the thermos off the ground and took a drink. “I dunno. You’re cool or whatever.” He put down the thermos and the rest of his sandwich before stepping up on a rock right by the water’s edge. “It’s peaceful here. I love water.”
“Don’t get too close.”
Rafa rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to fall in.”
“Let’s not make those famous last words either.”
“I know you wouldn’t let me fall.” As the quiet words left his mouth, Rafa’s smile faded, and the air suddenly felt electric. The river hummed, and Shane watched him, his half-eaten sandwich still in his hand.
To break the strange tension, Rafa forced a laugh and went right to the very edge and stood on one foot. “Not even if I did this. Or—”
Rafa swung his arms to keep his balance as the traitorous rock shifted beneath him, but in a blink he was in the water, the cold stealing the air from his lungs as his ass hit the rocky bottom and the current tugged hard at him. Then Shane was there hauling him up, his hands gripping Rafa’s upper arms.
Blinking, Rafa looked at Shane, and then down at where the water rushed around their knees. Lifting his head, he met Shane’s gaze, and after a frozen moment, they burst out laughing.
“I think I’m okay.” Rafa snickered. “I can just…you know. Stand up.”
His shoulders shaking, Shane still gripped Rafa’s arms. “I told you not to get too close.”
“You did. You totally, explicitly told me so.” He tried to stop laughing, but standing there with the water flowing around their knees, it was all just so silly.
But then Shane tugged him forward and wrapped his arms around Rafa’s back, and a giggle died in Rafa’s throat as he held his breath. His arms were pinned at his sides, and Shane…Shane was hugging him.