He didn’t have with Deacon what Holden had with Roe, but still, he liked the idea and didn’t bother to correct him.
Chapter 18
Deacon
Deacon had scheduled another worker to come in at six, knowing he would want off earlier. Even beforehand, he’d been excited to spend the evening with Grady, to see how he would react to Deacon adding his name to the flavor of ice cream.
Grady was still sitting outside with Roe and Holden when Deacon finished up for the night. The air was chilly—in the forties, it felt like—and they were all in thick flannels or jackets. Soft rain trickled down around them, and lights glowed along the ceiling of the patio, dispelling the darkness. Deacon took his apron off, washed his hands, then headed out, feeling slightly…insecure? Weird? He’d known Roe for years and had met Holden when he’d first come to Briar County, but this would be new—being around Grady and other people. He worried they’d take one look and be able to tell, imagined them pointing and asking if he knew what Grady’s arms felt like around him and that Deacon hadn’t slept so well in years.
Which was…the craziest shit he’d ever heard. He needed to get it together.
Deacon approached them. “So what did you think?”
“Best ice cream in the whole state,” Roe said.
“It’s basically the reason I moved here,” Holden added.
“Liar.” Roe leaned in and pressed his lips to Holden’s. Deacon felt his whole body flush, his gaze flicking briefly to Grady.
“You moved here because you knew we’d have Sticky Bourbon?” Deacon asked, playing along. It was much easier than focusing on the pull he felt inside him, the one that made him wonder what Grady’s lips would feel like against his own.
“Yep,” Holden replied just as Grady said, “My Sticky Bourbon. Not just anyone’s.”
“Now don’t you let that go to your head,” Deacon told him.
“Already did. Guess I should take you out to dinner as a thank-you, though,” Grady said, nudging him with his arm. “You hungry?”
Yeah, yeah he was. He also suddenly had goose bumps running up and down his arms. “I could eat,” Deacon replied, then looked at Roe and Holden. “What about you guys?” The second he asked, he wondered if he’d screwed up. Had Grady asked him on a date? And hell, if he had, did Deacon want that? He’d never been on a date with a man, but then, he hadn’t been on a date with anyone other than Patricia. He also hadn’t let a man hold him, but he did that with Grady, so how was going out to dinner any different?
“Nah, I think we’re gonna head back to Harmony,” Roe said. “Wyatt and Sean are coming over. But you two have fun. And we definitely need to hang out sometime.” Roe was looking at him, studying him in this way Deacon couldn’t really make sense of. It was almost as if Roe didn’t know him, as if he hadn’t seen him before or was trying to figure him out.
“Just let me know when and where, and I’m there,” Grady replied, and Deacon nodded in agreement.
The rain had slowed some, but it was still coming down. Everyone had a hood except for him and were pulling them up.
“Here, wear this.” Grady took something out of his pocket and then began fitting it over Deacon’s head before he paused, seemed to realize what he was doing, and pulled back. “Sorry. Reflex.”
Deacon’s heart was thudding, his voice hoarse when he said, “It’s okay. Thanks,” and finished tugging the beanie on.
Roe and Holden said goodbye, then jogged out to Roe’s truck.
“Sorry again about that,” Grady said. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“It’s fine.” It felt more than fine. Simple as it was, Deacon had liked it. He felt…cared for. “Do you mind if we eat at home tonight? Order in or something? I just…” Christ, he wanted to be alone with Grady. Wanted to be close to him in a way he was still putting together. All the pieces were there waiting for him—Deacon just had to make them whole.
“Yep. Your place or mine?”
He opened his mouth, almost said to go to Grady’s, but something made him say, “Mine. And you can stay.” They’d never shared a bed at Deacon’s before.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” He was surprised at how sure he was. He wanted to sleep in his own bed, and he wanted to do it with Grady.
“How about I go grab some things from home and pick up dinner? I’ll meet you at your place, if for nothing else than to get my beanie back.” Grady winked.
“You might have to fight me for it.”
“Eh, looks better on you anyway,” Grady replied, then turned and jogged toward his car.
Damned if Deacon wasn’t smiling.
He went home, showered, and put on a pair of sweats and a tee. His nerves picked up, attacking in full force, even as he told himself there was no reason to feel that way. What he and Grady were doing didn’t mean anything. They were friends who took comfort in each other, and that was that.