“Do you trust him, D?” Sway asked quietly. “Is he dangerous?”
Dana was serious when he answered. “Personally, I think he’s the most dangerous man in Atlanta, but he’s only a threat to certain people. To answer your other question, I trust him with my life every day, and the life of my partner. He’s an amazing man. I’m lucky to have met him but even luckier to call him a friend. I’d trust him with my baby brother too.”
Sway was impressed with Dana’s statement. He wanted to ask more but he knew that eventually Dana would stop answering and switch to asking him questions, and he didn’t want that. He had no answers.
“I guess this means you haven’t called him,” Dana said soberly. “No wonder.”
“He hasn’t um, you know. Asked about me, or anything?” Sway asked as if he could care less, but his heart beat wildly at the thought that Brian had secretly inquired about him too.
Dana shook his head. “It’s not his style. He’s not going to come to me crying for answers.”
“I’m not crying, bighead. I just figured my best friend would have my back and let me know if I’m going to make a huge mistake by seeing this guy, knowing what he’s been through, and knowing what I’ve been through, D.” Sway leaned back. “And you know my mom and I are a package deal. Would it be fair?”
“Yes! It’s absolutely fair. Everyone deserves to be happy, especially you two. Brian, he’s, he’s been through some stuff, yes. But, I’ll be damned if he isn’t one of the strongest, most disciplined men I’ve ever met because of it. What he went through didn’t make him weaker, it made him a beast.”
“Damn.” Sway had concluded that Brian’s silence had everything to do with what had happened to him while in the service, but that was the extent of it. If he wanted to know more then he’d go about it the right way and earn Brian’s trust. But, the thought of putting himself out there again was scary. What if something happened? Another heartbreak like he’d suffered, and next time he’d end up in an insane asylum.
Dana threw a few bills onto the table when he noticed the servers starting to do some cleanup. It was going on ten, and Sway needed to get home and rest. “Let Brian decide if you’re worthy.”
They left the quiet restaurant. The night air was cooler than usual, and Sway wished he had on more than his scrubs and a light hoodie. When they were almost to his Impala, Dana elbowed him. “So, you gonna go for it?”
“I’ll think about it,” Sway said honestly. He still wasn’t sure if he should bring his baggage—and his own insecurities—to the table and dump them on top of Brian’s or not. He also felt silly for putting him and Brian in a relationship already, complete with relationship-like issues when he’d barely spent a total of two hours in his presence. How about dinner with the man first, Sway? Over-presumptuous much? But he knew if he gave this a shot, he’d have to be all-in because Brian didn’t seem the type to do anything half-assed. He was intense and consuming in a way that made Sway soar. He’d never encountered anyone like Brian King; and in the small amount of time he’d had with him in that sex club he’d made Sway feel as if they were meant to find each other amongst a dark abyss of writhing lost souls. He’d made him feel special, adored, hopeful. That wasn’t what he’d been prepared to feel that night. It’d been too damn long since he’d felt anything… so he’d run. He ran from the immediate connection, and from the way he’d felt when the huge man had him pressed tightly against his thick chest in Dana’s house. Oh no. Brian wasn’t looking for a fling.
“Don’t overthink it. Isn’t that what you told me about Ford?” Dana smirked.
“I don’t recall,” Sway lied.
“Yes, you do. You and Brian have some type of weird chemistry popping off and you’re terrified of it.” Dana leaned on the door of Sway’s car, preventing him from escaping inside to block out his big brother’s accurate assumption.
“Am not,” was all he could murmur. He’d never been able to lie to Dana and make it believable.
“I can do a set up for you if you want, since you’re being such a little girl. I’ll invite Brian over to my place and then you can just pop up or something. Bring some food or some shit, he loves to eat.” Dana thought, then a shit eating grin covered his ruggedly handsome face, “And if you check your back bone at the door this time, you can just borrow mine when you get inside.”
Sway groaned. “Ugh. You’re such jackass. Don’t torment me, D.”