Page 15

“Well?” Cameron asked.

Each of the men pointed at the other one, blaming each other and making Rylan laugh at their antics.

Cameron huffed. “Don’t encourage them.”

By this time, Cameron stepped back and out of his arms and without realizing it, Rylan groaned at the loss of his touch. He smiled at Rylan, causing the pressure in his chest to relax, before he glanced at his friends.

“Why are you up so early?”

Instead of answering, all three men walked around the counter and continued to stare at Rylan. His cheeks warmed at their perusal, but the blond smiled at him before he turned to Cameron.

“Because we’re hungry.”

Then the handsome brunette spoke. “It’s a coincidence we showed when you have a guest.”

“Yeah, right,” Cameron mumbled. He plucked him off the counter and pressed Rylan’s back to his chest, keeping a passive arm around Rylan’s waist as they faced his friends.

Rylan caught Cameron’s eye when he glanced back and he raised his brow in question.

“Fine.” Cameron huffed. “Guys, this is Rylan.”

He tried to move forward to shake their hands, but Cameron’s arm held him in place. The blond stepped up and introduced himself as Tim and Rylan shook his hand. He tried to pull his hand back, but Tim held on.

“Tim, Rylan would like his hand back.”

Tim shot him a sheepish smile and let go before Aaron and Eric, the brunette, introduced themselves. Instead of stepping back after the introductions, they all stood close with expectant looks on their faces and their gazes moved back and forth between him and Cameron.

“If you stay for breakfast, can you help us move Rylan’s stuff in here after?”

All three of them looked curious as if they were holding their questions back. The timer went off and Cameron moved to take the quiche out of the oven and Rylan grabbed three more mugs and plates, setting them on the dining room table. He also grabbed the coffee when Cameron cut up the quiche and stirred the fruit salad and soon, they all settled down for breakfast.

Cameron broke the ice by asking how their off-season workouts were going and before long, voices filled up the kitchen and Rylan gave up on trying to figure out what they were talking about. He smiled when Cameron reached for his hand and a warmth rushed through him when their fingers laced together.

Rylan, heart thumping in his chest, sent out a silent thanks for giving him the courage to talk to Cameron. Cameron would grow to be important to him in ways he had yet to understand. And he didn’t have to know right now. He was getting to know this amazing man and his friends and for the first time in a long while; he was excited about his future.