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Rubbing his face, he tried to find the words to explain how he didn’t want to drop Matt into the middle of the entire family. While his immediate family and the odd cousin or two were people Matt could at least recognize, the rest of the family was a different matter. His family was absolutely huge. He didn’t want to think about how sprawling his family tree would be if someone actually plotted it out.

“He’s not exactly…” Nick began, then hesitated.

She sighed. “I know, dear. I’m not expecting Matt to be the life of the party. And don’t think you’re a whole lot better, either. But don’t you worry, I’ve already made plans to make sure the two of you have plenty of space to stretch out without bumping into every relative.”

“Dare I ask?” Nick asked as he finally resumed walking.

“As if there aren’t enough guest houses for you two to stay in. Dakota House will be perfect.”

He thought about that and had to agree begrudgingly. Dakota House was the guest house at the northernmost corner of the property. It wasn’t cut off from the rest of the houses, but the distance between it and the main house was enough that they wouldn’t be in the thick of things.

“Alright, I’ll let him know,” he said with a heavy sigh.

“Oh, don’t sound so put out, dear. I can’t wait to tell everyone you’ll be showing up!”

Nick winced. “Could you run interference with some of the family? I do not need another awkward dinner because someone thinks Matt and I are a couple.”

“Mmm,” she said tightly, and he could imagine her pursing her lips. “Yes, we don’t need another repeat ofthatEaster, do we?”

The Easter in question had been five years before. Nick had brought Matt with him as usual, expecting the usual collection of immediate family. No one had warned him his Great Aunt Lily would be there. Her name might indicate a gentle, sweet woman, but that would be dead wrong.

Nick hadn’t thought twice about her presence other than quietly warning Matt to stay away from her. He hadn’t counted on her drinking a bottle of wine and grilling them about the ‘nature of their relationship.’ The conversation had spiraled rapidly out of control, with his great aunt condemning them both for their ‘sins’ before they could correct her assumption.

“She’s going to be there, isn’t she?” Nick asked.

“I did say the whole family was invited,” his mother said grimly.

It had been his mother who had swooped in to distract his great-aunt before she could really pick up steam. Matt had been left sitting beside Nick in awkward silence for the rest of the meal while Nick had been fuming. It was hard enough having people wonder if they were a couple, feeding into Nick’s paranoia that one day, his friend might discover the feelings he kept buried.

“I’ll make sure, if she does show up, to have her put on the other side of the estate,” his mother promised.

“I would appreciate that. The last thing I need is to have her get into the wine again,” Nick said.

“Yes, we’ll have to keep an eye on the cellar this time, won’t we?”

“Look,” Nick said as he stepped up to his door. “I just got home. I’ll make sure Matt and I can get the time off, but I don’t think that’ll be a problem. Any more than I think it’ll be a problem for him to want to come. As soon as I have both answers, I’ll let you know.”

“Excellent! Now, others are showing up earlier, but try to be there by the twenty-third, will you? I want at least a few days with you boys.”

“I’m sure we can swing it.”

Some part of him almost wished he could nurture the old dream that time alone with Matt would mean something more to the two of them. It wasn’t as though their friendship didn’t mean the world to Nick, but it didn’t change what his heart yearned for. After years of dealing with his unrequited feelings, he didn’t harbor any illusions. The feelings remained, but the wistful, quiet fantasies had been buried and left behind a long time ago.

The ache, though, still stuck around.

MATT

He cocked his head to listen. The music coming from the living room was too loud, but he thought he heard the thump of a boot being dropped by the front door. Only one person had the ability and willingness to stroll into his apartment without so much as a warning.

“Finally get free?” Matt called from the bathroom, running a towel through his hair.

“God, don’t,” Nick’s deep voice complained, drawing closer.

Matt propped open the door, letting the steam from his shower billow out. After ten years of friendship, most of it on the same team, it wasn’t as if they hadn’t seen each other in all states of dress.

Nick stopped just shy of stepping into the bathroom. “Congrats.”

Matt peered around the door, drying his stomach. “On what?”