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“We’ll tell the rest of the family to leave you guys to your hangover tomorrow,” Emily said as she hooked her arm through her sisters.

Nicole shook her head. “And we’ll figure out how to keep Mom off your backs. We’ll think of something, give you guys as much time as you need to...figure things out.”

Matt wasn’t sure he wanted to know what that meant, but he knew better than to ask, especially because the woman looked far too pleased for his taste.

Then again, maybe she knew what was bouncing around his head but was giving him the illusion of privacy as they’d done on the drive to the lodge, namely that his attention was firmly locked on the sensation of Nick’s lips on his. And how he wondered if the rest of what could have followed would have him tingling just as hard at the thought.

Matt screwed up his mouth, turning away before they saw anything else. He didn’t need any commentary on the new thoughts building in his head. Matt wasn’t even sure he knew what it meant, if it meant anything at all.

All he knew was that he needed to get back to his friend. Nick didn’t deserve to be alone. But first, he told the two women something they could do for him. They listened intently, grinning by the time he was finished.

That done, he returned to Nick, where he was needed.

The house was completelydark when he stepped through the front door. The warmth surrounded him, setting his nose to itching as he pulled off his hat and gloves. He listened closely as he pulled his boots and coat off, hearing nothing upstairs. Itwas possible Nick had found sleep in his drunken state, but Matt didn’t think so.

Hanging his coat up, he walked down the hallway, stopping when he reached the bottom of the stairs. He cocked his head, listening closely for the familiar sounds of heavy breathing that always accompanied Nick sleeping. When he heard nothing, he slowly mounted the stairs, stopping again at the open doorway.

Moonlight peeked in through the large windows. It was enough for him to see Nick’s dark shape lying on the bed, his back to the door. Matt felt a wave of affection for the man that he would sleep with his back to the door, even if he still felt bad about how things were between them. It meant he still trusted Matt, that he felt safe around him.

He could tell from the twitch of Nick’s foot and how he was breathing that his friend wasn’t sleeping. Not sleeping, but certainly trying to pretend he was, as though Matt would be fooled by it.

For a full minute, Matt stood in the doorway, staring at his friend, who was being completely ridiculous. His heart still ached to think about what Nick had endured for so many years, and his head was still fuzzy about how he felt. More important to him was to find a way to make Nick feel at least a little better or at least not as panicked.

The answer came to him so easily. He was surprised he had to think about it at all.

Sighing, he reached down, taking the hem of his shirt and pulling it up over his head. And while he normally wouldn’t think twice about shucking off his pants to sleep in his underwear with Nick, he didn’t think the timing was right. He did undo the button, easing the pressure around his waist before walking to the bed.

Nick’s shoulder twitched when Matt leaned forward, putting his weight on the edge of the bed. It was the only reactionhe received as he carefully shuffled over, stopping only when he reached Nick. Moving carefully, Matt let himself fall beside his friend, lying on his side to mirror Nick’s position. Without hesitation, he reached out, wrapped his arm around his friend’s waist, and pulled himself closer.

Matt pressed himself close, feeling Nick’s rigid body as he settled in. He listened carefully, smiling sadly when he finally heard the soft exhalation of breath that signaled Nick was thinking once again.

“I knew you weren’t sleeping,” Matt mumbled against his friend’s back.

“What…” Nick began, then tried again. “What are you doing?”

“Laying with you, I thought that was obvious,” Matt said simply.

Nick shifted uneasily. “That’s not what I meant.”

Matt smirked, deciding to grab hold of the awkward and yank it out in the open so it couldn’t dance away anymore. “What, you can confess feelings for a guy and kiss him, but you’re too butch to cuddle afterward?”

Nick gave a strangled sound and motioned as though he were going to throw Matt off. Anticipating it, Matt held on tighter, gripping Nick’s waist and pressing firmly against the man’s back.

“Jesus Christ, Matt,” Nick squawked.

Matt chuckled. “Calm down. I knew you were up here overthinking everything and freaking out.”

“I think there’s a good reason for that,” Nick bit out.

“Is there?” Matt asked.

Nick growled. “Don’t play stupid, Matt.”

“That’s the best part. I’m not playing anything. I’m just naturally dense,” Matt said cheerfully.

“It’s nice to know you think everything is so funny,” Nick muttered.

Matt winced, shaking his head. “I’m not trying to make fun of you, Nick. And I’m not going to lie here and pretend that what you said wasn’t a big deal. It is. It’s just...not a big deal the way you’re making it out to be.”