Buzz (The Riley Brothers Book 1) (4 page)

After the obligatory hugs and kisses, all three brothers set off for the bar.

***

“So, I had an ulterior motive,” Cameron confessed over his beer, pulling out the folded real estate booklet.

They were all settled around a table in their favorite bar. It was the one Jackson had taken Cam to when he turned nineteen, then Cam had taken Thomas to last year on his nineteenth.

I wonder how they'll take this.

“You're looking at real estate now?” Thomas exclaimed while Jackson choked on his beer.

“Just look at the ad.”

Both men leaned in across the table and Cameron pushed the ad towards them. It took a minute before it sank in.

“You're thinking... the three of us?”

“I'm not pushing you,” Cameron hastened to tell them. “Thomas, you can always transfer back to your old branch, but if you were serious about wanting to come here...”

Thomas's eyes had lit up, and Jackson was beaming.

“No way, man,” Jackson exclaimed. “You're serious?”

Cameron drew a deep breath and let it out. “Well, it's worth investigating.”

“We never thought you would wanna move back here after a taste of the big life,” Thomas murmured. “Jackson and I even talked about splitting a duplex before...”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Jackson laughed. “But, man, this could be perfect. Thomas, do you think you can get a transfer again so soon?”

“I can swing it somehow,” Thomas nodded. “Pull strings if I have to.”

“I'd have to go home and get the other place cleared out and all that,” Cameron shrugged. “But if we're serious... We can help take care of Mom and Dad when they need it, and... you know, be together.”

“I like it,” Jackson nodded. “But then, I'm already here. It's up to you two.”

Thomas and Cameron exchanged looks.

When Thomas nodded, Cameron let his breath out.

I can't believe I'm walking away from that dream.

But, as he'd been trying to do all day, he did his best to reframe it.

I'm
getting
something out of this, not losing everything.

“And, for the love of God, we can all get boyfriends or girlfriends or whatever.” Jackson held up his beer in a toast. “And get our shit together.”

Cameron laughed and clinked glasses. “I think you two have your shit together. It's just me.”

“Doesn't feel like it sometimes,” Thomas laughed. “I always thought
you
two did.”

Jackson shook his head. “I thought
you
two did.” They shared in the next laugh. When they settled down again, all three of them were glowing with pleasure. Cameron's chest was tight with pride he tried to hide: he'd brought them together again, at last.

“What about Coach Walker?” Jackson asked Cameron.

Even that didn't dampen Cameron's spirits. He had to face his coach sometime; the sooner, the better. Cam didn't yet know if he'd be proud or disappointed.

Cameron rose to his feet. No time like the present. “Be right back.”

He picked his way around rowdy students celebrating the end of exams and stepped outside, enjoying the cool breeze as he searched for his phone. Before he took it out, though, he spotted a familiar face and the other guy saw him at the same moment.

It was Noah, from the farmer's market. His lips were turned down, but the moment he saw Cameron, a smile broke across his face.

Cameron's cheeks flushed, and he told himself it was just the chilly April air. He didn't believe in signs, but he'd bumped into Noah just as he was about to change everything.

“Hi.”

Noah's eyes glimmered, his rich voice a little strained with emotion. “Hello. Fancy meeting you here. Weird timing...”

“It is for me, too.” Cameron hesitated. “You all right?”

Noah nodded, that cute blond hair bobbing in the light breeze. “Yeah. I'll be fine,” he promised, his eyes flickering back and forth between Cameron's.

“Yeah?” Cameron wished he knew how to offer comfort, but whatever he was doing was working.

Noah's smile only grew. “I'll be great.”

It was the first time Noah had been stood up for a date since university. He was an ancient twenty-four years old now, and he hadn't had a lot of dates lately. It was a slap in the face after taking the time to get dressed up.

Flaky-ass guys around here, Jesus.
It had seemed like a promising first date at a nice bar with an art appreciator. It wasn't that Russell was late; Noah had waited half an hour. He'd never had a date show up more than half an hour late and it wasn't like there was heavy traffic here.

Noah patted his hands together to ward off the spring chill. The nights were still damp, with most of the snow having only melted two weeks earlier. There were still tiny patches here and there in the shade.

That was it for dating, then – blind dating, at least. Noah would wait until someone showed interest in him. Someone like--

The bar door banged open, and the physicality of the man who walked out made Noah glance over. With Noah's pretty lips, swishing hips, and clingy jeans, he was always on guard.

But he didn't have to worry about Cameron.

Despite the chill, Noah's cheeks were warm. His heart pumped, blood rushed through his body, and his jeans were a little too tight. His fingertips tingled, so he pushed his hands into his pockets as he faced Cameron.

The way Cameron's eyes widened made Noah smile. He wasn't the only one who had taken note of the man at the market, then.

He struggled to get over Cameron's physical good looks and respond to small talk. Cameron picked up on his rollercoaster of emotions. Far from feeling like a last resort, the way Cameron watched him made Noah feel like the center of the world for a few seconds.

“You all right?”

Noah managed to assure him that he'd be fine. In fact, a smile burst across his face.

“Well, that's better. You're cute when you smile.”

Noah's cheeks flushed red and he knew it. He could handle compliments like a grown man, but fuck, Cameron's roguish bad boy air set him off-kilter.

“Th-Thanks,” Noah answered, laughing under his breath. “Glad you think so. I just got stood up.”

Cameron's expression went from teasing flirtation to furrowed brows. Noah raised his eyebrows. Despite barely knowing him, the man was angry on his behalf.

“That's not right. I'm sorry, man.”

Noah shrugged, not wanting to be a downer. He wanted more attention – compliments, physical closeness... “It's my fault. He was a flake, in retrospect. I meet loser 'alpha' dudes who decide they don't wanna be seen in public with... you know.” The lisp slipped out despite his best attempt to prevent it, his
losers
and
seen
slipping through the night air.

Cameron didn't cringe. “Just out for a little Grindr action.” He nodded sympathetically. “Sorry. I mean, I'm sure everyone says it, but... what about someone more like you?”

“More feminine?” Noah teased, and he was thrilled at the pink staining Cameron's cheeks. Maybe it was just the cold, but maybe it had been
him
having that effect on Cam. “Don't worry. I don't mind people calling me that,” he added. “I've tried, but... we end up being friends. I just don't feel the chemistry. They don't turn me on like a guy who can haul me around.”

Like him. Oh, fuck.
He hadn't even finished the sentence before he realized that Cameron's short t-shirt sleeves showed rippling muscles and strong forearms. They were lightly hairy and Noah wanted to run his palm across the hairs and make Cam's skin tingle. Cam's thumbs were tucked into the pockets of his jeans.
How isn't he cold in a t-shirt?
As he dragged his gaze back up Cameron's body, a knowing smirk lingered on Cam's lips.

“N-Not that, you know, that's everything... but it just tends to be... a factor...” Noah bit off his sentence before it continued, watching Cameron smirk.

Then, Cameron leaned in and Noah's whole
body
tingled, even though they didn't touch. Cameron's feet shifted until their bodies faced each other. Cameron's foot was between Noah's. Warm breath tickled his jaw as Cameron murmured, “You'd be cute to haul around, believe me.”

Noah licked his lips. He
wanted
the burn of this man pressing up close to him, his strong hands closing around his arms or ass...

“But first,” Cameron added, pulling back enough for them to make eye contact, “I'd like to hang out and... get to know you.”

Noah hadn't expected the just-friends line right after
that
line.
Friends with benefits? Is that what he wants? Or is he looking for a... mature relationship, too?
Either way, he was interested.

“Yes.”

Cameron laughed quietly. “I haven't even asked.”

Noah cleared his throat. Cameron's eyes sparkled and nose scrunched when he laughed. “To a date. A get-to-know-you date.”
He'd better not fall through and get shy at the last moment.

“Are you asking me?” Cameron teased, but before Noah answered, he nodded. “That's what I'd like. I'd like your number first, though.”

“Oh, yeah,” Noah murmured, fumbling for his phone to pull it out of his pocket.

They swapped numbers and Noah raised his eyebrows at Cameron's first few digits: 905. “From Toronto?” he asked. Cameron nodded. “How long are you visiting?”

“I'm mid-move, actually. I'm here for another week and a half, and then I fly back to Toronto to finish packing up and properly move.”

Oh, so he's very new to town. Why move here without a job lined up?
Noah nodded. “Um, this weekend?” That was the obvious choice. “Oh, no, I have a hockey game.”

“Ah.” A startled expression crossed Cameron's face, and Noah fought his immediate reaction: annoyance. Most guys built like Cam had been the star hockey kids. They could never believe that “someone like him” would be into playing hockey at all.

Noah decided to continue. “And next weekend, I'm building wooden boxes for my uncle's beekeeping business.”

“I've done carpentry.” Cameron winked
.

Oh my god, is he offering...?
“Oh, I – I can't put you to work on the first date!” Noah laughed, and Cameron joined in with a chuckle. “And honestly, I don't want to wait that long.”

Cameron wasn't turned off by his frank admission. “This week? Monday evening?”

“Yeah. Perfect,” Noah nodded. Monday evening wouldn't force him to wait
too
long, but it was going to feel like an eternity anyway.

“Can't wait.” Cameron gave him another of those perfect, gleaming, genuine smiles. How did his teeth glow in the darkness? Had he had them whitened? Noah tried not to let it distract him.

“Me, too.”

I should get home before I embarrass myself. Jesus.
Noah's hands almost shook with nerves. “O-Okay. I'll see you. Text me and we'll set up the details.”

“Will do,” Cameron promised, lingering near the door of the bar and waving. It was a sweet moment, and Noah relished it.

Noah raised a hand. He strode down the sidewalk, thankful that the concrete was bare now. It was a quicker getaway when he didn't have to tiptoe across slick patches. He resisted the urge to glance over his shoulder.

Despite the chill, a pleasurable glow deep in his belly warmed him.

“Hello, Ms. Henley? This is Cameron Riley. I'm in town at the moment and my brothers and I saw the ad for the three-house package. I know you might be off Sundays, that's no problem, but we'd like to get a tour on Monday, if possible. Here's a number where you can call me back...” Cameron hated leaving messages. He gave Jackson's number to call back so Rogers wouldn't nail him on long-distance.

Jackson loved working in the early hours, so he was already at his workshop while they waited for Thomas to wake up. Cam was used to waking up early for practice in pitch dark, bone-chilling winter.

“Well, no sense waiting around.” Cameron grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. If they couldn't get a formal tour that day, he'd go check out the neighborhood, at least.

The day was brisk but sunny, for which Cameron was grateful. His winter in Toronto had been snowier than usual, so it was nice to bask in sunshine without choking on the cold. Sure, Cam had grown up on skates and handled the cold better than most. Didn't mean he didn't love the warmer weather of cross-training season.

Cameron found the package – three empty houses in a row, but spaced apart well with privacy fencing. That wouldn't work for their family, so he'd install gates. The siding needed painting on all the houses for curb appeal. Those front porches looked old, too... and there wasn't much landscaping. That wasn't even counting updating the dated rooms inside.

But Cameron wanted a project to stay busy while he sat on his ass instead of training like he'd done every summer since he was eight.

“They look good,” he murmured under his breath, just for some company. As he walked back past the three houses, he headed downtown to window-shop in the boutiques.

He soon met more people he knew: his parents' friends, a family doctor, and a professor. Everyone was happy to see him – and everyone asked about his hockey career. He brushed them all off by telling them it was a vacation.

He didn't want to tell them all he'd fucking
failed
the one thing he'd been born to do.

Cameron grabbed a newspaper and fresh pastries, then walked to one of his favorite parks to eat and catch up on local news.

The paper was filled with small-town matters from fundraisers to opinion letters on the town council. By chance, Cameron spotted an Events article about an art show coming up at the hockey arena, curated by a Noah.

The same Noah whose pretty dark eyes and smile enchanted Cameron already? He
did
look like an art curator. He'd have to ask.

There was also an ad for a casual men's hockey club. Cameron flipped the paper shut. No sense tempting himself.

Time to get home and make the most of the day with Thomas and Jackson. Having his brothers around all the time would be a change, and they still had a lot to catch up on. Thomas and Jackson had been closer than him since he'd always been away for practice or camp.

And then, of course, he had to get in touch with Noah's uncle about that beekeeping job...

Cameron had to pull his weight wherever he could until he found a new purpose.