“Thanks, man,” Noah nodded at him.

Braden put a hand on Gavin’s shoulder and squeezed. They’d been through a lot together, the two of them. He was glad to have his friend back in his life.

The four men walked away, leaving Gavin and Mason alone with the sounds of a summer night—the crackle of the fire, crickets and wind through the trees.

It was nice. He didn’t realize how much he missed living in a place like this after he’d pretended to belong in the suburbs for so long.

“So.” Mason finished off the beer in his hand. “What’s the history with you and Braden?”

Ah hell. That question was loaded down with more history than Gavin wanted to go into.

CHAPTER THREE

“Toss me another.” Mason nodded toward the cooler, wondering why in the hell he asked Gavin about Braden. All he should be doing was drinking and enjoying the night, and not getting into other people’s business.

But then, he’d always been curious. Maybe that’s why he made such a good bartender. He liked talking to people. It had made him good in the restaurant business, as well.

Gavin pulled a can from the cooler and handed it to Mason.

“Good friends,” Gavin finally answered. “He was my first boyfriend when we were in high school. We moved away together afterward.”

“No shit?”

Gavin nodded, looking a little lost in thought. “It was strange seeing him with Wes today. With their little girl and all their relatives. The acceptance. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Now they were getting somewhere. The edge to Gavin’s voice told Mason that he hadn’t experienced the same kind of acceptance. In some ways, Mason hadn’t, either. Not that his family cared he was gay. They never had, but there were many ways to make someone feel bad about the person they were, even when it wasn’t done on purpose. Obligation was a damn heavy weight to carry.

“So, you came in for the wedding and then you’re heading home? Where is home, anyway?”

Gavin sighed and dropped his head back, looking at the sky. Mason loved the night—the darkness, and the little specks of light up there. The stall in Gavin told him he’d just hit a sour subject. Or maybe he just thought Mason was a nosy son of a bitch—which he was.

“Hell, I don’t know where home is. I don’t really know what I’m doing, either.”

The words echoed through Mason, swam around and made a home there. No, they’d been there already, because he felt the same. He always had. It’s why he moved to Blackcreek and bought the bar in the first place.

“I used to teach music at a high school. I lost my job. I guess I didn’t really lose it since I just walked away, but…” Gavin took a drink, and Mason had a feeling the alcohol gave him a looser tongue than he’d normally have. “It’s all I’ve ever done. And I loved it, in a way. I’ve always loved music, but I think I always knew I didn’t belong where I was anyway. It was never real. Hell, I’m drunk. I don’t know what I’m saying. The point is I’m renting Braden’s house. Not sure how long I’ll be here or what I’m going to do.”

There was a story there. Mason heard it in the tone of his voice, but really it wasn’t any of his business.

Gavin stood, stretched. When he did his shirt rose, showing Mason muscular abs and a trail of dark hair. The man was sexy, but that’s not what had his mind running right now. Gavin had said he didn’t know what he was saying, but Mason understood it. He felt it, because despite having a family who loved and accepted him, he never felt like he belonged, either.

Turns out he didn’t—only everyone except for Mason himself had been in on it until recently.

“You ever bartend?” he asked on a whim.

Gavin looked down at him and cocked a brow. “No.”

“It’s not teaching, but if you’re looking for something to do, I have a position open. Could use a little help. The pay’s not great, the hours suck, and it would only be part-time, but we have a hell of a good time down there.” He winked.

“Even though I’ve never tended bar before?” Gavin smirked. Mason couldn’t tell if he wanted to look as sexy as he did or if he was just drunk and couldn’t smile straight. Either way, he liked the view.

“Eh, I know your friends so I’ll give you a chance. I’ll give you a book I have on mixed drinks to go over.”

“Homework and studying? Maybe it’s not too different from teaching. Sounds like it’s right up my alley.”