by Ally Decker
The spell broke when a man sitting next to Charlie leaned into him to say something and blocked Kevin's line of vision. He blinked, and quickened his pace as he headed for the other end of the table where Nate and Claire were sitting, an empty seat next to Nate waiting for him.
"Did it work?" Claire asked when he sat down.
"Huh?" Kevin asked, Charlie's eyes still vivid in his memory, even as he looked at the crazy amount of food spread out on the table. He'd hoped nobody saw him staring, but Claire wasn't a police detective for nothing.
"Nate told me you were trying to get wi-fi to work," she said, glancing at her fiancé for a second before looking back at him.
"Oh, yes, sure." Kevin took a sip of water. "Not sure how stable it will be, but it's working for now."
The woman sitting on his other side turned her head so fast her neck had to hurt. "You got wi-fi to work around here?" When Kevin nodded, she gave him a blinding smile. "You're my hero, if you share the goods."
He chuckled. "Sure thing. Find me after dinner, and I will see what I can do. I'm staying on the other side of the camp," he added, gesturing with his fork in the direction of his cabin.
"So do I. That's where all the singles among us are staying, apparently."
Kevin nodded, not knowing what to say. He noticed the neighboring cabins had one occupants each, and it did cross his mind that it hadn't been an accident. But he also wasn't sure why she mentioned it. Was she flirting? Or was it just an innocent remark?
"Oh, no, I'm not hitting on you!" she said with a shake of her head and an amused smile. "Hi, I'm Tara, and I get my foot in my mouth way too often."
He chuckled. "I'm Kevin. And don't worry, now that I think about it, I was the one who asked you to find me in my cabin after dark."
Tara laughed. "There's that."
"I wasn't hitting on you, either, though. I'm gay."
"Of course you are," she said with a sigh, but at his raised eyebrows, she scrunched her nose. "Damn, sorry. I just…" She waved her hand to indicate the rest of the long table. "I work in musical theater. Most men in my life are gay."
Kevin looked down the table, and sure enough, he saw three gay couples out of about two dozen people. He knew Charlie was gay, too, so that left only Nate and Greg, and both of them were taken.
"Wait until Hollywood arrives on Friday," he told Tara as he loaded his plate with more food. The pasta was delicious. "Should add a couple of straight men to the mix."
"I'm not holding my breath," she said dryly.
Then the sound of metal hitting glass sounded from the top of the table, and the conversations stopped as everyone turned to see Sylvia putting her knife down and standing up.
"Everyone, thank you so much for being here with us on this admittedly a little bit crazy adventure." She glanced at Greg who caught one of her hands and tangled their fingers together. Her smile turned soft before she looked at the guests again. "I know it's not usual to have a week-long pre-wedding party, but once we found this place, we knew we didn't want to just fly here for a weekend and be done."
"Also, they usually don't let you book for less than a week, so we wanted to use the time fully," Greg added, and several people laughed.
"There's that." Sylvia nodded, smile not wavering. "We knew not everyone would be able to spare us a whole week, but we are truly grateful to you for making that time for us. But for yourself, too, because we want you to have fun, camp-style! We have the whole place to ourselves, so we can basically pick and choose what we want to do. Although I would be lying if I said I'm not expecting Broadway-themed fun." She gave half the table pointed looks. "You know where my heart is at, and I know you agree, so let's make the best out of this." Then she turned to where Kevin, Nate, and Claire were sitting. "Apologies in advance," she told them, but with the way she was grinning, it was obvious she didn't really mean it.
Next to Kevin, Nate shook his head. "Just don't make us sing," he warned his younger sister.
"Oh no, I know how bad you are at that, you're safe. Kevin, on the other hand—"
"No," he cut in. "Absolutely not." There was no way he was singing in public, especially among people who did it professionally.
"You're no fun," Sylvia told him, but there wasn't any bite in her tone. "Anyway, I'm looking forward to spending a wonderful week with all of you before I get hitched to this guy right here." She glanced down at Greg with the same besotted look Kevin caught earlier.
Murmurs of "aww" sounded around the table, and Greg pulled her back onto her seat and leaned in for a kiss. Then they all made a toast for the happy couple, and went back to their food and conversations.
"I didn't know you can sing," Claire said, reaching out for a few grapes in the bowl in front of her.
Kevin shook his head. "I'm better than Nate, though that's not really a challenge."
"I'm hurt," Nate told him, sounding anything but. Then he turned to Claire. "He can sing, but we only learned about this because we overheard him a few times in his office. He never does it if he knows we can hear him."
That was true. He sang sometimes, when a song got stuck in his head, but he would never do it in front of an audience, even a friendly one.
"I should've waited and come on Friday with Shawn and Dean," he said. His other two bosses had stayed behind in New York to work, and they were set to arrive with the rest of the guests for the weekend only. He almost hadn't come, either, but all three partners pointed out they hadn't hired a second IT person for nothing. They'd insisted he should go and have fun.
So here he was. The fun part was up for question right now, though.
"And what, leave the two of us alone in this madness?" Nate protested.
Kevin gave him a disbelieving look. "Yeah, because you definitely need me for your romantic getaway." He wouldn't be surprised if Nate and Claire spent most of their time in seclusion, only coming out for the meals. The two of them hadn't been on vacation for way too long, and between his workaholic tendencies and her NYPD detective position, they probably wouldn't get another chance to go on one anytime soon.
"You could get your own romantic getaway, if you'd go and introduce yourself to the guy you've been staring at since the airport," Nate pointed out in a low voice, so he wouldn't be overheard.
Fuck. Of course Nate noticed. Of course.
"I'm not looking for romance," he said quietly, words familiar like breathing, even if for some reason they didn't sound right this time around.
Nate rolling his eyes was just as familiar, though. "Yeah, sure. A hook-up, then."
Kevin shoved a piece of avocado into his mouth as an excuse to keep his mouth shut. His blood hummed at the mere thought of hooking up with Charlie, of seeing those bright eyes shine with desire, of feeling his body under his hands, and mouth, and…
He tightened his grip on his fork. This was not the time or the place.
He still couldn't stop himself from glancing towards the other end of the table once he knew Nate was distracted talking with Claire. Charlie was smiling softly at something a man next to him was saying, and Kevin wished he could make him smile like that. Or run a hand through his hair, maybe tug at the ends and see—
Damn it. He needed to get a hold of himself.
Preferably now.
CHAPTER FOUR
Charlie was up early on Tuesday morning, but he felt energized and ready to start the day. He rolled out of bed and, after a few minutes in the bathroom, pulled his sweatpants and a T-shirt on and went out onto the porch. It was quiet and empty still, with most people probably taking advantage of the vacation and catching up on sleep.
He breathed in deeply. No matter how much he loved New York, the fresh air smelled heavenly outside of the city. Sun and the soft breeze coming from the lake only added to the pleasure. He could feel his muscles relax more as he sat down on the steps to the cabin and leaned against the railing, closing his eyes.
He let his mind go blank and just enjoyed the moment, but after a few minutes h
e heard some rustling and twigs snapping from the direction of the lake. Someone was coming.
Charlie blinked his eyes open just in time to see Kevin appear between the trees.
And what a sight he was. He was wearing nothing but the low-hanging swimming shorts, and his damp skin was glistening in the sunlight. His wet hair was swept back, curling a bit against his nape. And his chest… The firm muscles looked particularly enticing, especially with broad shoulders and slim waist framing them.
Damn, even the man's calves were hot.
He had his T-shirt and towel thrown over his shoulder, and his gaze was locked on the phone in his hand. His preoccupation gave Charlie a few extra seconds to compose himself before he would get noticed.
Then Kevin raised his head, and maybe he could feel someone's eyes on him, because he looked straight to where Charlie was. Their gazes met, and Charlie's mouth went dry in three seconds flat. This was not two strangers accidentally seeing each other out in the broad daylight. This look meant hiding in the shadows of a bar, stepping into each other's personal space, eyes confirming what their bodies were already acting on.
Damn. It had been years since Charlie had last hooked up with a man he didn't know, but he was ready to go, right here and there, in the middle of a public place. He let his legs fall open more to relieve his hardening cock. Kevin's gaze slip lower for a split second before meeting Charlie's eyes again and proving that the heat between them could go up yet another notch just like that, without any touch.
You haven't even been introduced to each other yet, his unhelpful brain pointed out.
Charlie opened his mouth, but nothing came out, the words stuck in his throat. Kevin paused about a dozen feet away, and Charlie waited, unable to look away, but unable to say anything either.
Then the phone in Kevin's hand buzzed, visibly startling him. He blinked, and glanced down at his phone with a frown.
Charlie's next breath came easier, even if it was laced with disappointment. He stared at the ground somewhere between them, pretending not to listen to what Kevin was going to do.
"Sorry, it's just—" Charlie looked up to see Kevin waving his phone. "Work."
"They can't live without you, huh?" Charlie said, then swallowed a wince when his words registered. Get it together, he told himself.
But Kevin curled one side of his lips into a smile. "Apparently not. It can wait, though," he added before putting his phone in his pocket and taking a step closer. "I'm Kevin."
"Charlie." His voice thankfully sounded normal, and not like he was seconds away from having a heart attack—or going down on the man in front of him.
Either, or.
Kevin nodded. Did he know my name? Did he ask someone? The possibilities made Charlie's heart speed up.
"You're Greg's best man, right?"
Charlie nodded. "Best friend, too, whether he likes it or not." He offered a small smile, while desperately searching for something to prolong the conversation. The heat had eased up between them once Kevin's phone buzzed, but Charlie definitely hadn't lost interest. "And you?"
"I'm friends with Sylvia. We used to work together in her brother's company."
Charlie curled his hands around his knees. "Are you a fixer, too?"
"No, no. I'm the tech support, handling everything on the web."
Tech support. Charlie had never seen a computer guy built like this.
Before he could say anything, though, Kevin's phone started buzzing again, only this time it didn't stop after one short signal. Someone had to be calling.
Kevin pulled out his phone with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry." He swiped his finger on the screen and put his phone to his ear. "Yeah, Shawn, what's wrong?"
Charlie watched him frown, and it didn't take a genius to guess that their little moment here was over. He nodded and raised a hand in goodbye when Kevin mouthed another "Sorry" and gestured that he had to go.
He did turn around once, as he paused at the patio of his cabin—only a second one to Charlie's right. He caught him looking and smiled, sending a sloppy salute before rushing up the steps and disappearing behind the front door.
Well, damn.
***
After grabbing a quick breakfast, Charlie went back to his cabin to pack his towel, e-reader, and sunblock, and headed down to the small beach. He planned to go for a swim at some point, but for now, he just wanted to lie in the sun and relax.
He found himself looking out on the lake more than actually reading, but there was something soothing about watching the water, only barely ruffled by the morning breeze. It was the perfect early summer weather. Charlie realized he needed this week to rest and recharge after a long season. It had been a very fulfilling year, but he'd only just said goodbye to his character in Illuminations a few weeks ago, and it was hard on him still. He knew it was the right decision, but it didn't make it any easier, not really.
He knew his next role wouldn't be able to come close to what the last one brought him. A person could have a truly breakout role once, after all, and Illuminations gave him security he hadn't felt in the theatre industry before. It had given him new friends and colleagues, and new exciting opportunities. It had earned him his first Tony Award, too.
Now, he was jumping off of a cliff for a new project, and anything could happen. Joyride had a lot of potential, and he had connected with the role right from the start, but he also knew that his feelings didn't determine anything—definitely didn't promise a success.
He needed a change, though. And if he was going to let go of a sure thing for anything, this project was the perfect choice.
The laughter behind him pulled Charlie out of his thoughts. He turned to see four women heading onto the empty dock. Tara and Mira were pointing at something ahead of them and grinning, and Jocelyn and Georgia followed behind, fingers tangled together as they smiled, too. All four of them had been in Illuminations at the same time Greg had his short-run and Charlie had just been promoted from an understudy to the lead. Only Mira was still there, while the rest had moved on to other projects, with varying success. Tara's next play had flopped within a month, but she'd gone on to land a leading role in a successful off-Broadway show. Georgia and Jocelyn had both got roles in a musical that was solid, if nothing amazing. They'd extended their contracts for next year, though, because they liked it there. Besides, they got to stay together, and with the long hours of their job, that could count for a lot.
Charlie reminded himself that so far, he'd had what was a way-above-average career for a Broadway actor. He should really stop overthinking things and enjoy the moment for what it was. Not everything needed to be a smashing success.
He waved at his friends when they noticed him, then he looked down at his lap. His e-reader had gone into the rest mode a long time ago. He turned it off. There was no sense pretending he'd go back to reading now.
He looked at the water. Maybe it was time for a swim.
The memory of Kevin, wet and enticing, showed up uninvited in his mind. Charlie couldn't remember when was the last time he'd felt so drawn to a guy.
He shifted in his seat when his body reacted to the memory.
Yeah, swimming in cold water was definitely a good idea.
***
Aside from Monday, every night was going to be a bonfire night, which made Charlie more excited than he'd expected. He'd loved bonfires as a kid, and even as an adult, he thought they were something special. He didn't know if it was the nostalgia, the camaraderie of the group circling around the fire, or a certain romantic feeling to it, but whatever it was, he liked it.
Marshmallows were great, too.
"You're way better at this," Tara said next to him, as she brought her stick closer only to grimace at the burned marshmallow.
He circled his stick to put the other side of the candy closer to the fire. "You need to be patient."
"That's not a virtue I've ever had at my disposal," she said before putting a burned marshmallow into her mouth. "Ouch,"
she mumbled, waving her hand in front of her face.
"Too hot?" He reached down for her beer and handed it to her so she could wash her mouth with something cold.
"Thanks," she muttered after a few big gulps.
"Sure thing."
He tried to keep his gaze on his marshmallows, but from time to time, he couldn't stop himself from glancing up to where Kevin sat on the other side of the bonfire. One time he'd come close to burning his previous set of marshmallows when he'd stared for too long, watching the shadows play on Kevin's face.
Charlie caught him looking, once or twice, too.
Now Kevin was turned sideways, laughing at something Nate was saying, and Charlie wished he could trace his smile with his fingers—and his mouth.
He blinked and glanced back at his marshmallows and pulled them out of the fire. They looked perfect. He offered one to Tara, who sat down on the wooden bench, done with roasting anything.
"No, thank you." She sipped at her beer, and smirked at him when he took the seat by her side.
"What?"
"Kevin, huh?" She pointed her bottle in his direction. "Good taste."
Charlie raised his eyebrows, glad the darkness and the heat coming from the fire would hide his blush. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about the eye-fucking across the bonfire," she said, and Charlie almost choked on his marshmallow. He forgot how blunt she could be.
"You're seeing things."
"Oh, please." Tara took another sip of her beer. "He's gay, he wants you, and you want him. You'd be stupid not to take advantage of that."
"How romantic," he said dryly. He didn't ask how she knew Kevin was gay. He'd seen them talking last night. Perhaps when Charlie had tried not to worry he'd have to watch the two of them flirt for the entire week, they'd had the "what team are you playing for?" conversation.
"Do you need romantic?" Tara's question made him pause, so he took his time chewing the last one of his marshmallows. His stomach ached, but Charlie didn't know if it was the question or too much sugar.