Dare You To
Author: Riley Hart
CHAPTER ONE
"It smells like burned popcorn. Did you burn the popcorn again?"
Austin Thompson looked toward his front door just as Dare Nichols closed it. They'd been neighbors and good friends for six years. About two years ago, they'd started having movie or card nights-one or two Sundays a month. It hadn't taken long before one or two Sundays turned into three, and finally they ended up making it their weekly staple.
And a few weeks ago was the one and only time Austin could remember burning the popcorn, but of course Dare had mentioned it every Sunday since. "The popcorn's not burned," Austin grumbled.
"Smells burned."
"No, it doesn't."
"Yes, it does."
"No, it doesn't." Austin glanced at the perfectly popped kernels in his large glass bowl. He didn't mess with that microwave shit. He made it on the stove, the way you were supposed to. His popcorn was perfect, damn it.
"Made ya look!" Dare teased.
Austin rolled his eyes at his friend. The man acted like a ten-year-old trapped in a lunatic's body. "You're giving me a headache."
But he really wasn't. The thing was, he kept Austin on his toes. If he was being honest, he didn't know how they were such good friends because they didn't have much in common. Austin was a youth counselor at an LGBT center. Dare owned a bar. Austin liked to spend his spare time reading; Dare definitely hadn't gotten his name from books. He loved doing anything thrilling. He loved extreme sports and taking risks, and Austin left that up to Dare and the characters in his books.
Despite all of that, Dare was probably one of the best friends he'd ever had-minus the probably.
Dare walked over and ruffled Austin's dark red hair like he was a kid.
"Stop it." Austin jerked his head back, and Dare laughed-deep and sincere, with a husky edge to it. He had the happiest laugh Austin had ever heard-full of life and energy.
"You know you love me."
Austin stared at him and Dare continued, "Grab the popcorn and I'll get the beer. It's your turn to pick the movie. I hope we're watching something good." Dare opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of beer. "I'm not tired, so hopefully you didn't pick something that'll put me to sleep."
They wouldn't be Austin and Dare if Dare didn't always try to bust his balls. "What's with you? You're being extra obnoxious tonight." Austin nudged Dare's arm. He had his shirt off and wore only a pair of sweats. Like it always did, his thick, brown hair looked styled … but not. It was like he ran his hands through it, made it stick up in just the right way, but it never looked like he put product in it. Knowing Dare he said, "Stay," and his hair just listened. He had that kind of magnetism.
"I'm in a good mood. Can't I be in a good mood?" Dare kicked the fridge closed and turned for the living room. It was a small apartment-both of theirs were, the layouts exactly the same only flipped. That and Austin's had bookshelves and paintings, while Dare had a surfboard in one of the living room corners and his mountain bike by the door and all of the other shit Dare had that he didn't.
Austin followed him into the living room, and they each took a seat on Austin's brown leather couch. Dare looked over and gave him a cocky grin, making Austin say, "Jesus, again? How in the hell do you find all these men to hook up with?" Dare was relentless in his quest for ass-or cock. He didn't discriminate in how he got his sex and most men gladly gave it to him.
"There are these things called hookup apps. You make a profile and browse other people's. You find someone who's hot, talk a bit, or don't and there you go. It's really advanced technology. You should try it sometime."
For the second time since Dare came over, Austin rolled his eyes at the man. "You're funny. Has anyone told you you're funny? A regular fucking comedian." He shook his head. "I don't have time to hook up with random people."
"There's always time to fuck."
He knew Dare was half-kidding, but serious as well. The thing was, Austin worked a lot. And even when he wasn't officially at work, he was often at the center. He liked spending time with the teens there, liked playing games with them and talking to them, and being a positive role model in their lives. "Plus, I'm seeing Brian, remember?" Well, he was sort of seeing the man. It had been about two months now. They met at one of his favorite West Hollywood coffeehouses. Austin wasn't completely sure how things were going. It wasn't serious, but it was nice to have someone there from time to time. It was nice to feel wanted.