Austin started, "I'm sorry-"
"No, don't be," Dare interrupted. "It made me who I am and I'm damn proud of that person. But it also made me a little leery … nervous to get close, if you know what I mean." It was as if a war went on inside him-the one that told him to be careful, not to risk getting involved with Austin, and then the other side. The one that told him they already were involved, were close, they had been for six years, only now they were evolving in a way that was inevitable between them.
And yeah, something was definitely going on inside his head because it wasn't like Dare to think shit like that.
"Thank you for taking me surfing," Austin told him.
"Eh, anytime. I'm sorry to tell you, but you suck, though. I'm not sure if I can help you."
Austin laughed, and Dare tried to, but he couldn't seem to make himself.
"I heard you," Austin said after a moment. "What you were saying, I heard you. And I am sorry, but I'm also damn proud of the man you are. And I think things are changing, and we both know it. Maybe they were always supposed to change, Dare, I don't know, but they are and I want that. I didn't know I wanted it until recently, but the need is so fierce, it steals my breath sometimes."
Dare rolled over, leaned over Austin. The man really needed to shut up. That had been enough emotional stuff for today, but as soon as he went to lower his mouth to Austin's, he said, "It'll be okay. I know it will be."
Dare's answer was a kiss. He slid his tongue deep in Austin's mouth. He tasted like saltwater. His hands gripped Dare's hair, and he wondered if Austin even realized it. If it was becoming automatic.
Austin nipped his bottom lip, and Dare growled into his mouth. He wanted to fuck him, to take him right here, but instead he pulled back. "You're a good kisser, Austin Moore."
"Thank you. So are you."
Dare went to pull away, but Austin grabbed his arm. "Thank you again."
"Right back at ya." Dare winked at him, stood and then held his hand out for Austin. He helped him up and then they gathered their stuff, changed-Dare having brought extra clothes for himself-and then hiked back up to the Jeep. "What are your plans for the rest of the day?" Dare asked him.
"I need to go to the center. We need to finish everything up for the kids' dance next weekend. They're all teasing me because this whole thing was my gig, yet I'm going to be the only person there without a date."
The comment was said casually. There wasn't a bone in Dare's body that thought Austin said it for any reason other than it being the truth; they were talking and it had just come out.
But then … Austin had put so much work into this, so much love that it didn't feel right that he go alone. And as much as Dare felt uncomfortable in places like that because they reminded him of a past he wanted to forget, he thought he also might want to be there on Austin's special night.
Dare stopped him with a hand on his arm, before he could get into the vehicle. "I didn't make a banner or hire a scriptwriter, or whatever else it is kids do nowadays to invite each other to prom, but … will you be my date for Rainbow Prom anyway?"
Austin's vivid, green eyes went wide. "You have to work."
"Perk of being the boss." Dare winked.
"You can't want to go spend your night with a bunch of teenagers. I appreciate the thought but-"
"But I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to go. Can you just say yes already? Stop playing hard to get."
Austin smiled and damned if that fucking smile didn't make Dare's chest feel full. If it didn't make it expand and grow in ways he'd never felt before.
"Yes, I'll go to Rainbow Prom with you."
"Good. Now help me get these boards on the rack. I hope you don't expect me to do all the work again," Dare teased. They latched the boards on the roof of the Jeep and drove home in near silence the whole way, Dare trying to tell himself that none of this meant what he knew it meant. They were just two friends, fucking around and having a good time. That was all.
CHAPTER TEN
The day of Rainbow Prom, Austin had to be at the center early to help set up. Dare had offered to help, but he'd looked a little nauseated when he'd done so. What mattered to Austin was the fact that he would have done it-as uncomfortable as it made him, Dare would have come early to help him.