Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Chapter 20

"So, what do you think of Emma?"

Rivers shrugged, his gaze on the Hoover Dam turning golden in the late afternoon sun. "She's not my type."

Samuel frowned. "I thought you said you'd prefer blondes."

Rivers's chocolate eyes moved on Samuel, jumping around his face for a long moment, then he looked away. "There is more to a person than the color of their hair. Did you think that was all it took to set me up?" He refused to look at him.

Samuel didn't reply. Hope and dread had alternated in his head until Rivers had left Paul's place with him and not Emma. Then fucking despair had settled. It stuck to his conscience like the metal of the handrail on his sweaty palms.

"It was Cheryl's idea." That lame excuse was all he had.

Finally, Rivers faced him. "For future reference, I don't need help to hook up."

By his tone, Rivers had taken Cheryl's scheme as an insult.

Samuel nodded. "Noted."

They settled into a more comfortable silence, letting the background multilingual conversations mix with the cars rushing under the bridge and the gusting wind. A young couple squeezed next to Samuel, their cameras clanking like an empty machine gun.

"Emma was right–it is a quite something. I've never seen so much cement concentrated in a single spot." Rivers' voice was lighter now, matching his eyes.

Samuel chuckled, the jolly melody seeping through his mind and hitting straight to his guts. Alcohol made him sloppy. Rivers' didn't seem to notice the higher pitch, though, and even if he did, why would it come as a surprise? Maybe if he kept this shit up, Rivers would finally give him the beating he deserved. That would put things right.

"I guess back in the thirties, forties, it was more impressive." He leaned on the railing, his gaze on the Dam.

"Yeah, for sure. The view beyond it makes it worth the trip, though." Rivers lost himself in infinite mountains ahead, his face gleaming with sunset and awe. When he turned, a smile crept on his lips.

Samuel's heart dropped. Rivers was so fucking handsome under the orange sky. Coming here was starting to look like a terrible mistake. The Budweiser in his system made it so goddamn hard to keep his hands to himself. He squeezed the handrail. "Yeah, nature is what I love the most about Nevada."

"It's beautiful." A desert breez carried Rivers' words, raising goosebumps on Samuel's neck.

What was Rivers doing there after what had happened? Was he trying to prove he didn't care? Had he stayed all day out of pity?

"I must add the Canyon to my bucket list. Next time, you'll have to take me."

Samuel's pulse quickened, his mind buzzed with inconceivable thoughts. Next time? Rivers wanted a next time alone with him?

"If you want, I have a great spot to show you now."

With each word, he dug his grave deeper. But Rivers was still there, his mouth lifting in his enigmatic smirk that made Samuel's knees jelly.

"Yeah?"

Rivers knew and hadn't run away. What was the worst that could happen? Those hills were Samuel's safe space outside the swimming pool. His oasis of quiet and shelter from his outer life. Rivers made sense there.

He patted Rivers' shoulder. "Let's go."

By the time they went back to the pickup and made it to the trail, the sun had fallen under the mountains, leaving behind a powdery blue sky.