Midnight sun

12 | Dylan

That last Saturday something happened between us and he appears different. He hasn't come to work late or drunk but it seems he's also in a much better mood. Almost like he wants to be here. Like he doesn't mind the hard work.

I don't want to admit it to myself but I'm hoping it's because of me and our conversation about his late best friend.

I'm opening myself up to the possibility of being friendly with him, in order for him to feel more comfortable in this new state where he seems to be starting a new life. Nothing more. That's all that I'm telling myself.

I definitely do not analyse what the fuck that almost kiss was. For a second too long I was about to kiss him back. Those plush lips were so inviting. I bet he'd tasted sweet, sweeter than that chocolate cake I'm sure. But I had enough reason to pull back from him and all the unwanted feelings he elicited so effortlessly.

And I didn't correct him when he said I have a boyfriend. That guy was far from that–he was just a temporary fix. I needed to dislodge this Noah problem and mindless sex with a stranger I picked up at the bar ought to do it. He was hot, and I admit for a few hours it felt like it was a good idea. It's been so long since I allowed that or even wanted it. But ever since Noah came to town I felt wound tight and yes, hornier than ever.

My attempt didn't really work in getting Noah out of my system. It's like karma knew what I was trying to do and sent me the same guy that I was trying to forget on my door the morning after. It especially didn't work after I got to spend more time with him and talk to him more.

And after having him that close, the layer of ice over my heart slowly started to melt. It surprised me that he wanted to kiss me but I realized that he was in a vulnerable place in those moments and different people seek comfort in different ways. Maybe he felt emotional and didn't know how to express himself, he even seemed embarrassed for crying. And even if there was some attraction he felt I was never going to explore it. For his sake and for mine. I would never take advantage of his state.

I realize my teeth are clenched painfully and I focus on releasing my muscles. Forget Noah. Forget that almost kiss. Be his friend.

A knock on my trailer door interrupts me and then a head with a gorgeous smile peaks through. A deep set of dimples meets me. "We're taking the lunch break, boss. You coming?"

Fuck. Noah and his smile. I get to see those much more often now. And apparently when he smiles wide and bright, those dimples form, driving me insane. Be his friend, my ass. Nobody ever thought about a friend's dimples. I clear my throat and push those thoughts away. "Yep. I'll be there."

So I leave my desk and laptop with an unknown number of tabs open and follow him for lunch. It's a thing now. Sometimes I take my lunch breaks with him. Not just him, there are other guys too, but in the last couple of days the other guys would leave and Noah and I would stay and just talk about random stuff. Nothing too serious. He would always start talking first, and apparently, he can ramble about something completely random for minutes and minutes, almost like he knows I'm not a very talkative person but is sure that I would be listening to every word he says.

I've always been a guy who enjoys his solitude and I'd never really figured out why some people enjoyed filling a perfectly good silence with inane questions. But with Noah it felt like I didn't really mind. Our conversations at lunch breaks, although short and superficial, never felt forced. I didn't feel the need to talk about something just to fill the awkward silence. And I didn't really mind when he talked- I liked listening to his voice and finding out more facts about him. He never said anything of importance about himself like he did that day which was alright with me, it was for the best if I didn't find out anything more personal. Knowing more meant caring more, and I was determined to not let anyone in.

That's why I get a whiplash when he talks next, sitting across from me on one of the wooden tables my crew set up by the lake. "So where can I meet some gay guys around here? What's the scene like in Wake Forest?"

My eyes bore into him. "You want to meet guys?

He nods. "Yeah, I do. I never thought that would be an option considering there are maybe fifty people in this town..."

I cut him off. "Firstly there are three thousand and five hundred people in this town, secondly aren't you too young to go looking for guys?" My gut clenches with what I can only assume is jealousy. I try to hide my reaction by drawing a long swig from my water bottle.

"I'm twenty-three in a few months. So no, I'm not."

"Hm.."

"What does that mean?" He is frowning playfully.

"What does what mean?

"That sound you made? And you think I'm young? I bet you I had more experience in my twenty-three years than you did in all your thirty-one in this bush."

I narrow my eyes at him. "How do you know how old I am?"

He drops his look down at his sandwich and visibly blushes. Did he ask around about me?

"And what does it mean you have experience?" Something close to anger starts boiling inside of me. I look away because I can't allow him to see something in my eyes that he shouldn't ever see. "No, actually I don't want to know. And I'm not introducing you to the gay scene of Alaska." I whisper and make a point of air-quoting the last part because he's ridiculous. "You're here to work. " My voice is rough and seething all of a sudden. "No more distractions."

"Yes, daddy."

Noah says under his breath with an eye roll. His sarcasm can be detected from outer space, however I shiver all over and have the unexpected urge to bend him over this wooden table and spank his bratty ass for talking like that to me. We might pretend that he didn't almost kiss me but it seems he made it his personal mission to tease me whenever he had the opportunity. What is he doing to me?

"Interesting..." Noah muses after long seconds of silence. I see the gleam in his eyes. I crush the paper bag I had my sandwich in, and Noah just laughs like he's onto some joke. There's nothing here that I find funny.

"Get back to work." My tone is an arctic breeze but my insides feel like a burning hot forest fire. I head back to my trailer office and exhale as soon as I'm far enough from Noah.

"Boss," Lawrence shouts from nearby. "Wanna come for a beer after work? Bunch of guys are coming?"

"Ah... I don't think so Lawrence, but thanks for the invite."

"Oh come on, you never come." He smiles crookedly. "You work too much, boss."

"Someone has to get this shit done before the winter," I grumble in answer.

Noah appears from behind, and Lawrence turns his attention to him, "Summerville, you're still in for tonight?"

"Yeah, man. I'll be there." He eyes me like he's wondering what I think about that information. Or is that a question in his eyes, does he wonder if I will be coming?

This attraction is making me act like a fool because I'm now considering going to the damn bar.

_______

  A/N

Hey guys! How do you like the story so far?!

I'm still kind of building it up so it feels a bit slow at the moment but I guess I love the angst of it?  And I wanted to show how the characters slowly change.

The next five chapters are written–well, they need editing and I will probably change something about them when I re-read but expect daily updates from Monday.

Do you think they will kiss soon? Or more??! I have to admit I can't wait after all this pining.

Sending you my love! Thank you for reading!! 🤍