the corner.” His eyes met Joel’s, and there was that fluttering in Joel’s stomach again.
“Oh my God, the pair of you are so freaking cute.” Ben raised his bottle to them. “Welcome aboard, Joel.” The others followed suit.
“Kinda gives you hope, don’t it?” Aaron winked at them. “Because if Finn can find a guy…”
Joel laughed, the last remnants of his nervousness finally slipping away.
“So is Finn moving in with you, or are you moving in with Finn?” Ben demanded.
It was kind of funny, how he and Finn both burst out with ‘Whoa!” at exactly the same time.
Finn gaped at Ben. “We only just got together. It’s been one week, dude.”
“So?”
“So how about you let us get used to the idea of being a couple before you have us moving in together?”
Joel said nothing. He was surprised to find that once he’d gotten over the shock caused by Ben’s suggestion, he didn’t mind the idea of living with Finn at all.
Not going to rush this though. They had plenty of time.
“How’s your dad, Shaun?” Finn asked.
Shaun leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, holding the bottle between them in both hands. “I had to find a new in-home nurse. Susie dropped a couple of bombshells. She’s pregnant, and her husband wants her home, building the nest. She wants to work, but apparently he’s the kind who worries, so…”
“Is the new carer okay? What’s her name?” Levi asked.
“His name is Nathan.” When they stared at him, Shaun rolled his eyes. “Jeez, guys, there are male nurses, y’know.” He took a drink from his bottle. “He’s good with Dad, that’s the main thing.” He swallowed a mouthful of beer. “First weekend I’ve been away from him since Teresa’s wedding.”
Noah squeezed his shoulder. “Nothing wrong with taking a break, dude.”
Shaun turned his head to stare at Noah. “Dad doesn’t get to take a break, so why should I?” He expelled a breath. “Sorry, guys. That came out wrong.”
“It’s okay.” Dylan’s voice was gentle. “We know how it is.”
Joel didn’t say a word, recalling Finn telling him Shaun’s dad had dementia.
“Guys, I almost forgot.” Ben’s eyes sparkled. “I’ve got a job interview next week.”
Joel loved the hoots and whoops of obvious delight that filled the night air.
“That’s great,” Levi exclaimed. “What’s the job?”
“Working in a gift store—and it’s right on my doorstep, in Camden. Apparently, this place has been owned by the same family for eighty years. Not that I’ve ever been in there. What do I want with a gift store for tourists? It’s owned by the Pearsons.” He grimaced. “That’s a popular Maine name, right?”
Noah widened his eyes. “Oh God, I hope so.”
Joel frowned. “Am I missing something?”
Finn scowled. “There was an asshole in high school—Wade Pearson—who made Ben’s life hell, all because he got it into his fat head that Ben was gay.”
When Joel gave Finn a puzzled glance, Ben burst out laughing. “Okay, so I am gay—now—but back then I was still figuring stuff out. Fucking homophobic asshole.” His eyes gleamed. “Pity he was such a good-looking homophobic asshole, because in another life, I would’ve been all over that guy like a rash. And I’m not even gonna entertain the possibility that these Pearsons are remotely related to him. God wouldn’t be that cruel.”
Noah shook his head. “Which God are we talking about here?”
Seb held up his hands. “Nope. We are not gonna talk religion.”
“Not even to say a quick prayer?” Ben asked. “Because I need this job, guys.”
Seb raised his eyes heavenward. “Hey, God? Make sure Ben gets this job. And while You’re at it, don’t let whoever’s gonna interview Ben be in any way connected to that asshole Wade Pearson. You got that?” He gave Ben a smug smile. “That oughta do it.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Yeah, thanks for that, Seb.”
Finn laughed. “If Grammy heard you, Seb, she’d take her broom to your ass.”
Seb looked quickly toward the window behind them. “She sleeps on the other side of the house, right?” Everyone laughed. He peered at Aaron. “Must be getting into your busy season right about now.”
Aaron snorted. “Don’t I know it. What is it about the summer that brings out all the idiots?”
“Aaron’s a ranger at Acadia National Park,” Finn told Joel. He grinned. “I think he’s lost count of how many times visitors makes jokes about Thunder Hole.”
Joel blinked. “Seriously? That’s a place?” He’d heard the name before. When the kids were growing up vacations were a visit to Boise to stay with his parents. They hadn’t