The Wingman by A. Poland

Chapter Four

For some reason, Nathan had it in his head he’d at least have a couple of days to mentally prepare himself for the ordeal ahead. Maybe even inject some insect repellent into his arm—not recommended, he’d googled it.

A day after meeting Miles, while Nathan was in the midst of unpacking—a chore loathed by most but oddly enjoyed by him; there was something therapeutic about folding clothes—he heard the all-too-familiar noise of a rock bouncing off his bedroom window.

Smiling to himself, Nathan made his way over to the source of the clamor.

Lorcan rarely used the front door to let him know when he was outside. The little scuffs and hairline fractures along the bedroom window were a testament to that long-held tradition.

Nathan wore a pair of Christmas-themed underwear, complete with Santa hats, and a loose T-shirt. But Lorcan had witnessed Nathan in every condition possible, so he opened the window and leaned out without a second thought, eyes drawn down to Lorcan as he squinted against the onslaught of the summer sun.

“Where’s the fire?” he called, grinning. They hadn’t made plans for today, but that never stopped them from getting up to something last minute.

“Coming at you hot,” Lorcan shot back, clapping his hands together. “You coming down?”

“Why don’t you come in? I’m not exactly dressed for the outdoors.” Nathan gestured to his state of undress.

“Exactly why you should come with me. I don’t think you have anything for camping.”

Nathan blinked.

“That’s still a thing?”

He knew it was still a thing. But that sure wasn’t stopping him from trying to wiggle his way out of it.

“Sure is,” Lorcan fired back. “Still Friday. So, come on. We need to get you some hiking boots.”

They didn’t just get hiking boots.

Lorcan decided to splash out on a new tent. One suitable for two people, Nathan noted. Presumably, if Miles was into camping as much as he said he was—he’d bring his own tent?

So, maybe Lorcan was being considerate that Nathan wouldn’t be able to sleep without someone to protect him from bears.

But then Lorcan tossed a one-person tent for Nathan into the shopping cart and quelled any hope he’d been feeling.

While Lorcan grabbed other useful items (duct tape, sleeping mats, fire starters), Nathan hauled anything that looked like it could be wielded as a weapon into the cart.

“What’s this for?” Lorcan inquired, raising a brow and plucking up a pickaxe Nathan had collected.

“I’m not about to be attacked, dude. I need something to defend myself with.” Nathan deposited into the cart a collection that could have been the main ingredients for building a miniature bomb, at least based on his minimal research, which had been his expansive watch list of action films.

“You’re not going to get attacked.” Lorcan laughed, putting the axe and the three cans of lighter fluid back on the shelf. “And you won’t need to make an impromptu bomb either.”

Shit. Lorcan knew him too well.

*

You’re going camping?

Nathan’s dad was having a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that he was willingly braving the great outdoors for two nights. The same kid who’d once knocked himself out when he ran face-first into a door because there was a cockroach near him.

That kid was going camping.

Yep… Nathan paused. What could he say? Don’t worry? He knew his dad; he’d worry even if there wasn’t anything to worry about. It’s fine. I’ll be fine.

I’m sure you will be. Lorcan knows what he’s doing. Ben gave him an unreadable look as he took a sip of his coffee.

But? Nathan pressed. There was definitely more he wasn’t saying.

I can’t help but think there’s an ulterior motive behind this. You’ve never agreed to go camping with him before.

Before Nathan had the chance to respond, Ben continued.

Sleeping out in the back garden for three hours doesn’t count.

Nathan pouted, caught out. He shrugged, averting his gaze to the contents of his own coffee cup.

Maybe I just want to try new things.

Ben didn’t look convinced, giving him a long look that Nathan refused to return for the duration of their conversation. Okay then. Just watch out for scorpions.

Nathan’s head shot up.

There are scorpions?!

*

Friday somehow snuck up on Nathan without him being fully aware of it. He was still battling with jet lag, so time was a distant concept to him.

He’d done all of the mental preparation he could have possibly managed, including some immersion therapy in the form of trying to remove a spider from the bathroom before surrendering and running to grab Ben. His can of insect repellent was completely full, and he wielded a determination like no other.

Determination to do what, exactly? Nathan wasn’t quite sure.

But whatever it was, he was going to do the shit out of it.

For Lorcan.

He was going to help Lorcan bag this guy. Because that’s what he did; Nathan was the wingman.

Half of their friend group were in happy relationships after Nathan’s masterful intervention.

With Lorcan, it had been less relationships and more short-term involvements that everyone got a bit of fun out of. And, sure, helping Lorcan with them had bothered Nathan a bit too. But not nearly as much as now.

Because this wasn’t just some carnal attraction thing; it wasn’t just about one night.

Lorcan legitimately seemed into this guy.

Nathan brushed that off. Miles was the first guy Lorcan had ever been into. He was probably just charmed by the tattoos. Easily done—Nathan couldn’t blame him for that.

This would pass, and then everything would go back to normal. Just with a larger hookup pool. Nathan was sure of it.

Bulging bag on his back, new hiking boots secured on his feet, and a hell of a lot of deodorant under his armpits—Nathan was as ready as he was ever going to be.

He didn’t bother letting Lorcan know he was good to go. Instead, he headed next door and waited patiently by Lorcan’s car. They’d agreed on 8:00 a.m., and Lorcan was a punctual guy.

Nathan wasn’t, usually, unless it came to plans with Lorcan. He knew his friend would pout at him for an hour if he showed up late to anything, tutting that Nathan should have set an alarm or left earlier.

“Look at you!” Lorcan whooped as he emerged from the house and shut the door securely behind him.

Yes, please. Look at me.

Maybe if Nathan projected that enough, it might happen.

“I know, right?” Nathan replied proudly, arms splayed wide as he turned around in a wide circle. “I look like a professional.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Lorcan chuckled, shaking his head. His own bag wasn’t nearly as bulging as Nathan’s, making Nathan wonder where he’d gone wrong with packing.

“Why not? Afraid of the truth?” Nathan tossed back. He threw his bag into the back seat once Lorcan unlocked the car, then hauled himself inside. It was sweltering, so Nathan rolled down the window with great effort, pulling a face as it creaked in protest, but eventually, Nathan managed it.

It was a miracle the car was still fit for the road.

“That’s definitely it,” Lorcan agreed, if only to appease Nathan. “Thanks for doing this again, Nate. I know it’s not exactly your thing…”

“It’s the furthest thing away from my thing,” Nathan corrected with a pointed look.

Lorcan battled the threat of a smile, failing miserably as he backed out of the driveway and onto the road.

No going back now.

“Okay, that. But seriously, I appreciate it. I can always count on you.”

Nathan settled back in his seat, smirking smugly to himself. Damn right he could.

The plan was to meet Miles in a parking lot a little way from the start of the hike, then ride with him to the entrance. Parking was limited, considering how hell-bent Lorcan was to stay away from the more popular trails, so it made more sense to go in one car.

Supposedly.

Despite the heat and the distance, the journey with Lorcan felt far too short—they always did, filled with off-tune singing and playful banter that made the time fly. So, by the time they pulled into the parking lot, that sinking feeling of dread had returned to Nathan’s gut.

Especially when he saw Miles, who was easy to spot.

How many other six-foot musicians with a tattoo sleeve on their left arm were going to be parked here? The chances were slim.

Nathan’s eyes locked on him as he stepped out of the car, quietly seething that he pulled off a shorts and T-shirt ensemble better than most guys their age. But then the passenger door opened, and someone else emerged from Miles’s vehicle.

Nathan would have liked to think he was secure in his identity as a gay man, but apparently, even he could have his doubts.

Because she was stunning.

The woman who’d gotten out of the car had legs for days, her skin dark and unblemished, her jaw angular—what was it with Nathan being surrounded by people with sharp jaws?—and she dressed like she knew how good she looked.

Hope soared in Nathan’s chest.

Miles was with her.

Miles had brought a girl with him.

Miles was in a relationship.

The joy that surged in Nathan was soon overshadowed by the confused look that passed over Lorcan’s face.

Okay, Nathan, time to be consoling.

But before Nathan had the chance to open his mouth, Lorcan had already gone through the seven stages of grief and onto his whole I’m-fine-let’s-get-on-with-it thing, and abruptly got out of the car.

Loudly exhaling, bracing himself, Nathan followed Lorcan and approached the two leaning up against Miles’s car (small but sleek, and just as banged up as Lorcan’s). With Lorcan beside him, Nathan felt like a toe in the middle of these three.

This couldn’t be fair.

“Hey,” Lorcan greeted, a charming smile on his face. Miles mirrored the expression. But his girlfriend? She looked Lorcan up and down, making no pretense with her critical gaze.

“Hey,” Miles replied, nodding to Nathan as he approached. “This is my sister, Jordie.”

Sister.

Fucking sister.

Did Miles just happen to get adopted into a family where everyone looked like models?

The universe worked in weird ways.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Miles was saying when Nathan tuned back in, “but Jordie hasn’t hiked here before either, so we thought this was a good opportunity. Seeing as you know it so well…” He trailed off, his eyes flicking to Lorcan with a shy smile.

Lorcan was clearly relieved, grin wide and tone enthusiastic. “Yeah, of course. The more the merrier,” he quickly assured, and Miles noticeably relaxed.

Lorcan wouldn’t have said no anyway, even if Jordie had turned out to be Miles’s girlfriend. He was just that kind of guy.

“We should get going; we have a lot of ground to cover.” Miles even had the nerve to sound excited about that, Nathan noted with a brief look of distaste.

Because smaller cars were better for the environment, Miles apparently had bought one with zero trunk space. So, all of the bags were stacked in the back, leaving only three usable seats in the car.

Which meant Nathan had to take a spot on Lorcan’s lap. He would have argued otherwise, but he knew if he wanted to get out of this car with his lungs and rib cage intact, he’d have to avoid Lorcan squashing him.

Nathan wasn’t worried about it; sitting on Lorcan’s lap wasn’t exactly a big thing. Or so he thought until Lorcan instructed Miles to drive up a narrow dirt road, and the car started to bounce.

“You two okay back there?” Miles asked, glancing at the two of them through the rearview mirror.

What he’d see was Nathan with his hands braced against the ceiling in a desperate attempt not to bang his head or bob up and down uncontrollably on Lorcan’s lap. Lorcan’s hand held firm against Nathan’s side, trying to steady him.

If anything, Lorcan’s hand so close to his hip served as a welcome distraction for Nathan.

Because Lorcan’s dick was right there.

Right under his ass.

And the knowledge of that had Nathan flustered with tinged-pink cheeks, thanking past-Nathan, who’d decided to go for loose pants. Mobility, past-Nathan had thought. Hiding my boner, present-Nathan hoped.

“All good,” Lorcan replied breezily as if none of this was affecting him. And maybe it wasn’t.

But Nathan was sure he felt something under his ass.

He was almost positive.

Finally, with Lorcan’s direction, Miles pulled onto the side of the road in an area that didn’t look fit for cars at all. Overgrown bushes and tall, daunting trees surrounded them.

Swallowing down any nerves incessantly bubbling to the surface, Nathan clambered from Lorcan’s lap and adjusted himself quickly before anyone else had the chance to get out of the car.

After gathering their bags, making sure everything was secure and that the car wouldn’t block any other adventure seeker while they were away—the entire weekend, Nathan mournfully acknowledged—they set off.

Uphill.