Owen
We’re going to get eaten by a bear.
Owen smacks Kayden on the shoulder.
Owen
We’re going to turn into popsicles, dude! Bear popsicles.
Kayden points straight ahead.
Owen squints to see through the snow.
His glasses are spotted with condensation.
Kayden
There’s the cabin.
Owen stops, out of breath.
He’s in decent shape, but they’ve been hiking uphill for over an hour.
When Kayden suggested they go on a last-minute camping trip — a guy’s weekend—
Owen jumped at the opportunity.
He told himself he was just excited to get out of the city.
But another part of him — a part buried deep down — knew he was excited to be alone with Kayden…
In the middle of the woods.
Owen
Are you sure that’s the right cabin?
Kayden
Do you see any other cabins out here?
Owen ignores his friend’s sarcasm and heads for the door, keying in the entrance code.
Kayden follows him in, bumping into him from behind.
Owen has had a chill in his bones for the last half hour.
But when Kayden presses against him, he feels a wave of intense heat.
He doesn’t let himself soak the feeling in…
Just pushes his way into the cabin.
Kayden shuts the door behind them.
Owen
Have to give you kudos, man.
Owen
When you said you could navigate these trails without your phone…
Owen
I thought you were full of crap.
Kayden
Navigating is one of my talents.
Kayden arches an eyebrow.
Kayden
That’s not what my gentlemen friends say.
Kayden always has a hot new boyfriend.
Owen
Yeah, so you always say.
Owen feels that usual flush of irritation whenever Kayden talks about the guys he’s seeing.
He’s soaking wet from the slushy snow, so he starts to peel off his wet clothes.
The air in the cabin is brisk, but just having the heavy, sticky layers off is a relief.
Owen
Is it dumb to build a fire while we wait this out?
Owen
I want to dry these wet clothes before we do that climb above the lake.
Kayden
We’re not going to be climbing anything tonight.
Kayden
Or going anywhere.
Kayden jerks a thumb at the window as Owen turns around, zipping up a dry pair of pants.
Owen squints through the smeared lenses of his glasses.
Owen
Doesn’t look any worse. It’ll clear up soon.
Kayden shakes his head as he turns away from the window.
Kayden
Wipe off your glasses, man. They’re all fogged up.
Kayden
Look outside. That’s a blizzard.
Owen wipes his glasses against the thigh of his pants, since he hasn’t yet put on a shirt.
When he pushes them back up to the bridge of his nose, he can see more clearly.
The steel grey sky is dumping out snowflakes so steadily that it looks like a solid wall.
The snow fails to hold his attention, though, because Kayden is staring at him.
He and Kayden have changed around each other a million times before.
His body is nothing new to his friend…
But this is the first time that Kayden has looked at him like…that…
Owen freezes, then turns away abruptly.
Owen
I guess I’ll try to get a fire going.
Kayden
I’ll make the fire. You’re the least handy person I know.
Kayden
Chill. I’m only insulting your survival skills.
Kayden
Jason says you’re handy enough where it counts.
Kayden waggles his eyebrows and starts stacking firewood in the stove.
Owen
Who is it this week? Rick? Garrett? Luke?
Kayden
You’re just jealous.
Kayden looks up at Owen as he works, and Owen feels something twist inside his chest.
He IS jealous, but not of Kayden’s luck with men.
He’s jealous of the guys who get to be with Kayden.
Owen searches for something else to say when Kayden jerks his gaze away and curses.
Kayden
It’ll be a miracle if I can get it lit.
Owen is eager for a distraction.
He kneels on the floor beside his friend.
Wadding up newspaper, he tucks it into the pyramid of firewood.
Owen
At least the newspaper is dry.
Owen
If we use enough kindling, maybe the wood will catch.
Kayden stands up, crossing the small room to where he dropped his pack.
Owen hears his friend rustling through his pack…
But he’s focused on cramming as much kindling as he can into the pyramid of wood.
Kayden
Or should I put on my thermal layer for the night?
Owen looks back over his shoulder, and his mouth goes dry.
Kayden has stripped off his shirt.
He’s holding his thermal layer loosely in one hand as he waits for Owen’s response.
Owen is distracted by the flat planes of Kayden’s stomach…
The ridges of muscle and the vee of his hips.
He always tells himself that he admires his friend’s body because he’s fit.
But, here, in the silence of the storm?
The truth is too loud to ignore.
Owen
I think I’ll get it going, but you should probably put on the thermal anyway.
Owen
It looks like it’s going to be a cold night.
He doesn’t know what to do.
Their friendship is so important to Owen.
So exploring his feelings toward Kayden has always been off limits.
But now that they’re alone…in the woods…in the storm…
Owen shakes his head, trying to rattle the thoughts out of him.
Needing to keep busy, he pulls a pack of waterproof matches from his pack.
Lighting one, he touches it to the newspaper.
It catches on the brittle paper, sending up a cloud of pale ash.
A moment later, the damp firewood sizzles, steam rising as the fire bites into it.
He pumps a fist in the air, then turns to look at Kayden.
His friend is standing right beside him.
Owen quickly rises to his feet as well, hyper-conscious of the fact that both of them are shirtless.
He studies the small but bright fire.
Kayden
I guess you’re pretty handy after all.
Owen
Handier than YOU, anyway.
He means to sound sarcastic, but his words are soft.
Kayden looks at him, and Owen isn’t sure if the spark when their eyes meet is from the fire or from…something else.
He swallows thickly as Kayden looks him over.
Owen
Jason and I broke up.
Owen blurts the words out, not even knowing why he’s saying it.
Kayden continues to stare at Owen.
Kayden
I don’t know what to say.
Owen
No. You knew I already had one foot out the door.
Owen
We weren’t good together.
Kayden
I never did understand what you saw in him.
Owen
So tell me who it is this week.
Kayden
I’m not with another guy this week.
Kayden’s words have an odd weight to them.
Owen turns back to the fire.
Kayden puts a soft hand on Owen’s shoulder.
Owen’s pulse thunders through his chest.
Owen’s response is stuck in his throat.
Kayden
I think…I think I might have feelings. For you.
Slowly, Owen turns back around.
Kayden
I think I have for a while now.
Owen reaches out and places a hand on Kayden’s chest…
Splaying his fingers wide.
The skin beneath his palm is hot and feels like silk.
Owen
I…have feelings for you, too.
Owen
And I have for a long time.
Kayden groans, then closes the distance between them.
Tugging Owen against him, he claims Owen’s mouth in a kiss.
It’s exploratory, even a little awkward, but it lights Owen up from the inside out.
They pull apart, both breathing heavily.
Kayden
That was different.
Kayden
No, no. It’s good different.
Kayden
It’s…it’s you, Owen.
And the way Kayden looks into Owen’s eyes…
Owen knows exactly what he means.
Kayden
When it comes to other guys, I have all the right moves.
Kayden
But…I don’t know what to say right now. What to do.
Owen
Well, obviously, we’re going to snuggle.
Kayden barks out a laugh.
Kayden
Alone in a cabin in the woods.
Kayden
And you want to SNUGGLE?
Owen can’t help but laugh at the expression on his friend’s face.
He’s giddy from the kiss.
He’s also happy that he hasn’t lost his best friend.
Owen
And don’t get fresh with me.
Owen
Snuggle isn’t code for Netflix and chill.
Kayden shoots him a wry look.
Kayden
Normally, EVERYTHING with me is code for Netflix and chill.
Kayden
Snuggling actually sounds really nice.
Owen gestures to the small fire, then the storm outside.
Owen
Good. Cause I’m the handy one.
Owen
And someone’s gotta keep you warm.
