Watching Ethan Carter, the man he'd once been very much in love with flirt outrageously with the undeniably gorgeous Mandy Rose Spud fought and lost against the jealousy twisting his stomach into knots. Closing his eyes briefly he cursed that even after all these years he still couldn't completely turn off his feelings for the other man. Suddenly Mandy flounced away, leaving Ethan looking painfully uncertain for a moment and before he could talk himself out of it he approached his once best friend, trying not to wince at the irritation in his voice, "I see you've decided the best use of your talent is to hit on the female superstars?"
Turning Ethan found the sting of Mandy's scorn soothed by the jealous note in Spud's voice, smiling slowly as the smaller man flushed under his gaze, "so you think I'm talented 'Drake'?" Drawling he bit back a laugh when Spud glared, hands on hips in a move he was sure was supposed to be intimidating but only made him want to tease the smaller man all the more.
"I think you're a douchebag," teeth clenching when Ethan shrugged his words aside with careless ease Spud let his temper get the best of him, "and so apparently does Mandy with the way she shut you down." Trying to sneer his gaze dipped briefly to where Ethan's shirt gaped, exposing a glimpse of tanned skin that made his pulse race even as he hated that he still noticed how good Ethan looked.
"Are you jealous tiger?" Deliberately invading the other man's personal space as blue eyes widened on the use of his old nickname Ethan lowered his voice, "you don't need to worry, I'm all for equal opportunity." Slowly, giving the smaller man the chance to pull away he reached out and tugged on a lock of Spud's hair, leaning close enough to inhale a lungful of familiar citrus shampoo heat pooled low in his stomach at Spud's shuddering gasp.
"Are you making fun of me?" Swallowing at the breathlessness in his voice Spud couldn't quite bring himself to step back, not when Ethan was looking at him, dark eyes warm with an affection he never thought he'd see directed at him again. Suddenly it was like all the bad blood between them evaporated and all he wanted was to take the step separating them and throw himself into Ethan's arms.
Smiling Ethan shook his head, skimming his fingers along Spud's jaw hope flared bright and strong as the smaller man leaned into his touch, "if you didn't spend most of your time avoiding me you'd find I'd much rather flirt with you than with Mandy." It was difficult to resist the urge to push for more when Spud licked his lips, eyes fixed on his face with startled pleasure but he forced himself to step back. "I look forward to seeing you at Raw Drake Maverick."
Pulse dropping once Ethan was no longer touching him Spud huffed out a faint laugh at the disdain the other man put on his new name, maybe it was time to take a chance, "yes … Sir." This time he had the satisfaction of watching Ethan suck in a sharp breath at the familiar nickname, turning to walk away in a much better mood, the hope that this might be the start of something tucked close.