Puppy Love - 4. Chapter 4

Blaine knew that he had been a coward in not being at the camp when Levi got back, but he just didn’t know what to say to the man. He had known that there was an attraction between him and Levi but he had never expected to act on that attraction. His thoughts were jumbled and he didn’t know where to start to organize his thoughts. He looked down to where Ruff trotted at his side and berated himself for running like some scared little girl.

“What do you think Ruff; you think we should head back?” When the pup answered with a small bark Blaine turned around and headed back towards the campsite, he didn’t know what he would say to Levi if he was still there, but he had to risk it.

Walking into the camp Blaine felt some relief to see that Levi was nowhere to be found. His relief was short lived as he realized exactly how much of an idiot he had been. After a quick walk around camp to make sure that Levi was not there, Blaine grabbed Ruff and placed him in the truck before climbing in himself. He started up the truck and headed towards the campsite where he had met up with Levi the day before. He was startled when he got there and found that all of the stuff that was there the previous day was gone.

“I guess I really screwed up this time Ruff,” Blaine said to the dog as they drove back towards their camp. Blaine was surprised at how hurt he felt now that Levi was gone. It took a minute before he realized that he must have hurt Levi just as much as he was hurting now. “I don’t even know where he lives Ruff.”

Blaine was completely disheartened as he arrived back at camp and decided that he just wanted to go to sleep. He had known that he wasn’t ready for any romantic entanglements but he would have liked to have known he gained a friendship that could have eventually turned into something more, if only he’d have given it half a chance. Climbing out of the truck he let the pup down before going to the cooler and grabbing a cold beer. Flopping down into one of his chairs he gazed out at the lake below him. Hearing footsteps behind him he turned, expecting it to be Levi and was surprised when it was Mark.

“Hey buddy,” he said softly.

“Hey there, how’s it going today?”

“Well, it was going pretty good, until I fucked it up,” Blaine said morosely.

Helping himself to a beer from inside of the cooler, Mark took the remaining chair and looked out to where Blaine was looking. All he seen was the lake, shimmering with the glare from the sun.

“What’s out there?”

“Nothing.”

“Okay, who’s this?” Mark asked as Ruff lay down at Blaine’s feet.

“His name’s Ruff, he wandered into camp yesterday.”

“And you just decided that he was yours?”

“No, I went around to the other campsites and nobody was missing a pup. He was pretty ratty looking and it was apparent that nobody had been taking care of him so I took him in. Seems fitting though, two social outcasts.”

“You’re not an outcast Blaine.”

“Yeah, well tell that to someone who didn’t freak at a simple kiss.”

“Kiss?” Mark questioned raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, there was a vet in one of the neighboring camps, he showed up here yesterday when I was taking my midmorning swim. It was after he left that I found the pup and I came upon his campsite when I went looking for the dog’s owner. We took Ruff into town and Levi gave him a check-up and all of his shots as well as a teeth cleaning and a flea bath. Then we went and bought stuff for the dog. We ended up spending the day together and went swimming this afternoon. He kissed me and I freaked.”

“Well, freaking out would be a bit normal, especially after everything that happened with Christian.”

“Yeah, I know that, but after my head finally cleared I went to his campsite and all his shit was gone. I don’t know where he lives or anything like that.”

“You know where he works though, so you could look for him there.”

“Yeah, I could, but he won’t be in until Monday.”

“So you wait anxiously for Monday to get here and then you drive your ass into town and apologize for being an ass and you go from there.”

“And if he doesn’t listen or I can’t do it?”

“If he doesn’t listen then he’s not worth it. If you can’t do it then you need to muster up some balls because it’s obvious you don’t have any,” Mark said with a grin and a laugh.

Glowering at his friend, Blaine threw his empty beer can at Mark’s head and laughed when his friend easily dodged it. Climbing to his feet he went to the cooler and grabbed another beer before settling back into his chair. Taking a sip of his beer he let out a sigh and reached down to run his hand lightly over Ruff’s back.

“I really screwed up, didn’t I Mark?”

“I don’t know bud, I honestly don’t. I agree that you acted a bit rash, but as I said before, it’s understandable that you would be having a problem with becoming intimate with anyone. Christian screwed with your mind and it’s not an easy thing to get over.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right, I’m just kicking myself now. He seemed like the type of guy who would understand if I had actually taken the time to explain things.”

“So you’re just going to have to find the chance to explain,” Mark said knowingly. “You just need to explain that you’re not ready for anything more than friendship right now and that maybe given time you and he could become a couple.”

“That sounds kind of lame though, don’t ya think?”

“If it’s the truth then it doesn’t matter how lame it sounds. Remember what you always told me Blaine, honestly is always the best policy. I know I always said that was cliché, but I guess it is the truth,” Mark said sincerely.

“Yeah, you’re right, I just feel like an idiot.”

“There’s no reason to feel like an idiot bud, what you did was a natural instinct, the one that tells you to protect yourself. Explain it to him; I’m sure that it will work out however it’s supposed to.”

“Yeah, just have to wait until Monday for him to be at the office and try and see him there.”

“Like I said, it’ll work out, but hey bud, I just wanted to stop in and see how things were going. I need to head out, tonight is the weekly dinner with the ‘rents.”

“Ahh, the joys of dinner with the parents, have fun dude.”

“Oh yeah, my mom mentioned about a friend coming for dinner and so I have the feeling that this is going to be one of those nights where she’s trying to set me up with a nice girl,” Mark said laughingly as he got up and walked away.

“Well, let me know how it turns out, I do have my cell phone ya know.”

“Yeah, I know, but sometimes I have to come and razz you in person, over the phone just isn’t as fun.”

“Thanks a lot smart ass,” Blaine said to his friends retreating back.

“Anytime,” Mark hollered back before waving and climbing into his truck.