Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 159500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 798(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 798(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
He wants me. I want him. And if I win this, we will have a reason to go for it.
I let my hand brush against his, and then approach the board, taking back all the darts. I can sense his gaze on me, and it’s searing hot. So hot I need to open another button at the collar. I toy with the idea of sticking my first dart straight into the bullseye, because it’s obvious we both want me to win, but I need him to know I’m willing to give this my all, so I join him by the line and shoot my first shot.
I hit a little off-center, and my heart does a backflip.
Clyde whistles. “Wow, you really don’t want to lose your bike.”
His dart lands not far from mine, so he’s not cutting me any slack. I like that. Nothing’s ever been handed to me, and I’ll work hard to get the things I want.
A part of me wants to continue with the joke, but who knows what the fuck will happen come tomorrow? We might both end up dead, and I don’t want to leave any unfinished business. “You think it’s about the bike?” I ask and glance away from his face to focus on the board. My stomach is a knot, but I manage to keep it together and again hit close to the bullseye.
I love the little smirk ghosting over his lips. Yes, I want Clyde to know how much I desire him. I want him happy about it and his ego stroked, because he deserves it.
“What else could it possibly be?”
But he’s not letting me off easy. His aim is good too, and he’s just one point behind me with his next dart. I smirk, wondering what happens if we end on a tie. Would he choose another game to play, with the same stakes?
“Something I can’t stop thinking about,” I say, breathing in as I stand in front of the board, preparing to throw the last dart. Just as I’m releasing it from between my fingers, a shriek-like laugh throws me off, and the damn thing lands way off course. I bite the inside of my cheek but don’t let anticipation eat me up. While not amazing, my shot wasn’t bad. The only way Clyde can win now is if he hits the bullseye.
Which is… not impossible. I swallow as Clyde takes his place in front of the board, dart in hand. I want to win him so badly. I can’t even focus on the bike at stake, it’s all about Clyde at this point.
I could try to distract him, like that laugh did to me, but that wouldn’t be fair, so I stand there in silence, biting on my fist.
His dart flies out of his hand and hits… the wall.
Clyde glances at me, biting his lip. “Oops. Oh no, I lost,” he says without much conviction.
I’m flooded by sunshine when he offers me that sly look, that smile I’d do almost anything for—
Everything around us blurs when I lean in, kissing him so fucking gently. There’s nothing erotic about it, but my chest feels as if it might break apart at any second.
Even the way the skin at the sides of his eyes wrinkles when he smiles is adorable.
The “What the fuck?” penetrates our bubble as if in slow motion, and it takes me a moment to realize it’s aimed at us.
Clyde flinches and steps away which makes me so furious I need a target to unleash my anger. Who fucking dares make him uncomfortable about our kiss? I heard so much about ‘the gays being shoved in our faces everywhere’ that we might as well shove someone’s face. Because I am gay, and I’m about to become someone’s worst nightmare.
“Did I hear barking?” I ask, placing my hand on Clyde’s shoulder, because I am not a fucker anyone would want to mess with.
The guy doesn’t appear so sure of himself when our eyes meet across the bar, but a buddy of his gets up. He’s got a big nose that will soon be my target, and a black tank top that should be easy enough to grab.
“This isn’t a place for you two,” he says while his friend gets up as well. He started it, so he better be ready to finish it. I’m well aware of the several onlookers who might jump into the action too, but I’ve learned how to take a beating so young I can’t even remember it, and I’ve taken on scarier opponents than these people.
Clyde scowls. “Why the fuck not, huh? Doesn’t look family-friendly to me.”
“You said nothing when those two sucked face,” I point out, gesturing at a couple in the corner. The woman scowls, as if I’ve insulted her, but the guy she’s with shushes her rather than taking offense, so I can count on him not joining the fun.