Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Fuck, that was a good idea.
18
Travis
“This is incredible, Travis. I really think it will work well. You should be proud. I’m impressed,” Steven says to me through the phone after I finish telling him about the fundraiser idea. I’m sitting in my car outside of Adelle’s, where I’m meeting my brothers for lunch.
There’s almost nothing I want more than for Steven to think I came up with this plan on my own. I want him to be impressed by me, impressed enough to want to give me money, but I’m not a liar…I also don’t take credit for shit that isn’t mine, and Gary deserves the praise for this. “Thanks, but it was all Gary. He really ran with the idea. Once he came up with it, he couldn’t stop talking about it.” I’d fucked the hell out of him. He’d had an orgasm screaming my name, and as we’d lain in my bed covered in sweat and come, he’d started popping off with more ideas about the event. “It was pretty cute, actually. He doesn’t typically let himself show how excited he is about something, but he had this burst of excitement pouring out of him like he couldn’t contain it. I could hardly keep up with him, but it was cool seeing him so happy about it. I couldn’t have come up with it without him.”
Steven chuckles. “I’m sure you could have, but I also respect the hell out of you for being honest. I think you sound more enthusiastic over Gary’s excitement than anything else.”
“I do?” tumbles out of my mouth, and I immediately wish I’d been able to hold the question back. Of course, I’m not happier about how Gary feels than anything else. Pulling this off for Steven affects my whole fucking life. That’s what’s important here. But then I realize that as much as I want this because of my career, Gary’s joy is also really fucking incredible to see. There’s a part of me that’s honored to be a part of it because of him.
“You do, and why am I not surprised you don’t realize it? You’re a good man, Travis, and Gary is lucky to have you.”
Only he doesn’t have me—not really. And if I’m being honest, I’m probably not that good of a man either. “Thank you, sir, though I think I’m the one who’s lucky to have him.” Guilt churns around in my gut. Just a few moments before I’d been saying I wasn’t a liar, but I am. This whole damn thing is a lie, and I dragged Gary into it. The only thing I’m not lying about here is me being the one who is lucky in this whole scenario with him.
“You’re welcome. I’m going to work on a few things on my end, and I’ll speak with Raymond. I’ll let you know what else I need from you and how things are coming along. You guys will handle getting the boys, right?”
“Oh yeah. That won’t be a problem.” Men are the easy part.
“You should participate, yourself. You’d be sure to be a hit.” There’s amusement in Steven’s voice, but I can also tell he’s serious. I’d basically promise this guy the moon right now if I thought it would get me what I want. Then I remember how Gary looked when he thought I was fucking Cody. Not that it should matter since this whole thing is a game. It’s not as if he has a say in who I strip or don’t strip in front of, but that fucker Peter did a real number on him. He’s a relationship guy, and all I can think about is how it might affect him—how it might make him feel or if it will give Peter some kind of satisfaction to see me do something that he knows would hurt Gary.
“I really don’t want to say no, but I need to talk to Gary first. I need to make sure it’s something he’s comfortable with before I commit.” Not because I have to, I remind myself. No one has any say over my life but me, but I really fucking hate Peter and want nothing more than to help Gary show the fucker that he’s over him.
“See? Good man,” Steven says again and a strange warmth settles in my chest. My parents sure as shit have never called me a good man.
“Eh, I have my moments.” I play it off.
We talk for another minute about our plans. When I see my brothers walk down the sidewalk toward the restaurant, I end my call with Steven and get out of the car.
“Hey, man. What’s up?” Malcolm asks when he sees me. I step up to the curb and give him a hug.
“Not much. How are you guys?” We pull away and I hug Martin next.