Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Who was the guy you were talking to at the end?” Will asked Jonathan.
“Mark. He’s cool. He’s kinda become a buddy.”
“That’s good. You should bring him around sometime,” Will replied.
“Yeah, sure. Maybe.” Jonathan’s gaze darted toward me, though I wasn’t sure why.
“Have any of you guys seen the queer movies in the park they have going on?” Brooklyn asked. “I went with this girl last night.” The smile on her face said it all.
“I didn’t know you were dating,” Elijah said just as Jonathan replied, “We were there too.”
“What? You were?” There was surprise in Will’s voice, and Jameson nudged him. “I mean, that’s cool.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes, because stealthy, Will and Jameson were not. “He makes me do things.”
“I don’t make. I gently prod and you like it.”
“No, I don’t. Stop trying to ruin my reputation.”
“Who’s the one who mentioned we went in the first place?” I countered. It was clear I had him there, but they approached with our food, so what mattered then was filling our bellies.
We ate, the discussion going to random things. Elijah and I talked about his upcoming recital. He was a ballet dancer, something he started doing again when he and Shaw got together.
“Do you think you can go?” Eli asked.
“Is that a question?” I teased. I’d never missed one of his performances and didn’t plan to start now.
“I’ll get us tickets,” Shaw offered.
“Thanks, baby.” Elijah turned and kissed him.
“Thanks, baby,” I mocked playfully, nuzzling Elijah’s neck.
“I’m, um…anyone else need anything to drink?” Jonathan asked.
“I’m good,” I replied. Kira needed a refill, and Ali offered to go with Jonathan to get it.
As soon as they were gone, Will said, “You and my brother are close.”
I wasn’t going to deny it. We were. “Is there something wrong with that?”
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s just…strange. I’m still not used to seeing him like this—on gay baseball teams and watching queer movies in the park. I appreciate your friendship with him, man.”
My stomach twisted up. “Thanks for that, but it’s not for you. You’re my boy and all, but I…like him. We have fun together.”
“Like…fun, fun?” Jameson asked, then slapped a hand over his mouth. “Oops. None of my business. Just…wow. I didn’t expect it.”
“Wait…you and Jonathan?” Will asked.
“I didn’t say that. Jesus. We’re friends, but if we were more, it would be between the two of us. And he’s on his way back, so can we shut up before you guys make him feel uncomfortable?”
Jonathan sat down again and asked, “What’d I miss?”
I smiled at him. “Nothin’, handsome.”
“I, um…have to pee. Come with me?” Elijah asked. We did a lot together, but it wasn’t typical for him to ask me to go pee with him, so I knew there would be questions.
“Gonna need some help? If so, I can do the heavy lifting, E,” Shaw joked, clearly knowing Elijah wanted to talk to me.
“No cock-size jokes about my best friend, please,” I teased, standing.
It was a single bathroom. We went in together and locked the door. “Something’s up,” Elijah said.
“Nah, you’re trippin’.”
He rolled his eyes. “I know you, just like you knew something was up with me and Shaw.”
He had me there, and honestly, I’d known I wouldn’t be able to get it past him. “It was one kiss. That’s it. I stopped it and told him I didn’t want to mess up our friendship.”
“Wait. You kissed him? You looked close to it when I saw you the other day. I just meant you liked him.”
Shit. My bad.
“You like him, like him, D. I can see it.”
“What? No I don’t.” Yes, yes, I do, and it’s crazy and freaking the hell out of me. “His friendship means a lot to me. He’s figuring himself out and exploring his sexuality for the first time, really.” He might have had sex before, but the quick, no-name hookups were different from making out in clubs and taking guys home and being loud and proud. I wanted that for him, while at the same time, sorta wanted to claim him as mine. I’d basically proven I was attracted to him and wanted him…before I told him we shouldn’t. Fuck, I was all over the place. But now feelings were involved, and that changed things.
“Danny…you really, really like him. Not like a Garrett-like-him thing.”
“How do you do that?”
“Because I know you. Just like you know me and knew I was full of shit when I said I wasn’t falling for Shaw. I take back what I said in the park that day. Do you see the way he looks at you? It’s like he’s enamored with you. Oh my God, you’re going to fall in love with Will’s brother.”
My heart nearly climbed up my throat and jumped out of my mouth. “Whoa. Slow your roll there. No one is talking about love. We’re friends who are attracted to each other.”