Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 116254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“Pfft. Don’t listen to that numbnut,” Ned drawled, sitting next to said love birds and across from Breck. “Jay’d be drowning in his tears right now if Marcie hadn’t come on this trip.”
Jay stiffened indignantly. “Oh, please. I would not.”
Marcie lanced him with a ‘look.’
He quickly straightened. “I mean— No, yeah, totally drowning.” He wound her in his arms and nuzzled her cheek. “Like, in an ocean of tears.”
Marcie rolled her eyes, but then descended on his lips.
Ned shook his head, lips quirking, and muttered, “In-fucking-tolerable. The both of you.”
Breck grinned, appreciating Ned’s version of support. Out of all of them, he had the clearest idea of just how badly Breck had fallen for Kai. Breck’s confession to him before his reconciliation with Kai had been heartfelt and vulnerable.
His conversation with Jay and Tad, however, had been entirely different. He’d just kind of briefed them. This is how it was, and this is how it is.
Just as he’d suspected, Jay’s jaw had hit the floor like a ton of bricks. “Two out of four in our pack like dick? How’s that even, I dunno, like, mathematically possible?”
Tad had laughed at his best friend, the imbecile, then shot Breck a smile bright as the sun and wrapped him up in a hug. “Had my suspicions,” he’d murmured quietly in Breck’s ear. “Congratulations on putting your happiness first.”
To Breck’s left, Tad coughed a laugh at Ned’s comment. “Right? Jay giving Breck grief even transcends the pot calling the kettle black.”
Jay flipped him the bird as he continued kissing Marcie.
“Déjà vu.” Scott grinned, eyeing the PDA and Jay’s middle finger. He turned to Tad. “Remember the night you did that? When we kissed in front of your college building?”
Breck watched as Tad’s expression softened, his eyes going all gazey as he smiled at his man. “Of course I remember. My first public display. My heart was going like a jackhammer the entire time.”
“My shy boy, so brave…” Scott rumbled softly. Leaning close, he closed his eyes and pressed his lips to Tad’s.
“Aw, gawd,” Ned groused dramatically. “You guys, too? All this lovey-dovey shit’s gonna make me lose my lobster.” As if on cue, his ringtone blared to life. He glanced at his phone, froze with a gasp, then instantly went googly-eyed. “Oh, my god. It’s her.” He lurched from his chair. “I’ll be right back.”
Breck grinned at the irony that was his friend, the rest of their table laughing as Ned shuffled off to take the call. One of the girls who’d flirted him up on the beach earlier? If so, Breck would definitely be the only one sleeping alone tonight.
Sighing, he glanced back at Tad and Scott. Their waitress had returned and was asking Scott about his order. Tad met Breck’s gaze. Smiled his great Mitchel smile. And just like that, Breck remembered something he’d been wanting to talk to him about.
Turning his way, he cleared his throat. “So, hey, listen. I had a thought.”
“Oh, yeah?” Tad chuckled. He shifted to face him. “All right, hit me. What’s going on?”
“I was wondering if you’ve submitted my interview yet.”
“Not yet, no. Haven’t had a chance, what with the move and then getting ready for this trip. But don’t worry, I will,” he quickly tacked on. “As soon as we get back, I’ll finally have a chance to get it all cleaned up.”
Breck shook his head. “No rush. For real. I was actually kinda wondering if…” He winced a little. “… if we could maybe do a retake.”
Tad lifted his brows. “You wanna redo the interview?”
Breck nodded. “Yeah, ’cause I mean, I’ve been thinking… and it’s like… a lot has changed since then. Or, I dunno, maybe it’s me that’s changed. But looking back on all my answers to your questions… That was the fake me, ya know? The one still wearing a mask. And I’m different now, with everything that’s happened, with coming out. And I want our interview to reflect that. To show the world who I really am.”
Tad smiled, and then that smile turned to a full-fledged beamer. “Fuck yes, dude. Holy shit. That is the best idea ever.”
Breck blinked and sat up straighter. “You think?”
“Hell, yes.” He laughed. “Right before the Draft? My God. Good or bad, you’re gonna be the talk of the town.”
Breck’s stomach knotted at the thought.
“But don’t worry.” Tad slid him a conspiratorial grin. “I’ve got your back. We’ll work that interview to get you all kinds of vocal public support.”
Breck’s heart thumped. If Tad pulled that off, he’d owe him for life. “Thanks, Mitchel. I appreciate your help. The future’s not so certain anymore, and… I just wanna do things right.”
Tad nodded, his smile ebbing. “You’ve got this. I’ve got a really strong feeling that, for you, the best is yet to come.”
Breck grinned a little, feeling hopeful, and lifted his fist to Tad’s. How he wished Kai was there so he could tell him the news. He supposed in the meantime, his bestie, Ned would suffice.