Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Babe is serious?”
“Yep. You say dear when you’re being playful about being roommates and babe when you’re telling me to get my shit together.”
Vince laughed. “Pink flamingos are serious business.”
“What about green flamingos?” Colby countered. “I mean, why do we have to be realistic?”
“I’ll find you green flamingos if you want. I bet Clint could make them.” Clint owned Clint Custom Steel and made unique designs.
“I don’t need green flamingos.”
“Who said anything about need? You want them, I’ll get them.”
Colby glanced away, his cheeks turning that pretty shade of pink again. It was fun making Colby blush because he figured every time Colby did, it was when Vince made him feel good about himself, something Vince enjoyed immensely.
“Smells good.” Colby changed the subject.
“It’ll be good. You’re so lucky to have me as a roommate.”
He meant it jokingly, but Colby’s voice was sober when he replied, “I know I am.”
Warmth flooded Vince’s chest. Strange how much he liked to make Colby feel good, but the thing was, Colby often did the same for him without even trying. It was little things like what he’d just said, little things Vince wasn’t sure should matter but did.
“You better.” Grease popped from the pan, splashing onto his stomach. “Ouch. Fuck.”
Colby immediately jumped from the counter and pulled Vince away from the stove. He bent and looked at Vince’s belly as if searching for a mortal wound. “You shouldn’t be doing this without a shirt on. I should have thought of that.”
That made Vince frown. “Why should it be your responsibility to think about it? I’m the idiot cooking half-naked.”
Colby didn’t answer, instead tracing a circle around the minor burn. “I’ll get you something for that.” Colby stood and tried to walk away, but Vince wrapped a hand around his wrist, stopping him.
“I’m a big boy, babe.”
Colby bristled. “I know.”
“And I’m fine.”
Vince couldn’t read the look on his face. He didn’t answer right away but eventually said, “You’re right. I don’t know what’s going on with me.”
Vince let him go, but he felt strange, like he’d done the wrong thing, though he couldn’t say how. “How about you get me a T-shirt? I might not be dying, but I wouldn’t want to hurt this pretty torso again.”
Colby grinned and rolled his eyes, but Vince could tell he’d pleased him. He wasn’t sure what that was about, but then, Colby was a nice guy. He was a caretaker, much like many of the men he’d met in Briar County. He might’ve felt it was his fault.
“I’ll be right back.”
He went and grabbed one of his own tees, probably not wanting to go into Vince’s room without him. Vince put it on. He finished cooking, and they sat down and ate together.
Afterward Colby did dishes, while Vince sat on the couch with his phone and browsed a hookup app. It was slim pickings in the area, but there were queer men around who weren’t part of his friend group and in committed relationships. There was one guy in Chelsea he’d met at the gay bar there. They’d hooked up a few times over the last year, neither of them looking for anything serious and just wanting to have fun.
Vince messaged with a couple of men, and when Colby was done with the dishes, he came over and sat beside him.
“What ya doing?” Colby asked.
“Talking to some guys. Might try and meet up with someone at some point.” It had been months since Vince had sex with anyone other than his hand. He’d never gone this long without in Atlanta, and while he was fine with it, sometimes he missed the attention…the feeling of being touched and touching someone else.
“Are you not going to dinner with me?”
“I’m going. I’d do this after, or hell, maybe later in the week.”
He had his phone in his hand, holding it upright, when a dick pic came through.
“Holy shit.” Colby averted his gaze.
“Fuck. Sorry.” He closed the app.
“People just send you random photos? You hear about that stuff, but I’ve never experienced it.”
“Yes, but that wasn’t random. We’d talked, and we both know what the other is looking for. You’ve never sent someone a photo of your cock?”
Colby gave a humorless laugh. “Nah, none of the women I’ve dated here would have been into that kind of thing.”
Vince didn’t answer right away. He wondered about Colby’s sexuality sometimes. The man said he was straight, and Vince believed him. It wasn’t his place to question how someone identified. He knew Colby had dated numerous women over the years, but none since Vince had known him. The thing was, Colby hadn’t even talked to a woman he was interested in. He hadn’t gone on a date or even hooked up. There was a chance he’d done one of those things without telling Vince, though as close as they were, and with as much time as they spent together, it would have been a hard secret for Colby to keep from him—and no reason for it.