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)
“Are you being serious right now?”
“As a heart attack. Or as serious as your head exploding, which mine feels like it might do right now. Jesus, I drank too much last night. Please, sit down, Garrett. I’ll apologize again, then we’ll make small talk on even footing because we’ll both be naked. Eventually, I’ll slink out of your room, and when we see each other at the mailboxes, we’ll laugh about the time I hijacked your bed.”
“Gary,” he says, his voice suddenly tight.
“Huh? My name is Travis.”
“No. Me. I’m Gary, not Garrett.”
Fuck. But can the man really blame me? We’ve never been properly introduced, and it’s not like he’s the guy who tries real hard to make an impression. Plus, I didn’t go home with him last night. If that was the case, I could see him being taken aback. “I’m sorry. I’m really fucking this up. I’m just…I’m going to go.” Before I make this anymore awkward than it already is—which honestly, I could have easily laughed off what happened, but I’m not sure Gary can. His unease is what’s causing me to continue to make an ass out of myself.
I force myself to my feet, close my eyes as my brain pulses against my skull, and my legs are wobbly, like I might still be a little drunk. “It was a pleasure waking up naked with you. You don’t have to be so shy. You have nothing to be concerned about.”
Gary opens his mouth. I wait, but then he closes it again, without saying a word. Taking that as my cue to leave, I manage to stay on my feet well enough to stumble out of his room. As soon as I hit the living room, I recognize the man sleeping on the couch, and suddenly a whole lot of shit makes sense. Derek is always up in everyone’s business.
“Have fun?” he asks without opening his eyes, making me realize he’s awake.
“You’re a dickhead.”
“What? Me? Why? What did I do?” he feigns innocence, but I ignore him. I’m too fucked up to deal with Derek right now.
I make my way back to Jacob’s room and fall into bed with him. The mattress feels lumpier than Gary’s did—or than it felt last night. I had my mind on taking his ass when I was in his bed before and not where I did it.
“I thought you left,” he mumbles into the pillow.
“No. I got up to take a piss and then ended up in the wrong room. I woke up naked with Gary. I don’t think he liked being naked with me as much as you did.”
“Oh, shit.” Jacob’s blue eyes pop open, full of mischief. “I bet he freaked out.”
“What’s his deal?” I ask, because it’s going to be weighing heavily on me. It was an accident, and though it wasn’t a big deal to me, I think it was to him. The last thing I want is to make someone feel uncomfortable, especially considering it’s my job to do just the opposite and make them comfortable.
“He was dating some guy named Peter for a few years.” As soon as he says it, things start fitting into place. Peter and Gary. I’ve heard people talking about them at the Midtown Flex—the best place to nab a few tricks and catch up on the latest local scandals. Still, I let Jacob confirm what I’ve been told. “Gary found out Peter had been cheating on him with some guy in North Tower. They were fucking behind his back for years. He kicked Peter out and Peter moved in with the guy. I didn’t know him before, but he doesn’t seem like he’s ever been a real confident guy. That obviously didn’t help.”
Oh fuck. I didn’t realize it had been years. That has to be shitty, especially when everyone in the damn building probably knows his business, and he has to worry about seeing Peter around. You can’t trust anyone. That’s exactly one of the reasons my ass will never give someone power over me like he did.
Still, I tell myself I’ll make a point to find Gary to apologize again. Then my hangover wins, and I pass out.
***
When I wake up later, Jacob is knocked out in bed beside me, so I try to be quiet as I rummage around for my clothes. I find them, pull them on, and make it to the door of his bedroom before he says, “Thanks, man. I had a good time. It’s a shame Gary didn’t at least get a blowjob out of the morning. You have a magic fucking mouth.”
“So I’ve heard,” I tell him. I’m good at sucking dick, and I take pride in it.
Jacob laughs and then I make my way out of his room. It was a fun hookup. We both got what we were looking for, so it’ll end there.