Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“Why are we here again?” Matt whined at me. “I wanted to go to Castaway and have the white-peach sangria. Why aren’t we there?”
I was quiet a moment, studying him.
“What’s happening? Why aren’t you speaking?”
“I’m just looking at you.”
“Me? Why?”
“Because somehow you get better looking with age.”
Instant smile. “Oh?”
He knew he was beautiful. His brown-black eyes, jet-black hair, flawless porcelain skin, and sculpted features always made him stand out.
“It’s just genetics,” Matt said shyly, loving it when I complimented him. “Japanese father, Taiwanese mother. How could I be anything but stunning?”
He didn’t normally bring up his folks. When he came out, that had been the end of them having anything to do with him, which moved me and my family into their spot. He loved going to see my father with me and was very protective of my brothers. It always made me happy to see them all together.
Matt narrowed his eyes. “I won’t allow you to change the subject no matter how much flattery you lay on me. Now—why are we not at Castaway?”
“Because that’s a gay club.”
He made a circle with his index finger to indicate us both. “We’re gay, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“But Courtney’s not, her friends are not, and neither is Ira.”
“Why do I care?”
“C’mon, Matt.”
“What? Ira never cared either.”
“Which makes him a really good sport and us a bunch of selfish pricks.”
“How’s that?”
“We’re shitty wingmen. None of us helped him get laid.”
Matt’s face crumpled. “Yeah, but he never wanted to get laid, he was shopping for a wife. Do you not remember going through those online profiles with him?”
“We’re still crappy friends.”
“Who are these crappy friends?” Eric asked as he returned, passing Matt his Cosmo and me my third mojito.
“Thank you, sir.” I beamed at him.
“Anytime, Trace,” he said, flashing me a smile back.
“And it’s us, we’re crappy friends,” I informed him. “To Ira.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s true.”
“How is that true?” Matt wanted to know.
“Well, we never went out with him to a straight club to pick up women. That was not cool.”
“Straight women love gay clubs.”
“Yes,” Eric conceded. “But they like it because they know they’re not going to get hit on. They can just enjoy the music and dance with men who will compliment their outfits without leering.”
“You’ve thought about this too?”
“Sure,” Eric answered his husband. “Ira was always so great about going with us when we used to hit the clubs all the time. A real mensch.”
“Oh, nice,” I complimented him.
“I try,” Eric said, grinning at me before turning back to Matt. “That’s why now we have to make sure to get Courtney’s friends to like us.”
I grinned. “It’s so nice that we’re on the same page.”
“Why do I care about them?” Matt asked us. “I adore Courtney, but I couldn’t care less about her girlfriends.”
“But you should,” I told him. “Courtney’s bringing her friends with her tonight, and we’re trying to make a good impression and make them comfortable, so that’s why we’re here. Because you know as well as I do that if Courtney’s friends don’t like us, then they will take Courtney and Ira away, and we will never see them again.”
“How do you figure that?”
“It’s just the way these things go.”
Eric nodded in agreement.
“Do you want to lose Ira and Courtney in our friends group?”
“No,” he grumbled.
“Then you need to play ball.”
“I’ve never played any kind of ball in my life.”
“Hah,” Eric scoffed. “A blatant lie. We play racquetball every Thursday.”
“Tracy meant baseball. Everyone knows that’s a baseball metaphor, Mr. Sportscaster, sir.”
I was quiet, and so was Eric.
“You two are killing me.”
I glared at him, and Matt looked from me to Eric, who was scowling, and threw up his hands in defeat.
“Fine. You’re both right. I adore Ira and don’t want to lose him.”
“Or Courtney,” Eric reminded him.
“Or Courtney,” Matt amended.
“God, it’s like pulling teeth with you,” I muttered.
“On with the plan,” Eric said, getting us back on task. He was very good about that.
Left to our own devices, Matt and I could wind up way out in the tall grass. It was a gift to be able to become so ridiculously sidetracked. It was the same when we went shopping for some specific thing. God help us if we came home with anything remotely similar to whatever we went out to get.
“The first thing you must do,” Eric instructed him, “is make sure Courtney’s friends like you.”
“Why are we only talking about me?”
“Because you’re always the life of the party,” I told him honestly. “You can make or break the night.”
Eric nodded.
“Well, you don’t have to worry. Everybody likes me. I’ll schmooze them.”
“Most people like you,” I corrected him. “Most.”
“Who doesn’t like me?”
“Wait,” Eric said, “I have a list on my phone.”
“I will murder you in your sleep,” Matt warned the love of his life.
“You won’t,” Eric replied confidently. “You like far too much dressing up and going to red-carpet events with me.”