Starting from Scratch Read online Lane Hayes (Starting From #2)

Categories Genre: Gay, GLBT, M-M Romance, Romance Tags Authors: Series: Starting from Series by Lane Hayes
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Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
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“How about Otter Pops?” I blurted out of the fucking blue.

Charlie frowned. “Ew. Who over the age of five says that?”

I met his faux-stern look with a slow-growing Cheshire cat grin. He almost immediately thawed. A reluctant smile teased the corner of his mouth, lit his eyes, then disappeared so fast, I was sure I’d imagined the exchange. I studied him for clues, noting his perfectly pressed khakis rolled at the hems, his snug-fitted blue-and-white striped oxford shirt, and a pair of funky black-and-white sneakers. One shoe had a cartoon man with a beard and the other said, “The Game Changer.” I chuckled softly and raised my brows, knowing somehow that he’d probably made his purchase after I told him it was “game on” in front of Scoops a few weeks ago.

“Cool shoes.” I pursed my lips and gestured at his feet.

“Thank you. I wore them just for you,” he said in a low tone.

“I thought so.”

He furrowed his brow and hiked his thumb toward the door. “I’m off. See ya!”

I mumbled a good-bye with everyone else and kept my eyes locked on the space he vacated for a couple of seconds.

Tegan bumped my shoulder as he headed for his drums. “I saw the car. And he either saw it and came in here to give you a non-verbal warning before he retaliates or he’s about to see it…and go ballistic. Be afraid. Be very very afraid.”

I jumped off the stool, put my bass on a stand, and hurried after Charlie, calling a distracted “Be right back” to the band before racing down the hallway.

I caught up with him just as he stepped outside. “Char, wait up!”

He turned with an expectant half smile, then dug into his bag and pulled out a large bottle of Perrier. “What is it?”

“Um. I just wanted to be sure we’re cool.”

“Why wouldn’t we be?” he asked.

“You tell me. You said we’d go back to normal on Monday, but it’s Thursday now and nothing is normal. I hate being ignored.”

Charlie narrowed his eyes. “I’m not ignoring you. We’re perfectly fine. I’m cool if you’re cool.”

I put my hands up. “I’m cool.”

“Good. Me too. Perfectly, fabulously cool.” He furrowed his brow as he made a production of twisting the bottle cap. “I just can’t get this…darn thing off.”

“Do you need help with that?”

Charlie smiled sweetly before handing over the bottle of Perrier. Warning signs flashed like neon lights around me. Something was wrong with this whole situation, starting with the fact that he was being so…nice. I studied him suspiciously as I twisted the cap. He seemed normal. He looked normal…well, normal for Charlie. He inched away when the bottle began to fizz. And then—

Bam! Perrier rained down on me like a freak monsoon in the desert.

I had to give him credit…Charlie was a decent actor. He covered his mouth, managing to look surprised and remorseful, but his twinkling eyes gave him away. It took me half a second to realize the little fucker had done this on purpose, but when I did, I aimed it directly at his chest.

Charlie dropped his bag and gaped at me in shock. “You…look what you did.”

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me? Look what you did!”

“It’s called sweet revenge. You covered my windshield in Post-it notes!”

“It was a joke. This is a direct attack,” I growled.

“It’s water, baby,” he chided.

“Bubbly water is fucking gross.” I shook the excess moisture from my head and stepped forward. “Where’s your phone?”

Charlie furrowed his brow. “In my bag. Why? Do not throw it in the pool.”

“I would never throw your phone in the pool.” I dropped my cell on top of his man bag as a precautionary measure before slowly closing the distance.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Think about what?”

“I’m serious, Ky.” He backed up and glanced over his shoulder, then fixed me with a stern look. “I don’t have time to—”

I pushed. Before I could step aside, he reached for my arm and took me with him.

Splash.

I opened my eyes underwater and noticed a few things at once, like Charlie’s golden curls, his wicked grin, and the death grip he had on my wrist. So he wanted to play. I pulled him with me to the surface and gave him a chance to suck in a breath of fresh air before taking him down again. He rolled over me and grasped at the waistband of my board shorts. They hung low on my hips to begin with so his tug, combined with the natural pull of the water, exposed half of my ass. I couldn’t retaliate in the same way because his clothes were plastered to his body. But I couldn’t just let go. I circled my right arm around his middle and held him against my chest before surfacing again.

Charlie sputtered and coughed. He hooked his left arm around my neck and swiped at his eyes with his free hand. I should have let go. He knew how to swim. He didn’t need me to save him. He didn’t need me at all. But he didn’t seem like he was in a hurry to go anywhere. Probably another sign of danger.


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