Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Shoot. I think we were supposed to use a different exit.” I glanced both ways along the deserted narrow pathway before moving back to the door, which of course, was locked. “Fuck. Why did I follow you?”
“No idea. Bad decision on your part. I always choose the hardest way to get where I’m going,” he said with a self-deprecating chuckle.
I gestured toward the general direction of the street. “We should go that way to wait for our rides.”
Ky pulled my wrist. “Yeah, but wait a sec.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to run into Lauren,” he replied sheepishly.
“Oh.” I rubbed my arms to ward off the chill. “I bumped into her during your show. She said you’re ‘on again, off again,’ but I guess she’s hoping for ‘on’?”
“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know how to be any clearer. I’m not interested. She’s nice, but there’s no…zing, no spark, no—hey, are you cold?” Ky shrugged his jacket off his right shoulder and pushed it at me. “Wear this. And don’t go looking at the label, Valentino. It’s not designer, but it’ll keep you warm while you keep me company.”
“Thanks, but I’m not that big of a snob, you know,” I said when he slipped the coat over my shoulders and fussed with the collar. “How long do we have to wait?”
“Ten minutes.”
I returned his smile and laughed for no particular reason. This felt nice. The weird flippy, jealous feeling in my stomach had been replaced by a pleasant alcohol-induced buzz that made the whole world seem fabulous. It wouldn’t last, but I knew from experience that it was best to enjoy the hell out of the moment and not worry about the hangover to come.
“So…what’d you tell Lauren?”
“Nothing much. It was kinda loud in there. Not really the place to rehash a conversation we had weeks ago.”
“Hmm. I get it. You’re a heartbreaker,” I teased.
“Yeah, right.”
“All the girls and boys were screaming your name in the audience tonight. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice. It must be the hat.” I tipped the brim playfully and snickered. “Are you blushing? That’s so cute.”
“Fuck off,” he chuckled without heat. “I’m not fuckin’ blushing, and I’m definitely not the main attraction on that stage. The bassist is usually the last guy anyone notices.”
“Unless he’s wearing a slick hat,” I singsonged. “Let me try it on.”
Ky stepped closer and set the fedora on my head. “It’s a little big, but you look hot.”
“I’m wearing your hat and your jacket. Do I look like you?” I twirled in a circle and pretended to play the bass, adding sound effects to make him laugh.
He pursed his lips and nodded slowly. “Yup. You should take my place. And when Lauren comes around, you can remind her that we called it quits. For good. She’d listen to you.”
“Yeah, I doubt I’d fool her. She’d know I wouldn’t touch her in the first place. Lady parts make me squeamish.” I shuddered dramatically.
Ky crossed his arms and leaned against the stucco wall. The lone lamplight affixed to the left of the door cast an ethereal glow over his sharp features, giving him a wolfish look that probably should have made me nervous. Thanks to the excess alcohol I’d consumed, I felt more intrigued than anything when he crooked his finger at me, silently commanding me to come closer. I obeyed without thinking.
“So you’ve never been with a lady?” he asked, drawing out that last word as he tipped the hat back and set his thumb under my chin.
“No. I’ve never been the slightest bit curious. Have you?”
“Hell, yeah. I’ve been very curious with women,” he assured me emphatically.
“That’s not what I meant,” I huffed. “And you know it. This is why we aren’t friends. You make everything into a joke.”
Ky held his hands up in surrender. “You’re right. My bad. I just don’t think my sexuality is a big deal. I think sex is amazing, and if you feel like doing it…do it. Who cares who your partner is?”
“I agree. But me personally? I know I’m gay. It always confused me when my dad and Gray had relationships with both guys and girls when I was younger. I didn’t get it at all. One of my biggest flaws is that I’m a black-and-white thinker. Something is or it isn’t. Can’t have it both ways. I know that’s not true, but when I was a kid, I had a hard time with the idea that my dad could ever be with anyone besides Gray.”
“Dude. How long have they been broken up?”
“Well, they were together for eight years, then broke up. Then they got together again when I was twenty, but that was over in two months. So…the real answer is probably fifteen years.”
“Are you still bummed about it?” he asked, stroking my chin idly.
I wasn’t sure why I didn’t swat his hand away. I leaned into his touch instead and inched closer. “Do you want my honest answer, or do you want the mature adult one?”