Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Wow…and I thought Marcus was bougie. And, by the way, he’s the caretaker in the group. He’d never see it, though.”
Sebastian frowned. “You can be too. It’s not like he owns the concept.”
I shrugged because clearly he was right, but there was no use discussing it. I just did normal things. I didn’t do anything special.
But then, a whole lot of other things fell into place. I hadn’t ever told Sebastian about the podcast, had I? “Wait. You listen to The Vers?” As soon as I asked the question, I realized it was silly. He’d mentioned Marcus, Parker, and Corbin before, but it hadn’t clicked. My group of acquaintances was so small, I was used to them all knowing each other. Plus, things with Sebastian were so natural that it felt like he was more entwined with my world than he was, that of course he would know about the guys and the podcast.
Sebastian gave me a bashful look, as if he hadn’t planned to admit that. “Well, I’m queer, and it’s a very popular queer podcast.”
“Yes, but you didn’t want me to know you listen.” I crossed my arms, smirking, and finding this very interesting for some reason…also a little annoyed at myself for not putting the pieces together earlier.
“Just because I didn’t know if it would be weird. We were hookups.”
“And now we’re friends.” I said the words as much for myself as to confirm how he felt.
“Yep. Are you okay out here, or do you want to go inside? I spend a lot of time here, but I realize you may not want to.”
“It’s fine,” I replied. He was rambling, and honestly, it was cute. Not that he needed to know that.
“Have you watched my movies?” Sebastian asked, turning the tables on me and, well, yes, yes I had.
“Wait. You’re an actor? What have you played in? I’ll have to look you up.” I pulled out my phone, pretending I was doing it right then.
“Ha-ha. This whole friendship thing isn’t going how I planned. I didn’t know you’d just end up busting my balls.”
“Is friendship something other than that?”
Sebastian chuckled, and I couldn’t help doing the same.
He walked over to the outdoor fridge. “Can I get you something to drink? I have Coke, water, pink lemonade…”
“No yellow?” I joked.
“I’ll get that for next time.”
“I was kidding.”
“There’s beer too, if you’d like.”
“Just a Coke is okay.”
I explored Sebastian’s backyard. I didn’t really know what else to do. Was this it? Were we just supposed to stand around and shoot the shit all day? Every other time I’d been here, there was basically a five-minute conversation, we got naked, had an orgasm, and I left.
He came over and handed me an old-fashioned bottle of Coke, the cap having been removed for me. Sebastian had his own as well. I was standing by some large, bright-colored flowers that looked like they belonged in Hawaii.
“To friendship.” He held his bottle up to mine.
“To friendship.” I clinked his, and we both took a drink.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sebastian
Apparently, asking someone to be your friend and then inviting them to your house with no set plan could be a bit awkward. Who knew? Declan seemed to be feeling it as well, but I figured he would regardless. “Do you ever sit back and wonder how your life is your life?” I asked him.
His brows pinched together. “How so?”
“Just…this. I’m looking at it through your eyes, and I get it, it’s a lot. And the whole acting thing. I’ve been doing it for years now, but I’m still not used to it. Half the time I can’t believe it’s real. I expect to wake up and find out it was all a dream, that I’m still back home in Idaho. That I live down the street from my parents. My siblings are still married with kids, but I’m alone because I’m queer and not out. Either that, or I’m lying to everyone and I’m with a woman, which makes me hate myself.” I shook my head. “I don’t know. That sounds ridiculous. I guess I just never thought I would be this lucky, and sometimes I question if I deserve it. And then I think about the fact that I’m not sure if I still want it, and that makes me feel like an asshole because I’m so fucking lucky. How many people out there would die for what I have?”
He didn’t answer right away, just stood there thinking, then reached out to touch the petals of a flower.
“Don’t touch that! It’s poisonous!”
He ripped his hand back, but something on my face must have clued him in that I was joking. “You prick.”
I laughed. “Sorry. Couldn’t help it.”
“I don’t want to be your friend anymore.”
“I don’t think you wanted to be my friend in the first place. I had to beg you.” I meant it in jest, but Declan frowned.