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)
“Hey, that’s funny. There’s an actor named…” Corbin’s words trailed off, his eyes widening. “You’ve been fucking Sebastian Cole—the Sebastian Cole—for ten years, and you’re just getting around to telling us? And what the hell, man? I’d be down for a threesome if it was with him.”
“As if Declan would want to fuck you, bonehead.” Marcus playfully smacked the back of his head. “Focus on something other than your dick.”
I tilted my head to the side to look at Parker. The hurt in his gaze was clear. I reached over and put a hand on his thigh.
“Not consistently. It was a hookup. We swapped numbers, and then suddenly he’s in a movie. He was closeted at first, so I couldn’t tell anyone. It was never serious. We only talked when he was around and felt like being with someone, and after he came out…we kept it going. Usually it was only a few times a year. It was easy. I was discreet for him, and he made it so I didn’t have to put in the effort for sex. It just worked.”
“Wait. Doesn’t he have a boyfriend?” Parker asked.
“They broke up. And we weren’t sleeping together then. He texted and said he couldn’t because he was with someone. Then they broke up and he came back to LA…” I didn’t want to share Sebastian’s private business, so I said, “He’s going through some stuff and looking for friendship. I told him then that we had to stop fucking each other because I didn’t want the lines to get crossed. We’ve been hanging out since. We’re friends. End of story. Can we stop with the sharing now?”
“I hate to say this,” Marcus began, “but I’m more interested in this story than I’d like to be. You’ve literally been having sex with a movie star for ten years, and you can’t see why this is a big deal?” I mean…when he put it like that… “Does he realize that there are thousands of men who would want to sleep with him and that he didn’t have to keep coming back to you?”
“Gee, thanks, man.”
“Oh my God!” Parker exclaimed. “What if he’s secretly in love with you? This would be the best love story ever. I read this book once—”
I held up my hand, and Parker quieted. “It’s not like that.” But I did like him. I just didn’t know how to let myself be okay with it.
“It’s something, Dec. You never do this.”
I fell back against the couch, wanting to pout like a ten-year-old. Parker was right. I didn’t do this, and I was trying to figure how to… I didn’t even know. Lean into it, or walk away before he had the chance to. “What do I do?”
No one answered right away. The three of them just stared at me. I could see them working through just how big a deal this was, and being them, wanting nothing more than to find the best way to support me because that’s what we did.
Marcus spoke first. “You start by inviting him to dinner with us. What’s the point in pursuing it if we don’t like him?”
I chuckled, which I knew had been his hope.
“I agree with this plan,” Corbin added. “We have to make sure he’s worthy of our Declan. Once a Beach Bum, always a Beach Bum, and potential crushes and boyfriends need to be aware and properly vetted.”
“Slow down. No one said anything about a boyfriend. I just…” Liked spending time with him. “He makes me feel good,” I admitted, not letting myself look at them. It was too hard.
“You deserve to feel good, Dec. Let yourself have that.” Parker leaned over and kissed my temple.
“Thanks, babe.” I patted his leg.
“You know what this calls for, right?” Corbin asked.
“No,” I rushed out. “We just did this the other day.”
“I’m not typically a fan,” Marcus said, “but I have to agree with him.” Ugh. If Marcus was in, it was definitely happening.
“What the fuck, Marcus. You’re not supposed to be on their side.” I said their because I knew Parker would be down with this plan. I tried to get off the couch, but Parker pounced, holding me down. Then Corbin was on me and Marcus too, all three of them hugging me. “Ugh. Gross. Get off me,” I pretended to try and fight them off, pretended this didn’t ease something inside me that had always and would likely always be there.
“Beach Bum hug,” Corbin said, and then I was laughing and they were laughing too. It was ridiculous, four grown men piled up on the couch, but damn, I was lucky to have them, which made me think of Sebastian and acknowledge the soft voice inside me wishing he were there with us.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sebastian
I’d fucked up, and I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it. I could always call Brooke, but I had to admit it was slightly sad that the only person I had to talk to about my love life was my sister. I could probably call my brother but we weren’t as close.