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)
“So what’s up?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Nothing. I just wanted to hang out with my friend. Do I need an excuse to hang out with my friend?” he asked, and I cocked a brow. “Ugh. Fine. You win. I’ve been talking to this guy for a couple of weeks. We decided to meet at a bar last night, and—”
“Wait. You went to a bar that’s not Driftwood?” I teased.
“Not the point, Dec. Anyway, he was funny, hot, smart, hot, successful, and—”
“Hot?” I filled in the blank for him.
“Yes. And I know I said I wasn’t going to hook up with anyone else unless we were in a real, committed relationship, but I was really fucking horny, and like I said, he’s hot. So I decided to go home with him, and his fucking husband was there. Like, he was sitting on the couch in his underwear and didn’t even blink when he came home with me. He literally shook my hand and told us to have fun before going back to his popcorn like it was nothing. When we got to the fuck room, I guess I should call it, because it wasn’t their bedroom, he told me they were open and had an agreement, which is fine, but don’t you think he should have mentioned that to me weeks ago? More power to them if that works, but I should have been given a heads-up. Do you know how awkward it is to have sex with someone while their husband is watching old episodes of Queer as Folk in the next room?”
“US or UK version?”
Parker scowled at me, his baby face scrunching up. “Why did I call you?”
I chuckled. “I’m giving you shit. So…you still fucked him.”
His cheeks turned pink. “Well, yeah. I was all boned up and ready to get laid. Plus, his husband clearly didn’t care, but again, it’s more about the fact that he didn’t tell me earlier. Men are the worst.” I didn’t remind him that he was, in fact, a man too. “Ugh. Why do I have the worst luck ever? I swear I wish I could fall in love with you, Marcus, or Corbin. It would make my life easier.”
“Because we’re all so eager to fall in love and settle down like you?”
He rolled his eyes. “Well, no, but you’re my three closest friends. I’d just force one of you to fall in love with me.”
I barked out a loud laugh, and he kicked my shin. “Ouch. Fuck. That hurt.”
He closed his eyes and dropped his head back, so I knew he was getting serious. “Why won’t anyone love me?”
I sighed. “Babe…look at me.” Parker’s mom had died when he was young. His parents had a beautiful love story, and his dad had never recovered. As far as we knew, he’d never even dated since. He spent his life sad and in love with her. I didn’t understand why Parker wanted to sign himself up for that, but I hated to see him hurting. “Because none of the men you’ve met yet deserve you. You’re gorgeous, smart, funny, and compassionate. The right one will come along. If not, I’ll help you hook Marcus or Corbin.”
He chuckled, which loosened some of the tightness in my chest.
“I’m thirty-three.”
“Don’t you say we’re old.” I looked it more than he did. I felt it more too.
“I know. I’m just over it. Shouldn’t it have happened by now? Sorry for being all poor me. I’m in a mood.”
I shrugged. “That’s what I’m here for.” Because there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Parker, Marcus, or Corbin. There was no one I could ever trust but them.
“You’re a good man, Declan Burns. I wish you saw that.”
I groaned. “Can we skip this part of our talk? I have shit to do.”
“Nope. I know you’re too jaded by the world to see it, but you’re a catch. Out of all of us, except me maybe, you’re the one I can see settled down the most. You’re fiercely loyal.”
“Gross.”
“Quietly kind.”
“Double gross.”
“You’re like Marcus in that you’re picky about who you let in, but once you do, they’re there for life.”
“Well, that’s not something positive about me. It’s just that most people suck, so when I find someone who doesn’t, I keep them to myself.”
He laughed, then sobered. “You’re lovable, Declan.”
“I’m gonna go.” I stood.
“Dec.”
“Parker,” I countered. “I have shit to do. I said that.”
He stood too and kissed my cheek. “I’ll call you later.”
When I walked away, I couldn’t help wondering why, if I was so lovable, the only people who had ever loved me were him, Marcus, and Corbin.
* * *
The bar was busy as shit that night, but that was my favorite way for it to be. It was weird sometimes, that I wasn’t much of a people person yet I loved a packed bar. Not just for my pockets either. I had a habit of people-watching, of wondering about who they were and where they’d come from. Maybe it was because I could create my own world for them, which annoyed me less than the reality.