Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“What the hell are you doing, Travis?” Gary asks as he stumbles along to keep up with me.
“No fucking clue.” Which is the truth. I’ve hated Peter since this shit started, but right now, I’m just angry and confused and pissed about being angry and confused, so I want to stir up shit. No one ever said I’m the most mature guy around.
But the truth is…I want to stick up for Gary. I want Peter to know what he passed up. I want everyone to know how incredible Gary is, Gary included.
“You were here to try and rattle him, and I don’t like it,” I say the second we step up to Peter and Evan.
“Oh fuck,” Gary groans out beside me.
“No, I’m here because we come here often, and there’s a fundraiser. You might not know it since this is your first, but this is what I do. I’m involved in making people’s lives better, but then…I guess you are too. A little rub here and there does a body good.”
“Motherfucker.” I advance on him just as Gary’s arms wrap around me. My chest heaves in and out. My head feels like it’s going to explode, and, Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with me? I feel a tornado of different emotions, the winds picking up and lifting more and more shit for me to feel.
“Let him go, Gary. If he wants to act like a Neanderthal, let him.” It doesn’t escape my attention that Peter just used the same word to describe me as I used about myself.
“Don’t. I’m serious, Travis. He’s just trying to get a rise out of you.” Then softer, Gary says, “Steven and Raymond are here.”
That’s when all the pieces shift into place. Peter wanted to cause problems. Wanted to piss me off or embarrass Gary because he knew Steven and Raymond would be there tonight. Because he doesn’t like the fact that Gary has moved on, and he wants to hurt Gary by hurting me.
And Gary just saved my ass.
The tension in my body loosens, obviously enough for Gary to feel it because he relaxes his hold on me. Looking Peter right in the eye, I say, “You’re not worthy of him. You were never worthy of Gary. He’s a million times the man you are, and a million times the man I am too. I won’t fuck it up like you did, though.” Because he’s my friend. Because I would never hurt him. Even when this charade is over, I want to keep Gary in my life.
Turning my gaze to Evan, I say, “If I were you, I’d run as far and as fast as I could.”
I grab Gary’s hand again, raise it, and kiss his palm. “Come on, baby. And you were fucking incredible out there tonight.”
At first, when I attempt to tug at him, he doesn’t move. It’s as though his feet are rooted to the floor. His pupils are blown wide; as he takes me in their hue darkens.
There’s something in his eyes I can’t read. Shock is there, for sure. But that’s not all and for a brief moment, my stomach drops out, making me feel empty because I don’t think he’s going to go with me. Did I just fuck up worse than I thought?
Or maybe he thinks I’m overplaying it? That I just took this gig a little too far.
He might be right.
Silently, I plead with him. I don’t realize that’s what I’m doing at first, but it is, and then my gut switches and feels too heavy. Even fake relationships are a whole hell of a lot of work.
“Come on,” I say again and this time, he does. Gary walks with me. People are screaming and yelling for whoever is on stage right now. I find a quiet corner, pull Gary into my arms, and nuzzle his neck, so I can easily say, “That was good, huh? I played the protective boyfriend really well back there.” Only for a minute, it hadn’t felt like an act.
His return hold on me slackens slightly. There’s a short pause before he says, “Yeah…yeah you did.”
“Thank you.” Pulling back, I try to smile, but he doesn’t return it. Hooking a finger under his chin, I tilt his head up so he’s looking at me. “Hey, did I screw up? Are we okay?”
“No. You didn’t screw up, and we’re okay.” But his words aren’t real convincing.
“Are you sure? I know I’m acting a little unhinged, but I’m hoping that was a good thing.” How, I don’t know. “That’s what a boyfriend would do, right?” No, no they wouldn’t. And then because my head is a jumble of too much shit, I add something else to the mix. “You really were awesome out there. You had every dick in the building hard.”
“I don’t know about that…” He tries to look away, but I don’t let him.