Page 29 of Wrecked

“No shit, Sherlock. But I’m not interested in hearing it, so go away.”

He’s quiet after that, and there’s no more knocking. It looks like he actually listened this time and left.

I got my wish, so why do I feel like shit?

* * *

The rest of the week is pretty much the same. I spend my days hanging out with Beth at Clancy’s. Actually, I’m having fun so I can’t complain. Beth’s a great girl, very kind and friendly. She and Erin are quickly becoming friends. The three of us are soon as thick as thieves.

Mack Donovan’s always lurking in the background, keeping an eye on things. He seems like a great guy. I’m pretty sure Erin thinks so, because she blushes every time Mack speaks to her. I think she’s wasting her time though. She’s even younger than Beth, probably in her early twenties, and Mack’s got to be in his mid-thirties. The age gap between those two is pretty significant. And while I do catch him watching her a lot, I don’t think he sees her the same way she sees him.

When Friday night comes around, and I’m off the clock, I decide it’s time for me to let loose and have some fun. Just as I promised myself, I get dressed up—tight black jeans and agraphic tee that saysYES, DADDY—and I Google the best-rated gay clubs in town.

I am not going to let Cooper get to me. He’s not the only fish in the sea. I’ll find someone else who’ll scratch my itch. Someone who’s not afraid to show up and follow through.

Around nine that evening, I walk into a swank place called Sapphires. The music’s pounding, the sapphire blue lights—hence its name—are flashing. The dance floor is jam-packed with guys of all shapes and sizes and ages. Some are dressed up and some are barely dressed. There’s someone here for everyone. Hopefully including me.

I take a seat at the bar.

“What can I get you, hon?” asks a cute, muscled blond behind the counter. Instead of a shirt, he’s wearing a black leather harness, inlaid with what looks like sapphires, strapped to his silky-smooth bare chest.

“Something fun. Surprise me.”

The blond grins. “I like the sound of that.”

The bartender hands me a neon blue drink in a shot glass.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“It’s our signature drink. You’ll love it.”

Feeling a bit reckless, I knock it back. “Hey, that’s good. What’s it called?”

“We call it a Blue Ball. I made it up myself.”

“That’s fitting.” I laugh at the irony, thinking of the times Cooper gave me blue balls. Even after all this time, I can’t stop thinking about it.

The bartender looks confused.

“Never mind,” I say. “It’s an inside joke. I’ll have another.”

Right as I knock back my second Blue Ball shot, a giant of a man takes the barstool next to mine. “I’ll have what he’s having,” he says in a deep, booming voice.

I glance at him and automatically thinklumberjack.He’s big and burly, with wavy brown hair past his shoulders and brown eyes. He’s got a serious beard.

“I’m Teddy,” he says.

I immediately thinkteddy bear, because he sort of reminds me of one, assuming a teddy bear could bench press four hundred pounds. I have to stop myself from laughing. I wonder what’s in those Blue Balls because already I’m feeling a bit tipsy.

“Wanna dance?” the teddy bear asks me as Chris hands him his drink.

“Sure.” I came here to mingle. What do I have to lose, other than my blue balls?

God, stop thinking about Cooper!

Chapter 10 – Cooper

Friday evening, I’m alone at the penthouse. Shane texts to tell me he and Beth are going to stay over in his office apartment tonight.Great.This means I’ll be home alone all evening mooning over the new kid. I haven’t seen Sam in ages, but I can’t stop thinking about him.That kiss. Making him come in his shorts.