Just as we were deciding whether or not to stop being such creepers, Walker, his hard-on visible from space, stepped away from the bartender. He seemed to be apologizing and then practically fled the club, running right by us. He was so focused on getting out of there, he didn’t see us at all.
Joel clapped his hand on my shoulder. “Buddy, I think if you want that, you can get it. He might be freaked out, but his body was definitely on board.”
“Definitely,” Sawyer said, crossing his arms.
“You think I have a chance with him?” I asked, rubbing my chest.
“A damn good one.”
* * *
“Fuck, I haven’t been to Jim’s in forever,” I said, sinking my fork into crispy pecan waffle goodness.
“Right? It’s been too long,” Sawyer said, carefully rolling his shirtsleeves so as not to get butter or syrup on his expensive clothing.
I still hadn’t gotten over the shock of seeing Walker kissing another man, even after having quite a few drinks about it. My friends, solid guys that they were, had kept me occupied for the rest of the evening. The club was wonderful, and the sparkly jazz singer’s voice had more depth than his tiny stature would indicate.
After his set, he came over to us and sat on my lap, fussing with my collar. There was a hotel next door, and on any other day, I would have dragged him there, done wonderful things to him, and sent him on his way the next morning, happy, satisfied, and without my number.
Tonight, as his tiny ass ground into my crotch, I wasn’t the least bit interested. No, I didn’t want the singer. I wanted the sweaty, muscled, blushing teacher–slash–tire repair guy.
Not wanting to hurt his feelings, I bought the cutie a drink and whispered, “If I weren’t so gone over a guy back home, I’d be all over you.”
He looked up at me, his eyes gleaming. “You’re in love with someone?” he asked, his voice soft and fluttery.
“I don’t know about that, but… he’s pretty much always been in my life, and I’m finally seeing him in a different way.”
He let out a sigh, clutching his martini glass to his chest. “Just like a romance novel.”
I laughed and sent him a small wave as he extracted himself from my lap.
“Good luck, sweetie.”
As he left, the guy Walker had been kissing sauntered over with a tray full of Jell-O shots on one hand, the other hand on his hip. “Look at this sexy group of men. Anyone want a shot?”
I scowled at him, and Sawyer diplomatically declined. “Actually, we’re about to leave. But thank you.”
“You’ve been here before, right?” the server asked, using delicate fingers to fluff Sawyer’s hair. Sawyer pulled away and sent the trollop a perfectly arched brow. “Yes. But, as I mentioned, we’re leaving.”
“Message received,” the server retorted, and slid off to another group.
Good riddance, you kiss-stealing jackwad.
I was grateful when Major pulled up a rideshare app and got us to one of my favorite late-night diners. That Major, he was always taking care of people. Sigh.
I might’ve been a tiny bit drunk.
After we made a dent in our early-morning breakfasts, we slowed down and got back to talking.
“So,” Beckett said, tapping the table. “What are we going to do about Walker?”
“What’s this ‘we,’ buddy?” I asked, trying to maintain a sense of humor and failing. “You got a mouse in your pocket?”
“No. I just want to see if you’ve got a plan of action now that you know our boy likes dick.”
“I’m not assuming anything. He was into it, yes, but then he basically fled the establishment.”
“Looked like he went there all by himself,” Joel noted, swirling the dregs of hot chocolate in his mug. “Over an hour away from his house, probably no clue he was in Sawyer’s neighborhood. I wonder if he was experimenting. Like, maybe something made him think he should try it out.”
