“Are youokay?”
“More thanokay.”
It did more than feel good. It gave mehope.
I’m still not close to where I want to be, but it’s further than I’ve gotten before, and I acceptthat.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Jesse says. “Whew. I’m still recovering.” I love knowing I’ve satisfied my man. We chat a little more, the way we would if we were right beside each other, until he finally says, “Think I’m gonna pass out now. Got an early daytomorrow.”
“I’ll talk to you then, Mr.Morgan.”
We hang up, and I clean up the mess I made with him before returning tobed.
I’ve never had trouble sleeping in a strange bed. Because of what I do, I’m used to traveling, but it’s the first time I’ve noticed that it’s hard to sleep in a bed without him. I didn’t realize how accustomed to that I’d become, but I miss his body curled up against mine, hearing the soft hum of his breathing. Something about it has always made me feel sosecure.
My phone buzzes, and I pick it up to see a text message. It’s not from the usual suspects, but another strange name from mypast.
Liam—a very old friend, not part of my crew of Bastard Motherfuckers, but definitely one of my best friends in the world. We see each other occasionally, but not nearlyenough.
LIAM: You in NY and not tellme?
ME: Yup. Should I even ask how you foundout?
LIAM: Allison. Now get out here so we canhang.
I laugh. I’m tired, but considering how long it’s been since I’ve seen him, I don’t have any intention of blowing himoff.
Jesse texts me while we’re making plans, so I tell him I’m going out, and he messages:Glad at least one of us has the energy to do somethingtonight. ;)
* * *
Sittingon a barstool in a nearby gay bar where we agreed to meet, I wait for Liam to arrive. I notice a few gazes my way, and if they only knew how off the market I was, they wouldn’t even bother wasting theirtime.
My eyes gravitate to a TV screen behind the bar, where a football game is playing. I’m watching to give my eyes something to do, and when I look over to see if Liam’s made any progress or if I need to text him, I catch him heading myway.
He’s impossible to miss. Well over six feet tall, and his broad shoulders fill out the leather jacket he wears, his jeans tight as they’ve ever been. He always dresses to show off that physique. Hell, I don’t blame him, since I would do the same thing if I had a body like that. Not that I try to hide mine atall.
As he nears me, I rise from mystool.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the infamous EricWestright.”
“The nefarious LiamMcKinney.”
We grin together at our familiar greetings for one another before we hug it out. He pats me on the back. “Been too long,buddy.”
He pulls away, and we situate ourselves on the nearbystools.
The way the light behind the bar casts across his face deepens the shadows already present beneath his sharp features, making him look as mysterious asever.
As much as we hung out when we were younger, like me, Liam has always kept things close to his chest…and in many ways, he’s always going to be a mystery to me. One of the reasons I suppose we always got along so well was because we both had our secrets, which we wanted to keep without being pressed for more…and we were good about respecting each other’sboundaries.
He orders a drink from the bartender, whose interested look he returns, smirking with that charm unique tohim.
“Yes, it’s been eons,” Isay.
“Hey, we’re notthatold, and I’m young at heart. You, on the other hand, well, let’s just say it’s a good thing you still workout.”
“Ah, there’s the jackass I miss so much. What have you been upto?”
