9
Ty
Icouldn’t have had a better time out with Liam.
We’d moved past any apprehension or uneasiness about having fun together, and while it was still hard to resist something more intimate, it was fun enjoying what Liam allowed us to explore.
The bartender set two glasses down before me, and as soon as I turned, Liam was right there, eagerly receiving his.
“Well, that was fast service,” he noted.
“I think the bartender likes me.” I’d noticed him slip right over as soon as I approached the bar, even though it was clear he had other patrons to tend to.
Liam’s gaze shifted to a guy standing beside me, whom I’d hardly noticed. He was sexy, probably a little younger than me. His eyes, luminous with the glow coming from the back of the bar, were fixed on me, filled with a sort of determination. There was something familiar about the look—something that transcended gender when it came to expressing interest.
Liam rested his hand on Blue Eyes’s shoulder, and the guy turned to him, seeming slightly concerned, as though he figured Liam might have been my big, strong boyfriend.
“This is my friend Ty,” Liam told Blue Eyes, whose expression shifted to ease in an instant.
“Joey.” He shook my hand before doing the same with Liam, who introduced himself in the process.
“You from here, Joey?”
“From here, yes, but it’s been a few months since I’ve been back. I work in New Orleans now.”
“New Orleans, that’s a cool city,” I said. “I’m from Atlanta, so I’ve been out there a few times.”
“Oh, you been during Southern Decadence?”
“No, just Mardi Gras. What’s Southern Decadence?”
“Dude, where have you been? That’s a huge gay event.”
My cheeks warmed with embarrassment. “I haven’t been out very long, so I think I’ve missed a few things.”
“Well, I’d be happy to debrief you,” he assured me, his expression leaving little room for confusion about his meaning.
Liam smirked, resting his hand on my shoulder. “I think it’s time for me to pass this on to your new tour guide, Joey.”
He winked, and tension rose within me as I realized what Liam was up to.
Yes, this guy was hot and seemed like he’d be a lot of fun, but I didn’t come to Boystown to spend time with him. I was there for Liam.
I was so surprised by Liam’s comment and the way he said goodbye to Joey and me before he dashed off, that I stood there frozen—fuck, stunned.
But mostly angry as fuck.
Joey must not have sensed my frustration, because he had what I imagined was his flirting A-game on, batting his blue beauties as he moved closer to me, all his attention on my expression, but I couldn’t get my mind off Liam.
“Ty, you look like you’re not in the mood to chat, and neither am I, so why don’t we cut to the chase?”
This twisted thought entered my mind—I considered taking him up on his offer, fucking the hell out of him as vengeance against Liam for not giving a fuck if I went home with this guy. He’d have a good time, I’d have a good time, and maybe that was for the best when Liam had walked away like what we shared was nothing.
LikeIwas nothing.
Maybe that was true, yet I didn’t buy that, or maybe I justrefusedto.
Either way, I felt like shit because despite how apparent Joey’s interest was, I couldn’t take him up on it.
