“I am not obsessed,” Xander grumbled. He stood up and walked the few steps across the porch to where Wright was still standing by the door. Wright noted a few confused glances sent toward Xander. They didn’t tell anyone last time but Wright’s brain immediately went to Xander keeping him a secret. Was he okay with his friends knowing he was dating someone so much younger than him? Paxton and William had both walked down the steps already. “You look… Wow.”
“It’s not too much?” Wright asked. He looked up at Xander, genuinely wanting his opinion. He knew that ultimately it was his own decision and he kind of liked it, hoped he would get more comfortable the longer he wore it. He definitely preferredhis sweats or a hoodie, but at a night out every now and then he could see himself getting dressed up like this.
“Do I want you to go to a club full of strangers looking like that? No.” Xander leaned down so his lips brushed Wright’s ear. “But do I want you to come back so I can admire it in private? Fuck yes, baby.” Xander wrapped an arm around him and for the first time since they started.. dating? Were they dating? That was a question for another night. For the first time since they got together, Xander kissed him in front of everyone. It was more than a peck. His tongue slipped past his lips and Wright could taste the sugar from the sweet tea on his lips.
An eruption of cheers and applause sounded around them and Wright couldn’t help but laugh into the kiss. They’d been touchy around the family and he’d discussed a few details with Paxton, but this was the most PDA they’d shown outside of the guest house. He hoped no one ever saw that part of their lives together.
“I would say get a room,” William called out. “But we need to get going before the clubs start filling up. Let the guy go, Xander, and enjoy your boring night. We’ll send pictures!”
“Be careful, okay? And text me if you need anything. I can be there in twenty minutes.”
“The club is like forty minutes away,” Wright pointed out.
“Yeah, but if you need me, speed limits will only be a suggestion.” Xander kissed his forehead once more and then stepped back so Wright could head down the steps and to Clark and William’s car. They were all riding together tonight. The car was spacious, with two rows of seats behind the driver and passenger. Wright and Paxton took the back, Brett and Wylon in the middle. Wylon had a burgundy shirt on that he realized too late matched Brett’s pants. William and Clark weren’t coordinated, but Wright noted how they held hands over the console most of the way into the city. There was no denying foranyone that they were together, even without the matching gold bands.
“Are you excited?” Paxton asked while Clark tried to find a parking space. The streets were lined with cars, people were walking around, some disappearing into buildings, others standing in lines on the sidewalks. They were in a part of the city that he never went so he wasn’t too sure if they considered this busy or not. It was definitely more people than Wright had ever seen before. The nasty weather most of the day didn’t seem to deter people from having fun tonight.
“I’m a nervous excited,” Wright admitted. “I’m still feeling like I should be back at the house helping with something.”
“This night is for all of us,” Wylon said, turning around in the seat to look at Wright. “But especially for you. You’re young. You deserve to have some fun, Wright. And we’re all here to make sure you do. Now, Xander told us you don’t know how to dance.”
“Oh, grab that spot babe.” William cut off Wright’s response and then turned in his seat to face the rest of them. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. Wright, we are so going to teach you how to dance tonight.”
They parked and filed out of the car. There was a line out the door and it took about a half hour for them to get in. Wright showed his ID and he and Paxton got stamps on their hands to indicate they weren’t drinking tonight. Walking inside was an overwhelming experience and he was grateful for Paxton taking his hand.
Lucky Parts was crowded. The building went back further than it was wide, it seemed. The main floor was sunken down a few steps, a stage on the opposite wall of the entrance. There was a balcony that wrapped around the entire space, where even more people were dancing or leaning over the railing, watching. The bar was to the left, barely any spots open to get in and order a drink. The décor was a mix of pride flags and classic car parts.Two things that didn’t seem like they would go together, but somehow the color scheme in the club made it work. The tables they passed were black and chrome, there were car logos hung on the walls, surrounded by a rainbow of colors. The music was loud and Wright had to lean in to hear Clark talking to their group.
“We’re going to walk a lap and see if we can score a table,” Clark said. “Follow us and stay close, okay? Once we get something, we’ll take turns heading to the bar for drinks.”
Wright nodded and followed William. Clark was tall enough that he led their group and people moved out of the way for him. Wright was third in their procession, Wylon and Brett brought up the rear. He tried to watch where he was going, but also wanted to see the people around them. There were a lot of guys that were shirtless. Some looked around his age, others looked older. But he didn’t see anyone that looked like Xander. None of them did anything for him. He had eyes, of course, but that was as far as it went. He did realize that while he thought he was revealing a lot just an hour ago, he was dressed rather conservatively compared to some people. He turned to look behind him at Paxton. There were plenty of other representation other than just gay men. They passed one guy, taller than him, but with the same slight build, that was wearing reflective booty shorts to show off his legs and ass, with a white sheer crop top. He had lines of neon paint on his arms and up his neck. A full face of makeup too. He looked like he was having a blast. Wright wanted to experience that. Maybe not the clothing, but the being himself and having fun. Next to him was a group of girls that were wearing a mix of orange, pink, and white.
It took ten minutes of weaving through the crowds to find a place they could claim. A group of people offered it to them, claiming they were leaving. Wylon and Clark decided to get everyone’s orders and make their way back to the bar. They weresitting on a black, leather couch with a table in front of them. William and Brett were sitting to Wright’s right and Paxton to his left. He pulled out his phone to text Xander that they made it.
“Send a pic,” Paxton said. “Come on. William, will you take one of us, please?”
Wright handed his phone over, the camera already open. Paxton held his hand and he stood up, standing awkwardly. Paxton laughed, so did William and Brett. She adjusted his limbs, having him put one over her shoulder. “It’ll show off more of your tummy,” she whispered. “I’m sure it’ll drive him crazy.”
“It should concern me how much you are actually right about what your uncle likes,” Wright said. Xander one hundred percent did love his stomach. Loved it so much, the jeans barely hid the hickey right above his groin that he’d given him earlier that morning.
“I don’t need to know if I’m right or not,” Paxton groaned. They laughed together and William declared he had the shot. Several actually, when Wright looked back at them. He had to admit that he did look good. Unrecognizable. Happy.
“Send it to me too, please.”
“I know we’re here to have fun but while we’re waiting for our drinks, can we talk shop for a second?” Brett asked. “I heard back from that ranch up north. They said they’d be interested in talking to us about extending Found Family Ranch. They’re offering to front enough to build two houses to start.”
“Are you serious?” William’s eyes were the size of plates. Even in the dim, strobe lighting Wright could see the whites of his eyes. His phone buzzed with an incoming text and Wright tuned out their conversation to read Xander’s reply.
I’m in love with a total hottie.
Wright stared at the screen and smiled. They’d said the words only once to each other that morning, but seeing it typedout… Butterflies were going rampage through his body at the words. Xander loved him. He was in love with Xander.
“Hold on!” Brett’s hand snatched his phone and tilted it toward William. “When did this happen? We thought you were just getting close.”
“What’s going on?” Wylon asked just as Wright reached for his phone. He had a tray of drinks balancing in his hands. Brett held his phone out of arm’s length, which resulted in Wright practically in his lap to get it. Almost in William’s lap too. They were both laughing.
“Xander and Wright sitting in a tree,” William started singing. “I-N L-O-V-E.”
“That’s not how the song goes,” Clark said as he set drinks down on the table. Wright finally got his phone back and sent a few hearts before clicking his phone off and sticking it back in his front pocket. Wylon took Brett’s hand and took his seat before pulling him down to his lap. Wylon was stock, clearly strong. But Brett had the height and broad shoulders on him. It was amusing to see the larger man on Wylon’s lap, but they looked like it was a normal occurrence. “But really? That’s awesome, Wright. We give Xander shit a lot, but he’s a great guy. I’m sure those muscles come in handy.”
