“No! It’s not lonely. I mean, I miss having you there, obviously. But I’m good.” The ache in my chest grows with each lie.
Rhys debated for months before deciding to move out of the apartment we’ve shared for half a decade and in with his boyfriend. He wanted to move sooner, but he kept putting it off because he was concerned about me. I knew if I’d asked him to stay, he totally would’ve. But that would’ve been a dick move on my part. He and Angel went through a lot to be together and they deserve to be happy without having to worry about me.
“Are you sure?” Rhys casts me a skeptical look. He knows me better than anyone else in the world, so I make sure to smile with my eyes too.
“Of course! Besides, I won’t be alone for long. Bellamy’s friend is moving in soon.”
Noel’s fiancé, Bellamy, used to live in San Francisco and the guy who’s moving in with me was his roommate, I think. I’m not too clear on that whole situation, to be honest. All I know is Noel and Bellamy are getting married. Sebastian convinced them to film the entire planning process and make a documentary out of it. And this guy is coming to play Bellamy’s friend-slash-best man in the film… I think.
Sebastian’s always got these genius ideas that he ropes the rest of us into. I remember thinking this one was really cool when he first explained it to us, but the details are kind of murky now.
Rhys lights up. “Oh yeah! What’s his name again?”
“Uh…” See, that’s one of the murky details I can’t quite conjure up. I kind of see the name in my mind, kind of feel the way it sounds on my tongue, but not entirely. Like his name is a ghost who disappears if I focus on it too hard. Same with when exactly he’s getting here or how long he’s staying.
Rhys gives me a funny look. I’m usually pretty good with random details, but the harder I try to remember, the more I lose the shape of it.
“No worries. We’ll ask Sebastian at brunch.” He picks up the pace, dragging me along the sidewalk.
Half a block later, Rhys directs us toward a restaurant and I hold the door open for him to go in first. Sebastian and Noel are already seated at a table, sipping Bellinis, and Rhys and I slip into the two empty chairs.
Sebastian doesn’t bother saying hello and launches right into business. People who don’t know him think he’s a little intense, but he’s the mastermind who turned a ragtag group of camboys into The Camboy Network, one of the leading adult entertainment studios in the industry. “Are you ready for Santino?” he fires off at me.
Who? What? I stare blankly at him while my brain scrambles to catch up.
“Bellamy’s friend? He’s staying with you?” Noel prompts. He cocks an eyebrow at me like I’ve forgotten my own name.
That’s when it clicks. “Oh! Santino! Yeah, totally ready.” I swallow down the nervous laughter that would definitely give me away.
“Good,” Sebastian says, not missing a beat as he turns to Noel. “His flight lands at three-twenty on Thursday afternoon. You and Bellamy are going to pick him up from JFK.”
Noel huffs an annoyed sigh as if he’s being asked to personally drive the guy from San Francisco. Noel’s annoyed a lot. It’s a part of his bad-boy persona that his rabid fans love so much. “Yeah, I guess.”
“No guessing. You are,” Sebastian corrects.
“I still don’t get why he can’t just take a cab or whatever,” Noel grumbles.
“I still don’t get why he can’t stay with you and Bellamy,” Sebastian shoots back, pinning Noel with a pointed look. “He’s Bellamy’s friend. It would make more sense for the doc.”
Noel pouts and slouches down in his chair. “We like having our privacy.”
“More like you’re jealous of him and you want to keep Bellamy to yourself,” Rhys jumps in with a smirk.
“Fuck you. What would I have to be jealous about?” Noel’s pout deepens.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because he’s known Bellamy longer than you have? He used to live with Bellamy? Or maybe you’re just a jealous bitch who doesn’t like to share,” Rhys says, his voice taunting.
Noel’s pout turns devilish. “Oh, I like to share just fine.” There’s more than enough innuendo in his voice for us to know exactly what he’s talking about—and it’s not food.
“Anyway,” Sebastian cuts in, bringing us back on track. “Santino’s flight lands at three-twenty. I’d give him at least thirty minutes to disembark and get through the airport. Pickup is no later than four o’clock. They should be at your place around five-ish, Hayden. You’ll be at home to meet them?” Sebastian phrases the last sentence like a question, but we all know it’s an order.
Seeing my friends around the table like this, just being themselves and bantering, it deepens the ache in my chest… which makes no sense at all. I should be thrilled right now. I should be ecstatic. I’ve missed spending time with the guys, so I should be soaking it all in and savoring it. Yet all I can think about is how rare these opportunities are and dread the moment we all go our separate ways again.
But I put on a brave face, a smiling one. “I’ll be there!” My voice cracks on the last word when I try to force a little too much cheerfulness into it.
Sebastian gives me a puzzled look before continuing. “Good. I’ll double-check with Christian, but I’m pretty sure he finishes work at six. We can all have dinner together to welcomeSantino to the city, then head to The Bronzed Rail. You’ll be performing?” he asks Rhys.
“I’ve actually got a new pole dance routine I’ll be doing,” Rhys answers. “Angel’s already planning on being at the club, so he can meet Santino too. It’s perfect!”
