“Great idea. I’m off at seven, I can meet you there.” He’s so enthusiastic about it, practically bouncing on his feet with excitement.
“Listen, just to be clear, I’m so into Gavin I barely notice anyone else. So if you were flirting with me–” His cheeks redden a little as his hand moves to rub the back of his neck.
“You noticed that huh? I wasn’t sure, you always seemed so oblivious, but now I understand why.” He chuckles and my body relaxes.
“I hoped you would. I like you, and want to be friends. That’s why I’m here, to invite you to hang out as friends. I was just thinking that we have similar energy, it’ll be fun, oh and you can meet my BFF, I still have to invite him, but Jordan will be there for sure.”
“A friend of yours is a friend of mine. See you later Pete, thank you for inviting me.”
I smile at his words and salute him on my way out, already reaching for my phone to text Jordan.
CHAPTER 13
GAVIN
What am I doing here? Why did I decide it would be a good idea to go with them to the bar?
Because you were jealous?
Fuck that.
Why won’t you admit to yourself that you want him.Because I shouldn’t want him.
Fuck that.
Hey, that’s my line.
I try to focus on my surroundings to quiet Adam’s voice in my head. It’s not that it has any volume to be honest. I don’t actually hear it, hear it. It’s just how I would imagine he would speak to me. I wondered a few times if it isn’t a symptom of some serious mental issues or a brain tumor, but other than the running commentary of my life, there are no other symptoms. Maybe my subconscious just sounds like Adam.
We’re sitting at our usual table in the back corner of JACKS. It’s a week night so the place is quiet. Just a few patrons here and there drinking beer or sipping their drink of choice. I’m nursing my glass of Coke while the others chat loudly around me.
My eyes keep wandering to Pete standing at the bar with Ash and my blood boils every time I spot them together. Always smiling and laughing. The perfect combination. Their personalities are practically clones of each other.
The lingerie dream, where we almost had sex wasn’t the only one I had last month. It’s becoming a problem now, and not just for my poor dick that’s rubbed raw at this point. My concentration is shot to shit. I can’t seem to focus on anything but him. Wondering what it would take to get him into a pair of lace panties, I’m going to end up tattooing a thong on a client by mistake. It’s why I’m trying to avoid Pete during the day. It’s too much being around him, his scent is all over the shop. I hadn’t noticed it before. It’s like these dreams have amplified everything about him. I told him I want to be his friend but I’m doing the exact opposite.
Just stop fooling yourself, Gavin.
And do what? Destroy that smile on his face? Because that’s what will happen if I get involved with him.
Is he happy though?
I look more closely. He is smiling but his eyes, they’re dimmed. Maybe he’s just tired.
My breath gets caught in my lungs when I notice Ash leaning in to whisper in his ear the same way he did today at the shop.
For the love of God, get your ass over there and make him yours already.
I shouldn’t. I have no right to do it. Especially after the way I have treated him lately.
That’s an easy fix.
What I should do is get out of here. I look around the table and see Carter watching me.
“So, are you going to do something about it?” he asks, tilting his head toward Pete and Ash at the bar, not caring if everyone else can hear him.
“About what?”
Avoiding much?
