“Would you like a ride back to Elliot’s?”
I would, but I feel like a mooch already—taking his drugs, wearing his clothes, sleeping in his bed, eating his scrumptious buttery omelets. “I appreciate it, but Elliot’s is on the other side of town. I’ll just catch a ride. Thanks again for inviting me over. Maybe we can hang out again sometime?” I’m not exactly sure what last night was, only that it was hot as hell, and I want to do it some more.
“Sure, Adam. We can hang out again sometime. You have my number.”
Do I?I check my phone to see that Cassius Peacock is now listed in my contacts. I must have added him in there last night. Cassius helps me find my clothes, which he’s washed and dried, but insists I wear his sweats home with me. Then he walks with me down to his front gate and waits with me until my driver arrives.
“Thanks for the advice too,” I say as the car pulls up to the curb. I’m just now recalling some of the knowledge he dropped on me while giving me possibly the best hand job of my life.
“You’re welcome.” He kisses my cheek, lingering near my neck as he inhales, making me wonder if he might be interested in me, hopefully as more than just his personal cock attendant. I’m not making the first move, though. He’s way too intimidating.
“Make sure you tell Elliot I said hello,” he says as I climb into the backseat of the car. He shuts the door behind me, and the driver pulls away. On impulse, I glance back at him through the rearview window to watch him shrink in the distance. What might have happened if I’d stayed?
* * *
Elliot is nothappy with me. I mean, I knew he wouldn’t be. I apologized already, but he kind of goes on and on about it while I’m trying to find my workout clothes. Everything I own lives in a plastic bin, and there’s no washer or dryer at Elliot’s, so I can’t really tell what’s dirty or not. I resort to the sniff test. Good enough.
“I just found it to be really irresponsible and rude, Adam,” he’s saying, “and totally out of character for you. I mean, what if something had happened to you?”
“I was fine, Elliot. I went to have drinks with Cassius and then spent the night at his place. I’m sorry again that I didn’t text you about the change of plans.”
“Cassius?Cassius Peacock?”
“The one and only.”
Elliot starts fluttering about like a parakeet. I strip out of the hoodie and don a dry-fit tank. Elliot’s eyes are glued to my pecs. For the most part, I’ve gotten used to his attention, but it still feels a little pervy.
“See, this is how it starts,” Elliot says. “He let you borrow those clothes so that you’d feel obligated to return them. You need to stay away from him, Adam. He may seem glamorous and clever, but he will reel you in, then chew you up and spit you out. He’s a vicious, backstabbing bitch who thinks he’s a queen. I despise him. And you should too.”
I pause dressing to look at him. “Way harsh, Ell. I thought you guys were friends. What did he do to you anyway?”
“What has he said about me?” Elliot sniffs.
“Nothing, really, just asked how we got to know each other.”
Elliot frowns and crosses his arms. “I don’t tell many people this story, but I will tell you. Sophomore year at UCLA there was a guy in one of our classes I was interested in, someone I thought might be straight, but you know, the heart wants what it wants. And besides, it was fucking art school. Anyway, he asked me out, had sex with me, then ghosted me completely.”
“I’m sorry, Elliot, that’s really sad, but what does Cassius have to do with it?”
“Cassius paid him to do it. To fuck with me. Because he’s a sadistic piece of shit.”
If that’s true, it’s pretty messed up.
“How do you know Cassius was behind it?”
Elliot shakes his head. “I just know.”
“Did you have any proof of it?”
“I just know, Adam, that’s all I can tell you. Now, will you please stay away from him?”
“I’ll ask him about it. I’ll get the story from him. Maybe it was just a misunderstanding?”
“No, you can’t do that. He’ll lie about it, and he’s very convincing.”
I’m trying to be sympathetic to Elliot’s feelings, but I only have a couple of hours before this shoot, and I need to get my fat ass to the gym. “Look, Elliot, I really appreciate all that you’ve done for me. I’ll definitely take your advice into consideration next time I talk to him.”
“Next time?” Elliot yells, his voice going shrill. I wince at the sound. “That’s what I’m telling you, Adam. You need to block his number from your phone and forget you ever knew him. Do it now before he gets his claws into you.”
