Peyton
There werea few things that I knew to be unerringly true about Noah. He always had the most precise, immaculate work on his designs. Without exception, he fell for women with round cheeks. And he hated almost nothing as much as he hated being surprised in front of a crowd of people.
So when I stood there in the middle of the barbecue, looking at the stunned expression on Jet’s face, I made the flash decision to just not get into it. Somehow, through some cruel joke on behalf of the universe, Noah’s brother was indeed the man I’d hooked up with, but the story wasn’t exactly appropriate for casual conversation anyway.
Oh, Jet? We met the other night when I guzzled his cum in an alley.
I choked back all my feelings, then faked the most normal smile I could. “How’s it going?” I asked Jet.
He swooped his hair back. “Good. You?”
“Not bad.”
The light bounced off his sunglasses, and under the bright sun, he was somehow even more attractive than he had been at the bar. His tattoos popped, dark and bold against his ropey muscles, and a faint smile softened the hard lines of his jaw.
I glanced between him and his brother. There was that damn chin again.
Noah gave me an expectant look, and I managed to snap out of it and stop thinking about myself. Reconnecting with Jet was a major thing for my friend, and I didn’t want to leave him hanging. “You’re new to town, right?”
Jet seemed relieved, actually, that I didn’t say anything else, which made sense. If I were in his position, I’d appreciate some discretion. “Uh, yeah,” he answered. “Landed here a few months ago now.” He shoved one of his hands in the pocket of his tight jeans. “How are things at the firm?”
I startled like he had given us away, revealed that we knew each other, but then realized he of course knew my job—Noah just introduced us. “Good,” I answered. “Your brother’s work is bringing in the big clients already.”
Noah chuckled. “The whole team gets credit, not just me.”
“He’s very talented,” I told Jet, mainly because it was true. Noah was younger than me, but he had already built a notable portfolio of work. It wasn’t in his nature to bring that up, so I tried to brag for him when I had the chance.
“And successful,” Jet added with a hesitant smile to his brother. “I wasn’t surprised to hear he’s running his own firm.”
“Yeah,” Noah said, but I could tell the compliment didn’t land quite the way Jet had intended.
“Hey guys,” Shawn called out, interrupting the conversation as he appeared from the crowd of the barbecue. He was wearing the baby carrier with Carina in front, who gazed around with a contented smile. A friend of my brother Russell, and recently my friend, too, he was hosting the event. Yet despite the crowds and the fathering duties, he still somehow didn’t look totally exhausted. “Could a couple of people help grab the backup grill? Cass was going to do it, but he got delayed.”
When I glanced into the yard, I saw Cass hauling watermelons, his arms full with a pile that threatened to topple.
“Sure!” Jet said quickly, jumping to attention. “Peyton can help me, right?”
I adjusted my glasses as I tried to read the wide-eyed, encouraging expression on Jet’s face. “Oh, sure,” I answered.
“Thanks,” Shawn smiled, relieved. “Just head through the side door to the garage! It’s right against the wall.”
Noah arched an eyebrow at his brother, and I shrugged. “Be right back!” I told him, and Jet quickly led us away.
“I thought we should talk,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Right.” I hurried along beside him. “Good idea.”
“Thanks for not saying anything. About the other night, I mean. I’m trying to get off on a good foot with my brother, and I just don’t think…” His voice was raspy, and it sounded surprisingly tender to my ear. From the stories Noah had told, I expected him to be detached or self-obsessed, but that wasn’t showing.
I remembered how Jet had looked conceited at the bar, but then acted totally sweet and forgiving when I dumped our drinks all over him.
“Yeah, no problem.” I pulled open the door to the garage, and he stepped in ahead of me. “I don’t really hook up with guys, so I appreciate the discretion, too.”
The door slammed shut behind me, and for just a second, we were left in total darkness and the garage smell. I fumbled quickly for the light, and thankfully, it popped right on above us, revealing the half-cocked grin on Jet’s face.
“You sure suck cock like you hook up with guys.”
I coughed. “Thanks?”
