Page 34 of Tough Guy and the Show Off

I guess it has been a hell of a long time since I’ve bothered to take anyone home, even though I haven’t had any shortage of offers. This feels like more than just being super hard up though.

“You totally nailed this, dude,” he says around another spoonful. “Don’t tell my mom, but I think yours is better.”

“Oh, I’m totally going to tell your mom. I need to secure my spot as her favorite son before Christmas.”

He snorts a laugh. “Good luck. I just told them that I’m covering the cost of college for my sister. I’m pretty sure they’re looking into nominating me for sainthood as we speak.”

“As they should.”

The conversation is easy and light while we eat, laughing and continuing to casually nudge our feet against each other. This is why I haven’t been able to get excited about taking anyone home from the bar lately. They’re all hot as sin, that goes without saying, but maybe I’m at a point in my life where I want more than that. I want someone to sit across the table from and laugh with, to talk to about all the big stuff and small stuff, to come home to after a long roadie. Except, how could anyone else ever compete with Beau?

SEVENTEEN

BEAU

“Want to watch something besides Sin City Cars tonight?” Trav plops down on the couch next to me, clicking the remote to turn the TV on. “I saw a review for a movie that’s supposed to be pretty good.”

“What’s it about?”

“It’s about a rugby team. Probably winning a championship as underdogs or some shit.”

I chuckle at that. “Sure. We can check it out.” I settle next to him on the couch.

Trav finds the movie, orders it, then curls up next to me, pulling the throw from the back of the sofa to toss over our laps. It’s not the first time we’ve cuddled together, but it feels different tonight. Like I want to pull closer, draw him into my arms, nuzzle his neck.

As that thought courses through me, my body heats and my cock twitches with interest. I try to mentally will it away, but it’s not working at all.

The movie starts with a rugby game. The guys on the screen are bulky and sweaty, grunting as they crash into each other, and slide through the grass. There’s something homoerotic about how they interact, and I wonder if it’s always been that way or if I’m just seeing it with new eyes.

The camera zooms in on one of the players, a light-haired man with blue eyes and a strong jaw, and my brain tangles around one thought. I think he’s hot. I mean, sure, I’m aware that there are some good-looking guys in the league, and Travis is exceptional, but I’ve never really thought of them as hot before. Have I?

The actor on screen pulls his shirt up to wipe sweat off his face, revealing his abs. The hair on his chest is matted with sweat and grass, and I find myself wondering what it would be like to press my face into his cleavage.

My eyelids flutter as my cock swells a little more. I must make a noise because Trav looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

“You good, Beau?”

“Yeah, for sure.” I clear my throat and shift around a little.

As we get deeper into the movie it becomes clear that this is a romance. The two main characters are teammates and room together on the road, just like me and Trav. There’s a ton of tension between them as they avoid the obvious until they can’t anymore and crash into each other.

The sex scene isn’t graphic, but it’s more intense than I was expecting and my mind wanders to thoughts of me and Trav doing shit like that.

Kissing.

Touching.

After the sex scenes ends, Trav pauses the movie, standing quickly. “Gonna get water. You want some?”

“I’m okay.”

He nods, dragging a hand through his hair before walking to the kitchen. While he’s gone, I shift, adjusting my dick and hoping he won’t notice when he gets back.

I mean, it’s no big deal if I’m suddenly attracted to men, right? Just because I never realized it before doesn’t mean it has to be a thing. It even makes sense that if I am attracted to men, I’d be into Travis. He’s sexy and he’s my best friend, so I know what a good person he is.

He returns with a glass of water, gives me a half smile, and sits next to me again. I wait for him to unpause the movie, but he doesn’t, instead turning slightly sideways to look at me.

“Do you remember the night I walked in on you?”