“Naw, you two have a good time. I’m beat after walking in the heat all day.” Plus…me? In a gay bar? I’d told them I was okay with it, but now? Nope. “Thanks anyway.” As my gaze scraped over his taut abs, peaking under his shirt, and the generous bulge in his shorts, heat swirled in my chest, and I wrinkled my nose. He’d find a hookup looking like that for sure. “I’ll, uh, just order some Chinese takeout.”
His brows twitched. “Okay. Try this place called Dragon Flame. I think you’ll like it.” He tapped the doorjamb with his knuckles. “See you in the morning then.”
As he strutted down the hallway, I watched the sway of his rounded ass. I’d grabbed his ass last night while he’d jerked both of us at once. My cock tingled and swelled. Who would have him tonight? Heat ignited in my chest again. It was no business of mine. Maybe he’d find a dude to date, and then I could put last night behind me.
After a nice eveningwith a dinner of these amazing cumin lamb noodles and keeping my mind off Malik by watching action movies, I retired to my bedroom. It was only eleven, but I’d gotten antsy, watching the front window for car headlights and listening for Malik’s voice. How long would they stay out? The bars close at two around here, right? It wasn’t New York City, where they closed around four.
I brushed my teeth and tossed my shorts and t-shirt in the hamper in my closet and then turned my covers down, sliding underneath. As I lay on my pillow, I held my phone to my face and opened my Instagram app. Would Tex and Malik post selfies at the bar?
Biting my lip, I tapped on Malik’s account and scrolled. Photos of him in the gym this summer popped up, his large biceps as he curled them for the camera in the gym’s mirrors, a shit-eating grin on his face. God, he was built. If I tried his routine in the gym, maybe I’d put some muscle on too.
I scrolled, and a photo of us in New York appeared. With his arm wrapped around my shoulders, we were at a club. I was pretty sure he’d kissed my cheek right before taking the photo.He always did that. He was so comfortable in his own skin and never thought twice about it. I scrubbed my mouth, focusing on his charming smile and dark eyes. Yeah, he’d find a hookup tonight. Who could turn him down looking like that? A knot formed in my gut, and I tensed my jaw. Not evenIcould turn him down.
Returning to the top of his feed, a new photo popped up. He stood next to Tex with a chalkboard behind them, and neon colors scrawled the names of shots across it. They held pinkish shots in their hands, and a man stood behind Malik, clearly checking out his ass. Fucker. An ache ran rampant through my chest, and I shut the app down. This wasn’t good for me. I missed him. Bad.
I dropped my phone onto my chest, turned off my nightstand lamp and then opened my phone again. I couldn’t leave it alone, dammit. A fresh photo emerged. The man who’d stood behind Malik now pressed the side of his head to Malik’s, his arm hooking around his neck. Was it someone they knew, or had Malik met him tonight? Fuck it, I had to stop torturing myself with these photos. I shut my phone off and set it on the charging holder on my nightstand.
If he talked about it in the morning, I’d keep my head and not lose it. I refused to be gay or bi or what the fuck ever this was. I couldn’t let myself go there. Closing my eyes, I rolled to my side and tucked my arms under my pillows with my heart hurting. Malik could kiss that dude right now, jack him off and shit. My heart stung. Fuck…
I tossedand turned all night, every brief knock or creak in the house waking me whenever I did nod off. When Malik and Texhad gotten home, I’d heard their hushed voices and laughter in the hallway before they went to bed. I’d checked my phone. It had been two-thirty. They’d closed the place down.
As morning came, I stared at my ceiling. I’d barely slept, and when I had, anxious dreams had invaded my mind, all involving Malik. I struggled to remember what they were about. I’d been trying to tell him something, but he wouldn’t listen, or something always came between us. I didn’t know. Fuck it. I climbed out of my bed, brushed my teeth and slid pajama bottoms up my legs.
Padding out of my room, I made my way into the kitchen and started the coffeemaker. How would I stay away from Malik today? What excuses could I use? I watched the coffee drip into the glass carafe.
Movement caught the corner of my eye, and I swung my attention to Tex, raking his fingers through his disheveled hair, black pajama bottoms hugging his hips. “G’mornin’.” He stopped next to me and stared at the brewing coffee. “Oh my God, what a night.”
Fuck, he was about to tell me about it. My chest pinched. “Yeah?” I picked three coffee cups from the upper cabinet and set them on the counter. “I’m surprised you’re up already. When did you get in?” Like I didn’t know…
He stepped to the refrigerator and pulled out the creamer. “I don’t know, around two or three?” Setting the creamer next to the coffeemaker, he said, “We haven’t stayed out that late in a long time. Malik was in rare form.” He huffed a chuckle and peered at me.
“Was he now?” I clenched my jaw. Had our situation played a part? As the coffee maker groaned to a stop, I lifted the carafe, poured two cups and slid one to Tex. “So, you guys stayed at the bar and didn’t end up—”Stop it, Grey, Don’t ask shit like that.
“What, at someone’s house for a hookup?” Arching a brow, Tex poured creamer into his coffee and picked it up. “Most guys use the hallway by the bathrooms or go into a stall if they want to hook up. Why leave the party for that?” As he blew across his coffee, his brows ticked up, and his gaze locked on me.
With a grimace, I added creamer to my cup. “Oh.” Had Malik hooked up with that guy on Instagram? If so, why take a photo with a hookup?
He leaned his ass against the counter and sipped his coffee, all his attention on me. “We had a great time last night. The place was hopping. Hot dudes everywhere.” The corner of his lip raised.
“Really. That’s cool. I’m glad the two of you had a good time.” Grabbing my coffee, I strode to the couch, then dropped onto a corner. I had to get away from him, and it would look odd to go hide in my room. But I didn’t want to hear any more.
Tex followed me to the couch and sat at the other end. “What time did you go to bed? Did you sleep well?” He drank his coffee, holding the cup with both hands.
“I, uh, I think it was around eleven, and yeah, I did.”Lies, all fucking lies. Who knew moving here would lead to my becoming such a liar? I sipped my coffee, the warmth soothing my dry throat.
“Do you plan on seeing Carrie today?” Tex narrowed his eyes at me.
“Um, not today.” This was awkward as fuck. I couldn’t wait for practice and school to start, so I’d have excuses to be busy. I glanced toward the kitchen. I needed a change of topic. “What should we make for breakfast?”
“I was thinking eggs with cheese, bacon and maybe toast?” His gaze slipped from me. “Look at what the cat dragged in?”
Groaning, Malik ambled from the hallway in a pair of athletic shorts, his dick swinging free underneath the thin fabric.
As I focused on his cock, heat burned low in my belly and my dick plumped. Fuck, don’t get a boner now. I set my coffee cup on my lap, just in case.
“Dude, underwear. What’s wrong with you?” Tex laughed a scoff and drank more coffee.
“I was too hungover to think about that.” He blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes as he meandered into the kitchen. “Coffee…” After making himself a coffee, he joined us on the couch, falling in beside me and dropping his hand on my thigh. “How was your night, Grey? Are you rested?”