As if he didn’t know. He wasn’t so drunk last night that he didn’t remember that shower, and Colt… God, Colt. He couldn’t remember ever being wanted like that before.
“You’re smitten.”
“Did you honestly just say smitten? What are you? Forty?”
“Dude, that’s deflecting. You’re totally gone.” Timmy just kept grinning.
“I don’t know about totally.”
Timmy pinned him with a look. “Liar.”
“Maybe.” He stared right back, but Timmy was either better at this, less hungover, or both. “He’s… like no one I’ve ever met, and we’re good together.”
Timmy sat with him. “You love him?”
“Oh, Timmy. You know me. I fall in love every day.”
“True. He’s a good guy. One hell of a picker and a surprisingly good songwriter for a kid that never got past seventh grade.”
“Wow. He didn’t tell me that.” Why would he? And what did it matter, anyway? What Colt had went way past schooling. You couldn’t learn what he did, the way he played. You had to be gifted it. Channel it or something. “He is a great guy. He might even be the right guy.Theguy.”
Kyle did fall in love every day. It just so happened that he’d fallen in love with thesameguy every day since he met Colt.
“Wow. That’s cool. I’m jealous. I’m still looking for two blowjobs in a row.”
“I don’t understand that at all. You’re adorable.” And sweet. And a great friend. “I wouldn’t have met Colt if not for you.”
“Adorable doesn’t get you fucked, my friend. Jacked off? Sure. Fucked? Not so much.”
“That sucks.” The surfer-style California transplant wasn’t really his type, but it had to be somebody’s. “Patience? You can’t force this stuff. It’ll happen. I know I wasn’t expecting a Cajun blues artist to fall into my lap.”
“Sort of literally. He’s adorable with you, you know.”
“You think? He’s so interested in everything, it’s so much fun. He’s hot too, Timmy. Oh my God. I can’t believe you set us up and didn’t just keep him for yourself.”
Timmy grinned at him. “He’s intense, bro, and we have to work together. That can get weird, you know?”
“He’s intense for sure.” Colt had a ton of energy, but it wasn’t wild; it was always so focused. “I’ve hired him to do a live improv performance piece with me for my next exhibition, and also put down some tracks for a couple of the other numbers. You think it will get weird? I’ll want to arrange some studio time for him, by the way.”
“I don’t know, but it sounds like I need to see it.”
“I’m sure you’ll tell us it’s self-indulgent navel-gazing or something.” He laughed. It might be. He wasn’t sure he cared. Also, as long as Colt was busy, his lover wasn’t leaving town.
“I’ve seen both of you. I’m sure I will.” Timmy winked at him and waggled knowing eyebrows.
“He’s good here, right? I mean, it seems like he wants to stick around, stay in the city, right?” Oh, hangover head. He wouldn’t ask something like that if he had a filter, but he just couldn’t stop himself. He glanced over at the kitchen door, to make sure Colt wasn’t standing there. Hell, in for a penny…. “Has he said anything?”
“About leaving? Nah. He says he has a couple of songwriter buds that are staying for two weeks and working with him, but he had his manager give me a check for six months’ rent.”
“Oh. Cool. Good to know.” Really good to know, though he kind of felt shitty for asking. Like he was checking up. He could blame the hangover, right? “I’m going to bring him some coffee, okay?” He got up, gingerly as his head swam a little, and found two mugs.
“He likes it sweet and creamy.”
Like he didn’t know that.
“Really appreciate the Tylenol, Timmy.” He picked up both coffees—his black, and Colt’s sweet coffee-flavored milk—and gave Timmy a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a sweetheart.”
Timmy snorted at him. “Yep. That’s me. Hope you feel better.”