Chapter 27 #3
“Hey, Rose, maybe we shouldn’t butt in,” the blonde says. “I feel bad bringing him here if he’s not feeling well. That, and I think there’s something going on between them that we don’t know about.”
Gene notices Rose’s cheeks flush darker, even in the dim lighting. “Oh, shoot. Maybe you’re right.”
Something going on between us?
“Weeeeeell, it’s been nice knowin’ ya, girls,” Ray says, putting a hand on the table to steady himself. “I guess I’m off.”
Ray tries to stand up, rising off the chair, and yet—he stumbles, falling face-first into Gene’s chest. Gene catches him, wrapping his arms around his back.
“Woah, woah! See what I mean?” Gene props Ray to stand more upright, pulling one of Ray’s arms over his shoulders.
“Yeah, yeah.” Ray hiccups. “Maybe I should just lie down.”
“You can, once we get back to the hotel.” Gene holds onto Ray’s arm with one hand and grasps Ray’s waist with his other, supporting his balance. “You girls enjoy the rest of the show now.”
The girls don’t question it—they say their goodbyes, mentioning also how they hope to see them again soon.
Maybe they will, who knows? They are staying in Vegas for two more weeks, after all.
After seeing the situation himself, Gene doesn’t think there was any foul play going on, such as them holding Ray against his will.
But Ray still shouldn’t be here all by himself, drunk out of his mind, his friends not knowing his whereabouts. Gene’s glad he was able to find him.
A security guard lets them out of the showroom and back to the casino floor.
“Ha-ha, yes! Fuck yeah, you found Ray!” Santiago cheers, throwing a fist up.
“Is he alright?” Maurice asks.
“Pssh, I’m fine,” Ray says, swatting the air with his free hand; his other arm is still around Gene’s shoulders.
“You’re drunk,” Gene chuckles. “I’m basically sober compared to you.”
“That’s a first,” Ray says.
“Shut your mouth.” Gene laughs as he adjusts his hold on Ray, helping him stand up straight.
“I was worried you’d been kidnapped by the mafia, man,” Santi says.
“Mafia?! What are you on about…” Ray hiccups.
“How were we supposed to know if those girls were trustworthy when you didn’t say anything to us before you left?” Santi puts a hand on his hip.
“They were just fans… They were nice girls.”
“Maybe they were fine, but you still shouldn’t be out and about being as drunk as you are,” Gene says. “Come on, let’s head back.”
The four of them walk a steady pace through the casino, not so much in a rush anymore now that Ray is with them.
Maurice snaps some shots of the casino scenery.
Ray seems to be walking fine for the most part, only needing a little bit of support.
Though Gene feels reassured having him in his arms—he’s here, with him, safe and sound.
“You really came all the way here just to get me?” Ray asks as they walk past the slot machines.
“Yup.” Gene holds onto Ray’s waist a little tighter. “I was so worried about you. Especially how you had that little fight with Carol. I just couldn’t stay sitting around doing nothing, not knowing what happened to you.”
“Aw, I was alright. But I guess you wouldn’t have known that if I didn’t come and tell you… Well, thanks still, for retrieving me. It means a lot.” Ray gives him a sweet, happy-go-lucky drunken smile. “I love you, Gene.”
Gene’s heart nearly bursts out of his chest. His face feels like it’s on fire. Did he really say that? Well, it’s not like he hasn’t said the same thing to Ray before, too. Ray is his best friend, and of course he loves his friends. There’s nothing wrong with that.
“Love you too, Ray.” Gene gives him a smile back.
He hears Maurice chuckling to his right. He turns his head, noticing a smirk on the photographer’s face.
“What?” Gene asks with a pout.
“You guys are just so cute,” Maurice says.
That makes Gene’s cheeks burn even more.
“Say cheese.”
“Huh?”
Snap!
Maurice lowers his camera from his face. “Couldn’t help myself.”
Gene laughs, making Ray laugh, too, alongside him. “Oh, you fucker,” Gene says.
“Hey, if he got my good side, ’sokay,” Ray says.
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” Gene continues to chuckle.
They exit Caesars Palace and scurry back across the road, thankfully without hassle.
Gene keeps his arm around Ray every step of the way.
Once inside the Flamingo, they find the rest of their crew loitering around the entrance waiting for them: Dennis, Nicky, Pat, Carol, and even Stefan is there, too.
“Hey, you brought back Ray!” Dennis claps.
“Yup, I’m here,” Ray says, still hanging onto Gene.
“You were at a drag show, huh?” Pat asks with a smile. “If I would’ve known, I would’ve loved to come along.”
“Oh really?” Ray says. “Well, maybe there’ll be another one sometime—” He hiccups before he can continue speaking.
“Let’s get you back to the room now,” Gene says, directing him towards the door to the hotel. “You need to lie down.”
“Did you want me to come along?” Carol asks. Gene’s surprised she’s even asking after what transpired earlier.
“No, Carrie. I just…” Ray hiccups again. “I just want Gene.”
Gene’s heart pounds madly.
“Really? But I’m your girl—”
“Hey, they need to take it easy,” Pat says, putting her hand on Carol’s shoulder. “I think it’s best to leave them be. You can stay in my room for tonight, if you’d like.”
Carol huffs out a sigh. “Sure. Fine. I guess you’re right.”
Gene can’t help but smirk at that. “I’ll let you guys know if we need anything, alright? Catch you later.”
“Feel better, Ray! For me!” Santiago fans his hand around his mouth like a megaphone.
“I will, don’t you worry!” Ray laughs, as he and Gene walk their way toward the hotel entrance.
After a short ride in the elevator, the two of them head into their room, thankfully without Carol, to Gene’s relief. He shuts the door once inside and, after all this time, finally lets go of Ray. Yet Ray sways, immediately stepping toward one of the beds—
“Hang on, you gotta take off your shoes, first!” Gene catches him before he stumbles further. “Probably should change into some different clothes, too, like pajamas.”
“Y-yeah, you’re right. Sorry.” Ray stands up straighter and kicks his shoes off by the door.
“Nothing to be sorry about.” Gene smiles, kicking his own shoes off, too. “I’ll lend you some of my pajamas, okay?”
“But my suitcase is right there…”
“If I just grab two pairs of mine, that’s one less suitcase to open,” he says as he kneels, reaching in his suitcase for the items in question. “Plus, I like sharing clothes with you.”
“Heh, well, alright.” Ray shrugs. “Actually, give me a second. I gotta use the bathroom.”
“Oh, do you need to throw up?” Gene asks as he rises, pajamas in hand.
“No, I should be okay. I just need to pee really bad.” Ray chuckles. “I’ll be quick.”
“Alright. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Sure thing.”
Ray rushes into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. In the meantime, Gene strips out of his clothes, throws them in the laundry bag, and puts his pajamas on. He sits down on the edge of the bed he’d claimed as his the previous night, not having to wait long—
Until Ray steps out of the bathroom, bare-chested, shirt in hand.
A fluttery warmth engulfs Gene’s heart.
“I guess you didn’t take the pajamas to change in there,” Gene chuckles.
“I figured you’d wanna watch me strip.” Ray smirks, throwing his shirt on the floor by the laundry bag and putting his hands on his fly.
“Oh, uh… yeah. I would very much enjoy that.” His cheeks burn, watching carefully as Ray slides his pants off, revealing his cute maroon underwear.
While they may not quite be lovers, there’s no doubt that there truly is something special between them. How else could he explain what’s happening right now?
“You’re incredibly sexy,” slips from Gene’s lips. “Even when you’re drunk.”
Now it’s Ray’s turn to blush, his cheeks darkening. “Same goes for you, handsome.”
Gene hands Ray the spare pajamas, never taking his eyes off him as he puts the shirt on. Yet as Ray attempts to fit his feet through the holes of the pants—he stumbles. Gene stands up, catching Ray in his arms before he falls over.
“Woah there, you alright?”
“Just peachy,” Ray says, nuzzling his face into Gene’s neck. “Help me out, will ya?”
“Sure, sure. Can you stand up straight?”
“Yeah…”
Ray does as asked. Gene kneels down, his face coming dangerously close to Ray’s crotch as he reaches for his pants, pulling them up over Ray’s hips as he stands back up.
A stray thought runs through his mind—what if instead of putting them on, I was taking them off?
He wonders if there’d be an opportunity to do that in the future.
“Thanks, Gene.” They lock eyes, so easily as they’re both the same height, Ray giving him such a sweet smile. The flutters in Gene’s chest never stop. Ray puts his hands on Gene’s waist. And then—
Ray veers forward, capturing Gene’s lips in a tender kiss.
Gene’s heart hammers relentlessly as he closes his eyes, leaning more into the kiss.
There’s such a potent smell of alcohol on Ray’s breath, but he doesn’t care.
Even if Ray is drunk, there’s no harm giving in to just a kiss, is there?
He’s surprised Ray is initiating anything at all after he’d rejected him back in Phoenix. But Gene is happy, regardless.
He’d always be happy being the object of Ray’s affections.
They part for a moment, noses still touching. “Let’s lie down together,” Gene says.
“Alright.”
And so, Gene reluctantly lets go of Ray and pulls the blanket down on the bed.
Ray plops down as soon as he’s done, the mattress bouncing slightly from the force, and Gene crawls on right beside him after he shuts off the overhead light, leaving only the nightstand lamp on.
They face each other as Gene pulls the blanket back over them.
“It’s been a while since we cuddled like this,” Ray says, throwing his arms around Gene, his knee sliding between Gene’s thighs.
“Yeah. Not since my birthday.” Gene rubs his hand gently over Ray’s upper arm. “Only, last time, I never got to do this with you.”
He leans in, pressing his lips to Ray’s once more.
Back then, the idea of kissing Ray was definitely on his mind.
So, so many times had he thought of doing that and more.
But there was so much holding him back. There still is in a way—so much holding them back from being more than what they are.
But perhaps this is enough for now. If they can’t be lovers, they’ll be whatever this is.
Ray opens his mouth, letting Gene explore with his tongue, tasting the ever-present flavor of rum.
It riles him up, pressure moving lower down his abdomen, but also—it’s a reminder that Ray isn’t in a clear state of mind.
Will he even remember them kissing like this when he wakes in the morning?
Very likely. But Gene can’t take any more advantage of the situation, not when Ray isn’t really feeling well.
At least he knows from all their past experiences together, that despite being drunk, Ray’s heart is still shining through. Ray cares deeply for him—that is a fact.
Their lips part, still close enough to feel the other’s breath. “You know, Gene, you’re such a good kisser. I could kiss you all day,” Ray says with a smile.
“Should we even be kissing?” Gene chuckles. He can’t help but ask. “Because of what you’d said before…”
“Maybe not, but honestly, I don’t fucking care right now. I’m just so glad you’re with me.”
Ray scooches down the bed a little, veering forward so he can hug Gene close, pressing his nose against Gene’s neck.
Yeah, he’s definitely drunk. Sober Ray might’ve said something different.
But Gene will take what he can get. He wraps his arms around his best friend, savoring the warmth of the moment.
“I’m glad you’re with me, too.”
No more words are said as they fall asleep like that, nestled in the other’s embrace.