Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
K ai looked out over the restaurant and wiped a beer glass with a towel. It was already Wednesday, and Conner hadn’t come in all week, or at least not on his shift. He glanced at the front door, behind the hostess stand. Maybe Conner was avoiding him? He had told Conner what his schedule was. Don’t be silly. The guy was probably busy.
Bryce walked up behind him. “Hey, only another half hour and we can go home.”
A shiver raced up his spine. “Yeah, to how many open cupboards this time?” At least they weren’t finding glasses on the floor anymore.
“I know, right? This is getting really creepy.” Bryce twisted his mouth. “What do you think it is? I mean, just because the exterminator didn’t find any signs of raccoons doesn’t mean it’s not raccoons, right?”
There had to be a logical explanation. He shook his head. “I have no idea.” He scanned the bar. Only one older gentleman sat at the end, nursing a red wine. “At least it stopped happening in the middle of the night.”
Bryce chuckled. “That was fucking annoying, man.”
Janice walked out from the kitchen doors, placed a pen behind her ear and stopped next to Bryce and Kai. “Hey, where’s your new guy?” She placed her hands on her hips and winked at Kai.
The teasing about walking Conner home was never ending. He pinched his mouth. “Stop it. He’s not my guy. He’s just an old acquaintance from high school.”
“Really.” Bryce smirked at him.
“Could have fooled me. You know, every time he comes in here, no matter who he’s with, he’s always fixated on you.” She gave him a wry grin.
What was wrong with them? “That’s ridiculous. He’s a-a friend. That’s it.” Heat rushed his face, and he hung his head. “In any case, he hasn’t been in all week.” Maybe Conner really was avoiding him. His mind went over Sunday’s lunch. Had he said something to piss him off? He wrinkled his brow.
“Anyhow, let’s get this place cleaned up and get out of here.” Janice chuckled and sauntered into the kitchen.
Kai poured a beer from the tap, then brought it to a young couple seated at the bar. “Here you go.” He looked out over the restaurant, watching groups at tables pay their bills and get up to leave. Another night almost done. He glanced at the front door. Friday night and still no Conner. He scowled. Conner must be avoiding him. That’s it. For whatever reason, Conner probably didn’t like hanging out with a poor native, gay guy. His heart pinched and he frowned. Maybe Lucas and Ben gave him shit about it. He fisted his hands.
Beth stepped to him with a white towel in her hand. She flung it over one shoulder. “So, I hear there’s a good band playing tonight at The Alamo.”
Could be fun. “Yeah?” He glanced at her and picked up a towel .
“Yeah. Mid-Life Vices. They play 80s and 90s rock. We’re all going after work. You should join us.” She smiled at him.
He turned to her. “So, who exactly is all ?” He lifted his brows.
“Me, Janice, Bryce?—”
“Bryce? Why didn’t he tell me?” He was joking, but it was time to give Bryce some shit. He smirked.
“Tell you what?” Bryce strode across the restaurant floor and stopped at the front of the bar top.
“That you were going to The Alamo tonight?” He snickered.
“I was, but as you can see, I was busy.” Bryce waved his arms around him.
Now he could get him. “Is that also why you let those margaritas sit at pick up so long I had to remake them?” He placed his hands on the back bar and forced a mock scowl.
“Shit, man. I had seven tables come in all at once.” Bryce pursed his lips, then smiled. “You going or what?”
He released a short laugh. “Yeah, yeah, I’m going.” He wiped the bar top. “You’re driving.”
Kai, wearing a tan V-neck shirt and jeans, walked through a small parking lot and looked over the single-story cream stucco plaza. A sign lit up in green on the roofline read The Alamo Saloon . He followed Bryce and Beth under an overhang with brown shingles and stepped over the cement walkway.
Bryce opened a heavy wooden door next to a window filled with neon beer signs. Loud rock music sounded from inside. “After you.” He waved them through.
He followed Beth into the bar, taking in the room, the round high-top tables and two pool tables to his left, then the low-top tables and band playing on a stage to the right. A few Elk heads hung on the wall behind the four-piece band, on wood paneling. He tapped Bryce. “This place is packed.” It looked like the whole town was out tonight .
Bryce smiled. “Yeah. Let’s get drinks.”
He strolled through the crowd of people up to a bar with a wooden bar top under an overhang that matched the one on the building. Strings of multi-colored lights lit up under the overhang, and behind the bar, mirrors hung on the wall with tiers of bottled liquor. He looked over the bottles, then at a blackboard with Jell-O shots written in neon colors. Those looked good. “Want a Jell-O shot?” He snickered at Bryce.
He sided up on Kai’s left. “Sure. Strawberry banana?” He glanced at Beth. “How about you?”
She stood on the other side of Bryce. “Of course. Can’t come here and not get a Jell-O shot.” She laughed.
A female bartender with blonde hair pulled up into a ponytail stepped to them. “What can I get you?”
Bryce leaned forward. “Three strawberry banana Jell-O shots, a wheat beer, and two pale ales.” He glanced from Beth to Kai.
The bartender went to work on their drinks and set them down on the bar. “Run a tab?”
Kai shook his head. “No.” He slid his wallet out from the front pocket of his jeans. “I got this round.” He slapped forty dollars on the bar.
The bartender took the money and brought back the change.
Kai left a few dollars on the bar and faced Beth and Bryce, his back against the bar top. “Jell-O shots?” These looked interesting. He handed out the red Jell-O in white plastic containers to each of them, then stuck his tongue into the edge of the container, licked all around and sucked the Jell-O out, swallowing it.
“That’s hot.”
Kai looked to his left. Fuck . He huffed. “Hi, Brandon.” How was he going to get away from Brandon tonight? He set the empty Jell-O container on the bar top.
Brandon looked him up and down, holding a clear drink in his hand with a straw. “I didn’t know you came out to places like this. ”
“I do.” More like he didn’t like going to places Brandon was at. He grabbed his beer and sipped it.
Bryce smirked at Kai. “Beth got a table with Janice. I’ll be over there.”
“No, don’t leave.” He swatted at Bryce’s arm, missing it. Fucking Bryce. The last thing he wanted was to be left alone with Brandon.
Brandon watched Bryce walk off. “I missed you, Kai.” He placed his hand on the bar behind Kai and leaned his chest against his side.
He certainly didn’t miss Brandon. He forced a grin at him. “You did, huh?”
“Where’s your big player tonight?” Brandon lifted his chin at him.
Under his breath, Kai said, “Don’t know. Don’t care.” But he did care. Probably too much. He scoffed.
Brandon wound his arm around Kai’s waist. “Guess we get to have a drink together after all.”
Kai gulped hard. How could he get out of this without being rude? Brandon was a still a customer of the restaurant. He searched around the room and his gaze caught on Beth. “Hey, my friends are waiting for me.” He stepped from the bar.
Brandon tightened his hold. “Sure. I’ll go with you.”
God, this guy was clingy. Kai shut his eyes tight, then opened them.
Conner, Ben, and Lucas stood at the other end of the bar. Conner fixated on Kai, narrowing his eyes.
His heart skipped a beat. Pain pierced his chest. Conner was avoiding him, and it was probably because of Ben and Lucas. He wrinkled his brows and gulped his beer, then looked at Brandon. If he was going to have to deal with him all night, it would be easier if they weren’t alone. “Fine. Let’s both go sit at the table.” He walked through people with Brandon behind him and sat at a stool with Bryce on one side, Beth, and Janice across from him and Brandon standing behind him .
Bryce looked Brandon over. “What have we got here?”
“Everyone, this is Brandon.” He motioned to him. “Brandon, this is Bryce, Beth and Janice.”
They nodded at each other, then Beth and Janice returned to the conversation they’d started.
Kai drank the rest of his beer and scowled. He didn’t want to be here anymore. Maybe he could cut out and walk home. He had to think this through. He stood up, holding his empty beer glass. “Be right back. I’m going to take a piss.”
Brandon set his drink down. “I’ll go with you.”
How could he keep Brandon away from him? He placed his palm on Brandon’s chest. “No, go get me another beer, okay?” He gave him his most charming smile.
Brandon lit up. “Sure.”
Kai meandered through the crowd, a mixture of old and young, and into a small restroom with short, wooden stalls. After using the urinal, he washed up, looking himself over in the mirror, his long brown hair hanging around his shoulders.
Conner walked into the bathroom and stepped up behind him. “Kai.”
His breath caught and his heart quickened. Great, just what he didn’t need tonight. He glanced at Conner and grabbed paper towels from the chrome dispenser, then wiped his hands, drawing a deep breath. “What do you want?” He was angrier than he wanted to be. He should tone it down. Conner didn’t owe him anything. He certainly didn’t owe him an explanation of why he didn’t come into the restaurant this week. He frowned.
Conner clutched his arm and flung him around. “Are you here with Brandon?”
What the fuck? Kai furrowed his brows and looked him up and down, his white, button-down shirt stretching across strong shoulders, his jeans hugging narrow hips. “What’s it to you?”
Conner wrinkled his nose, then clenched his jaw, the muscle bulging. “I thought you didn’t like him.” He thinned his generous lips.
“I don’t.” Kai yanked his arm free. “What do you care?” He threw the paper towel in the garbage. As he glared at Conner, anger built inside him. “Where the fuck were you all week?” He widened his eyes. Shit, he shouldn’t have said that. He turned, placed his hands on the sink and hung his head, releasing a loud exhale.
Conner came flush behind him. “I was out of town at a conference. Sorry, guess I forgot to tell you on Sunday. I don’t have your number. So it’s not like I can text you.”
Uh... what? This was weird. He took a deep breath, fighting to calm the thrumming of his heart. He straightened and faced Conner.
He took a step back, smirking. “Need help with Brandon?”
Kai glanced at the door. This was too much. He needed to get out of here. “I don’t know.” He couldn’t look at him. If he did, more stupidity would probably come out of his mouth. He sidestepped Conner and made for the door.
Conner caught his arm. “Kai, don’t leave.”
With a scowl, Kai yanked his arm free and strode out of the bathroom, across the crowd and to his table, then sat down. What the fuck was that all about?
“Here’s your beer.” Brandon, sitting next to Kai, pushed a fresh beer toward him.
Kai surveyed the table. It was empty. Not good. “Where is everyone?”
Brandon poked at Kai’s arm. “Out dancing. Want to dance?”
“No.” He picked up his beer and slugged half of it down. Maybe he needed a shot, or maybe he needed to leave.
Conner walked up from behind him. “Brandon. What are you doing with my boyfriend?” He slid in between Kai and Brandon, his back to the table, resting an elbow on it.
Kai hung his mouth open and stared at Conner. What the actual fuck is going on tonight? Has everyone gone insane ?
Brandon scoffed. “Since when is Kai your boyfriend?”
“Since last weekend.” Conner puffed out his chest. “Right, Kai?” He glanced at him and lifted his brows.
Conner must be doing the fake boyfriend routine to try and help him get rid of Brandon. He’d go along with it for now. He snapped his mouth shut and wrinkled his forehead. “Y-yeah. Last weekend.” He glanced at Brandon, then focused on his beer. He’d need more than this one to get through this night.
Brandon leaned over the table, glaring at him. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I-I don’t know.” He wasn’t a good liar. He hugged his beer.
“It’s still new. Isn’t it, baby?” Conner wrapped an arm around him and squeezed, then kissed him on the head.
Baby? Is he nuts? Kai snarled and shook his head. “Yeah, it’s new.” Conner kissed me. Holy fucking shit. He bit his lip, then peeked at Brandon.
Brandon slid off his stool, glared at Conner, then stomped off.
He dropped his arm from Kai’s shoulders, then sat at the barstool vacated by Brandon. He came close to Kai. “So, I guess I need your phone number if you’re going to be my boyfriend.”
“Stop it. I am not your boyfriend.” What was Conner trying to pull? He straightened and faced him.
“I still want your number.” Conner shimmied his cell phone out of the front pocket of his jeans, opened the interface and handed it to him. “Please? Then I can tell you when I’m going out of town, so you won’t get mad at me.” He snickered.
Heat flushed Kai’s face. He must have been pretty obvious in the bathroom. “Yeah, okay.” He relaxed his shoulders and entered his number, then handed the phone to Conner.
He called the number.
Kai’s phone buzzed in his back pocket and he slid it out, then turned it off.
“There, now you have my number, too.” Conner smiled at him. “Want to get a Jell-O shot with me ?
“Where’s Ben and Lucas?” They probably wouldn’t approve. He scanned the bar.
“They left. They’re getting up early to play golf at Firerock.” Conner grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s get a shot.”
That figured. All the rich boys had memberships there. Now he knew why Conner was hanging out with him. His friends had left. He wriggled his hand in his hold. “What are you doing?”
Conner tightened his hold and leaned in, whispering over his ear. “We’re supposed be boyfriends, remember? You don’t want Brandon thinking otherwise, right?”
Kai freed a choked laugh. He could play this game. “Jesus, okay.” He climbed off the barstool and Conner did the same. “How about we get something stronger than a Jell-O shot?” He chuckled.
Conner led him through the crowd to the bar, tugging him along. “What sort of shot do you want?”
He perused the bottles of liquor behind the bar. “How about tequila?” Nothing else looked good.
“Okay.” Conner lifted his hand and the bartender nodded at him.
“What can I get you?” She placed her hands on the back bar.
“Two shots of tequila.” Conner slid his wallet out of his back pocket.
“With training wheels.” He glanced at Conner.
He gave Kai a warm smile. “With training wheels.”
The bartender left and came back with the shots, lime wedges and a saltshaker. “There you go. Ten dollars.”
Conner pulled a twenty-dollar bill out of his wallet.
Kai set his hand on Conner’s, over the wallet. “Hey, you don’t have to buy for me.”
Conner snickered. “I always pay for my dates.”
If only it were real. “Fine.” He twisted his mouth.
Conner handed the twenty to the bartender, then pushed a shot glass filled with tequila toward him. “Drink up, baby.” He smirked.
“Don’t call me baby.” This whole thing was ridiculous. He chuckled and gave his head a shake, then lifted his hand to lick it for the salt.
“Let me.” Conner seized his hand, gazed deeply into his eyes, then slowly ran his tongue over Kai’s hand at the base of his thumb.
Lust flickered up his spine. Kai parted his lips and a soft moan escaped. His breath became heavy, and heat filled his cock. “Um...”
Conner poured salt on his wet hand. “Now you can do me.” He held his hand up to Kai’s mouth.
He licked his lips, gazing into Conner’s intense blue eyes. His heart quickened. Was this really happening? He shut his eyes and licked Conner’s hand. A vision played in his head of licking his cock instead. His shaft hardened in his jeans. He opened his eyes.
Conner’s eyelids hooded and his lips parted, showing the tip of his tongue. His chest heaved with a deep breath. “Damn, Kai. I think you might turn me gay.”
He blinked hard, then rolled his eyes. “Stop it.” Now he really needed that shot. He licked the salt from his hand, threw the tequila back, grabbed up the lime and sucked on it. The tequila burned down this throat.
Conner poured salt on his hand, licked it, then drank the shot and pushed the lime into his mouth.
The band stopped playing and set their instruments down, letting the house music take over.
Kai searched the crowd. Brandon was nowhere in sight. “I think Brandon left, so we can stop playing the fake boyfriend game.”
“Who says I was playing?” Conner hooked his arm around Kai’s waist and drew him in close.
Kai’s breath hitched. God, how he wanted this to be real. He studied Conner’s stunning face, so near to his own. He focused on his lips. This was no good. He was going to lose it and kiss him and that would be the end of everything.
Conner leaned into his ear, his lips brushing his cheek. He whispered, “Brandon is right behind you.”
Kai rounded his eyes. So that’s why he’s still doing this. A prick of pain pinched his heart. “Oh.” He needed to leave. The charade might be funny to Conner, but it was starting to hurt.
Conner kissed Kai’s cheek. “What are you staring at, Brandon?”
Kai turned at the bar top and glared at Brandon. If only he would go away. Then everything would go back to normal.
“I just can’t believe you’d settle for one guy, when you’re all over the hookup apps.” Brandon smirked at Conner.
Kai dropped his mouth open and stared at Conner. “What?” Hookup apps were not his thing. He got all the action he wanted from tending bar.
Conner freed him and snarled. “You’re obviously mistaken.” He walked around Kai to stand chest to chest with Brandon. “Take that back.”
Brandon curled one side of his mouth. “There’s no mistaking that scar on your cheek. You didn’t put your whole face on your profile, but the scar is there.” He gave Conner a satisfied nod.
“Bullshit. I’m sure I’m not the only guy in the world with a scar on my cheek.” In one swift move, Conner grabbed Kai’s arm, hauled him through the crowd and out the front door of the bar, into the cool night air. He shoved him up against the cream stucco of the building.
What just happened? Why is he pissed off at me? I didn’t say anything about any hookup apps. He winced and stared at Conner.
He scowled, then wrinkled his forehead. “You don’t believe him, right?”
“Believe that you use gay hookup apps?” Kai erupted in a belly laugh. “Why would I believe that? You’re not gay, right? Why the hell would you be using gay hookup apps?” He stifled another round of laughter. He couldn’t help himself. Picturing Conner using something like that was funny. “Besides, those things are kind of creepy.”
“You think they’re creepy?” Conner placed his hand on the building above Kai’s head and studied him.
“I guess so. I don’t use them.” He pursed his lips, gauging Conner’s reaction. “Why do you care?”
“You’re my boyfriend, remember?” Conner snickered. “I don’t want you thinking I’m doing something creepy.” He smirked at him and dropped his arm from the building. “Anyway, I’m about done here. How about you?” He looked Kai up and down. “You need a ride home?”
“Well, I drove with Bryce.” Should he let Conner take him home, or go back with Bryce? Going home with Bryce was probably safer.
“Let me take you home. You don’t want to go back in there with Brandon hanging around, right?” Conner tensed his jaw.
“No, I don’t. Let me text Bryce.” Conner had a very important point. He pulled his cell phone out of his back pocket and opened the text app.
Kai
Heading home with Conner.
The phone chimed.
Bryce
Don’t make out on the couch. I don’t need to see that.
Conner peered at his phone and snorted. “Really?” He lifted a brow at him.
Kai jerked the phone away and stuffed it in his pocket. Conner shouldn’t have seen that. “Bryce is just fucking with me.”
“Sure. My car is over here.” Conner walked off across the parking lot .
He jogged behind Conner and caught up to him at his BMW, parked along the street.
Conner unlocked the car and got in the driver’s seat.
Kai slid into the passenger seat and watched him.
Conner started the car and drove off down the street. He glanced at Kai. “So, whatever happened with the raccoon thing?”
“The exterminator couldn’t find any evidence of them, or any rodents for that matter.”
He looked out over the houses and plazas, the bushes, cacti, and occasional palm tree speeding by them.
“Is it still happening?” Conner turned the car onto Palisades Boulevard and drove past businesses in stucco buildings.
“Yes, it’s still happening. In fact, I’ll probably come home to a bunch of open cabinets.” A shiver tingled up his spine. He’d be alone until Bryce got home. He was finding it harder and harder to be alone in that house, especially at night. He sighed.
“So, can I come in and see it?” Conner took a right turn at Fountain Hills Boulevard.
What could it hurt? At least he wouldn’t have to face it alone this time. “Sure.”
Conner pulled up on the street in front of Kai’s duplex and shut the engine off. He peered out at the house. “Looks pretty normal to me. I don’t see any raccoons scurrying off now that we’re here.”
“Yeah.” No one ever saw the little bastards. He wrinkled his brow and got out of the car, meeting up with Conner in front of it.
“Let’s go.” He walked to the carport door and waited for Kai.
He pulled his keys out of his jeans and slid the key into the round, brass, doorknob. “Here we go.” He opened the door.
Conner stepped inside the kitchen and placed his hands on his hips, surveying the room.
Kai came in behind Conner, locked the door, then looked around. The cabinet doors were all open and most of the drawers hung ajar. A few pieces of silverware rested on the tan, tile floor. He grit his teeth. “That’s new.” He pointed at the silverware.
Conner approached the silverware and crouched down, then picked up a fork, twisting it front of his face. “This is just bizarre.”
Kai pursed his lips. “Yeah. It’s really starting to creep me out.” Goosebumps rose up on his skin. He wiped his hands up his arms.
Conner stood and stepped to the cabinets. “So, what happens if I close all these?” He shut the cabinets doors, one by one.
He shrugged and gulped hard. His heart raced. Somehow having an outside person witness this thing made it seem even more real. “Nothing. It usually happens once a day and then it’s done.”
Conner pushed the last drawer closed, then faced him. “You look terrified.” He wrinkled his brows and placed a hand on Kai’s arm. “I’ll stay with you until Bryce comes home.”
He didn’t really need to be alone in the house with Conner. It was way too tempting. He freed an exhale and raked a hand through his long hair. “No, you don’t have to do that. It’s no big deal.” He released a tense laugh. “It’s just animals, right?” At this point, he wasn’t even sure he believed that anymore.
“I’m staying. This looks like poltergeist activity.” Conner scanned over the room.
“P-poltergeist? You mean like in that movie with the kid who sat in front of a blank TV?” Trembling started in his body. He wrapped his arms around his waist.
“Yeah. Let’s go sit on the couch.” Conner took his hand. “But no making out. Bryce doesn’t need to see that.” He snickered.
Desire flickered through him. He didn’t need to think about making out with Conner. “Shut up.” He scowled and followed him to the main room, flicking on the lamps at the ends of the couch from a light switch on the wall, then sat on the couch next to Conner .
“So, I’ll bring over my game camera tomorrow and we’ll set it up while you’re at work. It takes video, not just pictures. We’ll get to the bottom of this. Is Bryce working tomorrow night, too?”
“Yes, he’s working.” Kai chewed his lower lip.
Conner brushed the back of a hand over his cheek. “Your face is so pale.”
He tilted his head, removing his cheek from Conner’s touch. His cock didn’t need any more encouragement. It was bad enough the two of them were sitting so close on the couch. “I’m really not okay with this whole ghost thing.” Should he tell him about the chindi? No, he’d think he was nuts.
“Yeah, I see that.” Conner licked his lips, then focused on Kai’s mouth, drawing his brows together. He placed his hand on Kai’s cheek.
He widened his eyes. Is Conner going to kiss me? No fucking way. He stared as Conner’s face came closer.
Bryce burst through the front door.
Conner dropped his hand and cleared his throat, then stood and rubbed his neck. “Hey, Bryce.”
Bryce halted part way into the room, cocking his head. “The fuck?”
Conner stared at the floor. “I uh, better go.” He glanced at Kai. “I’ll bring that game camera over tomorrow.” He flashed a grin at Kai, strode to the door and left.
Bryce stepped to Kai. “What’s going on? Were you making out with Conner? I was joking when I sent you that text.”
He scoffed and sank into the couch. “No, we were talking about the fucking ghost we have in our house.” He shivered.
“Ghost?” Bryce narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure? You’d tell me if something was going on, right?”
“Yeah. Nothing is going on.” Kai thought back over the night. It was all a show for Brandon, right? But Brandon wasn’t around just now. He was probably seeing what he wanted to see. But Bryce saw something, too. Kai focused on Bryce. “Hey, what did you see exactly when you came in? ”
Bryce plopped down on the couch. “Bro, it looked like Conner was going to kiss you, or that he already had.”
His heart skipped a beat. “Huh.” But really, he hadn’t kissed him, and the whole thing at the bar was fake. “Well, he didn’t.” He rose from the couch. “I’m tired and I’m going to bed.” He took a stride toward his bedroom. “By the way, Conner is bringing a game camera over here tomorrow to run while we’re at work. He thinks we can catch whatever or whoever is messing with our stuff in the kitchen.”
“Good, then we can prove to the exterminator that it’s animals.” Bryce huffed. “Ghosts...” He shook his head and chuckled.
“Yeah.” Kai forced a smirk and walked to his bedroom, fighting off a round of goosebumps.