52. Bay
FIFTY-TWO
bay
The residence is bigger than Emilio’s, and somewhere along the way, I lost Cairo and Levi as we searched high and low for Reeve. I’m beginning to suspect he’s not here anymore, that he left, and it’s time to try something else.
It’s funny how hope can dash through reality and quickly turn into your worst nightmare. One I’ve already had the pleasure of experiencing before, but this time, it’s amped up a bunch.
Actually, too much.
Because when I open up one of the many bedroom doors upstairs, I find Reeve, pounding into a dude on all fours over a mattress.
I hear Reeve’s grunts, the slapping of skin on skin as he thrusts deep and hard into some fucker who got lucky tonight. I almost miss the girl spread wide on the other side, nearly completely blocked by Reeve’s frame with her arm snaking down her stomach.
I can only imagine what she’s doing and that she’s next. That, amongst all this, I caused the outcome of what’s happening.
I destroyed him.
And while I’m the last person he’s going to want to see, I need him out of here.
I want him out of here.
I need him safe and not fucking a rando he found at this party. I long for a simpler time—if you want to call it that—of my surfer boy who had those crystal-clear hazel eyes only for me.
Call it nostalgia, selfishness, or just being plain cruel, but I’ll never stop wanting Reeve Stanton—ever.
Even though the tightness in my chest is close to being unbearable right now, and I feel as though I’m going to throw up all over this gray carpeting…I want to leave.
But I intend for him to come with me.
However, I’d need my throat to function first. It does me no good to stand here and allow this to continue any further but who the fuck am I now?
I’m a no one.
He’s made that perfectly clear, and I have no right to yank him out of here for any reason.
Yet, again, I give no heed to my desires apparently, and Cairo was adamant on hauling him out of here. We’re on a mission—Operation Surfer Boy—and I need to put all my emotions aside to make this happen.
I better start getting used to it.
A large hand falls to the base of my spine, motor oil and weed filling my lungs, and the familiar kinship that I feel for Levi is undeniable. He gives me a sensation of being untouchable—body and somewhat mind—as I continue to watch Reeve clasping onto some fucker’s hips.
“You gotta pull on his hair,” Levi announces suddenly to the room, receiving Reeve’s immediate attention as he whips his head over to find us in the doorway. “They like that shit.”
Reeve’s lips curl into a smug smirk, not focusing on me but my best friend from behind. “Speaking from experience, Wallace? Because I’ve been tryin’ to turn you for a few years now.”
Don’t smile.
Don’t smile.
Don’t smile.
Levi’s arm slithers around my front, gripping my waist and gently pulling me flush into his chest.
My stomach flips, warning me of the side effects of how this could get out of control with Reeve’s alter-ego.
“I got my hands full right now…but thanks. We’ll find another room.”
Reeve steps away from his fuck buddy, his hard dick standing proudly upright as he ambles toward us. Those mellowed features are there but void of the warmth they used to hold. “No need. I have plenty of space right here.”
“I don’t want to put you out,” my best friend retorts. “I’m going to have this one for a while.”
I see a tick in Reeve’s jaw before it quickly disappears into nothing. “I like to watch.”
Yeah, we’re not doing this.
However, Levi’s other hand grips underneath my jaw and possesses my head at any given time. “Just don’t spend too much time staring at my dick, Stanton.”
“I’ve only dreamt about it for years, Wallace. The big King of South Shore. Having you bent over and moaning for me.”
The pads of Levi’s fingers flinch a bit, alluding that he’s veering toward the line of pissed off more than turned on.
Shocker.
“You’re gonna be waiting a long time,” Levi divulges evenly before an unhurried brush of his thumb descends dotingly down my cheek. “I’m a little enamored by this one here.”
“Easy to do,” Reeve answers promptly. “But don’t get your head in the clouds. She’ll turn on you the second she has what she wants.”
“And what was it that I got from you?” I clip out, already having enough of him ignoring me like I’m some worthless object in the room.
“My dick.” His pretty hazels find me and hold me captive, but there’s no hidden meaning behind them. No aimless words or silly remarks that make my chest warm. “And I’d say it was probably the best you’ve ever had. However, I’m not lowballing Wallace just yet. I can only imagine how impressive he is.”
“You wouldn’t be wrong,” I deadpan, feeding into the lie that Levi and I have been together intimately.
“Do me a solid and answer me one question, McQueen,” Reeve coaxes, erasing some more space between us. “Were you always with him, or is this new?”
What answer would piss him off more?
Yeah, but what are we going to do? Literally drag him out of the house while causing a scene?
“New,” I impart impassively, holding his unyielding gaze and ignoring how empty my chest feels. “I needed to replace you somehow.”
His nostrils expand before an edged chuckle rumbles off his chest as he rocks his head back and forth. “You played it like that, huh?”
I want to die right now.
I would happily spend my whole life obsessing over ways to find Reeve’s forgiveness. I’d do anything he ever asked me to do, be anything he needed me to be, and still never tire of how much I would appreciate him being in my life.
How I still ache for him to be in my existence.
There will never be anyone like Reeve Stanton. No one will ever comfort me in the way only he could. And while my best friend hasn’t done an awful job in that scenario many times beforehand, Reeve just has a way with me. His comfort is undeniably everything to my wrecked emotions, and I love his carefree, open attitude.
It’s just not open to me anymore.
“You know what?” Reeve remarks, running his thumb across his jaw. “You can leave. Wallace can stay. Maybe I can help him out with his addiction problem. It’s a bitch.”
“I don’t bend over,” Levi retorts, still collected and in control of this scenario.
“Oh, don’t worry.” Reeve sends him a playful wink, returning to me not existing in any scenario where it matters. “I’ll play the bitch tonight.”
Levi actually shoves me to the side, opening up the pathway to Reeve, and I’m all but left shocked that he’s sauntering deeper into the room.
Reeve appears equally surprised before he’s back to adopting a cocky tilt of his head that Levi would consider his invitation. “Well, well, well…if it isn’t the fucking day where something works in my favor.”
“Oh, it’s definitely a favor alright,” Levi agrees, slightly towering over Reeve as he gets closer. “I wouldn’t be doing this for anyone else.”
“Now, you’re just laying it on thick. No need to kiss my ass.”
“I haven’t yet.” Then Levi cocks his elbow back and slams his fist into Reeve’s face, sending him tumbling to the floor like a heap of rocks, and he doesn’t come up.
Fuck.
“ Geezus ,” I clip out, staring at the back of Levi’s head. “Was that necessary?”
Levi peeks over his shoulder at me without an ounce of regret or trepidation in his voice when he says, “Yes.”