Chapter 11
Bo
Three months later
“My nipples are about to fall off.”
“Yeah well, hold your nipples, we still have a few more blocks. And this was your idea.” I don’t know why I let him talk me into shit . . .
“Let’s go for a walk, get some groceries.”
In December. Dumb. I swear winters in Upstate New York alternate between “wow, it’s unseasonably warm” to “I’m pretty sure hell has frozen over.”
“Cam, I need my inhaler.”
We stop on the sidewalk. I swear it wasn’t this cold when we started walking. Sometime while we were inside the grocery store, the temperature dropped like twenty degrees. The sky above darkened and became thick with the promise of snow.
He reaches into his pocket to grab my inhaler, taking the bag of groceries I have and letting me take a hit. We stand for a moment, the frigid air squeezing my lungs.
“You alright? If you want I can run and grab my car.”
I focus on my breathing, looking up at the sky. It’s definitely going to snow tonight.
My medication settles my lungs a bit, but I just want to get home. “We’re almost home, it’s fine.”
“If you’re sure.” I try to grab the bag back from him but he holds it out of reach. “I got it.” It’s been a couple of months since both of our failed hookups. While that night was a bit embarrassing, and really sad, one great thing did come from it.
Noah and I have been hanging out pretty much nonstop. It’s been nice, and the space I’m giving Cam has been helping. Our friendship has gone back to the way it was before we kissed.
That night was weird, but I have a great friend now from it.
Noah and Jamie got together, broke up briefly, and now they’ve been together for a couple of months.
I visit them both, and Jamie doesn’t scare the shit out of me anymore.
At first I found him intimidating, but he only looks scary, and he loves Noah so much.
Without the extra weight to carry, my body relaxes. “Thanks.”
“What do you want to do tonight?”
“Well, we aren’t playing Mario Party. I’m still mad at you.” He laughs at me. “Stole my damn star!”
He chuckles warmly, knocking his hip into mine. “How about we play Minecraft or Stardew Valley? Something easy.” That sounds nice.
“Fine. Minecraft works. Going to leave you outside in the dark to get eaten by creepers.”
“You know I don’t go outside after dark.” I laugh. “So tiny. So evil.”
It’s quiet as we walk, the sky above feeling thicker with each step.
Everything seems so much quieter in the winter.
I love it when it snows, but I hate the way dirty snow looks on the sidewalks and streets.
I also hate wet socks, they make me want to peel my skin from my body.
Seriously if my socks get wet I might as well go to bed and try again the next day.
“You’re still okay with me staying at the house?
” Cam and I have worked out sharing my apartment.
It’s nice having someone to pay half the bills.
We’ve never lived with each other before, but like everything else with Cam, it’s as easy as breathing.
We sleep in the same bed, but we have a strict “no unconscious cuddling” rule.
Sleep time is hands and limbs to yourself time.
“You know I am.”
“If it gets too much, just tell me. I can rent a hotel room or stay with my—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” I glare. “I’ll sleep on the street before I let you go back home.”
Cam sighs, but I’m serious. There’s no outcome where I would ever let him live back home with his father. “How’s Noah doing?”
“Really good. He and Jamie are great.” They are painfully adorable and Jamie is completely gone for him. They’re just like the characters in the books he lends me. I love it for him. “He’s coming—”
“Cam?” a raspy feminine voice calls. We turn around to see a pretty South Asian woman standing with her door open. Her black hair has bright blue threaded through the strands that are braided down her back. Her full lips smile widely at him.
“Who’s—”
“Amira.” Cam smiles at her. Who the hell is Amira? “The painter.”
“The artist,” she corrects him with a curtsy, fanning out the bold colors of her flowing skirt.
She’s wearing a red shirt with a black cropped leather jacket, and the look is cinched together with a belt displaying her full curves.
I think I can see gold bracelets on one wrist and a big red ruby ring on her other hand.
Her smoky eyes are heavy on him. I know that look.
“I see you’ve got your hands full, but do you think you have a minute to stop by?
If you’re interested.” She looks at me, her smile warm and kind. She’s beautiful.
Dammit.
“Is that alright, Bo? If you’re feeling up for it.”
“I’m sorry, I’m so rude.” She walks over to us, reaching out her hand to me. “My name’s Amira. I’m sorry. I saw him walking by my window.”
“I’m Bowen, his best friend.”
“It’s freezing out here. Come on. Real quick, I promise.” Cam follows her toward the building. We don’t have anything perishable and he follows her through the door. I’m so confused, but I follow him.
“How do you two know each other?”
Amira sighs. “We met on a dark and stormy night.” She laughs, and it’s raspy and warm. “I saw him walking home late. It was like one in the morning. I was finishing a piece for a client and asked him to come by if he wanted to.” She bumps his hip. “Guess he didn’t want to.”
“Oh shit, I’m sorry. I forgot. Things have been . . . crazy.” As far as I know Cam hasn’t hooked up with anyone new. I don’t really think he’d even tell me if he had. Have they hooked up? Nope. It doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t.
She leads us into the entryway and I’m immediately blown away. She sets one of our bags down, and Cam follows, setting down the other. “I won’t keep you guys long.”
The gallery is spacious and clean, with white walls allowing the pieces of art hanging on them to shine.
Sculptures and pots sit on pedestals. “The paintings on the walls are mine, though I do have a bunch of other artists I showcase using various mediums. I’m always looking for new local artists to promote. ”
“My friend’s boyfriend is an artist. His paintings are amazing. He mainly does animals.”
“Please, tell him about this place. I’m just starting out. I opened about six months ago and I’m always looking for new local artists.” I follow Cam over to one of the paintings—an abstract piece. All the different shapes, patterns, and smudges make up a gorgeous landscape.
“You’re really talented.” Cam is right, they’re beautiful, and while I look at the paintings I keep my attention on him, wondering what he thinks about her.
“Thank you.” She smiles brightly. “Here, I don’t want to keep you guys with your groceries. It’s like five degrees out right now. It’s insane. I didn’t expect the winter to get this cold.”
“Oh, it’ll get worse,” Cam says gently.
“Oh, here.” She goes to the desk, grabbing a piece of paper and handing it to me. Her nails are painted black. “For your friend. I’m here during the week until five.” She hands one to Cam.
“What’s this for?”
“Just in case.” She smirks slightly and I feel heat rush over me. Jealousy, cold and dark, hits me.
“Thanks.” Cam smiles at her, and it’s a smile I’ve seen a thousand times before. I knew this was coming. Honestly, I should be shocked it’s taken this long. Not being able to look at her anymore, I grab the lighter of the two bags and follow Cam out the door.
Out on the street, we walk in silence for a bit but I can’t help it. I need to know. “So . . . she’s hot, right?”
Cam laughs, nodding. “She’s very beautiful.”
I have to ask. “Have you guys—”
“No,” he says softly. He’s weirdly quiet right now and I want to know what he’s thinking. “I haven’t hooked up with anyone since that guy.”
“Is that the night she was talking about?” Cam told me he’d gone for a walk late to think, but what he didn’t tell me was that he met a beautiful artist on his walk.
“Yeah. When I was walking home after the bar that night you met Noah.”
“The night you got a terrible blow job from that guy.” He glares down at me. “What? Trying to get a timeline.”
“Mean, Bo.” He chuckles. “And objectively, it was a good blow job. It just wasn’t for me.”
The thought of that man touching Cam makes me insanely jealous. Lucky! “Are you going to call her?”
Cam’s quiet for a moment, then he shrugs. “I’m happy right now.” He smiles a little. “I like what we have going. I like living with you. Not in a hurry, and maybe this is what I needed. I’m fine with being single for the time being.”
For the time being.
We turn down my street and I see a familiar car parked outside my apartment. Noah’s head is down, so he’s probably reading, but when he lifts it and sees me, he smiles. He gets out of his car, grabbing me in a hug, then takes the bag from me. “Hello, Gym Daddy.” He winks.
“Oh good, we’re still doing that.” Cam sighs. “Hello, Noah.” Cam takes my bag from Noah and walks up the steps with both. Noah follows us up. Inside my apartment Cam busies himself putting away the things we bought.
“What’s up?” I didn’t expect Noah to be here.
“Tonight we are celebrating Puck Daddy’s birthday, and as a gift he made me promise not to play strip poker.
So instead, we reserved a table at Onyx and Iron, down on Montgomery.
My friend Bri said it’s a queer-friendly bar and I want to try it out,” Noah says.
“Do you guys want to come? Cam, you can meet Jamie. My man needs more friends. We’re going to have game night there. ”
Montgomery Avenue is about a twenty minute walk, and if it’s as cold as it is now, I don’t want to know what it’ll be like later. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll drive if you want to drink, Cam. I have to work tomorrow anyway.”
“Uh, yeah. That sounds like fun.”
“So much fun!” Noah claps his hands. “Okay, great. Meet us down there around six. We’re going to have a great time. I’ve got the perfect game to play.” Noah gives me one last hug then waves bye to Cam. As fast as he came, whirlwind Noah is gone.
Cam looks at the door, shaking his head. “Should I be afraid?”
“It’s just Noah.” I think for a moment. “So yeah, you probably should be.”