Chapter 16 | Sabastian
Chapter 16
Sabastian
“Y ou said once we got to New York, we’d go shopping. I can’t stay shut up in this hotel with you through the entire trip. What’s wrong with you? You’ve been this way for a year. You come home from work, you don’t socialize, there’s a whole new world in Dallas, never mind New York. There are clubs and this party. You don’t see anyone, and you barely say anything when I ask you how’s your day. The only thing you have energy for is to film those damned videos.”
“Are you finished?” I rolled my eyes. I thought he’d appreciate being in New York. What did he need me for? He was always an independent contractor.
“No. Not yet—”
“Well, I’ve had enough, and if you go on like this you can get yourself another room,” I said. He rolled his eyes at me.
“You invited me to New York—”
“And you invited me to a party. Robby, can’t you see I’m sick.”
“You’re not sick. Not in the sense of being sick.” He walked over to me and placed his palm on my forehead, then he pushed my head.
“Hey, watch it. I’m a sick man here.” Then he plopped down on my queen bed, and glared.
“Can’t you sit on your own bed. I don’t like you that close to me.”
“What are you afraid of, Sabastian? You might find me attractive and—”
I had to stop him. We made a mistake when we first met, and it wouldn’t be repeated not in my lifetime or his.
“And nothing,” I barked. He leaned forward disregarding what I’d said earlier.
“I know what’s wrong with you. You don’t want to go to this party tonight because you might enjoy yourself. I promised my friend since we were in New York, we’d stop by.”
“I can’t do this.”
“What? Meet a guy? Isn’t that what most gay men want to be introduced to a handsome single dude?”
“Some,” I said with a sarcastic tone, hoping Robby would take the hint. But Robby never knew when to walk away from anything. He was like a dog who had eaten all the meat off a bone, and kept gnawing on it looking for more.
“I promised my friend you and I would be there. Not me, but both of us. He’s super cute and hopefully you’ll forget that Cam dude.”
I didn’t respond, because for some reason I couldn’t get past that night with him. Maybe it was my fault. Instead of me snaring him with the sex, he’d managed to trap me. I knew he wasn’t trying to do this, it appeared he wanted that one off and to get on with his life, because he never came out of the bathroom to apologize or contact me.
I could be partly to blame too. Nevertheless, we didn’t connect after that. Robby tugged me out of my thoughts by pulling the comforter from my body.
“Now get up, and I don’t care if you have a fever, I’m getting you there, besides he said he wanted you to meet a guy. I hear he’s very rich and available and he’s looking to meet someone.”
“What does he look like? And why if he’s all those things are you trying to set me up with him?”
“How the hell should I know? He’s gay and available that’s all that’s important. That’s for you to find out. There are no husbands or wives you have to worry about.” I raised an eyebrow.
“A wife? If for any reason I had to contend with a wife, Robby, you know that would be out of the question, and a deal breaker. I hope you’re not taking me to a party where I’m going to be sorry I got out of bed. ”
I didn’t want to be introduced to a dude who didn’t know whether he was straight or bisexual. I was too young for that kind of drama. And after talking to Cam’s friend, with him trying to get over a partner who died, I didn’t make a move to do anything. I thought I would forget Cam, but I hadn’t and I didn’t want anyone else.
“Don’t worry, all the guys there will be vetted, now did you say you were going?”
“Yes. We have a few hours, and I’m using the shower first. No one has time for your three-hour showers, or you can take a bath, but not at the same time. Who knows what you do in there all that time.”
“You can be sure I haven’t been using my fist or those toys I’ve seen in your bathroom.”
“What were you doing in my bathroom?” I narrowed my eyes and tightened my jaw.
“You have the best body wash. Could you leave them in there after you use them?”
“You could have asked.”
“I’m asking now.”
“I get those from my job. The department store gives me free cologne and body wash because I endorse them as a commercial and they pay me for that. I even get people sending me stuff for me to endorse, but I can’t do that because I had to sign a document saying that I would only endorse their products.”
“That’s a bummer.”
“Yeah, but I’m being paid a lot of money to promote their products. I sold so many purses, body wash, and clothing that the head of the company wants to meet me.”
“If you don’t mind me saying, that’s a big deal, and could be stressful.”
“It is,” Robby agreed.
“The only problem with having to meet the owner is you could look uptight and say the wrong things.” I slanted my head wondering where Robby was going with this conversation. “I’ve been watching you since you’ve move to Dallas. You used to look happy and relaxed, but now you’re always uptight. That’s why you can’t meet the right men. I would recommend you take the opportunity to get laid.” I narrowed my glance. “You know fucked before you meet him.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Robby? And why would that make a difference.”
“You see you’re angry. Everything I tell you for your own good, you get angry, or dismiss what I say as if I don’t know what I’m talking about. You said you wouldn’t get angry with me, and I think it’s because you haven’t been yourself.” I let Robby talk because it wouldn’t do any good to stop him.
“You haven’t had good sex in years. All you do is work and create videos where you stand in your room, try on clothes, makeup, and talk to your subscribers. What kind of life is that?”
“I do that because I get paid from those social media sites, because I have six million subs and I’m able to afford that expensive car you borrow whenever yours breaks down.”
“Oh. You make money from that?” Robby’s expression and eyes brightened and he smiled so wide it met his ears.
“How else do you think I paid for that expensive apartment with two bedrooms. I wouldn’t need two if you hadn’t moved in with me.”
“After I drove you to Dallas, I didn’t have any money. Remember your ex—”
“He wasn’t my ex. I had just met him. He was a random guy I had sex with.”
“Tell that to someone else. You cried over him as if he was the last man on earth. Well, your one-night stand had promised to pay me a year’s salary.”
“A year for you is four figures. Low... four... figures. You’ve been going to college for years, and your parents cut you off, and you lost your financial aid because of your grades. I don’t know why you’re still in school. Why don’t you get a job. You can’t expect to fall into a rich man and he takes care of you. It doesn’t happen. That’s fantasy, Robby.”
“I expect to graduate sometime, and then I’ll find that rich dude who’s waiting somewhere out there for me, and you can’t take away my dream. You had your man in the palm of your hands and you let him get away. Not me. ”
“Robby, it’s time to get dressed and when are you getting a job? I can’t keep paying you to edit my videos. I could get a good editor for half of what I’m giving you.”
“Didn’t you say you were making a lot of money. You can afford to pay me more, then maybe I’ll give you better.” I climbed out of the bed away from Robby because I’d had enough of him.
Standing over him with a surly glare, with him lying in my bed since I was out, he had a way of taking over my life. “I pay for everything. You don’t have to pay for an apartment and food. I even give you extra money for gas and I pay you a lot. A lot more than you’re worth.”
“I’m your friend, isn’t that worth something?” No use arguing with him.
“If you add all that up including I just leased you a car, and pay for the lease what more could you want?” I headed to the ensuite hoping he’d consider what I’d just said. With Robby that was a waste of my time and breath.