61. Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-One
Jordan
One year later
“What’s the damage if we close early?”
I barely manage to get the browser I’ve been staring at minimized when I feel the sting of a slap on my ass and the heat of a body sidle up on my right side.
It’s borderline sexual harassment in the workplace but there’s no one here. It’s just Lemon. And unless I wanna fire my second in command and wingman, I’m shit out of luck.
He touches when he’s excited. I’m used to it by now.
It’s actually how we met.
In a moment of confusion and desperation about ten months ago, I went to a bar that’s LGBTQIA friendly and when a shitty patron kept harassing the tiny bartender that flew over the bar at him, I stepped in. Made a friend. Then offered him a job at my shiny new gym.
I’d just quit Sentry.
Bought a building two blocks away from Aria’s boutique.
And saw the tabloids all continuously boasting about the infusion of not just As Above with Banger, but the friendship that blossomed between the drummers of each band.
Mac and Dare.
Rumors of more between the two circulated like wildfire when a picture of them leaked. They were just outside of a tour bus, sharing a smoke, but the looks on their faces were enough to burn into my subconscious.
I’d flown halfway across the planet to see Mac and that picture …. it was taken just after I’d gotten there the first time.
And then I did it all over again, only to ruin everything a second time.
I tried to hang on. To wait for Mac to come home. Ignore the ache that spread and do what I’d promised.
Avoid the voice in my head that screamed I’d never be good enough.
But I got nothing in return.
I was ghosted. Ignored.
Left.
And he never said a word back.
I’d had enough of watching my role be filled by someone else.
My heart was too broken— still is.
So, I found my own place. Cut ties with the guys from Sentry. Poured myself into this gym.
I was celebrating alone. Sad and desperate when that guy antagonized Lemon enough to go at him.
We made out that night—proved my face is at least bisexual, even if my dick is hung up elsewhere—and have been good friends ever since.
He swears we’re too similar, but I don’t see it.
There was never anything between us, but Lemon is hellbent on getting something to happen for me.
Forever the wingman.
One night a few months ago, I told him who I was. That I’d been harboring feelings or something for Mac when I walked away. My tail tucked. My mind muddled and my heart in pieces.
Hindsight is a bitch.
“We should stay open,” I argue and click around on the screen like I’m busy.
“ Come on ,” Lemon whines and wraps his bony arms around my bent elbow. “They’re having that block party tonight.”
I spare enough of a glance that I catch his bouncing brows and roll my eyes.
“No.”
“Shut up.” He releases one hand to steal the mouse and click right on the browser I was hiding from him. “Like you don’t wanna know.” He points a painted nail at the screen filled with the banner announcing As Above’s return stateside, signifying the end of their European tour.
The same one I’ve been staring at all day.
Mac’s home.
My heart flutters around an ache and I shake my head. “Nope.” I close the browser and power down the computer.
“Yes.”
I sigh.
Turn to him with intensions of shutting him down and immediately regret it.
Because he’s throwing me those big brown puppy eyes. Has his hands clasped together in a plea. Pokes out his bottom lip in a pout and I roll my eyes.
I palm his face and push him out of my way. “You can go.”
“You know I’ll just call you every two seconds.”
“I’ll turn off my phone,” I mutter as I walk the mats, turning off lights as I go.
I may not wanna go to the party As Above is throwing literally two blocks away, but Lemon has a point. This place is dead today. No one is gonna fight the masses to come to the gym tonight.
“Then I’ll show up at your door and pound until you answer.”
I spin into him and have to look all the way down my chest with how close he is. “You think I couldn’t stop you from breaking down my door?”
He shivers. “Sure you could—”
“ Don’t .”
“— daddy .”
I growl and walk away to hide my snicker.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“ Come on, ” he whines, following me and slapping lights I miss. “Introduce me to your beefy friends then. The old security buddies.” He puffs up his tiny chest as he walks, his arms lifted up like he’s got muscles. “Be my wingman for once.”
“I don’t think—”
I pause.
Were any of the other guys bent like me?
I scrub a hand over the five o’clock shadow I’ve let grow in and shake my head.
“No way.”
“There can’t have been just you, Jay. Get real.”
There wasn’t.
But that’s not up to me to tell people.
My stomach rolls over at the reminder.
Peach is the only one that knew about any of it.
“Uh-oh. Where’d we go?” I blink and rear back when Lemon waves a hand in my face. We’ve made it back to the front of the house where the storefront windows let the sunlight in, casting little rainbows across the floor.
I sigh.
“Will you shut up if—”
He squeals and hops, clapping.
“You didn’t even hear my if .”
“You said yes! Doesn’t matter.” He’s pulling on my arm before he even gets the words out. “Let’s go get your man back.”
“Nooooo, no.”
I grab his bony shoulders and pull him to a stop.
“I will only go if you steer clear of the band. And security,” I add the last part when his eyes glitter with mischief. “Okay? I see any of them and I’m leaving.”
“You’re no fun.”
“I’m serious, Lemon.”
It’s been almost a year since I saw my former coworkers. Longer since I saw the band.
And it’s been too long to go back now.
My heart won’t be able to take it.