Chapter 10 Jace
JACE
“What do you want to do first?” Kieran asks, sliding his hand into mine as he looks around, taking everything in.
I’ve never been to a casino before, so I almost feel like I’m back on a TV set as we enter the huge space.
There are people everywhere, slot machines line every wall and create aisles with bright flashing lights that seem like a maze I could easily get lost in.
There are also tables everywhere for cards and dice, and I honestly have no idea what anything is called.
“Whatever you want. I still can’t really wrap my head around the idea of throwing money away like this.”
He squeezes my hand. “Don’t worry about it if you’re having fun. But yeah, gambling has never really been my thing either. Liv insisted we go to Atlantic City for her birthday weekend in college, and I’ve been to Vegas for a couple of award shows and events, but I’ve never gotten into it.”
“It looks like John and Chad went to a table, but Liam and Blake went straight for the slot machines, maybe we follow them?” I suggest. The slots seem way easier than learning a game in Vegas of all places.
“Works for me,” he agrees, already leading me in their direction.
I end up in front of a machine themed after an old movie with Liam to my right and Kieran to my left.
I use the card Chad gave each of us, preloaded up with money so we could play.
Each time I hit the button, it makes it seem like I’m getting closer and closer to winning on the screen, but I know it’s all bullshit.
Does anyone ever win anything on these machines?
I turn to Liam. “Are you a big gambler?”
He laughs. “Nope. I’m just doing this to say I gambled in Vegas because there’s no way I’m embarrassing myself at some sort of table.”
I let out a relieved sigh. “Okay cool, glad we’re on the same page.”
“We usually are,” he agrees with a smile. “But Blake is thriving, and I think they walk around with drinks so I’m sure it’ll still be a great night.”
As if summoned, a waitress approaches us. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Hey, thanks, I’ll take a beer. What do you want, baby?” I ask Kieran. “A negroni?”
“Yes, please,” Kieran replies.
“I’ll take a whiskey and Coke. Thanks,” Liam says.
“Sex on the beach for me,” Blake pipes up.
“I’ll be right back with those,” she says, turning to leave.
Liam hits the spin button again. “I swear these machines are rigged to make us think we’re close to winning.”
“Yeah, right before they steal all your money,” I joke. “Good thing for these prepaid cards. Honestly, I still can’t believe we’re here.”
“At a casino?” Liam asks.
“More like at a bachelor party for a friend I met on a dating show before I got married to the love of my life.” I smile.
Liam huffs out a laugh. “Yeah, reality TV really did a number on us, huh?”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “It’s hands down the best decision I ever made.”
Blake’s machine dings loudly, lights flashing at him as he screams, “Oh my god, did I win?”
Ash comes up, already holding a drink, and looks at the screen. I feel Kieran crowd my shoulder, leaning over to look as I do the same, trying to see around Liam.
Liam squints at the text blinking on the screen. “Uh… baby? It says you won ten dollars.”
Blake pumps his fist anyway. “Hell yes! And I only had to spend, like, fifty.”
“And that”—Liam gestures toward Blake dancing in his seat while looking at me—“is the love of my life.”
Kieran laughs under his breath. “This is going to be the highlight of his night, isn’t it?”
“Sure is.” Liam grins. “He doesn’t even care he’s in the red.”
“Vegas is cruel with these ratios of winning,” Blake says, shaking his head, continuing to hit the slot machine button. “You have to press it, like, a hundred times to win anything, but I don’t care. This is fun!”
“That’s kind of the point, Blake,” Ash says, clapping him on the back.
“Good thing I’ll have sex on the beach,” Blake says, winking at Liam.
“You know that’s a drink, right?” I tease.
“Tonight? Who knows,” Kieran mutters.
“We gotta keep our count up, babe. We only have done it once so far today.” Blake grins at Liam, absolutely delighted with himself.
Our drinks arrive a second later and the waitress hands them to each of us. We all cheer our mismatched glasses before taking the first sip.
“So, Ash, how’s everything going since you came out? It’s been awhile since we’ve really gotten to catch up,” Liam asks Ash, who visibly pales at his question.
“Oh… I’m not, like, out, out,” he finally answers. “I mean, obviously you guys all know I’m bi, which is so much better than a year ago when literally no one knew, but I’m not quite ready to blow up my whole life when I don’t even have a boyfriend.”
Maybe it’s the two drinks I had at the fancy dinner we just came from, but I can’t help but insert myself into their conversation. “Been there, man, it fucking sucks.”
Ash turns to me, obviously surprised. He’s usually working when I’ve hung out with Blake and Liam’s friends, so we’ve only met a couple times before this weekend. “You have?”
“Yeah, I mean it was years ago now, back when I was eighteen, but my dad kicked me out when I came out to him.”
Kieran groans, leaning into my side as he smiles up at me. “God, I wish I could have been there. I would have paid so much money to see you tell that asshole that you liked having my dick in your mouth.”
“That’s how you came out to him?” Ash asks, sounding alarmed.
I laugh again as I remember the look on his face. “Yeah. There was a lot going on at the time, and I kind of snapped.”
“That’s horrible he kicked you out,” Ash comments.
“Yeah, I hate that you went through that,” Liam adds.
“Honestly, I’m glad it happened,” I admit with a shrug. “Other than Kieran giving me a second chance, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m so much happier and more free now than I ever would’ve been if I’d tried to live the life my dad wanted for me.”
Ash lets out a short laugh. “Well, shit, I wish I had been that brave at eighteen. I’m thirty-one and still living the life my dad wants me to.”
“It’s never too late,” I offer with what I hope is an encouraging smile.
“You told all of us, that was huge,” Liam reminds him. “Maybe you can keep taking those small steps until you’re ready. Everyone’s path is different. And if anyone is looking for some fatherly support, my dad would be thrilled to pseudo adopt all of you like he has Blake.”
“Yeah, I’ve been trying,” Ash says, and his cheeks darken a little. “I, uh, took a trip over the summer. Just a night, really, since I couldn’t get the time off work. But I went out, met a guy, and went back to his place.”
“Was that the first time?” Liam asks gently.
Ash nods, sucking his teeth between his lips for a moment before he answers. “It was even better than I’d hoped after thinking about it for so long.”
“Good for you, man,” Liam says with a smile. “Anything happen last night?”
“Nah, I was dancing with these two guys who were obviously together, and then I lost them.” He shrugs. “Maybe tonight I’ll have more luck.”
“Hope so,” I agree, feeling a little guilty about Ash’s failed hookup last night, but he had no idea he was dancing with my uncles. Maybe I shouldn’t have intervened though… No, no, it was for the best.
Blake yells out again. “Hell yeah! Fifteen this time. I think I’m getting better.”
“I don’t think you can get better at slots,” Liam says hesitantly.
Ash hums. “I don’t know, he seems to be winning more than any of you guys.”
I laugh. “Well, you’re more than welcome to show us how it’s done.” I step back from the machine I’d been in front of, gesturing for him to take over.
“Maybe I will.” He smirks.
I wrap my arms around Kieran, who’s sitting at the next machine, barely playing. I kiss his cheek, thinking about how I still owe him that flip fuck I promised on the plane.
We ended up getting a little too eager on the dance floor last night, and we didn’t even make it home.
I dragged Kieran to the bathroom and took advantage of how big my hands are, jerking us both off in one hand until we came all over each other’s dicks in the stall.
Not exactly romantic, and I’m really glad that happened before we ran into Patrick and Joey, but tonight, I’ll make up for it.
I lean into Kieran’s ear, biting his lobe discreetly. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Mmm, it’s like you read my mind. We can sneak out of here soon.”
“I won again!” Blake shouts, interrupting us. I glance at the screen and it says three dollars.
“Way to go, baby,” Liam says, leaning in to kiss Blake on the cheek.
“So, you want to wander a little bit?” Kieran asks loud enough for our friends to hear.
“Yep.” He doesn’t need to ask me twice. “Lead the way.”
“We’re going to go… around,” Kieran explains not-so-smoothly to our friends.
“Yeah, you two horn dogs have fun!” Blake shouts, waving behind his head without even looking at us. “I’ll be bent over for Liam as soon as my winnings stop!”
“Jesus, Blake,” Liam says through a choked sound, and we laugh as we walk away.
Kieran laces his fingers through mine, and I give his hand a squeeze, loving the connection and knowing he’s at my side.
I’d do absolutely anything for him, but ditching our gambling friends to go fuck isn’t exactly a hardship.
“The penthouse is probably empty, right?” he asks.
“Yeah, everyone’s in the casino,” I agree, pulling him toward the lobby where our elevator is.
I’m so glad we agreed to start at the casino in our hotel.
I swipe my keycard and wait for the elevator doors to open.
The second we’re inside, I push Kieran against the metal wall and claim his mouth with mine.
He’s just as eager, fighting for control of the kiss.
“You really want this flip fuck, huh?” I mutter against his mouth.
Kieran lets out a soft laugh. “You have no idea. I can’t wait for you to be inside of me.”