14. Chapter Fourteen #2
I scanned the area but didn’t see his small SUV. At the moment, that was the least of my worries, but I didn’t want the guy’s ride to be stolen. “I’m going to call Eve and get the directions to your place.”
Justin turned to me and swallowed. “I-I can g-get us there.” He coughed and cleared his throat. “Go l-left toward the stoplight, then t-turn right.”
I started my truck and followed his directions. He seemed to snap out of his stupor, so once we were parked in front of his building, he appeared ready to talk. “Come inside, please.”
After turning off my truck, I stepped out and walked around the flatbed, opening his door for him. I held out my hand to help him from the truck because I guessed his legs were as wobbly as my own after what we’d both just witnessed.
“Come on. We both saw it, right?” I needed confirmation that I wasn’t hallucinating the entire incident.
Justin chuckled, which was surprising. “I feel like I was hypnotized and a thought was planted in my mind because that shit couldn’t have been real.
One minute I’m in the dark because Ramon shoved me out of the way and is talking to you, and then the next moment I’m looking through my eyes to see Ramon being chased by those fucking dogs!
I closed my eyes to try to figure out if it was a nightmare.
I thought I would puke when I decided it wasn’t. ”
We entered his building and took the stairs to his apartment. When he shoved his key in the lock, the door across the hallway opened and Eve stepped out wearing yoga pants and a baggy T-shirt with the NOLA Jazz emblem on the front.
“Hey, guys. Justin, can I borrow some coffee pods for the morning? I’m out,” Eve asked.
Justin stood straighter and glared at her. “Get your ass inside right now. We need to talk.”
Eve’s eyebrows rose as she bit her lower lip. “Okay?”
Justin opened the door and stepped over the threshold, waving the two of us in before closing the door and flipping the lock behind us. He turned to me. “Want a drink?”
“Yes, please.”
He nodded and turned to Eve. “Wine?” She nodded.
He went to the kitchen and I turned to Eve. “You a fan of the Jazz?” I motioned toward her T-shirt.
Eve nodded and sat in the chair, pointing at the couch to her left, so I sat.
“What’s up with him?” She was whispering.
I chuckled. “Poor guy’s had a rough couple of weeks, I think. I’ll let him tell you. So, the Jazz?”
She glanced at her T-shirt. “It was my ex’s. He’s the quarterback for the Jazz. He left it at my apartment, and I thought about burning it, but it’s comfy. What do you mean he’s had a rough couple of weeks?”
Before I could answer, Justin came in with a wine glass for Eve and two glass tumblers on a small tray.
He held the tray out for Eve, who took the wineglass, and then handed me a tumbler before taking the last one for himself.
I recognized the brown liquid inside at first sniff.
Kentucky’s finest bourbon. It was exactly what I needed.
Justin sat next to me and I wrapped an arm around his shoulder. We’d both been through a traumatic event—if it really happened—and I needed him close to me.
Justin settled his empty hand on my thigh before taking a sip of his drink and addressing his friend. “Eve, can you explain to Clay what happened in New Orleans.”
She smirked. “Before I tell that story, does he know about you?”
That piqued my interest. “I know he’s gay and he knows I’m gay. What happened in New Orleans?”
“Not that he’s gay, but that he’s—”
Justin held up his hand for her to stop speaking before he turned toward me.
“I’m a virgin. Yes, it’s sad and pathetic, but up till now, I’ve never met anyone I trusted enough to be vulnerable like that.
I’m not completely green when it comes to sex, but the intimacy that comes with giving myself to someone like that, I’ve never had it with another man. ”
I tried to school my expression not to show surprise. He was so sexy and gorgeous, I had a hard time believing someone hadn’t made the time and effort to put him at ease and pursue a relationship with him.
“As a side note, Justin, I really thought Kirk had the hots for you. Every time I was in New Orleans, he’d ask how you were doing when we all got together after the games.
That’s why I even invited Herbst for your birthday and told him to bring Kirk along.
I was sure you and Kirk would hook up. I wanted to make that happen for you.
” Eve’s sincerity was clear, but I didn’t have to like it.
“I, for one, am glad it didn’t happen.” I pulled Justin closer and kissed his temple. “We can discuss this later, just the two of us.”
Justin’s beautiful, flushed cheeks were perfect. This man...
“Kirk’s in a relationship, Eve. I thought he was handsome, but I never saw him as a romantic interest.” He squeezed my leg, which made me grin.
I drew circles on his shoulder with my index finger. “Please, Eve, tell me what happened in New Orleans.”
She sipped her wine. “Okay, so poor Justy has been lamenting that he can’t find a decent guy to, uh, do the deed. At one point, I think he considered paying a professional.”
Justin growled. “I wasn’t going to pay him.” He turned to me, his face flushed. “I met a dancer at a gay club—”
“A stripper. If you’re gonna tell it, tell it all.” Eve winked at me.
I wanted to put duct tape over her mouth.