Chapter 6 #3
They both looked across the room to where Drew was dirty dancing with a laughing group of both men and women.
“He’s a lot of fun,” Lee said, smiling from ear to ear as he watched. It didn’t really make sense, but he felt so proud of his man, his fake man, for being such a free spirit.
A beat later, he realized Abby was studying him.
“What? Did I do something wrong?” he asked.
“Not at all,” Abby laughed. “I’m happy this agency place found you for him.”
It wasn’t lost on Lee that anyone overhearing them, like the bartender who slid two drinks across the bar top, wouldn’t know what he meant, but Lee totally did.
“Yeah, I think we both lucked out,” he said, taking the drinks. “I really like him.”
“He really likes you,” Abby said, wisdom and maybe a little cunning in her eyes. “I think you should go all in with this whole thing.”
That surprised Lee for some reason, and his eyes went wide. “Really?”
“Oh, yeah,” Abby said. “Really go for it. Remember, there are always cameras everywhere, but we control what they see.”
If that wasn’t some heady wisdom, Lee didn’t know what was.
“Got it,” he said, even though he was pretty sure he only got part of it.
Someone else who Abby apparently knew came along, and since Lee didn’t know them and didn’t feel bad about walking away, he headed into the thick of the party to take Drew his drink.
“Thanks, babe,” Drew said thirstily, eyeing Lee up as he handed over one of the glasses. “Just what I need.” He raised the glass to his mouth, but kept looking at Lee the whole time as he drank.
It was amazing to be the center of Drew’s attention like that. Even more so when they finished their drinks and Drew pulled Lee close to dance with him. Lee had always considered himself a terrible dancer, but something about moving and grinding with Drew made it all easy and fun.
Or maybe it was the heady feeling of everyone in the room watching him, watching him with Drew, that gave him an ego trip for the ages.
He began to see how intoxicating it was to have everyone look at him and envy him, and it was definitely envy.
Lee could practically hear the sound of a thousand posts going up on social media as he and Drew laughed, swayed, and had fun together.
It lasted through at least an hour and a couple more drinks before a slower song started playing.
“Hey, do you want to really get the rumor mill spinning?” Drew asked, stepping into Lee and grabbing one of his arms to nudge Lee to loop his arms over his shoulders.
Lee’s heart beat so fast and hard that he started to get dizzy. “Don’t you think everyone is already talking and speculating just the way you want them to tonight?” he asked.
“Maybe,” Drew said, eyes hooded and just a bit glassy, cheeks flushed, the scent of his sweat now mingled with his faded cologne. “I think I know how to seal the deal, though.”
“Oh yeah?” Lee asked breathlessly as they leaned into each other.
“Yeah,” Drew said, smiling at Lee’s mouth.
The next thing Lee knew, Drew’s lips were on his and their bodies were pressed together. Lee could taste cherry from whatever the last drink Drew had had for a second, and then even more as Drew lazily slipped his tongue into Lee’s mouth.
He was drunk. They were both a little drunk and sleepy. The spirit of the party had gotten to them. It was all an act to save Drew’s reputation.
Lee told himself all those things and more as their kiss deepened and turned into way more than it was supposed to be.
Drew was a damn good kisser, and just like the dancing, he made Lee better at it than he’d ever thought he could be.
He kissed like he meant it, like he wanted to lose himself in Lee and never be found.
“Yes!” Jessica’s voice sounded from a few feet beside them. “Perfect.”
Drew pulled back, and both he and Lee glanced to Jessica, who was smiling in satisfaction at her phone.
“This is exactly what we need,” Jessica went on, still absorbed in her phone. She glanced briefly to Drew and Lee, giving them a proud smile. “Thanks, guys. Your brand is safe with me.”
She walked off without another word.
“Shit,” Drew said, backing up and pulling away. He looked this way and that, confused and embarrassed. “I didn’t mean—she shouldn’t just—I’m going to go after her and tell her not to post that,” he said, never quite meeting Lee’s eyes.
“It’s okay,” Lee said, voice soft and lost. “That’s the whole point of this, right?”
Drew wavered on his spot, like he wanted to sprint after Jessica, but his feet were glued to the floor.
“Yeah,” she said, then blew out a breath.
He pushed a hand through his hair, which was stiff with product, then said, “I think I’ve had too much to drink.
We should probably get out of here. Do you need a ride home? ”
“Yeah, sure,” Lee said, brow furrowed in confusion.
No, not confusion. He knew exactly what he and Drew were together for, and they’d done a good job of sticking to their mission with that kiss. Everything was exactly as it should be.
So why did it feel like he and Drew had just been caught doing something really wrong?