Chapter 24
Tex
“Shit shit shit! Noooo.”
Hollywood’s words carried to the bathroom, where I’d just taken a luxurious, uninterrupted shower. Ruby was still at Kelly’s, giving us the morning alone.
I loved the Ruby girl, but waking up beside Hollywood and rolling over to kiss his sleepy smile, touch all that bed-warmed skin, and sink into the bliss of his body was a hell of a way to start the day.
Holly didn’t sound nearly so blissful in the kitchen. I threw on a pair of sweats and went to see why he was cussing a streak.
“What’s wrong, darlin’?”
Hollywood scraped a pan into the trash, his bottom lip pushed out. “I burned the French toast.”
His pout was unbearably cute. But then, lately, everything about Hollywood struck me as adorable. I’d clearly picked up some sort of terrible bug. Hopefully, it was contagious, and he was fluttering inside like a teenager, too. I’d hate to think I’d turned into a sap alone.
I opened a cabinet over the refrigerator to pull out a box of Cocoa Pebbles. “You can just leave the cooking to me, Holls. I don’t mind.”
Hollywood tossed the pan into the sink with a clatter.
“But you already do so much.” He huffed. “I followed the recipe exactly! I don’t know how it happened.”
I took out two bowls and poured cereal for us. “Well, I love everything I do here.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “You gave me quite the treat this morning.”
“Oh, stop.”
I leaned in to kiss him. “And last night was amazing, too. You gave me a heck of a show.”
Both on the stage and off it. Hollywood blushed. It was freaking adorable. Again. Ugh, I had it bad.
His phone chimed, and he took it out of his back pocket to check the screen.
“Is that Kelly?” I asked.
“No. Just a reminder that the rent is due next week.”
Shit. I thought we had one more week before then. Dad still hadn’t paid me back.
Beside me, Hollywood ran water into the sink and added soap. “I hope this pan will come clean.”
I pushed away worries about money. I’d figure it out somehow.
“That thing will have to soak for a looooooong time,” I teased.
Hollywood snorted. “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t. You loooooove me.”
He rolled his eyes, but a smile played around his lips and some of the tightness around his eyes eased. “Okay, jerk. That’s the last time I try to make you French toast.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
He bumped my shoulder, laughing. We took our cereal to the thrift-store table we’d picked up a week ago. It was square, with a white top flecked with gold, and chrome legs. It would look more at home in a diner, but I liked it.
Hollywood dug a spoon into the Cocoa Pebbles. “This is so bad for you.” He lifted out a heaping spoonful. “So sugary.” He shoved it into his mouth, mumbling, “But soooo good.”
“Now you’re glad you burned the French toast, aren’t you?”
“I mean, kinda?”
I shook my head, smiling, the glow inside me too bright to put into words. This man was my sun. All I wanted to do was bask in his warmth.
Hollywood lowered his spoon. “I’ll pick up Ruby when we finish here. I need to run to the grocery store to pick up some things for movie night with Joyride, anyway. My stash of peanut butter cups is getting low.” He eyed me. “You don’t know why that would be, do you?”
“Who me?” I tried to look innocent. I got home late at night, and sometimes the munchies hit. What was a guy supposed to do?
“Yes, you,” he said. “You’ve been robbing me.”
“Well, judging by the way you’re scarfing those Cocoa Pebbles, you’ve got a real problem. I’m saving you from a chocolate addiction.”
“Watch it, buddy, or I’ll find a new hiding spot for my snacks.”
“Did I say addiction? That’s overstating it. Everybody loves chocolate.”
He laughed. “Good save.”
“I’ll, uh, take it easy on the late-night snacks, though. Those are your treats. Sorry.”
“Don’t be silly.” He leaned in to kiss me. “What’s mine is yours, Tex. Just warn me when the stash gets low. I don’t like to be left high and dry.”
I slid a hand onto his thigh. “Well, I’d never do that to you, darlin’…”
We kissed again, heat sparking between us. Maybe there was time to fit in one more trip to the bedroom before Ruby came home—
Someone knocked on the door. Damn it.
Hollywood pulled back. “Are you expecting anyone?”
“No.”
He started for the door. “Maybe Kelly brought Ruby home?”
I followed him to the living room. When he opened the door, Knight and Aiden stood on the porch with two dogs.
One was Biscuit, their usual Boston Terrier, and the other was a mutt with a mop of curly hair named Waffles. They’d fostered him for a few days last summer.
A cool breeze gusted through the door, making me shiver. I crossed my arms over my bare chest.
“Hey, guys,” Hollywood said. “What’s up?”
“Waffles came over for a play date,” Aiden said. “We were just out for a walk and thought Ruby might like to meet him.”
“Oh, Ruby’s not here. She stayed over with her Aunt Kelly.”
“That’s right,” Aiden said brightly. “You guys had your date last night.”
He and Knight didn’t say anything else. They both stared at us expectantly.
Oh, that’s what this visit was about.
I rolled my eyes. “Come on in and have some coffee, so I don’t have to freeze my nips off.”
Knight snorted. “A shirt might help too.”
“This is my house, asshole.”
I went down the hall to my bedroom. My blue Dallas Cowboys fleece was hanging on a hook near the door. I grabbed it and pulled it on.
When I returned, Knight and Aiden were sitting on the couch while Hollywood poured cups of coffee in the kitchen.
“I know what you’re doing here,” I said, keeping my voice quiet. “You’re not subtle.”
Knight tilted his head. “So?”
My lips quirked of their own volition.
Aiden snickered. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Will, but is that not the smug smile of a very satisfied man?”
“I believe it is, Angel. Apparently, our Tex has finally gotten his head out of his ass.”
“Yeah, you guys are hilarious. You should take that show on the road.”
They straightened in their seats, wearing matching grins. Yeah, they were proud of this bullshit.
“Okay,” Hollywood said, carrying the cups in. “I gave you lots of cream, Knight, and you none at all, Aiden. That’s how you guys like it, right?”
“Yep. We both like our coffee how we like our men,” Aiden joked. “Mine’s strong, and his is—”
“Sweet,” Knight said.
“I was going to say full of cream,” Aiden said with a naughty grin.
“That too,” Knight said with a laugh.
The dogs both perked up, turning toward the door, tails wagging. A moment later, there was a knock. Waffles gave a sharp bark. Biscuit joined in, adding a few extra yaps. Apparently, he didn’t want to be outdone.
“Now, who?” Hollywood said.
I crossed to the door and opened it. Joyride stood on the porch with a box in his arms.
“I should have known you’d show up,” I said.
He lifted the box. “My dad had a meeting in Granville. He brought home some Glazed Holes.”
“Did I hear Glazed Holes?” Aiden demanded.
“Let him in!” Knight called.
I turned sideways, waving him toward the living room. “Join the party.”
Joyride grinned and stepped inside, nearly tripping over the dogs. I grabbed the box of doughnuts before they became a casualty. Glazed Holes were precious cargo. Precious, delicious cargo.
“Hey, guys,” Joyride said. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“We were in the neighborhood,” Knight deadpanned.
They all laughed. So much for my blissful morning alone with Hollywood. I glanced over at him. His smile was as wide as Texas. My lips tugged up to match. If he was happy, I was happy.
“So, how’d it go last night?” Joyride asked.
I appreciated that he wasn’t trying to play it coy like Knight and Aiden.
“Good,” I said, flipping open the box. “Who wants a doughnut?”
“Ooh, me.”
“Me too!”
I went around the room, holding out the box.
Knight snagged a couple of jelly-filled doughnut holes for him and Aiden.
Joyride opted for a glazed with sprinkles.
Such a kid. Hollywood had just gorged on Cocoa Pebbles, but that didn’t stop him from taking the chocolate-glazed doughnut.
I snagged a simple glazed and took a big bite.
“Just good, huh? I thought our date advice would go over better than that.”
Hollywood stirred. “Oh, it was better than good—”
“Your advice almost got me in trouble,” I interrupted. “Hollywood wasn’t so sure about the karaoke.”
“Oh no,” Aiden said. “I’m so sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize,” Holly said. “It was great. I just needed a little push to get up on that stage. I don’t normally sing publicly.”
“So it all worked out?” Knight asked.
“It did.” Hollywood beamed. “It was really fun, in the end. Wasn’t it, Tex?” He laughed. “Although, I suppose I had all the fun up there singing. You were stuck watching.”
“Oh, that was fun too,” I murmured, my body warming a few degrees. He’d been damn sexy on that stage.
“So, our advice was perfect then,” Knight said, sounding smug.
Joyride snickered. “Look at Tex’s face. That date was fire.”
I shoved the rest of the doughnut in my mouth, a little embarrassed I was so transparent.
“Don’t tease him too much,” Hollywood said. “This was his first date with a guy. It’s a big deal.”
I swallowed with difficulty.
“Sorry,” Aiden said. “We sort of glossed right over the coming out. How are you doing with all of that?”
I shook my head. “It’s not like that. I didn’t have my first date with a guy. This is Hendrix. He’s the only guy.”
“Aw,” Aiden said.
“And look, I know I took my time, but I’m okay with being bi if it means I get to be with him. Because that’s what matters. Not who I sleep with or how I identify. Just that I get to be here with him.”
Knight pressed a hand over his heart as if he felt the words personally. “I get it, man.”
“We’re happy for you,” Aiden said.
“Glad you guys worked it out,” Joyride said. “I really don’t like babysitting enough to take your place.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Yeah, don’t even think about it.”
He smirked. “I knew you were jealous of me.”
Hollywood laughed. “As if I’d date Joy. He’s like a little brother.”
“Hey,” Joyride objected. “I’m a hot little brother.”
“Ew, incest,” Aiden teased. “So much better.”