Dare You To(7)

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

 

 

 

Hangover: Check.

 

Guilt: Check.

 

Complete and utter mortification: Double check.

 

He couldn't believe he'd thrown himself at Dare last night. In his defense, he'd been feeling really down and whiskey had been involved … but still, he'd thrown himself at Dare. His neighbor. His friend.

 

His neighbor and friend who had sex with men he met on apps yet had pushed him away last night.

 

He was all for people fucking whomever they wanted. If meeting someone on an app or at a club was their thing, more power to them. It had just never been his thing. But it was Dare's thing. But then Dare told Austin he'd regret fucking him.

 

Great. So now two people he cared about had made him feel like shit in one night. What did it say about him that Dare didn't want to touch him? That Brian didn't think he was interesting?  

 

Maybe apps should become his thing. They felt a whole lot easier than this.

 

Despite the merry-go-round spinning a hundred miles per hour in his brain, Austin got out of bed. It was early. Unless Dare had some backpacking, dirt biking, hiking, or surfing adventure going on today, he would still be in bed. Yes, he had resorted to avoiding his best friend. If he saw Dare, he wasn't sure if he would be embarrassed because of his behavior or pissed that Dare thought anyone was fuck-worthy except for him.

 

After swallowing something for his headache, Austin took a quick shower and dressed. He didn't have to work today, but he wasn't sure where else to go besides the center-which was probably part of his problem. If it's not the center we're talking about, it's Dare. Jesus, he was predictable.

 

Austin made a quick stop by WeHo Java on his way to the center. One of his favorite baristas, Lenny, was behind the counter.

 

"Hey, baby boy," Lenny said. "I'll grab your iced coffee."

 

As the other man turned to make his drink, Austin rushed out, "No." Even his drink was predictable and boring.

 

Lenny stopped, looked at him, his nose wrinkled.

 

"I think I'll get a caramel latte today. Hot," he added with extra emphasis, and yes, it was official-he'd apparently gone insane.

 

"Look at you, taking a walk on the wild side today," Lenny said, hitting a sore spot. He made Austin's latte, and then handed it over a minute later. Austin didn't take the time to talk to the man like he usually did before he left, just jumped into the car and headed for the LGBT center.

 

The second he stepped through the doors, some of the weight melted off his shoulders. He loved it here. It made him feel at home, like he was doing something important.

 

"Hey, Mr. A! We didn't know you were coming in today," one of the young men said. He walked over to Austin, nodded and said, "What up, bro?" Austin felt like an idiot doing a handshake Terry had taught him, but he did it anyway.

 

"I was bored so I thought I'd come see what everyone was up to today. Plus, I have some paperwork I can do, as well." The center had a community area that was open seven days per week, from eight to twelve hours per day. Teens could come in and talk, watch movies, hang out-whatever they needed. They also had hours set aside where the homeless teens could use their showers, get clothes from the closet, toiletries and things like that. Austin and the staff often stocked the toiletries themselves due to lack of funds, but it was important that they had them. They offered counseling, workshops, get-togethers, and also had a small dorm where teens who had been kicked out of their homes could stay.

 

There was nothing in his life he was more proud of than working there.

 

Austin spent a few hours playing air hockey, ping pong, and billiards with the teens before heading to his office to get some things done. More than anything, his mind wandered. There was no denying it upset him that Dare had turned him away. Yeah, it was probably smart of him, and yeah, Austin also felt silly because he'd drunkenly kissed Dare, but then, Dare was the one who always said sex was sex. He enjoyed sex (who didn't?) so he had it with whomever he wanted.

 

But he hadn't wanted Austin.

 

Brian hadn't wanted him either.

 

Yes, he was feeling sorry for himself.

 

A guy deserved that after getting dumped and then turned down by his best friend, right?

 

On the other hand, that wasn't Austin's style. He didn't want to sit around and feel sorry for himself.

 

He wanted to make a change. Have some kind of adventure. Do something different because he never fucking did anything different, did he? Only, what should he do? He wasn't like Dare. Austin wasn't sure he could see himself jumping out of a plane or mountain biking a dangerous trail or getting up on a surfboard where big-ass sharks were waiting to eat him.