"Nothing else matters," she says again.
When Zane gets back to the table, we pay our bill and they drive me back home. We say our good-byes and Zane and I make plans for him to come stay for a few days soon.
As I shower and get ready for tonight, Steph's words play over and over in my brain.
It's not long before I'm standing at Derek's door and he's pulling it open, looking sexy as fuck in jeans and a pink short-sleeved button-up shirt so tight against his body that I don't have to use my imagination to recall what he looks like underneath. That's how I prefer it anyway. Hell, if it was up to me, he'd never wear any clothes when it's just the two of us. Although I'm confident that's the way he'd prefer it too.
Maybe it really can be as easy as Steph says. Right now, I just know I want to live in these moments with Derek, in this life that feels like it's mine for the first time.
"Come on, boy. Let's go out."
26
Derek
I'm a lot of things, but totally unaware of my feelings isn't one of them.
I like Jackson … a whole fucking lot, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I've enjoyed what we've shared the past few weeks, and it's been even better because there hasn't been any pressure to define what's going on or making it a bigger deal than it is. The pace we're moving at feels right for us, even though it's not the sort of thing I'm used to.
I don't let people in. I keep them at arm's length, even my friends, but I feel safe sharing things with Jackson … just like I feel safe when he holds me. It's not the sort of cuddling I've gotten used to over the past few years-the kind where it's just two bodies filling empty space. His hold makes me feel like he actually cares about me, and regardless of where this is heading, I know that much is true … and that I want him in my life.
On Jackson's suggestion to go out tonight, we head to Pump. I chose the bar because it's where my friends said they were heading. I figure it's a good opportunity for them to get to know Daddy Jackson, and that's something I want. He's not like the other guys, who I've always wanted to keep separate from the rest of my life. He's someone I want to bring into it.
He invites his buddy Frankie to join us, and we all meet up.
It's nice catching up. Bugging the shit out of Travis with some of my jokes about men checking Gary out. Teasing Cody and Hayden about DPing me. I've missed some of this since Gary and Hayden started seeing their men, and especially now that I'm spending so much time with my own guy.
Frankie seems to fit right in with the guys as he leans back against the wall, telling stories about his and Jackson's job. His hands are in the pockets of his jeans, and he looks hot as hell in the beanie he sports. As he talks it up with the guys, I can tell by where his gaze settles when it occasionally drifts around the room that he's got a thing for twinks.
When Gary and I run out of drinks, we head to the bar where Gary has his tab.
Gary wears a form-fitting tank, showing off the guns he's built up from hitting the gym extra hard with his boyfriend.
I squeeze his biceps. "I'm just so impressed with these! Oh, you big strong man. Take your needy bottom and own his ass."
"Shut up!" He rolls his eyes. "Do you think the tank top looks dumb?"
"You look hot as fuck, and I'm surprised Travis let you out the door in that. I'd even bottom for you right now."
Not true at all, but he'll appreciate the compliment.
While the bartender fixes our drinks, someone bumps into Gary.
"Oh, sorry," Gary says, turning to the guy, but as soon as we see who it is, I'm sure Gary wishes he could suck those words back into his mouth.
It's Evan, the asshole who stole Gary's man last year. Blond, twenty-three, and rail-thin, he's wearing jeans that show off that adorable butt of his and a light blue T-shirt with a print of a bull riding a unicorn's ass. Evan's the epitome of everything a twink should be, which of course, makes him competition. This is how I imagine Charlie-boy would feel if I added another beta fish to his tank. And as if he didn't already have enough working against him, he made the massive mistake of screwing my best friend over.
I don't feel bad that Peter cheated on him the way he did with Gary. Serves Evan right, but damn, I wish I'd been the one to debut that fab shirt.
"Careful," I tell Evan. "You wouldn't want to step on another guy's toes. Oh, wait. Maybe you would."
Gary shakes his head like he's not in the mood for this fight. Maybe he's gotten over this, but I haven't.
Evan opens his mouth to say something, but Gary raises his hand. "Evan, you don't have to defend what you did. That feels like a whole other life to me." As soon as he says that, his expression shifts quickly. He looks confused. "Dude, are you okay?"