He sighs. “Stop being right,” he grumbles, and I laugh.

  “Go have a few beers with the boys, and maybe I’ll video chat with Anna.”

  “Okay,” he concedes and kisses me. “I’ll be two hours max.”

  “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

  He gives me another kiss before walking out of the theater room.

  It’s been surprising to me how easy everything with Nixon has been. We’ve fallen into this comfortable routine, and life is almost perfect.

  I never in a million years thought I would let anyone close enough to have a relationship with. But Nixon broke down all my walls, and I don’t think I could picture my life without him. He wants me for me. Besides a small group of people, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before.

  I’m in love with Nixon.

  I’m going to tell him soon.

  Anna and I found a fantastic company to represent us that handles literally everything we could ever need. I was offered a personal assistant but declined the offer for now. However, Anna jumped at the bit, saying she didn’t want to use that title as a shield for her relationship with Brittany. I’m so happy for her and can’t wait for her to come home in a couple of weeks.

  “I miss your stupid face,” Anna grumbles when she answers the FaceTime call.

  “But it’s right here,” I tease, framing my face with my hands.

  “Smartass.”

  “That’s why you love me.” I blow a kiss at her, and she rolls her eyes.

  “Nixon would spank me for that.”

  She giggles. “How is that going?”

  A goofy grin pulls at my lips. “So good. I’m really happy.”

  “I’m happy for you. I never thought I’d see the day that you let someone in,” she states.

  “Me either. Fate really took the reins here.”

  “Well, you deserve to be happy…” She pauses. “You are happy, right?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? Everything is perfect.” I’m a little confused by her questioning.

  “I started feeling restless about being in the closet after Brittany and I were together for a while. I know we are different people, but I was just checking, is all.”

  “Nixon says he’s fine with me being in the closet,” I say, a little too defensively.

  “Then that’s great.” She gives me a genuine smile. “I really am over the moon for you as long as you’re truly happy. You know that’s all I care about.”

  She is such a good friend.

  “It’s great to have someone like you in my corner,” I remind her.

  “Forever and always. I might be in love with Brittany, but you’re my person. You’re stuck with me forever.”

  I chuckle because I feel the same.

  “Did you ever figure out why Brittany was acting off?” I ask, realizing with everything that has happened, I forgot to bring it up.

  “I think so…” she trails off but has the goofiest grin on her face.

  “Okay, are you going to tell me?”

  She shakes her head. “I don’t want to jinx it. As soon as I know for sure, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “Fine.” I roll my eyes.

  Anna points at me. “You’re not supposed to do that.”

  I can’t help but laugh.

  “It only counts when Nixon’s around… I think…”

  “Maybe I should text him,” Anna teases.

  “Sounds like a good time to me,” I reply.

  Anna giggles and shakes her head. “You’re too much. I can’t wait until we are back. FaceTime is great, but I miss spending real time with you.”

  “Me too, but it will be sooner than we know. You just kill that movie.”

  “I always do,” she tells me with a wink.

  I never thought I’d see the day that both Anna and I would be happy in relationships at the same time. But I admit, having her know about Nixon and being able to be open about it all is a breath of fresh air.

  We say our goodbyes, end the call, and I take a moment to evaluate how I’m feeling.

  I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good. The only thing that’s different in my life is Nixon.

  Chapter 18

  Nixon

  The ribbing immediately begins as soon as I pull a chair out at the table where my friends are sitting.

  “ ’Bout fucking time you showed up,” Denver goads.

  “Don’t give him too hard of a time, or he’ll leave,” Bennett states, and I roll my eyes.

  “You are all shitheads,” I mutter with a smirk.

  “You’re the one who turned into a hermit,” Knox adds.

  “I’m not a hermit,” I murmur, but I see why they think that.

  I wish I could tell them why I’ve been bailing on beers with the guys, but I can’t. I probably will never be able to. Sometimes that bothers me, but it’s what I agreed to when Dante and I decided to try a real relationship.

  “He isn’t a hermit,” Denver agrees. “Because I went by his house the other night to say hi, and he wasn’t home.” His eyes meet mine, and it almost breaks me.

  “I have a life outside of work and my friendship with you assholes,” I remind them.

  Thankfully, the waitress chooses that moment to interrupt and take my drink order.

  “I’ll admit I’ve been a little MIA… so fill me in on what’s new,” I request after the waitress leaves, trying to get the attention off of me.

  “My brother’s best friend moved back a week ago,” Knox says before taking a pull of his beer.

  “The one you had the biggest crush on?” Bennett asks with wide eyes.

  “Yup…” Knox admits on a sigh. “He’s even hotter than he was when he left three years ago to serve with Doctors Without Borders.”

  “You gonna go for it this time?” I ask.

  He shakes his head. “I can’t. First off, my brother loves him more than me and would slit my throat. Second… I’m pretty sure he’s straight.”

  “What do you mean ‘pretty sure?’ ” Denver asks with a raised brow. “Aren’t you either straight or not?”

  I shrug. “Sexuality is like a spectrum. Some people lean more one way than the other. Others float around the middle. And sometimes, you think you lean one way, but something happens, and you start leaning the other way. It isn’t always black and white.”

  Denver’s brows pull together, and Bennett nods.

  “I thought I was straight most of my life until a year ago when I realized I might be more pansexual… but labels are stupid, anyway,” Bennett supplies, and Denver does a double take.

  “Dude, you’re almost forty, and you just figured out you aren’t straight? Is that really possible?” Denver asks, and we all nod.

  “Anything is possible. My dad is demisexual but had no idea until after my mom passed away. Then he started developing feelings for his best friend,” Knox adds. “Now they are getting married next year. He’s happy to be in a same-sex relationship but was sixty when he found that out.”

  Denver looks down at his beer, clearly mulling over the words, and I wonder what’s going on in his head. I make a note to ask him after everyone leaves. No need to put him on the spot. If he wanted to talk about it with everyone here, he would.

  “What about you, Bennett? Anything new?” I ask.

  “Nope. Still single. My mom keeps pressuring me to date anyone. She keeps pulling the I’m-going-to-die-soon card. Which we all know is bullshit. She’s not even sixty and is the healthiest person I know, but any emotional guilt trip she can take me on, she will,” he says, shaking his head.

  I chuckle because his mom is hilarious, and I can totally see her being all melodramatic.

  We bullshit for a while, and I realize how much I missed these guys. As much as I love spending time with Dante, he’s right. It’s healthy for us to have a life outside of our relationship.

  Bennett and Knox peace out first, leaving just Denver and me.

  “Did you want to talk about something?” I ask after a minute of silence.

  “When did you know you weren’t straight?” he asks, keeping his eyes on his beer.

  “I knew when I was ten, but that isn’t the case for everyone. Are you questioning your sexuality?”

  He shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe… I guess I’m just confused right now,” he mutters.

  “Well, I’m here if you ever want to talk.”

  He finally looks up and gives me a small smile. “Thanks, man. When I’m ready, I’ll take you up on that.”

  “Take all the time you need… and don’t beat yourself up. This is normal… even at thirty-five.”

  He chuckles and shakes his head. “At least I know I’m not alone. Knox’s story about his dad helped a lot. Same with Bennett’s.”

  “Good. I’m sure they’d be willing to talk to you too.”

  “I think I just have to get my head around what I’m feeling first.”

  “Makes perfect sense.”

  My phone buzzes, and it’s a message from Dante that makes me smile.

  “Do you have someone new in your life that you aren’t telling us about?” Denver questions.

  “It’s new,” I lie, hoping that will be enough for now.

  “If he makes you smile like that, he must be special.”

  “He is,” I say.

  “I can’t wait to meet him… when you’re ready,” Denver adds, and I have to force myself not to pull a face.

  It’s not about when I’m ready. It’s about when Dante is ready, and that probably isn’t ever.

  “Sorry I stayed out longer than I said I would,” I apologize as I strip before climbing into bed.

  Dante cuddles into my side and rests his head on my chest.

  “It’s okay. Did you have a good time?”

  “It was nice catching up again. Denver’s going through some shit, which is why I didn’t get away as fast as I originally planned.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “I think so. Just confused about things he’s feeling. I’m sure he’ll figure it out, though.”

  “I like how much you care for your friends,” Dante whispers, running his finger over my chest.

  “It’s hard lying to them, though,” I admit.

  Dante’s body goes rigid, and I wish I could take the words back. It’s not his fault that I’m feeling this way. He made it clear when we started this that he wouldn’t be coming out anytime soon, and it’s wrong of me to put these emotions on him.

  “But I’ll get through it,” I add. “You make me really happy.”

  “You make me happy too,” he whispers. “I love you.”

  Holy shit. I can’t believe he said it first. I’ve been wanting to say those words for a while now, but I wasn’t sure how he would take it.

  “I love you too,” I tell him as he tilts his head with a giant smile.

  Leaning into him, I kiss him gently at first, before running my tongue along the seam of his lips and slipping into his mouth as soon as he gives me access. The kiss turns even more heated as Dante straddles me, rubbing our hard cocks together. My body feels like it’s on fire with love and need for this boy.

  Without saying a word, Dante grabs a condom and the lube, sheathing me before slicking up his hole quickly. Then he wastes no time lowering himself onto me and kissing me again.

  A lot of our sex has been kinky, hard, and amazing, but this is different. This is passionate, slow, and sensual.

  This isn’t fucking…

  … it’s making love.

  I let the sexy boy on top of me take control while I get my emotions in check and savor every second of our time together. I never want to forget this because it feels like something special for us.

  “That’s it, Treasure,” I encourage him, breaking the kiss and starting to move a little faster. “Ride my cock.”

  “Fuck,” he cries out as I reach down to stroke him, twisting my fist as I come up, making sure my grip is tight, the way I’ve learned he likes it.

  “You’re so fucking perfect.” I buck my hips up, meeting him halfway.

  Moans, gasps, and the sound of sex fills the room before Dante cries out one last time as his climax takes him over. His channel clamps so tight on my dick that I almost see spots as I find my release.

  Dante collapses onto my chest, and I kiss the top of his head. “I love you,” I tell him again.

  “I love you,” he repeats with a sleepy smile. “But I’m getting sticky from my cum,” he adds, making me laugh. “Gah… I forgot how weird it is when you laugh while your dick is inside me.”

  “Come on. Let’s have a quick shower. Then we can cuddle again.”

  Dante grumbles but carefully slides off me. Before he can get far, I grab his hand, still wanting physical contact as we head to the bathroom.

  “Life has never been more perfect,” Dante says with a giant smile before kissing me.

  A twisting in my chest tells me I wish that statement were true.

  Obviously, I’m so in love it hurts.

  But I want more.

  I’m just not allowed to ask for it.

  Fuck, I hope this doesn’t come to bite us in the ass.

  Chapter 19

  Dante

  As soon as Brittany and Anna get off the private jet, I rush toward them. “Welcome back, bitches,” I yell.

  Anna runs directly into my arms, and I swing her around.

  “Don’t make my fiancée throw up,” Brittany states. I stop and look into my best friend’s eyes.

  “Surprise,” she yells, flashing the giant ring.

  “Oh my God!” I gasp and pull her into my arms. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you.”

  Last week, Anna went on a late-night show to talk about her sexuality and how being in the limelight can affect relationships. She left our relationship out of the conversation as much as possible, stating that we were best friends and I was helping her out by pretending to be her boyfriend. She went on to say she is in love and happier than ever.

  When the interviewer started asking about babies, Anna broke down laughing. She and Brittany don’t want kids and never have. It’s something they talked about early on in their relationship.

  Paparazzi have followed them since the announcement, but they knew that was coming. It’s only going to get crazier for them now that they’re engaged, but I don’t think they care.

  Thankfully, there hasn’t been much talk about me except a few tabloids painting me to be some kind of saint, which almost makes me sick. I wasn’t some selfless man staying single so my best friend could stay in the closet. But that’s the way it’s being portrayed.

  Our management team is loving it, and I wonder if they had something to do with the narrative. As far as they know, it’s true. I’m not planning on telling anyone ever again about my sexuality because, clearly, people can’t be trusted.

  “Are you sure you’re fine with us living with you until we get our own place?” Anna asks, linking her arm in mine as we head toward Nixon’s car, where he is waiting, keeping a close eye on all of us.

  “Of course. It’s our house and always will be. Stay as long as you want. You know how giant that place is. It’s possible to go days without seeing someone if you really want to.”

  “I know. You did that once when you were pissed at me,” Anna reminds me.

  I laugh. “I don’t even remember why I was mad.”

  She giggles and shakes her head. “Me either.”

  “This is weird,” Anna states, cuddling with Brittany on one couch while Nixon and I are doing the same on another.

  “What?” I ask as Nixon’s fingers lazily play with the hem of my shirt.

  “You, cuddling with a man and being in love,” she teases.

  I pick up a throw pillow and toss it at her. “It’s not weird… it’s nice.” I stick my tongue out at her like the mature adult I am.

  “Obviously, it’s nice. I just never thought I’d see the day.”

  I look at Nixon and smile. “Me either, but I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.”

  I move slightly and press my lips to his as Anna fakes a gagging noise.

  “We need to get our own house so we don’t have to see that all the time,” Brittany jokes, cursing when a pillow hits her square in the face.

  Nixon chuckles and kisses the top of my head.

  “Nice toss,” he praises, and I beam at him.

  “This is your last week of filming, right?” Anna asks.

  “Yup. It will be nice to have a tiny break.”

  Nixon’s phone buzzes, and he excuses himself.

  “Is Nixon going with you to Brazil to film the next movie?” Anna asks, and I bite my lip.

  “We haven’t really discussed that yet. It’s still over two months away,” I state, but that doesn’t save me from a glare.

  “You need to talk. It’s a big deal. You’ll be gone for six months,” she reminds me like I was able to forget.

  “I know. I don’t see why he wouldn’t come. His company is still my personal security. It makes sense to bring him along.”

  “Do you want him to go just because it makes sense?” Brittany asks.

  “No. But I can’t ask him to come along as just my boyfriend. We have to have a cover.”

  Brittany and Anna share a look but don’t say anything else.

  Thankfully, Nixon is back before the awkward silence settles in, but he looks a little off.

  “Who was on the phone?” I ask when he sits beside me again.

  “My mom,” he says but doesn’t add more. I don’t pry even though I want to know why his smile isn’t reaching his eyes.

  My alarm goes off on my phone, letting me know it’s bedtime, and I sigh.

  “Only one week left of work.” I groan as I stand. “See you guys tomorrow sometime,” I tell Anna and Brittany before heading to bed.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask Nixon when we are in our room.

  “Yup, I just forgot my mom’s birthday is next week.”

  “Oh yeah, moms hate when you forget shit like that,” I reply as I strip out of my clothes.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21