Page 2 of Tempted Hearts
Good question. I’d been working so hard to get to this point, I wasn’t really sure. “More of the same. Teaching classes. Writing papers. Getting published.”
Beck snorted. “Sounds like a blast.”
“Mason instructed me not to be an insufferable prick this weekend, so I’ll hold back my comment.”
“There’s a first for everything, I guess.”
That from Parker, who’d walked up behind us. Even more good-natured than Beck, if such a thing were possible, Parker hardly had a bad word to say about anybody. The only exception? One of the three of us.
But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
These three guys were like brothers… only a quarter as fucked up as my real family.
“Like Beck no longer trying to get laid at every social event,” I responded dryly.
“Hate to pile on.” Beck was a boldfaced liar. That’s exactly what he was about to do. “But you have been even more ornery than usual.”
I was self-aware enough not to argue.
“Is it the tenure thing?” Parker asked with enough concern that I felt compelled to respond.
“Partially.”
Beck and Parker exchanged a look that neither even tried to hide. Here came the psychoanalysis.
“The Pact?” Beck guessed.
“Partially.” I took a sip of whiskey.
“So what part are we missing?” Parker asked.
The part I wouldn’t talk about.
“That about covers it.”
Better them thinking I was worried about my job and bitter that all three of them broke our college pact to stay single.
“Speaking of, we owe you some money,” Beck said.
“Ahh, not so fast.” Mason joined us. “We never talked about a timeframe. How long until he cashes in?”
“Does it matter?” Beck took a swig of beer before clarifying. “He’s never breaking down.”
And I wouldn’t. I was happy to leave the commitment thing to the three of them. I’d seen what it did to people… starting with my parents.
“Agreed,” Parker said. “Might as well give it to him now.”
They looked at Mason, who clearly wasn’t convinced. He watched me, a little too closely.
“I don’t know,” he said finally. “None of us expected to fall so soon. Maybe we should hold out a bit.”
“Until the end of the summer?” Parker asked.
“Sure.” Parker lifted his glass. “To the last of us, holding strong.”
I would gladly drink to that. All four of us clinked glasses. This was enough for me. Good friends and a good fuck here and there were all I needed.
“Cheers,” I said, smiling for the first time that day.
