Page 67 of The Sweetheart
“What? You off these streets, Kai?” David asked, amused.
“Off these streets? Your boy deleted his whole roster.”
Kai let them talk their shit. Eventually, they gave up trying to get any information out of him, and they hit the bar, lingering in the back until a pool table came free.
Three guys eventually made their way to the back where they were. At first, it seemed like they were waiting for them to vacate the table, but pretty soon it became apparent that they were there to pick up. They were a little older than Kai, maybe late twenties, and pretty hot. A month ago, Kai would have tried to engage with them, flirt a little, get a few free drinks and, maybe, somewhere more comfortable to sleep for the night. Now he just watched as his friends enjoyed the chase. He could tell by the cant of their hips when they leaned over the pool table, that Mads was very much aware of their audience. Liam, who liked a more direct approach, had tongue-fucked his straw, making aggressive eye contact until one of the guys in the group approached him. When one of the others caved and approached Mads, Kai was left standing with the last guy.
“Did they even introduce themselves?” he said to Kai,looking over at Liam and his friend where they were already kissing heavily against the corner of the pool table.
“Doubt it,” Kai answered.
“I’m Henry. What’s your name?”
“Kai.”
“Can I buy you another beer?”
“No, I’m good, man. Thanks, though.”
“No worries. I guess we can just hang back here and watch our friends fuck on a pool table,” he said, resigned. No one was fucking quite yet, but the other guy had Mads backed against the table and the petting was heavy enough to see even at a distance. David had retreated against the wall. He rarely hooked up but always had an eagle eye on Mads, just in case anyone started getting too bold.
“Sorry, man.” Kai grinned his way. The guy was cute, maybe a little nerdier than the others, but in a way that was a little Clark Kent. His shoulders and arms definitely filled out the red and blue plaid shirt he wore in a way that would have appealed to Kai at a different time.
Henry sighed. “I knew it was gonna be like this and I came anyway, so I have no one to blame but myself. I think I’m gonna go do a lap.”
“Yeah, I think I’m going to head out.” They’d already been there for a couple of hours and Liam was officially distracted, so he probably wouldn’t even notice. They stepped away together, but as they passed, Liam reached out and grabbed Kai’s arm.
“Hey, are you two taking off?”
“Nah, I’m going to go,” Kai told him.
“Why? He’s hot. You should totally hook up with him. This guy said they don’t live too far. We can all take off if you want.” Irritation flared in Kai at the casual way Liam invited him to cheat on Nolan.
“No. I’m going home. I told you, I have to work tomorrow.”
“Hey, come on. Just stay.” He leaned closer so that no one could overhear. “If you’re worried I’m going to say something to Nolan, I won’t.” There was a gleam in his eye that Kai hated. Like they had an inside joke that Nolan was the butt of. Kai’s heart sank, staring back at him in disappointment.
“I’m not worried, because I’m going home. I’m not doing that to Nolan.”
“So what? We can’t even hang out?” Liam asked defensively.
“Is that what you want or do you just want to prove this thing with Nolan’s a joke? I like him, alright? Maybe even more than that.” Kai jerked his arm out of Liam’s hold, turning away quickly, because if Liam said anything else, Kai was going to say something he’d end up feeling bad about and he didn’t feel like fighting with Liam tonight.
“Kai!” he heard him call, but Kai didn’t stop.
When he was a block away, he pulled up his phone and video-called Nolan, who answered on the first ring.
“Hey baby,” Nolan was already lounging in bed, shirtless. Yearning tugged at Kai’s heart. “Where are you?”
“Downtown. Came out to meet some friends with Liam.”
“That sounds fun. Where are they?”
“Probably fucking in a dark corner by now.” Nolan let out a bark of laughter. “I left.”
“Do you want me to come and get you?”
Yes!Kai thought automatically, but it just didn’t make sense. By the time he got downtown, Kai would already be close to home. Besides, Nolan looked comfortable.
