Page 27 of Boy Toy Not Included

“You’re absolutely not taking that shit back.”

The frame froze midway through Diesel rolling Kuba beneath him.

Jayme turned. His face was completely unreadable. They held each other’s stare. Jayme looked away first. The two media guys practically darted for the door. Jayme tossed the remote onto the recliner and headed for the exit right behind them without saying a word. The door slammed behind him, sending chills down Kuba’s spine. Air whooshed from his lungs as he finally remembered to breathe.

Kuba turned his head slowly and met Diesel’s gaze. Complete calm stared back at him, except for Diesel’s eyes. He knewsomething wasn’t right beyond simply guarding his private life. Diesel knew Kuba was a liar, and he waited for the fallout. He knew they were over. It had to be written all over his face. He couldn’t be gay. Kuba was too shocked to speak. They just held each other’s stare.

Kuba finally broke. “I can’t—” He choked on the words.

Diesel gave him a sharp nod and walked away. Kuba watched him go with his heart in his throat. His stomach churned. He darted for the bedroom and then into the bathroom. He puked until he almost passed out from not breathing, and then he dry-heaved.

When he was too exhausted to do that any longer, Kuba leaned against the wall and stared at nothing. He had been in the closet for so long, he didn’t know how to breathe open air. It was best if Diesel continued to think whatever he believed just happened. Anything was better than the truth. One detail shone brighter than any other. He had just lost his entire life with a thirty-second video clip. He had just lost Diesel.

Chapter Eleven

Thetwoweeksbetweenmedia day and Kuba’s big fight moved painfully slow. Diesel kept doing his job, and Kuba never looked his way. Not that he saw much of the guy. The worst part was sleeping together each night, knowing Kuba was right there and incapable of touching him. He had tried moving his things to the first room he had been assigned. The moment he turned his back, everything he had moved was back in Kuba’s bedroom. Diesel had even tried sleeping in a different room no matter where his clothes were. He had woken up with Kuba next to him anyhow. Four days in, Diesel had given in and just stayed in Kuba’s bedroom. It wasn’t as if Diesel was any less miserable anywhere else. He didn’t even get peace at his mom’s place. She just asked a million questions about Kuba, never realizing they were through. No matter how Diesel looked at things, he couldn’t figure out what the hell had happened. At first, he had thought Kuba was cheating with Jayme, considering that Jayme was gay, coupled with his reaction. The more hethought about that theory, the less realistic it felt. Jayme wasn’t a shy guy. There were no heated glances between them. In fact, Kuba treated Jayme like the employee he was. While Jayme came and went as he pleased and they seemed like they knew each other well, Kuba was always professional. Diesel might not have noticed that detail if Kuba hadn’t treated Diesel so vastly different from Jayme from day one. In fact, not a single theory he could muster made sense. All he knew was the way Kuba had looked at him after Jayme stormed out. His eyes had told Diesel everything and nothing at all. The one detail that had been clear, though, was that they were over. Unfortunately, that meant he had to make a plan.

Kuba’s big fight was in eight hours. He would need to be at the arena in three, but Timber would fetch him when he was ready. Apparently, there was a lot of pre-fight bullshit Kuba had to do, and there was no reason for Diesel to be there. Thanks to Kuba needing a full crew tonight to keep the crowd at bay, Diesel didn’t need to go right away. Every free Seattle guard was already setting things up. Diesel needed some time alone to decompress.

He sipped coffee alone in the same spot where Kuba found him that first night he was back in town. The sun beat down on him. With his sunglasses on, he could people-watch without shame. He wished his mind would clear. Once this fight ended, Diesel would go. Kuba wouldn’t require his services any longer. Truth was, Kuba had never needed him. He saw that plain as day now. Kuba had kept him for the exact reason too many clients to name had tried to keep him. They wanted a live-in whore. Diesel massaged his chest. This had been a new trick he hadn’t seencoming. Now he would likely be sent back to California. He used to love this job. Not anymore.

“Hey. I thought that was you.” Sandy stood over him out of uniform, looking relaxed and holding a cup of coffee.

Diesel smiled. He didn’t mean it. “Hey.” Damn. Why did he sound so happy? It was crazy how used to faking joy he was.

Sandy motioned toward the empty spot beside him. “Is this seat taken?”

Diesel scooted over hair. “It’s totally free.” Why had he said it like that? Like he meant he was free too. He was, but goddamn. Diesel’s soul hurt.

Sandy was all smiles as he filled the empty space. “I’m sorry we never got that drink.”

“Not true. Coffee is a drink, and we’re having that right now.”

Sandy laughed. His dark blue eyes sparkled like he was a happy guy.

Diesel realized he didn’t want to focus on himself any longer. He leaned back and gave Sandy his full attention. “Seriously, though. How has life treated you?”

Sandy shrugged. “Can’t complain. What about you?” Sandy held his stare over the rim of his cup as he sipped his coffee. There was an undertone, but Diesel couldn’t decide what it was.

“Better than I deserve.”

“I had lunch at Sam’s Sports Bar and caught that interview with you during the coverage of tonight’s match.”

Oh, there it was. The press had really taken the news of Kuba being gay and ran with it. That small tidbit had overshadowed the entire championship match. “Yeah. A lot of people did.” Diesel didn’t know what else to say.

Apparently, that wasn’t good enough. “I also saw you helping Kuba train. You were great. You really held your own.”

Diesel’s tensed shoulders didn’t relax. “Not really. When Kuba spars with me, it’s truly just training. He’s not trying to hurt me. Sparring just gives him an active way of practicing his moves. It’s not about besting me.”

Sandy never stopped smiling. “Still, you were really impressive. You’ve definitely gone above and beyond as a guard.”

Jesus. He couldn’t do this any longer. Diesel hated games with a passion. “Yes, I’m gay, if that’s what you’re driving at. I’ve never spent a single day in the closet, so I’m not really sure why everyone acts so surprised. Of course, I know why you didn’t know. You never said two words to me in school. Did you getthe info you came for?” Diesel didn’t sound vicious. His tone highlighted how he really felt—tired.

“Not really. Is it true you two are a couple?”

Wow. This guy. “No. Not anymore. Not after all the bad press.” Really, not even before word spread, but he wasn’t about to explain the worst moment of his life—the moment they broke.

“Good. That means you’re free to have dinner with me.”