Page 88 of Cheap Shot

They watched in silence for a long while and Sebastian stretched when the weed began to take effect. It was a nice mellow feeling and he smiled to himself, pleased he’d actually been able to unwind.

He didn’t know if his employees and his sister wouldapproveof the way he was spending the day off, but so far, he had no complaints. Nah, actually, he suspected they would all be happy he was relaxing, no matter how it had been accomplished.

Sebastian pulled his phone out of his pocket and set it on the coffee table, just in case anyone needed to get ahold of him.

There was unwinding and then there was being unavailable and unreliable.

Crawford glanced over. “Everything good?”

“Yeah,” Sebastian said. “I feel great. Thanks for inviting me over actually. This is exactly what I needed.”

“Sure.”

Sebastian looked back at the TV where they were interviewing the Team USA coach and a picture of Tanner Clayton appeared on the screen. “Hey. Do any of the guys on the team know?”

He thought Crawford had said they didn’t, but he wasn’t sure if he remembered right.

“What? That I hook up with men?”

“Yeah.”

“No.”

“Doesanyoneknow?” Sebastian glanced over at Crawford, but he continued to look straight at the TV.

“You do. So do the guys I’ve hooked up with in the past …”

“I mean anyone in yourfamily. Yourfriends?”

Crawford shook his head. “Nah. What I do is private. Same with women, for that matter.”

“Sure,” Sebastian said slowly. “But they all assume you’re straight, right? Because that’s society’s default.”

“And I’m supposed to fucking change all of society?” Crawford finally glanced over. “No fuckin’ thanks.”

“Huh. So you don’t think of yourself as bisexual? Or pan or whatever?”

Crawford sighed, stretching his legs, his massive quads flexing then relaxing as he settled again. “I dunno. I guess I am, but I really don’t fuckin’ care what anyone calls me. Look, I get that it’s a big deal for a lot of people. Like, Connor and Graham had to figure their shit out and having all those words for it made it easier for them. For me? I like what I like. I do what I wanna do and I try not to be a total dick about it.”

Sebastian gave him a skeptical look.

Crawford shot him a surprisingly devastating crooked grin. “I said atotaldick.”

“Yeah, fair,” Sebastian conceded.

“I’m not out there getting women pregnant and bailing. I wrap up my dick and get tested so I’m not passing along diseases. I make sure everyone I hook up with wants it and knows they can say no. Maybe I’m not all about the hearts and flowers and shit, but …”

“No, you’re right,” Sebastian admitted, a little surprised by the earnestness in his tone. “If everyone held themselves to that standard, the world would be better. You’re an asshole but I guess you’re an asshole withstandards.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far.” Crawford shot him a lazy smile. “I’m hooking up withyou, aren’t I?”

“Fuck you,” Sebastian said with a laugh, leaning over and slugging him in the arm.

“Later maybe.” Crawford winked. “If you’re lucky.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The minute Luke had sent Sebastian the message about coming over, he’d regretted it. But now that he was here, this was kinda … kinda okay actually.