Page 113 of Bulletproof

“But because I’m not, you think you can do this—treat me like Aaron treats Jaden, like Aaron used to try and treat me, like a possession.”

“No, Jory, I⁠—”

“Aren’t you on an extended date with Burke? Didn’t he invite you here so you both could get laid?”

He shook his head. “No, Jory, Burke and I are both looking for something else.”

“What?”

He cleared his throat. “We went to that party to⁠—”

“Oh.” Things became clear. “It was tryouts.”

“What? No, it wasn’t like that!” He was incredulous.

“It was exactly like that. Fuck everybody, check the fit—I get it.”

“That is an incredibly tasteless thing to⁠—”

“But true.”

“I—”

“You’re looking for your own boy, so you were sampling the goods.”

“Jory—”

“I thought you were looking for love, but you’re not. You’re not looking for the one guy, the love of your life. You’re looking for a trophy, like Aaron’s got.”

“I—”

“You should just have Aaron ask Jaden if he has any friends. If any one of them is half as hot as he is, you’ve got it made.”

He just looked at me.

“No? Not sure what kind you want?”

“Jory”—his eyes looked pained—“I know what I want.”

I squinted at him.

“And what is that shit on your back?”

Oh no … no-no-no.

“Is that a tattoo of––”

“Don’t,” I warned him.

“Did you tattoo your detective’s name on your back?” He laughed in my face. “Turn around and let me see.”

I felt the anger rise so fast.

“That is so Hollywood—to ink somebody’s name on you just because you’re fucking them and then have to have it removed in six months when they dump you.” He snickered. “Jesus, what the hell were you thinking?”

The tattoo of Sam’s name had been on the back of my right shoulder for years, and I had done it because, to me, it was a brand. I loved it, and more importantly, Sam did. But Hayes Fisher didn’t need to know that. What he did need to know was that he’d crossed the line.

I was done, so when I went to leave and he grabbed me tight, trying to force me to stay, I did the move I knew, which Sam had taught me. I pulled him forward by his collar, pivoted, rolled my left shoulder, and yanked him off his feet. He was bigger, but he was still a little drunk, and I had been awake a lot longer. Plus, I had leverage on my side.