Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
There were a few other comments, but they were the more generic types—a few eggplant emojis, a kissy face emoji, and a comment that just said “i wuld suk that,” which was a nice sentiment even with its cave-man style spelling.
I needed to kill time, so I did something rare: I tapped on ChillyIcyBlue’s comment and started to write out a reply, letting myself get carried away.
For all I knew, ChillyIcyBlue could be a totally unattractive creep who I’d never get along with in real life.
But I liked to think we’d get along.
I sent off the reply, feeling some fleeting moment of connection to a complete virtual stranger.
AdamDix: You’re the sweetest, ChillyIcyBlue. Appreciate the continued support… and you know I’ll keep coming for you.
7
CHASE
“Hey, Chase,” Charlie called to me from across Adam’s living room, holding a sledgehammer in his hand. “Keep an eye on the front door for me, would you? Jax is going to come by and drop off my protein shake. Left it at home like a doofus.”
I squinted out through the front window into the morning sun, almost offended by the assault on my senses. “Ugh. Sunlight. Not good.”
“Entered your vampire phase already at age thirty?” Charlie joked.
“I’ve entered stage two of my hangover,” I said, rubbing at my temple.
“What are the hangover stages?” Charlie asked. “When I used to drink it was all just one big, long, bad stage.”
“Stage one was me waking up and thinking I made a mistake,” I said. “Stage two is now, where the sunlight makes me want to abandon humanity and crawl in a dark cave. Stage three will be when the rest of the crew gets here and everyone starts telling me I look tired.”
“You do look tired, but the blue streak always adds a little bit of chaotic brightness to your look,” Charlie said as he looked me over. “You went too hard last night?”
“Trivia night,” I told him. “I was sucking down those strawberry-sunshine-whatever drinks that your boyfriend made for me. I know you don’t drink, but I’m telling you, Jax pours heavy on the liquor.”
I’d had one too many of the delicious pink cocktails last night as I sat across the table from Adam, forcing myself not to be overly flirty with him. Forcing myself not to blurt out very specific things that my brain kept focusing on, like how much I loved the way he gripped his cock in his OnlyShots videos. I’d successfully made it through the night without revealing that I knew he was Adam Dix, and we’d done pretty well in trivia.
All in all, it was an innocent night. Practically saintly, for my standards. The only touch we’d exchanged was a high-five at the end of the night, which did turn me on more than I’d like to admit.
Adam had gone home right after trivia ended, and I’d taken the quick drunk walk back to my apartment to pass out and wake up earlier than hell this morning for demolition.
Now I was paying the price for last night’s liquor.
“Don’t think you’re going to have to wait long for that protein shake,” I told Charlie as I saw movement in the front yard. “Jax is outside.”
We were setting up for the first day of demolition. Demo days were the eye candy of home renovation shows, and I knew I was in for a long day of collecting static and handheld camera footage of the Fixer Brothers destroying walls and ripping out cabinets.
Charlie leaned his sledgehammer against the wall and jogged over toward the door, swinging it open as Jax walked up. “Look at you, strutting your stuff. You only get hotter every day.”
“Protein delivery,” Jax said with a smile. “Made one for myself, too. Going to hit the gym.”
“Of course you are, Mr. Perfect,” Charlie said.
They kissed as Jax arrived at the front door, and Charlie grabbed his drink.
Jax peeked his head in through the front door, glancing around. “Looking really good in here, guys. Time to demolish, huh?”
“I’ve got something you can demolish,” Charlie told Jax, running his palm along the front of his jersey shirt.
“For fuck’s sake, guys,” I said. “I love PDA, and I still think you two need to get a room.”
“Sorry, Chase,” Jax said to me while Charlie ignored me, leaning in and pressing one more kiss to Jax’s lips.
“Get out of here,” Charlie said. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” Jax said, waving and heading back down the front path.
“Oh, there’s Nathan and Shawn,” Charlie said as a Fixer Brothers van pulled up out front. “Going to help them grab the pry bars, and I’ll be back in a few.”
I leaned my head against the cool surface of the wall next to me, taking a breath. I knew if could make it through the morning, my hangover would improve. When I’d arrived, Charlie had told me that Adam was upstairs, getting ready to head out and drive to his company’s office. He usually worked from home, but today that would be pretty much impossible with the construction noise.