Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Uh-huh.” After giving the situation a few seconds of thought, Reg said, “All right, dude, here’s what’s going to happen. We have a suite upstairs. Our stuff is out of it, but technically it’s ours until noon. I’ll get you a keycard, and you go up there and wash that shit off your face.” He paused. “You wearing anything under there?”
Nodding, Clifford said, “Jeans and a T-shirt. Normally I’d wear a suit, but—”
“It’s fine. I understand. Go clean up and get out of that clown gear, and then you can interview Jeremy.”
“Okay, sure.” The reporter was too nervous and frantic to argue. “No problem.”
“Cool. Let’s go to the reception desk and get you a keycard,” Reg said. He looked at Jeremy, waited for him to meet his gaze, and then mouthed, “Be right back.” Once Jeremy nodded, Reg led Clifford toward the reception area.
“Thanks, uh….”
“You can call me Reg, man.”
“Thanks, Reg.” The clown leaned closer to him and whispered, “And off the record, I want to tell you I think it’s great what you guys are doing.”
Reg immediately went on guard, the comments he’d been hearing for months about Jeremy lying about their relationship front and center in his mind. “What do you mean?”
“The way he’s so open with you, so casual about it.” He bobbed his head, making his curly orange-red hair bounce. “You have to know what a difference that makes to all of us, especially kids coming out.” He paused. “Jeremy Jameson is gay.” He sighed. “That’s huge.”
They walked the rest of the way to the desk in silence, and Reg got a keycard for the reporter. “I’ll take your photographer with me so he can get the pictures out of the way while you get changed.”
“Okay.” Reg had just turned around to head back to Jeremy when Clifford gasped. “Hey, I have a great idea.” He rushed over to Reg, pom-poms swaying and his big floppy clown shoes slapping against the floor. He looked ridiculous. “Are you guys staying here tonight? Because you should come out to Boystown. It’ll be a blast. Everyone will be in costume.” He looked down at his clothes. “Good costumes.”
The idea had merit. Jeremy never had the opportunity to go out and party like a normal person. But on Halloween, he could dress up, and nobody would recognize him. Reg thought about taking Jeremy to a bar in Boystown where they could dance and rub their bodies together. Maybe if he got lucky, Jeremy’s brain would finally catch up with his body, and he could get a kiss. His cock immediately throbbed.
“Nah, man,” Reg said, already making plans to book another hotel room for the night. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re taking off right after this.”
“EXPLAIN IT to me again,” Jeremy said. “What are we doing?”
“Here, put on your hat and sunglasses.” Reg handed Jeremy’s usual disguise to him. “And wear my jacket.”
Pulling the bill of the hat down low, Jeremy said, “Your jacket will be huge on me, Hulk.”
“It’ll cover you up.”
“Fine.” With a huff, Jeremy slipped the jacket on. “Now explain.”
“I booked us a room at a different hotel.” Reg heaved his duffel over his shoulder, put his hand on the small of Jeremy’s back, and led him out to the street. “We’ll leave first thing tomorrow and make it in plenty of time for your show, but this way we can spend Halloween in Boystown.”
“Boystown?” Jeremy asked as he followed along, pulling his suitcase behind him.
“Gay village. Lots of bars. Should be a fun party.” They stepped over to the doorman. It had taken Reg a while to get used to the way things worked at the fancy hotels where they stayed, but after more than five months on the road, he had the hang of it. “We’re going to Lakeview,” Reg told him. “Can we get a cab, please?”
The man nodded, went over to the line of cabs, and waved one over.
“Reg, you know I can’t do that,” Jeremy said under his breath, not wanting anyone to hear. “I’ll get mobbed.”
“Not if they don’t know it’s you.” The cab pulled up, and Reg opened the back door. “Get in. I’ll put our bags in the trunk.” Jeremy climbed into the cab, and Reg closed his door. “I’ll get it,” he said to the cabbie as he opened the trunk and put the duffel and suitcase inside. Then he jogged over to the other side of the cab, got in, and gave the cabbie the name of a hotel close to the one he’d booked. On the off chance the man recognized Jeremy or someone was following them, he didn’t want to give away their real location. “Okay, here’s the plan,” he whispered to Jeremy. “We check into the new hotel and then go out and shop for costumes.”