Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79147 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“It was just a thought,” Derek says, shrugging, his expression more innocent than it should be after the comment he made.
“You’re ridiculous,” I tell him. “Are you two just hanging tonight?”
Gary stops assessing his arm in the mirror. “I got a date with Travis.”
My gaze shifts to Derek’s reflection in the mirror. He stands on the opposite side of me as Gary. I can see the sadness in his expression.
We haven’t had as much time to hang out with each other recently. And with Gary coupled off with Travis, helping him with the massage clinic and me spending so much time with Cody, I know that means Derek must at least feel like he’s on his own right now. At least, more than when he and Gary were hanging out all the time after his breakup with his ex.
“Why are you moping about over there?” I ask.
He turns to me and grins, but I still see sadness in his eyes. “Just thinking all this kind of sucks,” he says. “That both of you have given up your hot sex lives so that you can be tied to one person.”
He makes a gagging sound as he imitates vomiting.
“Oh, look,” Gary says, “It’s what Derek looks like when he’s deep-throating a giant cock.”
Gary and I laugh. Derek starts to make a face like he’s pissed off, but soon he’s laughing too, and it feels like his mood has shifted. At least a little. It’s just too bad because I know he’s not going to bring up how he really feels right now. That’s not how Derek is. He doesn’t talk about serious shit, even when he’s hurting. Last time he was willing to talk to us about something that was going on in his life that hurt him was that guy who broke his heart over the summer. But that was just one night and took a lot of tears and a few glasses of Chardonnay before he was willing to share. In a lot of ways, Derek reminds me of Cody. Acts very laid back, chill, but there’s more there—more than he shows the world.
“Come here,” I say, grabbing Derek and dragging him over to the mirror. “Just because I’m getting all coupled up again doesn’t mean that you can’t spend some time with us. Just means you have more friends now.”
He smiles.
“More lame friends,” he says with a smirk. “Sucks being with somebody. I can hook up with guys anytime I want.”
But I can tell he doesn’t believe that.
***
I get into the Uber first and tell the driver where we’re going and that it’s a surprise before pulling the door open for Cody.
“Oh, such a gentleman,” he says. He slides in, and I get in after him. “Now where are you taking me?”
“I think you’re missing the whole point of a surprise.”
He glows. Looks like a kid on Christmas morning, eager to find out what presents he’ll be getting.
God, I didn’t think I could be much more nervous than I was when I was picking out what to wear with Derek and Gary, but my leg’s fucking shaking, my heel tapping against the floor.
“I think you’ll like it,” I say.
I hope he will.
Or he’ll just judge me and decide that I don’t know him at all…or the event will be awful and he’ll never want to go on another date with me.
I don’t know why I’m thinking like this.
I guess it’s because I haven’t been on a lot of dates and definitely not with a guy that I’m already interested in.
The driver pulls up alongside the back of the park, to the entrance near where the arts festival is taking place.
We get out of the car, and when he sees the signage, his eyes light up.
“Are you shitting me right now?” he asks.
My face warms.
“I just figured you might like it because of—”
“No, this is perfect. I was here two years ago when the park hosted it, and it was awesome. I can’t believe I missed that it was happening again.”
Score!
We head in, and I show the tickets on my phone to a guy who slaps some wristbands on us for drinks.
The festival is set up with banners, posters, and flags of artwork. There are booths along the road that leads through the park, some with art vendors, others for food and drinks. We stop by one and get drinks before making our way through the festival.
Cody’s acting as much like a kid as he was when we got in the car and he wanted to know where we were going.
We stop at a few of the pieces, and he explains how he thinks some of them were crafted. And as soon as he becomes obsessed with one, another catches his eye, and we’re off to it.
The only time I ever see him this excited is in the bedroom, so it’s nice that I managed to pull this date thing off.