Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 70294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“Chicago, and one of the Florida schools,” he said.
My heart was beating fast now.
I swallowed, nodding at him.
“And the last one?”
He pulled in a slow breath.
“Texas Austin.”
I swore I felt tears stinging at the corners of my eyes even more than when I’d been invited to the draft.
“Holy shit.”
“Yep.”
“That’s not too far from Dallas at all,” I said, relief flooding me like I’d never felt before.
“It’s an easy road trip, and I like driving.”
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Gray,” I said, leaning over to squeeze him in a tight hug.
I never wanted to let him go.
“I’m excited, Andrew. I’ve never lived anywhere but Tennessee. This is amazing.”
“You’re a genius. I’ve always known you’re a genius. You’re going to get into all of the schools, I know it.”
“There’s only one place I want to go tonight to celebrate.”
I couldn’t keep the smile off of my face. “Max is going to fucking flip when he hears.”
The whole ride to the Hard Spot felt like floating through time. I kept my palm on Gray’s thigh, and I couldn’t stop squeezing it, like I kept checking to see if I was dreaming.
When we got out at the bar and walked in, I was still grinning like an idiot as we walked up to the bar.
“That’s a happy face,” Max said.
“I got into Texas Austin for law school,” Gray said.
And for the first time, when I looked over at him, I saw tears forming in his eyes.
Gray Gilman.
The master of controlling his own emotions was completely overcome.
My heart squeezed in my chest and I reached out to put my arm around his waist.
“You did it, my love,” I whispered near his ear.
Max was busy preparing a special celebration cocktail for Gray, distracted for a moment.
“Fuck,” Gray whispered, bringing the back of his hand up to wipe away a tear. “Andrew, there was a time I never thought I’d even be able to hold down any job.”
“That’s ridiculous. You’re so smart.”
“I know. But I just felt like I didn’t fit in anywhere. Like no one would want me. And now…”
“People want you, Gray,” I told him. “Me especially.”
He sighed, smiling as his tears slowly dissipated. “You make me feel like I’m not a freak. Or like I still am a freak, and you love me for it, anyway.”
“Oh, I fuckin’ love your style of freak,” I said. “Give me more of it. Never stop, please.”
Max swooped back in behind the bar, holding an orange drink in his hand.
“Okay,” Max said. “I call this the Gilman Orange Explosion. Cheers to you, Gray.”
He poured out small glasses for all of us, and we clinked them together, taking a sip.
“Fuck, that’s good,” I said.
“Secret ingredient is—”
“Let me guess,” I said. “Cherry bitters?”
“Aged orange rind?” Gray added.
Kane came up behind the bar. “Sunny D?”
“The secret ingredient is love,” Max said, correcting us all. “...And a shishito pepper pickled in homemade pomegranate vinegar and Muscovado sugar.”
All of us laughed, and I took another sip, catching the hint of slightly spicy pepper in the background.
“What did he add this time?” Draven asked, coming in from the patio and popping off his black cowboy hat.
“Just try it, babe,” Max said, pouring him a glass.
“Not my favorite,” Draven said.
Max lifted his eyebrows. “Do you even still love me?”
“I will love you for the rest of my life, Max,” Draven said, “but this drink just isn’t for me. I don’t like the spice.”
“Oh, we’re going to have a fight about this,” Max said, grinning at him.
“Is the fight going to involve you choking me? Because sign me up. Sorry, Andrew and Gray. That’s probably TMI.”
“No such thing as TMI,” Gray said. “I love it.”
As the bar started to fill up with a couple more groups that walked in, Gray and I made our way to a pool table in one of the alcoves.
“By the way,” I said as we got near the table, “you can do that to me anytime.”
“You want my hand on your throat even more than I realized,” he said, looking me up and down.
My cock responded, already perking up under my shorts.
“You realize that when I’m in Dallas and you’re in Austin, I’m only going to want your ass more than I do now,” I said.
“More?”
“I want you more every fucking day. If I have to spend a few days a week away from you, I’m going to be craving your cock like it’s a glass of water and I’m in the desert.”
He bit his lower lip, coming in close to me.
He stepped between my legs, pushing the front of his body up against mine.
“Good. I like keeping you craving me like that.”
I brushed my thumb over his lower lip. “You need my cock as much as I need yours.”
“I want your cock forever,” he said, his lashes moving down as he looked at my mouth.