“We’re friends. Maybe not close friends but friends nonetheless.”
“Really?”
“You know what your problem is?”
Dex looks at me in the most clueless way.
“You’re so used to taking care of everybody, you don’t realize friends can take care of you. Let’s say that what happened last night is a friend doing you a favor. You wanted a blow job, you got one. You wanted to get fucked, you did. Now if you want me to back off, I will. I’m easy. What I won’t do is forget your name, because that is precious.” I don’t add that I won’t forget how good he felt, how hard we came, and how incredible kissing him was. Clearly that’s not what he wants to hear, and I know how it feels to be with someone who asks for more when you’re not ready to give it. I won’t be the Holden of his life.
“Can I at least ask you not to call me by my birth name in front of Julie, or Asher, or anybody in fact?”
“Deal. If you let me call you Dextyn when we’re alone.”
Dex laughs, and I almost fall from my chair when my cock hardens against my jeans. His laugh is real and light, which I’ve never heard. He’s always so serious and focused, it’s hard to see him relaxed.
“Deal. And thank you for last night. Fuck, I needed that!”
“Any time!”
“Now, would you know anything about the dinner party Jules and Ian are throwing for me tonight? The suddenness of the gathering is very suspicious, given the timing of events.”
I smile. I might have texted Ian, Julie, and Virginia to let them know they’d fucked up and forgotten Dex’s birthday. Ian assured me I had the wrong date until Virginia reminded him he always mixes it up. “What you mean is that you’re glad they finally thought of you, right?”
“It’s rare someone does something for me, so thank you, Luke.”
“It’s what friends are for.” I get lost in his blue eyes. They’re normally icy blue and filled with annoyance and hardship, but tonight, they’re soft and grateful.
Something passes between us, like an understanding. I already know he’ll be there for me. He’s always there for whoever needs him. But it seems he knows now that I’ll be there for him too.
All of a sudden, the gratitude changes into surprise and Dex smiles. “Are you coming tonight?”
“Well, it’s a family gathering and I said I was working, so I guess I’m not. Sorry.”
“But you’re done for the night, and you are family. So come on.”
After last night, there isn’t much I will ever refuse Dextyn Barclay Crawford the Third. If it will make him smile, even if there’s nothing in it for me, I’ll go.
“As you wish, little prince. It’s your birthday celebration after all.” And unexpectedly, Dex looks somewhat happy, like he did last night when I unzipped his pants.
3
Dex
“Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuuuu.”
I seriously might have been a stupid asshole of a fucker in a previous life to get the most awful version of “Happy Birthday” sung to me in this life. Ian, Julie, and Virginia have no musical talent. Asher, the only one who can sing, decided to let them sink instead of saving the ship and left to go out with his friends. I can’t blame him.
I blow out the forty candles on a vanilla cake with white frosting and find Luke’s eyes sparkling with mischievousness. He winks at me, and I roll my eyes in a playful way.
“You seem cheerful,” Ian says, taking his seat next to mine.
“I am. Even if you’re a band of annoying friends, you’re mine and I’m glad to have you.”
Ian looks at me suspiciously. “You got laid last night and it was phenomenal. Last time you said something somewhat nice about having me in your life was after your twentieth birthday one-night stand, and you said that guy was one of the best fucks of your life.”
Even if my one-night stand with Ryan is no secret to the group, especially because Ry told Ian about it and my best friend can’t keep secrets to save his life, no one knows the details or that it happened on my twentieth birthday.
* * *
Julie, Virginia, and Luke turn their heads toward me at once, Luke grinning knowingly.
Virginia frowns. “I thought you were with Luke last night?”
“Nah, we just texted,” I tell them.
Luke nods to cover me, but I see surprise at my quick dismissal. He doesn’t know these people the way I do. They love to put their noses in my business and will conduct an FBI-worthy interrogation if we allow them to.
“Well, clearly it wasn’t Luke. I mean, if something was going to happen between these two, they would have done it when they met, right? Dex doesn’t lose time making his move when he wants someone,” Ian adds.
You can always count on my best friend to say the things he shouldn’t at the worst moment. Thank God Luke isn’t a fragile flower.
“Yeah because if you have two gay friends, they should hook up, right, Dex?” Luke says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Totally. We should also wear tight white shorts every day.”
“You know what I mean,” Ian mumbles. “You don’t lose time making your move, Dex. Luke is the kind of guy who wants something serious, and you just want to unload your balls weekly.”
I’m saved from this awkward conversation by my buzzing phone. It’s my assistant. I check my watch—nine forty-five. What in the effing fuck now? I step outside. My friends are used to seeing me disappear with my phone glued to my ear. I never stop working. I can’t. Too many people depend on me.
“Yes, Marlene?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, boss, but it seems that there’s an emergency and I thought I should contact you.”
I sigh. I really wanted to fire her this week. “What is it?”
“Your brother has been arrested again, and he called the office. All the calls have been transferred to my cell, so that’s why I’m the one to tell you. He could only have one phone call and he said he couldn’t remember your cell number, but he had the one from the office. Which is strange if you ask me, but you know—”
I interrupt her. “Facts, no babbling.”
“It seems he has been arrested for disorderly conduct in Minnesota. He’s spending the night in jail.”
I sigh and rub my neck to ease the knots and tension building up again. I’ve enjoyed my relaxed body for less than twenty-four hours. But there’s nothing I can do. What the fuck is he doing in Minnesota anyway? I don’t know anybody there. All I can do is text our father, but even then, I believe a night in jail can only help Clay.
I get back inside and find Virginia’s grey eyes studying me. She can read me better than anybody, and I try hard to hide everything related to my brother from her. She doesn’t need to worry about him.
“Everything all right?” she asks.
“Of course,” I answer a little too harshly.
She shrugs. “It’s fine, don’t tell me. I’m sure I don’t want to know anyway, right?”
I nod. She shrugs again, but her eyes tell me she cares more than she should.