AUTHOR'S NOTE:
While each chapter is a story in its own right, you will probably enjoy them more if you have already read the series
Chris Donaldson
, as well as Chapters 1-3 of
Mr. One Fifty-Eight
. The characters' back stories are revealed there. All characters depicted in this story are over 18.
*****
The 45-lb. weight dropped on the floor with a loud thud, causing Jeff Woodard to slam his freckled fist on his desk.
"Why do you have to do that right now, bro? I'm studying!"
Justin Corvino looked up grumpily.
"How do you still have finals, man? I was done yesterday."
"This shitty class has a Saturday final, and the minute it's done, I'm getting the fuck out of here. Now go pump your guns someplace else," the handsome blond fraternity brother shot back.
"Just one more set."
"For fuck's sake Justin, I mean it!"
"I still gotta do one more with my left, man! You don't want my arms to look all lopsided, do ya?" Justin tried one of his customary affable grins, but it was strained. He began his set.
Jeff sighed huffily at every grunt and exhale. Unable to concentrate, he looked at Justin thoughtfully instead.
"Why didn't you just go to the gym, man?"
"Just doin' a last-minute set or two, bro."
"What, got a date tonight?" Jeff asked.
"Fuck no, man!" Justin responded a little too sharply.
Jeff's green eyes narrowed suspiciously, but he was too stressed out and too busy to be interested in spending lots of time untangling Justin's mysterious social life. It was the end of fall quarter, and the three roommates were all on edge, more than a little worn out by each other.
Justin completed his set, and replaced the weight in his closet with ostentatious care. When he was sure Jeff was turned away, he changed his clothes quickly, donning a tighter t-shirt, jeans, and a nice checked button-down over the tee. A quick glance in the mirror assured him he had the desired look. No need to fix his hair; he didn't have any. Justin grabbed his wallet and phone, and was about to slip out when Jeff spoke again.
"Cowboy boots?" he asked incredulously. "Since when have you owned fucking cowboy boots?"
"Shut your mouth, bud. Girls think they look hot."
Jeff tried to keep the eye roll off his face, and nodded.
"If you say so. Have a good time, bro."
Jeff watched Justin go with a sad half-smile. It was none of his business, really, but he sensed Justin was not being honest with him. It stung a bit - they'd been close friends since freshman year. He sighed and returned to his books, running his left hand through his wavy blond hair.
Justin all but raced out of the frat house, and jumped into his car. In his haste, he had forgotten to bring his jacket, and it was cold. The second week of December usually meant snow on the ground, and it had started early this year; the first snowfall had come in October. In that and other ways, it had been a rough fall.
He started the Audi, and thought for a minute. It was only just after 7 p.m. He was way too early. But he had to get out of that fucking room - they were all driving each other nuts. Justin was faring the worst of the three; both Jeff and Tag were getting uncomfortably close to the truth of how Justin spent some of his free time. After three months in the SAE house, Justin was realizing what a truly amazing situation he had had the year before. It had been the best of all worlds; frat life when he wanted it, plenty of nights at his favorite bar, and a cute, sweet, compliant cocksucker to come home to, with head every day, and foot worship and all kinds of other kinky shit whenever he demanded it.
And interesting conversation, too, his unhelpful heart told him. From a boy with the most beautiful blue-grey eyes . . .
Stop it. Don't get dreamy over the fag; you're not gay. Nothing to get dreamy about. Plus, it's only going to make tonight harder.
Justin put the car in drive and headed south. He let instinct guide him, and in half an hour he was outside Ted's - the bar where he always seemed to wind up. He didn't need to go there anymore, really; he had turned 21 a few weeks ago, and he no longer needed Jayson, the bartender, to turn a blind eye. But still, this dive bar exercised a huge pull on Justin.
Because you miss Andy. And because Chris reminds you of Andy, his heart piped up again.
Fuck you, Justin replied to himself. Andy was amazing, but Chris is even more special.
Did I really just think that? Justin's conscience stung him. He felt disloyal. And also scared. You meant, he's an even better cocksucker. Yeah. That's what you meant.
He walked into the bar and nodded at Jayson. Ted's was rarely crowded; it filled up sometimes at happy hour, but the regulars were all men who were looking to escape from their lives in an out-of-the-way joint. There were a handful of other guys at the bar, and a middle-aged couple at one of the tables - she had a lot of tattoos, and he had a ponytail. Uninterested, Justin scanned the men at the bar out of habit. All too old for his taste, although one of them was very good-looking, with dark hair, piercing dark blue eyes, and a strong jaw. He was obviously a professional, and way more put together than most people who went to Ted's. Handsome, for sure, but Justin liked them young and pliable.
With just a little bit of fire. That's what Chris and Andy both have. Had. And that's what you find so hot, he thought.
Shut it, he said to himself.
"Nice boots, buddy. The usual?" Jayson asked.
The handsome dark-haired man looked up.
"Yeah. Thanks, bro."
Jayson flipped a chilled glass in his hand and set it on the bar; three ice cubes and a generous portion of bourbon followed.
"Start a tab?"
"Nah, gotta drive in a bit."
"Got a date?"
"No."
The finality of Justin's response was clear, and the dark-haired man snorted softly, then returned to his Manhattan. He had asked for it to be made with rye tonight; it was surprisingly good, given the unprepossessing look of this place. Mark was glad he had given the bar a second chance. And he was pretty damned sure he had seen the shaved-headed jock-looking guy the last time he was here, too - almost a year ago now. The guy wasn't quite Mark's favorite type, but he had an alpha dog look about him that commanded attention. And he was clearly a college boy, which was totally out of place here; there were plenty of schools in town, but nothing very close to this street, and certainly nothing nearby that would boast a preppy frat boy like this one among its students. This kid must come down here from up north. What's he running from, Mark wondered.
Ugh, college. College reminded him of Chris, and the cute, dark-blond boy he hadn't seen in months. What a dick tease that kid had turned out to be, Mark thought uncharitably. He turns up again out of the blue last summer, it looks like it's going somewhere, then we lose contact; I run into him and save his ass at a BDSM club, and we start to date, sort of . . . and then he gets busy again.
I can't figure him out.