The news article I’m currently skimming is talking about some investment fraud that was busted. Hundreds of people took part in the white-collar crime. Maybe some of my father’s colleagues will be involved, so it’ll make my end goal that much easier to achieve.
“What can I get for you?” a masculine voice asks, and I glance over my shoulder to take in the man standing in front of me. Probably close to my age, his uniform hangs loose off his body, his pale skin looks gaunt under the harsh lighting. Theonly thing remarkable about him is the strands of blue streaked through his jet-black hair.
“Do you have bottled water?”
“Bottled? It costs extra, but we have tap water for free.”
“No thanks, bottled, please. And can you put our tab on this card?” I hand him my black card and watch as his eyebrows raise in approval.
“Yes, sir, I can do that. Anything else?” I scan the crowd, looking for Hunter and Danielle one more time.
“No, that’ll be all. Thank you.”See.I can be polite. I don’t always have to be an asshole.
I read through the article, hoping to find a list of names, but with no luck. Why can’t they make my life easy and justgo away?My father already made my life a living hell, and my mother had to make sure to give me issues before she and my father died.
It’s been so easy since we came back from the pond. There’s a sense of rightness in Hunter and getting to know his parents. I could do this for the rest of my life.
“What are you doing?” His voice whispers into my ear, so close I can feel his lips graze against the shell. I jump, not expecting him to be so close to me.
“Waiting on a water. Do you want something? He just left, but I can flag him down.” I turn in my seat and promptly lose my train of thought. Swallowing against my scratchy throat, I stare at Hunter. His face is flushed, and his smile is wide. He looks so fucking happy and so fucking beautiful. I can’t resist my desire.
I exit out of my news app and open my camera, snapping a picture of him.
“What are you doing?” He tries to peer over my phone screen, but I extend my arm to keep him from seeing. “Did you take my picture?”
“Would it matter if I did?” He’s silently staring at me, with his head cocked. The smile is still on his face, though, and I’ll take that as a win.
“Here’s your water, sir. Is there anything else I can get for you?” The waiter sets the water bottle on the table in front of me. I look at Hunter and wait for him to say something. When he doesn’t, I thank the waiter, and he goes off to wait on another table.
“Let me have a drink, please, I’m dying.” Hunter reaches for the bottled water, but I grab it before he can.
“Let me open it for you first.” Maybe he’ll think I’m trying to be sweet instead of knowing my compulsive behaviors, like never drinking anything out of a bottle without cracking the lid myself.
I hand it to him when I’m done and watch his Adam’s apple bob while he sucks down the cool liquid.
“Are you having fun?” I ask, watching him drink the full bottle. It’s cute, watching him be selfish and not care. It makes me feel like I’m seeing a side of him that other people don’t have a chance to witness.
“So much. It’s hot in here, though. I’m starting to sweat through my shirt.” I take in the black shirt he’s wearing, which must be concealing the sweat because I don’t see any stains.
“Do you want to change shirts? With me?” I clarify, I might be a size bigger than him, but I can wear a tight shirt for a few hours if that would make him more comfortable. He shakes his head, the sweat-dampened tendrils sticking to his forehead.
“No, I think I’ll be okay.” He tips the water back fully, and the look of surprise on his face, followed by a sheepish expression, has me holding back a smile. “Sorry, I was really thirsty.”
“Don’t be sorry, I’ll order another one.”
“You’re the best,” he declares. “Want to come with me? I left Danielle to guard the Dance Dance Revolution machine.”I can’t hold back my laughter now, understanding the reason he’s sweating so badly. He and Danielle have been dancing competitively for fuck knows how long. I can’t say no to him, not with him looking at me like this.
“Sure.” He grabs my hand and then realizes, immediately dropping it and clearing his throat.
“Follow me.”
Watching the two of them jump and dance around should not be entertaining, but it is. I can start to see where his shirt is sticking to his back, and I know he’s probably more uncomfortable now than he was earlier.
When they finish, I grab Hunter’s arm and tell Danielle, “We’ll be right back.” She waves us off and starts the game up by herself.
“What are you doing?” Hunter asks as I drag him into the bathroom. There’s no one in here, thankfully, because I don’t think both of us would fit in the tiny stall together.
I don’t answer him. Instead, I whip my shirt off and offer it to him. His eyes widen as they stare at my chest. I’m not the most muscular person, but I still have some definition in my abdomen. But that’s more genetics than physical effort.
