Page 52 of Wingmen

Dustin nodded. “Sounds good.” He looked down and broke the half-eaten donut apart and tossed the pieces aside on the table. Then he laid back and closed his eyes. “I’ll be right there.”

He heard Elliot get up and go across the room, then the sliding glass door opened and the street sounds came in. A warm breeze came with it and Dustin pressed his eyes under the heels of his hands and let it wash over him. He did his best to exhale the weirdness, and inhaled the smell of pine trees and the bread smell from the restaurant across the street, and–

cigarettes?

Dustin sat up so fast his head spun, and glared out at the balcony. “Are you fucking kidding me?” he called.

Sliding off the table, he yanked on his jeans, didn’t botherwith the button, and followed Elliot outside. He was covered in crumbs and sugar and come. Elliot was at the rail with his forearms braced and a cigarette between his fingers, looking down into the street.

“You’re not smoking that,” said Dustin. “Where did that come from?”

“I picked them up. It’s not a thing, I just like to have them around sometimes.”

“Put it out. Right now.”

Elliot took a drag, exhaled toward the skyline, and grinned over his shoulder. “Make me.”

Dustin stepped forward. “You sure you want me to do that?”

The kid’s eyes went a little wide, which was incredibly fucking hot, then turned challenging. For a moment Dustin glared at him while Elliot sassed him back, and the air between them was hot and tight and electric.

Then Elliot dragged on the cigarette and held it out.

“No,” said Dustin.

“Come on.” He turned to face Dustin, waving it and blowing smoke. “You know you want it, Papi.”

Holding his gaze, Dustin held out two fingers, and grinning, Elliot handed it over.

“You’re soserious. You really nee–”

Dustin stubbed it out on the wall and went back inside.

This kid was going to be the death of him.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Elliot

On Friday night, he had dinner at the restaurant by the hotel. He had his phone out on the table and was watching a guy on TikTok try to make a pie with a cow in his kitchen when a call from Diego popped up.

Elliot swiped it open, both disappointed and relieved it wasn’t Dustin. He hadn’t heard from Dustin since The Donut Incident, and he’d beenwaytoo scared to be the one to text after that. He was pretty sure he hadn’t done it right at all.

“Dímelo.”

“¿Que es la que, Papo?”

“Nada, Mano, just eating dinner.”

“Cool, cool.” He heard Diego’s screen door bang closed as Diego went out to the patio. “You been good? What’ve you been doing?”

Dustin’s cock appeared in Elliot’s mind like a totem pole with a donut on it, and he swallowed a mouthful of lettuce too fast as he said, “Not much,” and started choking. He had to put thephone down while he drank water, and when he came back, Diego said, “Yeah?”

“Yeah, fine.” He set the water glass down and wiped his eyes. “Just the usual stuff, bro, you know. Gym. Chillin. Portland’s good.”

“How’s your bet with The Great Bendito going?”

Elliot nearly choked again. He forgot he told Diego about that. “Yeah, man, you know,” he said. “Rising to the occasion.”