Page 83 of Pieces of Me

“I’m so―” Scott rasped, clearing his throat. “I’m so sorry, Rylan. This was exactly what you wanted to avoid.” He pounded his fist on his thigh.

Rylan blew out a long breath. “It takes two, Scott. This was as much my fault as it is yours.”

They sat there in tense silence, until Rylan leaned over and feathered a kiss over Scott’s bare shoulder. “It’s okay. Really. Maybe we need to avoid the half-naked pictures from now on.” His voice was gently teasing, and Scott’s expression eased.

“Yeah, maybe.”

They shared a smile and Rylan asked, “See you around?”

Scott nodded as he pushed to his feet with a weary sigh. He headed back around behind the bar to grab a pair of logo sweatpants and a T-shirt from the promotional stash there. “I won’t be around the club much since I’m going to focus on getting ready for Miami. You?”

Rylan stood, too. “I need to hit my project hard this week since we’ll be leaving, but other than that, I’ll be here as much as Corey will let me.” He gave a self-deprecating shrug. “I need the money.”

“Corey loves your work,” Scott reassured him. “He’s thrilled to have you, and he’ll keep you as busy as you want to be.” He paused. “So―I guess I’ll take off now. I’m exhausted, and I can feel this fucking headache trying to come back. You want a ride home?”

Rylan shook his head. “I think I’ll stick around, try to get some shots of the queens’ second show. Want me to tell Corey anything if he asks about you?”

Scott grunted. “I can think of a million things I’d like to say to him right now, but no, I’d never put you in the middle. Whatever you want to tell him is fine.”

He hesitated before reaching out to pull Rylan into his arms. Rylan put his head down on Scott’s chest as they swayed together. “For what it’s worth, I’m really glad you’re here, Ry,” was the barely audible whisper, and Rylan’s eyes burned at the loneliness that throbbed in his voice.

It wasn’t long until Scott disentangled himself, and he walked away.

✩✩✩

Once downstairs, Scott headed to the dressing room. The ladies were thankfully still on stage performing, so he was able to grab his keys, wallet, and phone from his locker without running into anyone.

The parking lot was only half-full of cars, the lateness of the hour meaning all but the most die-hard party people had gone home. The air was heavy with the promise of the summer heat to come, an edge of coolness yet to it that wouldn’t last very many more weeks. Scott took a deep breath, a sense of peace flooding him despite the myriad events of the night.

The worst of it was over with Lance, and he would soon be a distant memory. Scott himself was in the best shape he’d ever been in, his popularity at an all-time high. His GED was in hand, the MC₂ endorsement all but in the bag. Best of all, Rylan was back in his life, the underpinnings of their friendship still there and deeply rooted.

What was that stupid saying, “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades”? Scott chuckled.

He reached his car and clicked it open. Suddenly he heard running footsteps coming from behind him and spun around with impatience, not wanting to deal with any more shit tonight.

A blur of motion, a strange whoosh, and Scott’s world exploded into a kaleidoscope of color and fractured light―along with a pain so blinding he was out cold before his head ever hit the concrete.