Page 86 of See My Words

Scott pretended not to hear him, casually dropping his arm and disappearing into the crowd with a wave and a shouted “Save me a dance at midnight, cutie pie.”

Rylan was around, taking pictures, and he kept his distance, though Scott saw him head to a secluded corner to huddle with Chris, talking earnestly. Scott clenched his teeth and avoided them both, ducking into the bathroom to take a piss. Lance was standing at one of the urinals, and Scott started to turn back, but Lance glanced over his shoulder and saw him. Damned if he’d turn tail and run now.

Pasting a smirk on his face, he sauntered over to stand right next to Lance, making a show of undoing his jeans and reaching inside. Lance side-eyed him, zipping up and turning to face him.

“What’s with the display?” Lance blatantly stared as Scott fondled himself. “You want it?”

Scott threw Lance a heavy-lidded look. “Maybe. If I asked, would you suck me right now?”

Lance’s pulse started to pound visibly in the hollow of his throat. “Fuck yeah,” he rasped. “I’d do anything to taste you again, not gonna lie.”

Scott chuckled, reaching out to cup Lance’s chin and run his thumb roughly over his lips. He slipped it inside when Lance parted them helplessly.

“You do have a sweet mouth,” he whispered, rubbing Lance’s tongue with the pad. Lance gave a hoarse groan, grabbing Scott’s wrist to hold him in place and nipping at the tip of his thumb, licking it.

“Oh, yeah,” Scott growled, watching avidly. “You can still get my dick hard, no doubt.” Lance’s eyes were filled with heat and triumph, and he swayed toward Scott, resting his hands on Scott’s hips and starting to push him toward an empty stall.

Scott took a few steps with him and then shrugged, shoving Lance away and zipping up. “Nah,” he drawled. “Guess I don’t feel like slummin’ tonight after all.”

He turned to leave, hearing Lance’s gasp of rage and bracing for the blow, which wasn’t long in coming. Lance slammed his fists into Scott’s back, and Scott welcomed the pain that rocked him.

“You fuckin’ prick,” Lance hissed from behind him. “Why?” His voice throbbed with hurt and fury, thick with tears.

Scott didn’t bother to answer, just pushed through the doors, Lance’s muffled sob following him. He rolled his shoulders, half hoping Lance would come after him swinging. Right about now, he’d welcome being punched into oblivion…

Time blurred as Scott drank some more, danced some more. Rylan and Chris were still deep in earnest conversation, and Minh wandered up to them at one point in full Teena drag. Chris grabbed her, running his hands over her ass and dipping her back into a dramatic kiss. She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck to snuggle close. They swayed together for a moment, whispering into each other’s ears before Teena reluctantly pulled away.

“Gotta go get touched up for my midnight show,” Scott heard her call back to them, and when she passed him a minute later, Scott followed her back to the dressing room. The other girls were chattering and getting dressed, not paying any attention to them, and Scott cornered Teena next to the bank of makeup lights.

“What’re Rylan and Chris talking about?” he demanded.

She gave him a mutinous look. “Who’s being a nosy bitch now?” she snapped. “Go ask him your damn self.”

“Teena,” Scott began, and Teena interrupted him.

“I honestly don’t know, Scotty, and that’s the truth.” She picked up a tube of mascara and began expertly reapplying it. “But Chris—”

Scott watched as her hand began to tremble, and she put the mascara down.

“What? What is it?”

Teena looked at him. “Chris is leavin’ for Africa in three weeks,” she said, her voice almost inaudible. “The date is set, and he got his travel documents today. He’s—” She swallowed. “I think he’s tryin’ to talk Rylan into goin’. I heard him askin’ Rylan about passports, and Rylan said he has his.”

Scott slammed his fist to the table, making the tubes and pots of makeup on it jump. “Fuck that!”

All the conversation in the room ceased, and an awkward silence fell.

“Scott,” Teena said, reaching out to touch his shoulder. “It’s a good career move for both of them—”

He shook her off. “I don’t give a fuck,” he grated, turning to stride from the room, the sudden burst of tittering and speculation making him grit his teeth.

“Scott!” Teena called, but Scott ignored her, going in search of Rylan. To his fury, he found him dancing with Chris, and he stomped over to him and grabbed his arm, yanking him off the dance floor and dragging him toward the VIP stairway.

“What the actual fuck?” Chris’s voice was tight with shock as he chased after them, and Scott whirled on him. Rylan put his arm in front of him to hold him back, saying to Chris, “It’s okay, man. It’s okay.”

Chris subsided, but he made it clear he wasn’t going far, putting his back to a nearby wall and crossing his arms over his chest. Scott sneered at him before leading Rylan more sedately toward the stairs. They got a little more than halfway up and Rylan called a halt.

“What’s going on with you tonight? You’re completely on edge, Scott.”