Page 92 of His Choice

“Yes,” he blurted eagerly. There were more laughs.

Now that the show was ending, my mother could watch. I pictured her sighing as she observed me once again trying to please people and make them like me. But my offer wasn’t purely charitable. I could envision Dani being quite popular with some of the clientele. He had a much younger and different energy than my other employees, and diversity was a good thing.

“Great,” I said with a smile. “Um, Daryl… I’ll make the same offer to you. While we didn’t connect in a romantic way, there’s no question you’re an amazing-looking man. I know your presence could draw patrons. If you promise to be nice to other staff and customers…”

“I don’t need a consolation prize,” Daryl cut in. “And I have a successful OnlyFans account.”

I nodded. “I know. And if you really are interested in dating someone, I’m sure there are tons of viewers of this show, as well as your account, who’d love for you to give them a shot. I was thinking about a long-term career, though. I wouldn’t offer you an opportunity if I didn’t believe you’d be an asset. I pay well and the benefits are good, but as you said, you might not need or desire that. I’m just putting this out there in case you’d like to join my team. We provide all the training you’d need for bartending, security and other jobs, and the people who prove themselves get promoted into management positions as they open.”

His stoney expression softened a bit. “I’ll think about it. Thanks.”

I nodded, then turned to Ted and Alex.

“Um, this is awkward but…one night, I saw through my window Alex and Ted kissing by the pool.” It was a lie, and Ted and Alex would know it was, unless they had made out in my backyard without my knowledge. However, I wanted to provide rationale to the viewers for why I wasn’t choosing either of them without outing Ted’s confession to me, which had been in violation of his contract.

Ted coughed. “Oh.”

“I’m happy that both of you made a connection,” I added. “Truly. No hard feelings at all. You’re both great, hot as hell, and I wish you much happiness.”

Alex appeared perplexed. Perhaps Ted hadn’t told him of his admission, so Alex might be wondering what I had been smoking that I had hallucinated seeing them make out by the pool. His expression changed to one of relief, though, when he realized he’d avoid the awkwardness of letting me down if I had selected him or Ted to date.

“Same to you,” Alex said before glancing at Ted with what seemed like genuine affection.

I nodded a thanks Alex’s way before turning to Aaron. “Aaron…”

“No, wait,” Aaron cut in. “Please don’t say anything yet.”

Daryl scowled at him. “Oh, grow up. Can’t stand to lose?”

Aaron ignored him. “Cliff, I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to do this. It’s just that your mom ran into me before we all gathered, and…well, she gave me advice to speak now or forever hold my tongue.”

I wasn’t surprised that a last-minute bombshell would have been detonated by my mother, but her shenanigans usually led to good outcomes. I had a sense what her advice had been, and I was grateful for it.

“Aaron, what are you doing?” Mikey asked in a rough whisper.

Aaron swallowed hard, looked down at the floor as if searching for inspiration, then back to his friend. “Mikey…choose me.”

“What?”

Aaron shook his head. “Before Cliff decides between you and Brighton…choose me. Not because you’re afraid Cliff won’t select you but because you want to be with me more. And because… I love you.”

Mikey seemed more surprised than anyone else in the room. “Aaron, what are you doing? Your pretense wasn’t supposed to go this far. I have a chance…”

“I’m not pretending,” Aaron cut in. “I love you, Mikey. I have for a while now. By the time I realized how much, you were already boning for Cliff Walker.” Mikey blushed and Aaron held up a hand. “Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Mikey’s parents.”

“Avelo. Mr. and Mrs. Avelo,” Mikey cut in. “You still don’t know my last name?”

“Of course I do,” Aaron replied before looking shy. “I know everything about you, Mikey. Probably way more than anyone else, if you think about it. Who else can read your emotions, understand your needs, listen to your fears and bolster your confidence better than I can?”

Mikey nodded. “Yes, I know. Aaron, I love you, too, and I promise we’ll still be close even if Cliff chooses me.”

Aaron’s face fell. “So, that’s your answer? You prefer Cliff?”

Mikey frowned. “If it means someone being in love with me? Yes. Aaron, what we have is amazing. But I want a man who is attracted to me…who doesn’t expect me to settle for cuddles or a once-in-a-lifetime jack-off performance before he seeks out his next female conquest.”

“Say what now?” Emilio asked.

Mikey grimaced and turned to the camera. “Sorry again, Mom and Dad.”