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Michael isn’t wrong; the area is packed far more than usual. I normally wouldn’t be spending so much time on this side of the island outside of work hours, but I’m on a mission to run into my guy. After all, what else was I planning to do with my Saturday night? Strum my guitar or sit on a couch playing games with Skipper? Nothing holds an appeal to me anymore.
Not after that tiny taste I got last night.
There’s only one person I can think of who may know where Jonah is. And it’s the last person I want to ask.
Desperate times, I guess.
Soon, I’m wandering the Quicksilver Strand, breeze in my hair and the noise of laughing, chatty people all around me. The nighttime guy is working a long line at Blue Coral (which I don’t envy). Just two buildings over, Thalassa is slammed, every table filled, along with the benches and waiting area outside.
Even through the crowds, I can see Adrian taking an order at a table near the front, right by the floor-to-ceiling glass walls. I’m sure he’s got plans with Rico the second he gets off work. Do those plans include Jonah, too?
As if sensing me, inexplicably, Adrian looks up and catches my eye through the glass.
That’s my exact cue to turn around, face the water, and pretend like I never even entertained the stupid idea of asking my brother if he’s seen Jonah or heard anything through Rico. Maybe I don’t want to know if he has.
It’s too soon for the fantasy to come to a crashing end.
It’s barely a minute later when the shadow falls over my side, and he’s leaning against the railing next to me in his annoyingly crisp dress shirt and vest. “I take it you’re not here to pick up spicy gyros for Mom.”
This is the last fucking thing I need tonight. “You’re pronouncing it wrong.”
“Huh? Gyros?” I feel him tighten up. “Really?”
He’s such a clueless dumb jock sometimes. It’s difficult to mess with him, even when I’m mad. “I’m not here for her.”
“Huh, alright. So what’s going on? Kinda thought you were still giving me the cold shoulder.”
“I am.”
He folds his arms on the railing. “So what is this, then? A warmer cold shoulder?”
Sometimes this island is too damned small. I just have to bite the bullet. “Have you seen Jonah?”
Adrian’s face wrinkles up. “Who?”
For fuck’s sake. “Rico’s friend. Jonah. The one I was on the beach with last night.”
“Ooh, that guy. Not sure. I don’t really waste time on guys like that who obviously don’t put out. I mean, what’s the point?”
Alright. So this was a bad idea. Acknowledged. “Gotta go.” I push away from the railing and head off.
Adrian’s voice stops me. “What’s gotten into you, bro? Do you never learn?”
I turn around. “What?”
“It’s a bad idea. That’s all I’m saying. When Monday’s here and all the vacationers gather up their stuff from this long-ass weekend, he’ll break your heart, go on home, and then Mom and Skip will be left picking up your pieces for weeks again. Just like last time.”
“We’re not gonna talk about last time.”
“I’m doing you a favor. Tourists are toys. They are not boyfriends.”
I swear … “I’m gonna break your jaw, Adrian.”
“Well, can it wait ‘til after my shift? It’s a busy night, and I need this jaw. It’s a nice jaw.” He tilts his head to the side. “Come on, Kent. I miss my little bro. Y’know what I’d like? To put this silly grudge behind us over some beers.”
I come right up to him. “Silly grudge? That’s what you call it? Y’know what I’d like? To see the look on your face when you actually feel real emotions for a guy. To see your heart race. To see your eyes light up when you’re near him. To see you feel anything beyond just some pressure in your dick for a hot fuck. Something deeper and meaningful.” I give him a look. “Then to watch all of that shatter when your ‘knows-better big brother’ steals it away from you ‘for your own good’.”
“It was for your own good. Otherwise he wouldn’t have fallen for my charm.”
“It wasn’t your charm he fell for. It was your trap.”
“Look, I’m all for finding that special guy someday, but it isn’t gonna be with one of these visiting good-time seekers. It’s gonna be with someone who belongs here, someone who isn’t just here for the beaches.”
“And you call yourself the realistic one?” I snort. “Fine. Good luck waiting for your special, perfect guy to move in next door. Hope it happens before you’re eighty, because that big muscly bod of yours isn’t gonna last forever.”
“Big?” Adrian lifts an eyebrow, then casually flexes a bicep. “You noticed? I hit the gym pretty hard before work today. Blasted my bi’s.”
