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“Speaking of exceptions, Max. I’m confused about something. If you’re booked like you say, like you’ve been now for months, how’d this model guy, Sean, who you only just met, manage to score a session?”
Max stilled. His smirk faded. Fucking Scott and his fucking astuteness. He cleared his throat. Tightened his arms across his chest. “He uh… wanted a test run. To see what’s it all about.”
“Ah.” Scott nodded. “Did he like?”
“Yeah. He did.”
“So you put him on the waiting list?”
Max pursed his lips. “Not exactly.”
Scott’s grin turned smug. He lifted a brow. “Not exactly?”
Max shifted his weight. Suddenly, even to Max, his little allowance to Sean sounded bad. “Yeah. I found a place to squeeze him in.”
Scott froze. Lifted a brow. As if Max’s answer surprised him. As if he’d assumed Sean was just going to be some occasional play thing. And not a regular, on-going customer. Which Max supposed was a logical assumption. Scott had been with Max long enough to know he never made special exceptions for clients. Ever. Max inwardly frowned. So why had he for Sean?
He halted his train of thought right then and there. Because, nope, he didn’t want to know.
But by the look on Scott’s face, it was clear that he did. And was about to fucking ask Max right now.
Max slid off his stool as Scott opened his mouth. “Anyway. I’m tired. Gonna go grab a shower. Talk at ya tomorrow, bro. Night.”
And just like that, he bee-lined it down the hallway, then up the stairs for one mighty-fine evade.
EIGHTEEN
“Two-thirds caff triple ristretto affogato venti, two pumps mango one pump classic, two percent, mango to the second line, three scoops protein, three scoops berries, two scoops matcha, add banana, double blended, with whip, caramel drizzle, salted caramel topping, vanilla bean iced cappuccino. Please.”
Sean glanced over in time to catch the Vanilla Black barista turn her back to her customer and cross her eyes. He tamped back a laugh and looked away, grateful as he stood at the far end of the bar, that he didn’t work shifts behind that counter. It’d taken him ages just to learn the crazy language. No thank you on trying to actually make the shit.
He scanned his ten tables for the umpteenth time. No one appeared to need a refill, and no one was flagging him down. Which was about right. The kind of customers that hung out this time of night were pretty low-key. Just liked to sip on their neat little concoctions while chatting with companions, relaxed in the comfy-cozy ambiance. That, or simply chilling as they enjoyed the night’s entertainment.
Sean looked to the small stage where, once again, Ledger sat perched on a stool. At the moment he was playing some Goo Goo Dolls. “So Alive.” A pretty cool acoustic rendition of it, too, actually. Sean leaned against the bar and watched him strumming away. Eyes closed, body grooving, lips all but kissing his mic, Ledger definitely got into his music. Like he kind of checked out a bit whenever he performed. Just sort of forgot anyone else was there. It was captivating to witness. Sean loved watching him perform.
Not nearly as much as Jonah did, though. Hell, when they’d gone to see him Friday, for his gig at Granger’s, Jonah looked instantly entranced. It’d been all Sean could do to get a word out of him edgewise. His attention had been glued to the guy all night. Transfixed. Then later, after they left, Ledger was all Jonah could talk about.
His roommate was so fucking crushing. Too bad Ledger wasn’t someone Sean would ever consider trying to hook Jonah up with. The guy was just too… unattainable. Especially in his line of work. He’d never settle down with a boyfriend, never commit. Which was why his and Sean’s dynamic flowed so smoothly. Neither wanted any strings attached whatsoever. But while that worked great for Sean, he wanted more of a boyfriend for Jonah. More than a one-night stand with the guy. Jonah needed a full-time cuddle monkey.
Sean smiled. A cuddle monkey actually sounded nice. Wouldn’t mind having one himself. Unfortunately, nobody fit his bill. So there was no one he’d even want to cuddle.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true…
Max’s gorgeous, brooding face drifted into Sean’s mind, his green eyes as intense as ever.
Yeah, Sean could definitely cuddle with him. Not that someone like Max ever would. Sean doubted the guy even knew how to snuggle. Although honestly, after their scene on Tuesday, Sean had witnessed a side of Max he’d never seen. An almost affectionate one, when he’d had Sean lie on his lap. When he’d ran his fingers gently through Sean’s hair…
Sean smiled, thoughts drifting as he remembered their session. In truth, he’d noticed a few things that night, things about Max that’d been different. Like the way his mood had been light. And playful. Such a stark contrast to his typical disposition. All grumpy and standoffish. Or rigidly polite. Never what Sean would ever call friendly. Or engaging even. More like perpetually cool and indifferent. To the point that Sean was convinced it was intentional. Though he was fairly certain it wasn’t aimed at him. Just Max’s go-to demeanor, for whatever the reason. His method to keep others at bay.
