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“Why do you insist on making me do things I don’t want to do?” Marcus groused, his dark brows pinched together. He was wearing a blue, workout tank top—the skull and roses tattoo on his chest decorating his brown skin. The stubble along his jaw was slightly thicker than usual, his eyes a little more tired. Knowing Marcus, he was likely working even more lately.
“Because if we don’t, you’ll never do anything? Because you’d be boring without us? Because it’s my mission in life to annoy the shit out of you? Really, there are a million ways that can go,” Corbin answered him, then turned to us. “You guys should come too.”
“You’re good as shit at annoying me,” Marcus grumbled.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down to see a text had come through.
Sebastian: So…this might be weird because we’ve never done something like this before, but I’m curious if you want to go to lunch with me? Or shit, maybe you should come to my place for lunch? It’s often pretty easy to blend in around here, but I don’t know if you’d want to risk it.
What the fuck was he doing? Why had he invited me to hang out? In my head, I knew it had to be because of his ex-boyfriend. I was sure that could fuck with a guy, which was one of the major reasons I never planned to be that guy. How did people do that? Just…put their faith in others that way?
Sebastian: Fuck. You think this is weird, don’t you? Listen, I’m not trying to turn us into something else. It’s just…really strange to say this over text. I think I’m going to shut up now. I’d ask how the weather is, but we’re in Southern California, so it’s always the same.
I chuckled before—
“Oh my God. Who are you talking to?” Parker tried to rip my cell out of my hand, but I managed to pull it away first. “Holy shit. There’s really a guy? I was totally giving you shit earlier.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s no guy. Do you even know me?”
Corbin said, “I’m with Park on this one, buddy. We said your name more than once, but you were lost in goddamn-you’re-a-great-piece-of-ass land.”
“Why does it always go back to sex with you?” Parker countered. “That was I’m-smiling-at-you-because-I-like-you-even-though-I-don’t-want-to-like-you land. Especially if you’re Declan.”
Marcus said, “Looks like Dec needs you guys more than me today, so am I off the hook with the beach?”
“No!” Corbin and Parker answered in unison, and Corbin added, “And I’m not talking about the one right outside your back door either.”
“You guys are giving me a headache too.” I rubbed my temples.
Sebastian: Sooo…how’s the weather?
“You can tell us about him at the beach.” Parker stood and motioned for me to do the same.
I was basically fucked now because they wouldn’t let this go. But I couldn’t tell them about Sebastian because then I’d have to tell them I was fucking a famous movie star…and how did I tell them that without explaining that I’d been fucking him off and on for as long as I had? They would definitely think it meant more than it did. “It’s just a…friend.” A naked friend I’d never done friend things with before. Only sex things.
“Wait. We’re allowed to have friends other than each other? Why did no one tell me this?” Corbin joked.
“Are you ever serious?” Marcus asked him.
“Are you ever not serious?” Corbin threw back.
“Can we get back on the topic of Declan’s special friend?” Parker asked.
The room went silent, and then the four of us burst into laughter at the same time.
“I’m not going to the beach,” I said, because I wasn’t. I also wasn’t going to hang out with Sebastian because there was really no point unless he wanted to get laid again.
“Fine. Go hang out with your boyfriend. We’ll have fun without you,” Corbin said.
“Why does he get out of it?” Marcus asked.
“When you have a special friend,” Corbin told him, “you can get out of it too. Until then, you’re stuck with us. Well, at least until like eight tonight because there’s this really hot guy who wants to meet up with me and I’m controlled by my penis and honest enough to admit it.” Corbin waggled his brows.
“Please help me,” Parker begged.
“You’re on your own, babe.” I kissed his forehead, said goodbye to Marcus and Corbin, and was on my way.
I waited to reply to Sebastian until I got to my apartment.
Me: Thanks, man. I appreciate the invite, but I can’t.
I didn’t give him a reason. I didn’t say maybe next time because that wasn’t what we did. It wasn’t what I did with any of the men I slept with. I gave that part of me to Marcus, Parker, and Corbin. If it wasn’t for them, no one would have it. I’d made it thirty-three years that way, and I didn’t see it changing anytime soon.
