1 Chapter 1
“Happy birthday to me.” Alex Parker knocked back his beer, already the fifth that afternoon, and squinted at his friend across the table. “What?” he asked as he raised his chin defiantly.
Seth shrugged. “Nothing,” he said, eyeing his friend as he drank his soda.
“Then stop acting like a jerk for once. I’m eighteen now and I want to celebrate my way.”
“Psst. Your fake ID told the bouncer you were twenty-one. You want him to throw you out now? Anyway, you seem to forget your mom’s throwing a birthday bash for you at home. A birthday bash that lacks the birthday boy.”
“If by bash you mean a fancy dinner with my dad’s business counterparts, their wives, and daughters? I’ll pass.”
Seth hummed. “Their daughters, huh? Whew. I can’t stand their whining voices and bossy behavior but they must be great in bed.”
Alex made a face and took another gulp from his bottle. “I feel like cattle paraded around to the highest bidder. I wouldn’t mind if it were their sons, but my dad would have a heart attack if he found out about me.”
“Do you plan on telling him?”
“Hell, no! Do you think he could handle it? I can see him reading the headlines now: Alex Parker, Heir of Parker Oil Company, Caught Fucking a Guy.”
Seth let out a belly laugh. “I can imagine your dad’s face. Hey—” he leaned forward “—but have you done that—you know—with a guy?”
Alex’s face felt warm and it was not because of the beer.
“Uh, no,” he said in something close to a whisper. “I mean, I’ve seen pictures and videos; they looked fantastic. The guys are so hot; I get hot just looking at them, their hard chests, peaked nipples asking to be tweaked…” Alex began to daydream.
“Uh, Alex, I feel like puking here.”
“Shut up.” Alex laughed. “You just don’t know, dude.”
“I’d rather not, I guess. Much prefer those soft mounds myself—”
“Okay, point taken.” Alex cut him off. “What I mean is those guys have everything and I mean everything. They’d just point at me laughing their asses off if they so much as looked at me.”
“Now wait a minute,” Seth said. “You’re saying—”
Alex sighed. “Yeah, just look at me. I’m just this tall, lanky kid. No one would want to be with me, especially those hunky dudes.”
“Stop it. Just stop it.” Seth squeezed his forearm so tightly that Alex yelped.
“Seth, you’re hurting me!” he cried out.
Seth released him. “Sorry. But you should quit with the self-pity act. Have you looked in the mirror lately? If I were into dudes, I’d have hit on you the first time we met. Those long curly eyelashes, pouty lips that always look wet—I bet every girl and gay man want to taste them.”
Alex sat leaning forward, propping his chin on his hand.
“You really think so?” He smiled then shook his head. “Wait, what? You said you weren’t interested yet you noticed all those things?” Alex chuckled.
“Shut up.” Seth’s face reddened. He shoved Alex’s bottle into his hand. “Go ahead, drink more. By morning you won’t remember our discussion.”
Alex complied and finished his drink before he signaled a waitress for more beer.
Seth frowned at him.
“I wasn’t serious about more drinks, you know.”
Alex pointed at him with his newly acquired bottle.
“Stop it, all right? And you’re driving.”
“As if that wasn’t obvious two hours ago,” Seth muttered into his glass and took a sip.
* * * *
Night slipped away, and Alex couldn’t lift his head off the table. He felt Seth tug at him and he waved his hand off, but his head was too heavy. He didn’t fight when Seth pulled him up and propped him on his shoulder.
“We’re going home now.” Alex heard Seth’s words amidst his huffing breaths.
“No, not going home,” he slurred.
“Uh-huh,” Seth said. “Your mom’s been calling you all night.”
Alex didn’t answer. He didn’t want to answer; didn’t have the energy to. He let Seth lead them through the throngs of people in the pub. Sharp scents of sweat, alcohol, and something Alex wouldn’t think about invaded his nostrils and made his stomach roll. He pressed himself into the side of Seth’s body. He was grateful to have Seth with him. Honestly, Alex wouldn’t mind being Seth’s boyfriend if his friend wanted to change his mind about his sexual orientation.
Outside, a fresh breeze caressed his face and Alex took a deep breath. The wind helped cool down his hot head and he became aware of his surroundings. He pushed Seth away and his friend turned to him.
