Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Considering you barely gave me ten minutes to get ready, I think we should just get over to the convention center.”
“Someone sounds pissed,” Keegan adds from the back seat.
I can’t disguise how annoyed I am with how quickly Ryan returned to my room. It might have been ten minutes—hell, he could have given us fifteen, and I wouldn’t have known because Lance and I were so lost in each other.
Given everything else we’ve done together, I should have known that Lance’s lips and tongue would feel as good as the rest of him, but the explosive blast took me by surprise, especially after the difficult things we’d been discussing up until that kiss.
I never could have guessed about the nightmarish loss in his past that’s been there through all our sparring and pranks, and it’s amazing to think that a guy could have been through so much and still find a way to get on with his life, find moments to smile and laugh and give a damn about stuff like TaskFrat challenges, which are such bullshit next to everything we’ve been through. But maybe that’s why we’re so enthusiastic about having fun with the games…because we know how precious life is. We don’t take a moment of it for granted.
“Lance has to be at the auction too,” Ryan adds. “I mean, it wasn’t the smartest time to plan to get together to discuss the TaskFrat Committee.”
I had to make up some excuse for why he was in my room, so Ryan wouldn’t know that really, I had my tongue down Lance’s throat right before I opened the door.
When we arrive at the convention center, we grab our tuxes from the back and head inside. An event coordinator escorts us to a dressing room with some of the other guys—I recognize a few from school, but several aren’t Peach State University guys.
Lance should be arriving too, though it’s gonna take him some time since he had to hurry back to Alpha Theta Mu to grab his stuff.
I’m finishing buttoning my shirt by the time Lance heads in, acting chill, not looking my way. As he changes into his tux, I find myself watching him in my periphery so that Ryan and Keegan won’t notice. Wondering if Lance is doing the same. If he’s thinking about the lingering buzz from our kiss. At least, I hope he’s feeling this flurry of sensation too because if not, he’s missing out.
It’s more than what he’s stirred in my body, though. I enjoy spending time with him, talking to him. Especially now that I know we have this shared experience binding us together.
“Does this look stupid?” Ryan adjusts his bow tie in the mirror.
“I don’t think it’s the tie making you look stupid.”
“Ouch,” Ryan says. “I can tell you meant that one.”
I shake my head. “Sorry, man. I’m just annoyed about being in a rush.”
It’s not his fault, but part of me can’t help putting the blame on him for depriving me of time with Lance. And really, as much as I want to raise money for a good cause, I’d prefer to get back to that sooner rather than later.
If only we’d started this shit any other night.
Of course, life always has a way of being as inconvenient as goddamn possible.
I hate this awkwardness between Lance and me in the dressing room, both of us finishing up getting ready, not making eye contact, and I’m wondering if he also feels like if we did make eye contact, then suddenly Ryan will say, Oh my God, you guys were making out in your room, weren’t you?
Just act fucking cool, I tell myself.
Somehow, we manage to keep it together before the door opens and in walk Troy Locklear and Atlas McCallister, both having graduated from Peach State last year. Atlas is the one who organizes this event, and Alpha Theta Mu alum Troy Locklear is his partner. Well, partner and stepbrother, which is like a whole deal in and of itself, but stepbrothers-turned-boyfriends is an Alpha Theta Mu thing. See Colin and Ash for more info.
“Hey, guys,” Atlas says. “Just a quick heads-up about how it’ll go down. Troy will introduce each of you. He’s put together something with the info you filled out online. When the bidding takes place, you can flaunt it a bit. Try to keep your shirts on and keep it PG, but no harm in being playful with the audience.”
“Though, if you can raise money by taking your shirt off,” Troy says, “by all means.”
Atlas gives his man a playful glare as the room erupts in laughter.
Lance manages to finish getting dressed as they prep us some more, and then they lead us out. As we follow them to the main stage, I wind up near Lance, not by coincidence, but because I’ve been inching my way closer and closer to him, even as I’ve tried to tell myself it’d be smart to keep my distance.