Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 102282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Canaan. Baby. Everyone will be coupled up. I’m bringing Eric, and everyone else has someone. I don’t want things to be awkward between us.”
God forbid they were awkward. Like breaking up in Prague hadn’t been bad enough, or Damian taking up with Eric, the replacement drummer, mere minutes later, now apparently they had to socialize like adults because the rest of their friend circle demanded it. And quite honestly, Canaan had lost enough the past few years. He wasn’t losing his oldest friends too. “Things will be fine.”
“Of course,” Damian said, a little too quickly and brightly. “But last time we talked, you said you were seeing someone... Just bring them. It’ll be easier. On everyone.”
More like easier on Eric’s jealous ass. And had Canaan said that? He supposed it was possible in some vague make-Damian-happy way that he’d alluded to such a thing.
“I...uh...” The absolute best thing would be to say the truth, which was that he was exactly as single as he’d been boarding that plane in Prague. As single as he’d been in the three years since, flitting from hookup to hookup, nothing sticking. But what came out was “He’s a SEAL. You know, unpredictable hours. Could be deployed anytime. Can’t say for sure if he’ll have leave...”
“Well, can he try?” Damian did not sound in the least impressed by the SEAL factoid. “And really, I’m happy for you. About time you moved on.”
“Yeah.” About that...
“Listen. Since your guy’s military and all, I’ll just tell Kelly you’re bringing him. I’ll cover the fee, and you guys just show up.”
“I’ve got money.” Not much, but he did have some, and didn’t feel the best about letting Damian float him. Not to mention his imaginary boyfriend.
“My present to you. I insist. Just get your ass to Flagstaff.”
“I’ll try. Probably by myself though because—”
“Bring. Him. Don’t be a loser.”
Too late. He already was a loser. Giant L and all. Twenty-six and concocting relationships out of thin air like some sixteen-year-old might. And he’d be showing up alone with some bullshit story, and things would be awkward with Damian and Eric, because of course they would be.
But he’d be with the rest of his guys again, get to catch up on their lives, hear all the tour stories he’d missed. The togetherness would be worth any issues with Damian or feeling like a fifth wheel. Damian might be a class-A jerk at times, but Canaan could still remember when he’d been a brash, confident teenager who’d turned his knees to jelly. And even though Damian had changed, Kelly and Jules and the others had been there for Canaan through some of his hardest times. He missed their old closeness even more than he missed performing with the band. Sure, he had friends locally, but there was something special about hanging with people he’d known since he was fourteen.
As he ended the call, Rooster’s workout video resumed playing. He flexed and moved with grace, and simply watching him calmed Canaan’s racing pulse.
Man, if he really were able to conjure up a SEAL boyfriend, he’d look an awful lot like Rooster, have that same silky voice and slow smile. And in an ideal world, Rooster would take him up on his offer to meet, and that would be the start of something special...
Nope. Canaan lived in the real world, one where he lacked superpowers and where he had gotten himself into this mess, and he would have to get himself out.
* * *
Renzo wiped the sweat from his forehead. So much for spring—it was hot outside already and hotter still in the dive locker.
“Rooster, man, tell me why we always wind up with these crap jobs?” Even poor Shiny’s usual optimism was dipping as they finished up their inventory of dive equipment.
“Because we’re not chiefs yet.” Renzo went for honesty as he checked oxygen canisters. Maybe if he were a chief, he could shed the stupid Rooster nickname. “Man, I cannot wait. Inventory is the worst.”
“At least we had enough time to grab a snack.” Shiny gave him a goofy grin. “God bless Fitness Fridays.”
You’re telling me. “Yup.”
He’d let Shiny think he had the idea to get smoothies, when really Renzo had been looking forward to it all week. The guys would razz him hard if they knew that, and he did not need them giving him grief just because he enjoyed bantering with one particular Smoothie Palace employee. Big full lips. Pale green eyes. Lush blond hair. The sort of compact build that always worked for him, combined with infectious confidence. The flirty guy whose name tag said Canaan was just fun, and after a long, boring week, a little pick-me-up was exactly what he’d needed.
While he hadn’t intended to give out his social media handle, he wasn’t going to waste time beating himself up over it. It wasn’t exactly a state secret—plenty of the guys knew about his videos—and Canaan didn’t really seem like the sort of guy to go reporting him to the higher-ups, who might have something to say about Renzo’s little hobby. And if Canaan dug fit guys? So much the better for the little bit of flirt they had going on.