The Better Side of Me - Jerry Cole Page 0,55

bitterly.

“Me too,” Kirk responded with little sympathy. “Now, I’m going to shower and then head off to dinner. Will you be joining me?”

“I doubt it.”

Kirk sucked through his teeth but didn’t argue. If Lance wanted to be a baby and stay in his room all day and night, so be it! Kirk could have fun by himself. After all, he’d been doing it for a very long time!

It wasn’t hard for Kirk to figure out what was wrong with Lance either. And when he did come to the realization, it made it even harder for him to stay mad at the man. He was hurting, he was suffering. Really, Kirk just wanted to pull him into an embrace and tell him it would be fine. This would just be a minor set-back. There was no need to worry.

But he also knew Lance wouldn’t like any of that. For someone who was so physically perfect, Lance had extreme self-confidence issues. He was the kind of guy that would rather ignore a problem until it stopped bothering him, rather than face it head on. He needed some time to think, so Kirk would give it. It was just a shame that it had to be on their last day on Hawaii!

The morning of their flight out wasn’t much better. Sure, Lance joined Kirk for breakfast. And sure, he showered finally, and engaged in basic small talk and pleasantries, but it was all so stifled and awkward. Kirk could sense that one wrong thing said would set the man off again.

By the time they reached Sydney airport, Kirk was just about done with the pity party. What had happened to Lance sucked. It did. But it wasn’t the end of the world. Further to that, a pretty life changing event had happened to Kirk two days previously and Lance hadn’t so much as congratulated him for it. It had been all about him! And based off the way that Lance was just about throwing their luggage onto the trolley, indicated that it was far from done.

It was just lucky then that Kirk had one final plan to try and turn Lance’s mood around. It was a small risk, but if it worked... well, Kirk was pretty sure that he’d be getting laid tonight. Finally! Plus, he’d have his old Lance back, which was good too.

“We just have to make one stop before I drop you off.” It wasn’t a question. The two were standing out the front of the airport, and Kirk already had his hand out to wave down a taxi.

“Huh?” Lance asked vaguely. He hadn’t been paying attention.

“A stop,” Kirk confirmed without looking back at Lance. “It’ll be quick – and then I’ll get you to your bat cave. Don’t worry.”

“Fine,” Lance sighed and hoisted up his luggage.

The taxi pulled up and Lance silently packed it while Kirk spoke to the driver. Then Kirk jumped in the back seat and Lance, in typical child-like fashion, jumped in the front so as to avoid having to sit next to Kirk. Kirk sighed but indicated to the driver that they were ready to go.

They rode in silence for twenty minutes, right up until Lance realized where they were going. “The university?” Lance blurted out when he saw the sign. “Why are we – can you just drop me home, please? I’m really not in the mood.”

“Oh, aren’t you?” Kirk said sarcastically. “I had no idea. Besides, I’ll be quick. I promise.”

The hard part was going to be getting Lance to follow him inside. He’d need the taxi to wait with their baggage and assumed that Lance would have been happy to sit in the car and wait and pout too. For this, Kirk was going to have to be demanding.

“Come on,” Kirk ordered when he climbed from the back seat. “You’re coming with me.”

“Huh?” Lance was barely paying attention.

Kirk opened the front door and grabbed Lance’s arm. “Up you get – yes, you. You’re coming in with me.”

“Really?” Lance sighed and tried to pull his arm free. “I really don’t want—”

“And I really wanted you at my presentation yesterday. But we don’t always get what we want, do we?” Kirk was through playing around. He let go of Lance’s arm and fixed him with a look that demanded Lance follow him.

Lance took note of the stare, thought for a moment, and then nodded. He sighed, unbuckled, and pushed himself from the taxi. “But this better be quick. I really just want to get