began to set on that most awful of days, that Lance finally started losing hope. When the sun sat high, he thought that maybe, just maybe Kirk would call him and they’d be able to hash it out. By night fall, all would be well again. Yes, Lance had done the wrong thing, but surely they could get over it? Surely, they’d be able to move on?
It seemed now that it wasn’t meant to be. It now looked like Kirk wouldn’t be forgiving Lance... and the worst part was that Lance couldn’t blame him. This was on him. A pity he was too much of a coward to do anything about it.
“Fuck it.” Lance stood up suddenly. He’d been on the couch for the past hour, dressed in rags, watching whatever was on but not paying attention. “Fuck it,” he said again with just a little more confidence.
He stormed into his bedroom, took off his dirty clothes and quickly slipped into something clean; just a t-shirt and jeans, but it was something. He then went to the bathroom and cleaned his teeth and washed his face and scalp. Next there was a little deodorant treatment given to his stench, another check in the mirror and he was out the door.
Lance wasn’t going to Kirk’s apartment. He was too much of a coward for that. Instead, he made a beeline for the closest bar he could find. It didn’t have to be a gay bar. That wasn’t what he was after. Instead, he wanted a loud enough location to drown out his thoughts, with enough alcohol flowing to finish the job in case the music wasn’t enough. He was off to get drunk.
The bar was exactly what Lance was after; a loud, smelly establishment with too many people and not enough air to go around. He made a beeline for the bartender, sat himself on a stool right at the bar, and ordered himself two vodka lime sodas. Once those were done with, he ordered three more.
Of course, too, his phone sat on the counter in front of him the whole while... just in case. Seriously, what a sad state of affairs.
“I know you.” The voice was high-pitched, while the accent was foreign. “Hercules Gym, yes?”
Lance looked over his shoulder, immediately recognizing who had spoken. It was the Brazilian from his gym, the one that Carlo had been trying to set him up with. Tall, muscular, tanned skin that looked smooth as heck too, the dude was a pleasure on the eyes. His hair was dark and thick, his chin was square and angular, while his smile was so big and white that his teeth just about shone in the darkness.
“Oh... yeah, hey,” Lance said lazily. He went back to his drink and staring at his phone.
The Brazilian sat down next to Lance, sitting in a way that had him a little too close. “I thought so, yes,” the Brazilian chuckled. “I could see you from across the room... easily.” He wore a confident smirk on his face, and his dark brown eyes sized Lance up like a lion looking over fresh prey.
“Is that so?” Lance said into his glass.
“I know Carlo,” the Brazilian continued, unfazed by Lance’s lack of a response. “He told me about you.”
Lance nodded to himself. Of course. Knowing Carlo too, he probably told this guy that Lance was keen on him, that all he had to do was say hey and Lance would be all over him like white on rice. Great.
“Listen...” Lance swiveled in his chair, determined to tell the Brazilian to move on, but then he got a proper look at him and stopped himself dead. The dude was stunning.
“Yes?” the Brazilian smiled and blinked; even his eyelashes were thick and transcendent, like he purposefully curled them before leaving for the bar. This guy was a player, and he knew it.
“Ah... I don’t...” Lance gave his head a shake. The Brazilian was wearing a button-down shirt that was open to reveal a hairless chest, with just enough showing so that one brown, plump nipple was clearly visible. “I’m not sure what Carlo said—”
“Nothing exciting, trust me. He talks a lot.” The Brazilian touched at Lance’s arm, stroked it just a little, and then reached over and took one of Lance’s drinks. “Do you mind?” he asked before throwing it back in one gulp.
“Go for it...”
“I have not seen you in here before,” he continued. “Drowning sorrows? Or celebrating?”
“Something like that.” Lance’s eyes flicked to