worry,” Kyle teased. “You can watch the show, dance for a song or two, and still be home in plenty of time to do your pre-bed Tai Chi.”
“I don’t do that every night.”
“You’ll have fun. I promise. And if there happens to be a hot guy there over the age of thirty...”
“I’m not hooking up with some random person I meet at a club.”
“I wasn’t talking about you.”
That made Eric laugh, which Kyle always loved hearing. He laughed too, but his eyes began to sting. The truth was that he only wanted to dance with Eric. To feel Eric’s body against his as they worked each other up until they couldn’t stand it anymore. Until they had to hurry off to Eric’s house—or maybe Kyle’s apartment—to tear each other’s clothes off. He could do that with any one of hundreds of men who would be at the club tonight, but Kyle was only interested in doing it with Eric.
Well, he’d have to get over himself. Eric didn’t want him, so Kyle needed to find someone who did. Kyle was not inexperienced when it came to heartache. The best thing to do was to move on as quickly as possible.
“I’ll see you tonight, then,” Eric said.
“If you’re lucky.”
He heard Eric sigh. It sounded wistful, not annoyed. Or maybe tired.
“I’m—” Eric cut himself off. “I want to be friends, Kyle. I like you.”
“We are friends,” Kyle assured him. “We can be the kind of friends who don’t have sex. I’ve heard some friendships work that way. Seems weird, but I’m willing to try.”
Eric chuckled. “See you later.”
“Later.”
They ended the call, and Kyle pledged to himself that he could find a cute boy tonight who would make him forget all about Eric Bennett.
Chapter Seventeen
Eric was worried that Carter might die from laughing so hard.
Scott Hunter was center stage, wearing a very revealing elf costume. It consisted of tight, green shorts, a red vest worn open over his bare chest, a pointy hat, and curly-toed shoes with little bells on them.
“Ho-lee shit!” Maria yelled. “That’s a lotta Scott.”
It was definitely more skin than Eric had ever seen Scott flash outside of a locker room. He’d done some shirtless photo shoots, but the shorts he was wearing now were obscene.
The drag queen who’d been hosting the evening’s entertainment—Helen St. Mount—had just stuck a candy cane into the waistband of Scott’s shorts, which made Scott blush and Carter howl.
“I heard you’re getting married,” Helen said.
“Yes I am.”
“Well, that fucking sucks,” Helen quipped. Scott laughed, and the audience cheered.
“Sorry,” Scott said. The crowd was eating up the bashful sweetheart thing that Eric knew for a fact wasn’t an act. Once again, he was amazed by how far Scott had come in a couple of years. From being terrified that someone would figure out that he’s gay, to participating, half naked, in a drag show and making jokes about marrying his boyfriend. While Carter couldn’t stop laughing, Eric felt his own throat tighten a bit.
“He really fills out those shorts nicely, doesn’t he?” Kyle said into Eric’s ear. Eric tried not to react to the soft flutter of breath against his skin. It wasn’t easy. Just seeing Kyle again had nearly knocked Eric on his ass. He looked especially stunning tonight, dressed for the club in a tight, dark blue T-shirt with tighter black jeans, and his skin glistening a bit from the heat of the packed room.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replied, as evenly as possible.
“The hell you don’t.”
“I see that guy naked more days than not,” Eric reminded him. “He’s not gonna turn my head.”
Kyle winked at him, and Eric’s stupid heart did a backflip. He really did want to be just friends with Kyle, but it was hard to remember that when every part of him was aching to touch the man.
“Is your lucky fiancé here tonight?” Helen asked Scott.
“Yes. He’s backstage.”
Helen rolled her eyes and slumped over dramatically. “Fine. Bring him out, I guess.”
Kip walked out wearing a very baggy Santa costume, complete with a fluffy white beard. The crowd whistled and cheered.
“Hey,” Scott said, doing his best attempt at acting. “I think that was supposed to be my costume.”
“Oh no,” Helen said innocently. “Someone must have switched the names on the costumes.” She did an exaggerated shrug. “Oops.”
“You’re on the naughty list now,” Kip teased.
“Darling, I was born on the naughty list.” She turned to the audience with a game show host smile. “Isn’t it wonderful to have...”