Page 39 of Protecting his Heart

Evan pulled him to a stop, squeezing his hand.

“Can I take them off now?” he said, his voice loud in his own head.

Evan tapped twice on the back of his hand. Once for yes, twice for no. That’s what he’d told him before. He exhaled, feeling completely out of his element. Evan squeezed his hand again and tapped once.

“I can take them off?” he checked. One tap. He reached for the headphones first, and the sudden onset of noise was overwhelming. He dragged off the blindfold, blinking repeatedly to get his eyes to work again. “What the fuck?” he said.

“Happy birthday!” everyone around him shouted.

He found Nick’s gaze. The man beamed and came closer. “Are you ready for a night of debauchery?”

“Debauchery? It’s a karaoke bar.” His worst nightmare. “I thought we were going to a pub?”

“It’s karaoke and cocktails night,” Nick said. “What more could anyone want than booze and beats?” Nick shimmied his shoulders far more elegantly than Owen had expected.

“Definitely need the booze.” Owen smiled tightly and then a little more widely when a sliver of uncertainty went through Nick’s eyes. “It’s great. Thanks, Nick.”

His expression brightened. “Awesome. They made a special drink for you for your birthday.” He reached for the bar and produced a very pink, very glittery glass, complete with purple umbrella and straw. “Try this. I’ve named it the Owenator.”

Owen briefly closed his eyes, truly glad Nick had no control over naming things. “Thanks.” He eyed the concoction. “What’s in it?”

“You have to guess. There are four ingredients. If you guess right, we get a free round of drinks.”

“No pressure,” he murmured. He sipped the drink. Immediately, the grapefruit flavour hit him, followed by the heat of alcohol, maybe gin. He smacked his lips. It wasn’t that bad if he was honest with himself. He sipped again. “Grapefruit.” Nick smiled. “Gin.” His grin widened. What were the others? He licked his lips for the aftertaste. “Prosecco?” Nick nodded. He had no idea about the last one. He drank again, eyeing the drink. Then he noticed the fruit floating in it and took a chance. “Raspberry?”

The guests cheered, and Nick high-fived them. Evan leaned closer. “I didn’t realise you knew what prosecco tasted like.”

“Blame Prince George. He made some cocktails for a party and insisted we try them. It’s not too bad, although not my favourite.”

Evan smiled at him. “You’re a good friend to go along with this.”

“It’s my own fault. I shouldn’t have given him free rein. I’m not singing.”

Evan chuckled. “Good luck trying to stop yourself from getting up there after one too manyOwenators.”

Owen shook his head. “I’ll stick to beer, thanks.”

Nick returned. “I got you another Owenator. Can’t wait to get this party really started.”

Owen’s stomach dropped. “Started? I thought it already had.”

Nick waved him off. “I may have added a last-minute event to our night.” He winked. “You’ll love it, I promise.”

Owen gulped the drink in his hand, wishing he had several more to follow it with. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be sober for what was to come.

“I’ll look after you. I promise,” Evan whispered in his ear.

“Please don’t let me do something stupid. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Evan smirked. “You already do everything I tell you to.”

Heat kindled in his lower stomach, the kind that had nothing to do with alcohol, and if nothing else came of that night, he hoped he and Evan could visit a quiet corner somewhere and do something about the chub he now sported. Evan chuckled, probably knowing what was going through his mind, and kissed him. Owen followed when he pulled away, whimpering when Evan denied him. Evan pointed behind him, and Owen glanced over his shoulder, doing a double-take. He must be hallucinating.

“Is that Prince Freddie singing karaoke?”

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Chapter 12

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