Page 32 of Love in Unexpected Places

“Want me to bring you something? Soup?”

“God no,” he says, voice dripping in disgust. “I don’t ever want to eat again.”

He goes back to vomiting and I pull the phone from my ear. “Okay. I can come by and sit with you. Make sure you’re okay.” I cross my metaphorical fingers that he’ll say he wants me to come by.

“No,” he says, breathing roughly. “This isn’t pretty. I don’t want you to see me all clammy and gross.”

Sighing, I tell him I hope he feels better and hang up.

Bryson is sitting up on the bed and has a look of worry marring his beautiful features. “Is he okay?”

“Yeah,” I say, flopping down on my bed. “But he’s not coming. He told us to go without him. I’m thinking we should just stay in.”

Bryson pouts. “No, Derek. Come on. It’ll be fun. And you know Evan will give us shit if we stay in.”

He’s right. And he’ll feel guilty because he’ll think he stopped us from going. “Fine. Let’s go.”

“Not so fast,” Bryson says, a mischievous look on his face. “You have to pick: truth or dare.”

“Fucking fine.” I throw my hands up and face him. “Dare.”

His eyes glint and he sits back on his heels. “Gimme a minute. I need to make this good. I really thought you’dpick truth.” I frown at him and he laughs, hopping off the bed and skipping to his room.

Knowing Bryson, it’ll be something outrageous, but I don’t try to stop him. It can’t be too bad, right?

Bryson stays in his room until it’s time for us to go, heading downtown to the gay club, Bangers. I love this club. It’s fairly new, and the crowd is pretty chill. They also have really good drinks.

When I park, Bryson turns to me, bouncing in his seat. “I have your dare.”

Rolling my eyes, I glance at him. “I thought you gave up on that. We’re out of the house, so that means the dare doesn’t count anymore.”

“Not this time. You picked dare, and I have one.” I shrug and motion for him to get on with it. “I dare you to blow a stranger in the club.”

Wait, what? Why is Bryson like this? “Bry. My sweet summer child.”

“Nope,” he says, shaking his head dramatically. “Nope, nope, nope. You said dare, so you have to do the dare. No excuses.”

I groan. “Fine. But I get to pick the person.”

Bryson narrows his eyes at me. “Not a chance. How will I know he’s a stranger?” I open my mouth to answer, but he slashes his hand in the air. “I’ll pick. And I promise he’ll be our type.”

Conceding to his ways, I nod and we hop out of the car, but I’m dragging my feet now. I just hope Bryson finds me someone that’s as fine as I want my men. It’s stupid, wanting to do the dare, but what the hell? It’s not like I have to see this person ever again.

Once we’re inside, we beeline to the bar, ordering rum and Cokes. We turn, eyeing the hot bodies on the dance floor. Most of the men are hot, sweat dripping down theirtorsos as they writhe to the bass beats. I’m not much of a dancer, but I feel the urge to unwind from a rough week of homework and studying by getting lost in the music.

Just before I take the plunge and make a fool of myself on the dance floor, Bryson taps me. “Him. Daddy in the gray shirt. Holy fuck, he’s hot. I might take this one off your hands.”

My eyes follow where Bryson is pointing and I swallow thickly.

Holy fuck is right.

The man Bryson pointed out was fine with a capital F-I-N-E. He’s dark-haired, with wide, curious eyes. He’s tall, well-built and has a sexy belly that I can imagine myself curled up on, my arms wrapped tightly around him as I stroke it… if he lets me be the big spoon.

I shake my head to eliminate that thought. There will be no sleeping or cuddling. There will only be head in the bathroom.

Bumping Bryson with my hip, I tell him, “Nah, I got this. Hold my drink.”

chapter two

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