Page 101 of The Boyfriend Gamble

Kade blinked again. Then took a gulp of his rum eggnog.

God, I loved eggnog. With or without rum. I loved Christmas extra because I got eggnog.

“Okay.” Kade took a deep breath. “You tried gay? Like for the first time? With a guy.”

“Yeah. First time. Ever. I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I mean, you’ve been carrying on about how awesome gay sex is since, I dunno, we were teenagers? And now Tanner drops hints about how good things are in bed, even though you have a kid—"

“And did you like it?”

This time, I blinked. “Uh, well. Look. Put it this way. At first it was just getting off. And then I liked it. And I wanted to keep doing it. And I fucked up.” Even the thought of Jasper alone in his studio apartment made me sad. I’d offered to let him stay at my townhouse, but he’d said he needed time tothink.

Right, likethinkingis ever a good thing.

“You likeitor you liked this guy?”

I rubbed my eyes. I hadn’t made lunches, turned on heating blankets, and cuddled just because of the blow jobs and anal.

Right?

“Shit. Fuck... I think I like this guy. I mean I think Ireallylike this guy. You must hate me.”

“So maybe you're a little lessabsolutely straightthan we thought. It's okay. And I could never hate you.” He held up his mug in salute and took another big gulp.

Pretty soon we’re going to need to pour more.

Kade eyed me. “So when do I get to meet this guy?”

“I fucked up. I told him I couldn’t see him until the twenty-seventh. Who the fuck abandons someone they really care about so they’re alone over Christmas?”

“There’s a lot to unpack in that sentence. Or was that two sentences? Three?”

I squinted. “I’m not surethat’swhat we should be focusing on.”

“Well, this seems pretty simple to me. You call him up and tell him you've reconsidered.”

“Just like that? And what, bring him to Christmas tomorrow with the entire family? Won’t that, I dunno, overwhelm him?”

“Yep. For the love of Christ, don’t overthink this. Just get on the fucking phone and call the fucking guy. Did you say his name was Jasper? That’s a nice name—”

I grabbed my phone. “Fuck it all. I will.”

After unlocking my phone, I found Jasper’s number was the first on my call log. I hit it. Well, it took me two tries, but I managed.

The phone rang. And rang.

Finally, it answered. “Sorry, baby, I was in the bathroom. What’s up? Are you okay? Looking forward to—”

“I’ve reconsidered.”

A long silence.

“Did you hear me?”

“Cameron, are you drunk? You sound drunk. You’re not alone, are you?”

“No, I’m here.” Kade grinned.

I gazed at my phone.Huh. Speaker. Oops.

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