Page 11 of Dark Promises

Chapter 7

Cole

Iarrived at my apartmentand stepped around it, looking out at the skyline, and I felt lonely and empty. Then, I had Sam, and since I hadn’t seen him either, I was sure he’d forgotten me or hated me. After unpacking I knew I couldn’t stay inside, I needed to go for a walk. This was my first night back, therefore, I called a friend to meet me at Daniel’s bar. Was it still there? I sure hoped so. Perhaps it wasn’t there anymore with the Covid thing. Maybe he wasn’t even in that business any longer. But I had to see for myself, but this time I didn’t have the balls I once had. I needed someone to hold my hand just in case he’d moved on, and I couldn’t handle it. However, what had I expected? I questioned myself. Did I think he’d wait for me to call after two years. They went by so fast, but so slowly.

“Hey, dude, I’ll give you two guesses. Who do you think is calling?”

“Cole, of course.”

“How did you know?”

“Same number, same name,” Bryan said.

“You never cleared my number out of your phone?” It seemed the love of my life did. He probably got sick of waiting for me to call he pulled the plug as they said.

“Why should I. I knew one day you’d be back. About a year in after you left, Daniel would call everyday looking for you. He used some excuse about your dog, but I knew he was sick over you leaving. I tried to make excuses for you, until there weren’t any left. You should have said something. Text, Facetime, something—”

“I know, but I didn’t have any time to myself. It was all business, and I let that life take over my personal life, and now I have none.”

“That sounds intense, Cole. What are you doing now?”

“I’m in town and I need help locating Daniel.”

“Although he never calls anymore, he still owns ‘Pluck the Cherry.’ I’ve gone in there several times, because I tried dating him after a year, and you didn’t call, but what he was into I just didn’t get. You know the ropes and handcuffs it wasn’t my scene, and what’s with the dog scratching at the door and then whining all night? I’d say you and Daniel were into some heavy shit,” Bryan confessed. “I thought he and I could get something going, but all he talked about was you. I didn’t want him questioning me about you every time we had a date, so I just brushed it off. Said I couldn’t take the dog.”

“Does he still have Sam?”

“I don’t know,” Bryan said. “He claimed he was trying to give him away because he reminds him of you. I declined to take him because with my schedule and Sam being needy, I couldn’t look after him.”

“I called because I want you to go with me to Daniel’s club tonight.”

“I don’t know. I have a guy I’m seeing, and I don’t want to cock that up.”

“It will just be this time. You owe me.”

“I thought that debt was paid,” Bryan said.

“Well, it is. I don’t want to beg, but I will if I have to. Just go with me this one time and I promise I won’t ask any more of you.”

Bryan reluctantly agreed to go with me to the club. When we strolled in Daniel appeared to be busy. Bryan had stopped outside to speak to a friend, and I walked into the place alone. But Bryan knew how important it was to me, and he rushed in to get a drink I’d promised to pay for.

I had my back to Daniel, although every part of me wanted to face him and walk up to him and declare that I was home, and this was it. I wanted to ask him to marry me, but I didn’t want the rejection I knew would follow. After all, he must be fucking or engaged with someone. I wasn’t exactly spending my off nights jerking off, unless it was to a dick pick of some stranger wearing a harness and leather. But only if the ass was hard, did I waste my time.

The only man I bent over for was Daniel.

Bryan strolled in just when I wanted to see who Daniel was talking to. I couldn’t contain myself, because I wanted to rush over there and plant a kiss on his lips. I strummed my fingers on the bar when the bartender stopped what he was doing and rushed to take my order. But Bryan was sitting next to me, and he appeared to be more interested in the bartender. He rubbed his hands together. “I’m ready for a drink,” he said to the barkeeper, then leaned and kissed me.

I winced.What the fuck?“Why did you kiss me?” I questioned after I furrowed my brow, then smiled hoping the men sitting next to me didn’t hear me, or Daniel didn’t see us and me wipe my lips.

“You need to pretend that you’re not here for him, but for me.”

“But I am.”

“No you’re not,” Bryan countered. “You’re here for me, because I don’t think he recognizes you or me anymore, but we have his attention because he’s staring. I look the same, Cole, but I was just a one-night stand. But you look like a different man simply by the way you dress, and that haircut.”

Bryan raked his hands though my hair, and I shuddered because I didn’t like him like that. I don’t let friends touch me that way and Bryan was nowhere near a friend, especially since he mentioned having sex with Daniel, but since he’d offered to help me get him back, I guessed I could forget he’d fucked or was being fucked by the love of my life, because I’d deserted him.

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