Page 65 of Please Don't Leave Me

Brian and Quinn look at each other, having a stare-off. Eventually, Brian gets up, grabs all our empty glasses, and heads toward the bar. I didn’t actually expect him to get me one, but I appreciate it.

“Thank you, Brian.”

Quinn plops down into the chair Brian was previously occupying and looks at me. “Sam, I’m worried about you.”

This time, there is a little less joking in his tone and a dash of actual concern.

“Quinn, I promise you I’m fine. With Jacob and everything, I just really haven’t been prioritizing that part of my life. Plus, I went a whole year without sex prior toher. So it’s not anything new. You know I’ve been busy.”

“I know, I know. I just don’t want you to blink, and you’re a 30-year-old born-again virgin.”

I laugh so hard my eyes start to water, and Quinn laughs right along with me.

“I promise I won’t let that happen.”

“Good.”

Brian is back already with our drinks, and I thank him again as I take mine out of his hand.

“What did I miss?”

Quinn takes a sip of his drink and rests an ankle on his knee. “Sam here has promised to get laid tonight.”

I glare at him. “I didnotpromise that,” I say sternly.

Brian turns to Quinn and says, “And how the hell is he supposed to find a girl at this party who likes straight men?”

We look around, suddenly remembering we’re at a Pride party. The odds of that happening are very slim. We all burst out laughing, and again, my eyes are watering.

Not long after, Quinn and Brian hit the dance floor. I chose to hang out here for a while longer. Every now and then, a new person sits down to relax for a second, then leaves to go dance or mingle again.

One person sits down that I recognize as Daniel, the host of the party. I lean closer to him and yell over the music, “Great party. Thanks again for the invite.”

He looks over and recognizes me. He stands up and moves over a few seats to sit next to me so we can hear each other better.

“It turned out great, didn’t it? Quinn seems to be having a fun time. It’s funny to see him on the dance floor instead of behind his table.”

I nod. Those are two different versions of Quinn. He takes his DJing very seriously and doesn’t drink much when he’s working. He gets really zoned in on what he’s doing, and it’s like the dance floor doesn’t even exist. He’s not one of those DJs who is constantly talking on the mic and getting people hyped up. His mixes do that for him.

“So what do you do for work, Sam.”

We still have to talk loudly to hear each other, but at least we don’t have to scream. “I run a small landscaping business. Quinn actually works for me during the busy season, which is most of the warm months.”

“I didn’t know that.” He eyes Quinn, scanning him up and down as he moves around the dance floor. “Say, I need someone to redo the landscaping around one of my vacation homes. Send me your portfolio, and I’ll consider you for the job.” He reaches into the inside pocket of his neon pink suit jacket and pulls out a business card.

“That would be great. I’ll send it over right away. I’d be happy to come out any time and give you a bid for the project.” I take it from him, my hand shaking a little with excitement. Getting a client like him is an incredible opportunity; it would open so many doors for me.

He smiles, and as he’s about to say something, we’re interrupted by a girl. She runs up to Daniel and puts her hand on his shoulder. He looks back and says, “Hello, darling.”

She leans down and says something in his ear. I don’t think she’s trying to be secretive; it’s just really loud in here. When she pulls her face away, I hear him say, “Yeah, that’s fine, just lock it up when you’redone.”

I immediately recognized her purple hair. It’s B, Lou’s little sister.

She runs off without acknowledging me. I don’t think she knows who I am then I remember I have a giant rainbow painted on my face, making my features a little harder to see.

My heart races, and I glance around, looking for Lou. She has to be here, right? They do everything together. I want to throw up from feeling so many emotions right now. Do I go look for her? Should I just sit here and hope she comes over?

Then, the most obvious choice dawns on me. I lean over and ask Daniel, “That girl, was that Briella Blake?”

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