Page 13 of Patchwork
I’m waffling between getting a rideshare and texting the group chat to see if anyone is willing to come pick me up if I offer to buy them breakfast when a text comes through.
JAG: Sooooo… are you going to tell us what it’s like to fuck a rockstar??
JAG: Please tell me you aren’t going to pull an “Almost Famous” and go on tour with him.
TEX: I don’t think that’s what that movie was about.
JAG: No clue, haven’t seen it. More importantly… HERO!!! DETAILS PLEASE!
I shake my head and chuckle. I’ve never been a big “details” guy to begin with, but it feels even more wrong right now. For one thing, I never asked Onyx how he feels about discretion. He’s famous, so if Jag runs his mouth to the wrong person, our hookup could end up inRolling Stoneor all over social media. Besides, giving them any details is only going to get them invested in the idea of this being more than it is. It was a one-night fling, nothing more.
HERO: You need to have some chill, man. Onyx is a rockstar, you think he’d want to fuck me? We got some drinks and hung out. He’s a cool guy, no big deal.
ARROW: Uh-huh.
JAG: No, yeah, we all totally buy that.
TEX: You need a ride back home?
HERO: That’s why you’re my favorite, you loveable cowboy. I’ll buy you breakfast for the trouble.
TEX: Hell yeah, I could eat a whole-ass stack of pancakes.
JAG: Hey! I want pancakes!
HERO: Be less of a nosy asshole next time, then.
I switch over to a one-on-one text with Tex to tell him where to meet me, and he says he’ll be there in half an hour. Before I shove my phone back into my pocket, I pull up the short threadI had with Onyx from yesterday. The last thing he sent me was the name of the bar to meet him at. I stare at the message for a minute or two, wondering if I should text him.
No. He has my number; if he wants to get a hold of me, he will. Until then, I’ll take my own advice and try to fucking chill.
Chapter 7
PRESENT
HERO
IcantellI’malone in bed without even opening my eyes. After crashing out last night, sticky and exhausted on the couch, we woke up in the middle of the night and stumbled our way into the bedroom, trading a few sleepy kisses before falling right back to sleep. That was hours ago now though, I can tell by the sound of birds outside and the sunlight that’s fighting my closed eyelids. Sometime between crawling into my bed together, still naked and half-asleep, and right now, Onyx left.
If I open my eyes and roll over, will I find a note on his pillow? Or maybe there will be a text waiting for me on my phone telling me he’s sorry, but something came up and he had to take off sooner than expected. Maybe just a few hours in Fall Crosse last night was enough to remind him why he left the minute he turned eighteen.
Fuck, I’m dramatic before coffee.
I groan and roll over, confirming what I already knew, that Onyx’s side of the bed is empty. There’s no note on thepillow, but there is an impression from his head. At least that’s confirmation that I didn’t crack and imagine the whole thing last night. I reach over and fist a handful of the bedspread. It’s cold. How long has he been gone?
I sit up and rub my eyes. It’s fine. I told myself from the beginning that I’d take what Onyx has to offer and be happy with it. One night at a time or ninety, it’s better than none at all. I scratch my beard and yawn, working up the energy to heave my ass out of bed. I grab a pair of shorts out of my dresser and shuffle into the bathroom to take a piss and brush my teeth. The crusted mixture of our cum is flaking on my belly—another confirmation that I didn’t hallucinate his visit, at least. I grab a washcloth and wet it, wiping myself somewhat clean. I’ll take a proper shower after coffee.
The house is quiet, and my heart sinks a little lower. He really is gone.
The familiar jingle of Diva’s bells doesn’t lift my spirit as much as it usually does, but I squat down to scoop her up when she comes around the corner anyway. It’s not her fault that her daddy is hopelessly smitten with a man who will never fit into our life.
“Hey there, baby girl. Are you looking for breakfast or did you just want to get some love?” I nuzzle the top of her head then tuck her into the crook of my arm like a baby to carry her into the kitchen. She mews and kneads my chest, not quite careful enough with her claws to keep me from wincing.
I set her down on the counter and open a can of wet food for her. She gives me a meow of thanks and starts to chow down. I swivel towards the coffee maker and find a pot already brewed and waiting for me. He can’t have left long ago since it shuts off automatically after an hour. It would have been nice if he’d woken me up to say goodbye.
I sigh and lean against the counter. Maybe I’ve been lying to myself. Maybe I’m not as okay with the scraps Onyx is able to give me as I want to be. Maybe—
“Is this staring contest you’re having with the coffee maker important to you, or can I interrupt it by refreshing my cup?”
