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Prologue
Cassius
When Elton goes all out,he goesall out.
Renting a ritzy hotel pool—along with an entire catering staff—for his best friend’s birthday is a bit extra. I remember Rhys telling him he wanted something low-key, but I guess Elton didn’t get the memo. Or maybe “low-key” includes having the hotel build a stage in the center of the pool?
As I shoulder my way through the crowd, I’m thinking Rhys can’t havethismany friends. It’s not that the guy is an asshole, but he’s definitely too grumpy for his own good. I wouldn’t put it past Elton to have paid extras to fill the space. He’s standing by the entrance of the pool, reminding Butch that he doesn’t have to play the bodyguard tonight. I snicker as I pass them, because there’s no way Butch is actually going to enjoy himself. Pretending that the world is just so damn cruel, Knox broods beside them, but the way he links his pinky with Elton’s while his husband goes on and on is kind of cute.
I make my way around the pool, up-nodding people I know as I pass, and smile when I see him.
My sunshine.
In one of the pavilions, he lounges back as he scrolls through his phone. His little skimpy suit shows too much, highlighting his perfect little cock nestled underneath the bright green fabric, and I resist the urge to whip off my T-shirt and throw it at him. When he sees me approaching, he immediately drops his phone and gives me his full attention, sitting up and reaching for me.
“Did you get me the drink I wanted, Cassy?” he asks, wiggling in his seat.
He scoots over and I sit beside him. “Yes, sunshine. Somehow, they had that tropical vodka you liked.”
As he takes the drink from my hand, his beautiful dual-colored eyes light up. “Ooo, yay! Thank you!”
“Just one,” I warn him as I kiss the top of his purple head. “You have to work later.”
He rolls his eyes but flushes. I know he likes how overprotective I am. But can you blame me? When your best friend is someone as precious as Skylar, how do you not want to just stick them in your pocket so they can be safe forever?
“What were you doing?” I ask as I move behind him, reaching for his shoulders to drag him against my chest. “Let me see.”
Without any argument, he shows me his phone, and I chuckle when I see he’s been looking at videos again. Chances are, if I pull out my phone, I’ll have approximately seven from him already. I rub his shoulders as I nibble on the top of his ear. “Which one was the funniest?”
“Oh! You’re going to laugh!” He scrolls back up with excited fingers. “It’s a snail on the hood of a car, but they used photoshop to make him scream.”
I do laugh at the caption:when life is just too much. I’ll have to save that one to look at on a rainy day. I sigh contentedly, lying back and bringing him down with me, and just enjoy having him in my arms. “How are you holding up?”
I shouldn’t ask, but Skylar seems relatively okay, considering the circumstances.
James or Jim or whatever the fuck his name was broke up with him a few days ago.
I’ll never say this to Skylar, but I’m glad that asshole broke up with him. That guy was a royal piece of shit, constantly talking down to my best friend, making him feel like he isn’t good enough. He never appreciated how special Skylar is—how perfect—and every moment I spent watching whoever-the-fuck-he-is shit on him was like a stab to the heart.
Of course, when Skylar got the breakup text, he freaked out. I hate that him crying his eyes out after a breakup isn’t a rare occurrence. There’s been man after man who has let him down. Too many men who have used him, discarded him, and treated him like trash. Men who fell for how fascinating he is but were too stupid or insecure to appreciate him. I don’t know why, but it’s always Skylar’s luck. He chooses men who will only break him until he’s nothing left but shattered pieces to glue back together.
And every day is torture waiting for him to chooseme.
“I’m okay,” he whispers, but even though I can’t see his face, I know that’s a flat-out lie. When I don’t answer, he turns his head and tries his hardest to smile. “I’m being serious. All is good.”
I grunt. The latest fucker told Skylar he loved him. I knew it was a load of shit the second I heard it. There’s no way that man loved him and treated him the way he did. The guy loved theideaof Skylar. Like a possession to keep. A flower to display until it withered into nothing. Either way, I know deep in my gut that no one will ever love Skylar the way I do. Wholly. Without conditions. Without restraint.
I just wish he would love me back.
But I’m a coward. I don’t dare tell him that I love him as more than a friend, more than a chosen brother, more than myself. I’ddo anything for Skylar, including loving him at a distance until he finally realizes I’m the one for him.
“Is this thing on?”
Both Skylar and I look toward the stage in the pool. The band that was playing isn’t there anymore, but Rhys is. He’s standing uncomfortably, holding a microphone, and looking like he wishes he could be anywhere else.
He clears his throat before speaking. “Well, thanks everyone for coming. I didn’t realize Elton was going to do something…likethis.”
“What’s that supposed to fucking mean?” Knox shouts, very growly as he defends his husband’s honor.
