Page 50 of Lucky Shot
“I wasn’t really asking permission,” he says, sniffing.
“No. You were asking for my blessing without asking for anything,” I say. He doesn’t meet my eyes. “Roux, all I want is for you to find your happiness. If Gabe is a stepping stone to getting there, then do it. Or do him. Whatever. Just don’t give me details.”
Roux smiles again. “Thanks. I just… If I tell you I’m thinking about doing something and you really think it’s a stupid idea, you’ll tell me, right?”
I nod. “Yep. I might still let you do it if it’s not too dangerous, but I’ll definitely tell you.”
“Is this stupid?” he asks, and I swear I can hear the soft, vulnerable side of him poking through. Peeking at me.
“No. It’s not even reckless. Gabe’s a good guy. As long as you both are in this for the same reasons, then go for it. Live your best life. If you’d have said Max, I’d have tied you to the clawfoot tub and refused to let you go. But Gabe’s not nearly as insane while still being fun.”
“Max is far too much for me,” Roux says, laughing. “I swear, he’s going to get himself killed. Did you see him swinging from the metal things they hold the lights with at the party on Kala?”
I shake my head, scrunching my face. “Good thing there aren’t cameras there. I swear, that man’s looking to get fired.”
SIXTEEN
NOAH
From the momentDemi signed online the night I got home, we didn’t sign off until fifty-eight hours later. We might have stepped away from the game for short periods. Like bathroom breaks and food prep, but we were together for the rest of the time.
But he had to get to work, and I had a fucking gala in New York City to go to. I was dreading it. Seriously.
It’s not that I hate all the charity things we do. Or even the events that the team signs us up for, which this is one of. It’s just… I was so wrapped up in Demi that I didn’t plan right. Usually, I bring a date. Any date. Because if I’m with someone, then people usually leave me alone for anything more than a cursory conversation.
When I go alone? Not so much.
As I head to my car, I see Ibis outside. He waves from the front yard where he’s standing over Kyst in the flower bed. I swear, I don’t want to know.
On a whim, I cross the yard after I dump my shit into my car. “Either of you free for a long weekend?” I ask.
“I’m flattered, man, but still straight,” Kyst says.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t need an actual date. Just a fake date,” I tell him and then look at Ibis.
He’s watching me, amused. “A fake date, huh? I swear this sounds like a Hallmark movie.”
Sighing, I wave them off and turn back to my car. “Never mind.”
“Where are you headed, anyway?” Ibis calls after.
“New York for a gala event. I can’t even remember what for.”
“It’s a plus one requirement?”
I shake my head. “No. For my sanity, I usually try for a plus one. But I’ve been distracted and didn’t plan accordingly.”
“We’re just the last resort,” Kyst says.
“You sound rather offended for someone who insists they’re straight,” I shoot back.
“No one wants to be a bottom feeder option,” he says, sniffing and laying back in the flowers.
Ibis rolls his eyes. “If I wasn’t being forced to do some business thing with my dad, I’d totally go. Fuck, if I thought for a second he’d let me out of it if I told him I had your thing to go to, I’d do it.”
“It’s all good,” I call after them and continue towards my car. “Good luck.”
“You too, man.”
