Page 56 of Lucky Shot
I place an order for a few summer outfits and, since I’m heading to an island with a house on the beach, a few more bathing suits. Because obviously I need more than the two dozen I have back home. After adding a pair of water shoes and some random shit, I set the pickup for an hour.
Then I book a private boat to get me to Sexton Island. Between the drive and boat trip, the travel takes a couple hours, I enjoy the time since I spend it texting with my pretty mage. It makes the time pass quickly and before I realize it, it’s nearing eleven and the boat is mooring up to the dock.
The house is big, right on a corner of the island. There’s another house a couple dozen feet away with a wooden dock connecting the two and then carrying on around the eastern side of the island, but the houses feel like they’re facing away from each other, giving the perception of privacy.
As I approach, I can see Roux running along the beach with a couple of dogs. I know it’s him. He’s wearing shorts and a shirt instead of a Speedo. Just like my brother.
Gabe’s sitting on the deck with a drink in hand, watching Roux in the distance.
“He okay?” I ask as I step up next to him.
Gabe nods. “I don’t think he was prepared for exactly how alone we were going to be. There aren’t any neighbors right now. It’s just us on this side of the island.”
I study the side of his face for a minute until he looks up at me with a rueful smile. “I’m gathering that he’s going through some shit. He’s content enough in my bed and sitting in my lap when there are others around. He’s not quite as confident when it’s just the two of us.”
Sighing, I take a seat in the lounge chair beside him, turning my gaze back to Roux in the distance. “Those your dogs?
Gabe nods. “Yep.”
I mimic his nod. “I think his breakup was uglier than he’s letting on,” I say. “It’s definitely affecting him more than he’s willing to admit out loud.”
“Ah,” Gabe says. “Break up. He’s mentioned an ex in passing a few times, but I didn’t realize it was recent.”
“Few months ago now,” I tell him. “I’m not sure what went down, but I know that Roux was… a mess. I bailed on hockey for a few days to go to him, which I wouldn’t do unless I felt it was necessary.”
“I don’t doubt that.” A minute passes before he says, “I own this section of beach. We can bury a body.”
A grin climbs my face as I look at him. “Do you actually like my brother, or is this just a summer thing for you?”
Gabe shrugs. “If I thought your brother was the least bit interested in something more, I’d definitely consider it. But he’s not.”
“You’re so sure.”
Gabe gives me a bemused look. “I’m positive. So are you.”
He’s not wrong. I’m pretty certain that Roux is looking for something to take his mind off of this ex of his. One who I’m seriously considering inviting to Sexton Island and making disappear. I don’t know what he did, but if it’s bothering my brother that much, it can’t have been an amicable breakup.
Gabe shrugs and takes a sip of his drink. “There’s lemonade in the fridge. There’s also beer and hard cider and harder shit. As well as water, juice, and coffee. You’ll probably find more than that too. Help yourself.”
I nod.
“He’ll relax now that you’re here,” Gabe says.
“When you invited him here, what were you hoping for?” I ask as I kick my feet up and lean back.
Gabe doesn’t answer for a minute as he watches Roux and the dogs run around on the beach. Roux throws something into the water and the dogs chase after it.
“I don’t really know, to be honest,” Gabe says after a while. “Maybe I’m into him more than I’m willing to admit even to myself.” He gives me a wry smile. “I come here every summer with the dogs. Sometimes alone because it’s peaceful with no outside pressure and very few people. Sometimes I bring someone with me so I have more than my hand to fuck.” I snort, rolling my eyes. He smirks. “I don’t know. When I made plans to come out, I immediately thought of inviting Roux. His answer was that he was available for a few days, but then he had plans.”
We meet eyes and we both know that he knows that’s a lie. “Ah,” I say.
Gabe nods vaguely, turning his attention back to Roux. “So yeah, he’s not interested in me. Not like that. I’m good enough for a distraction, but nothing else.”
I winch. “I don’t think he means it like that.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I know. We met at a shitty time in his life. I get it. Maybe under different circumstances things would have happened differently.”
As I watch my brother, he turns and waves. I raise my hand to wave back. Well, I’ve just learned a lot more about both of these men in the few short minutes I’ve been here. Roux is spiraling somewhere inside himself. And Gabe definitely likes my brother much more than he’s admitted to.
