Page 139 of The Influencer

I hold up a hand. “Stop. No. I don’t wanna hear that shit. You had your mouth so full of Sawyer’s cock when I first got together with Olivia you didn’t have two words to say to me about her. There were eye rolls and disgusted looks, but you never once took the time to sit me down and say, dude—this bitch is about to suck the life out of you?—”

“Would you have listened?”

“Would you have known? Did you have some fucking crystal ball that told you my relationship with her would turn out like it did? No. You took your eye off the ball for too long, and by the time you started paying attention again, it was too late. So don’t give me this best friend shit. We’re brothers. And we’ve been close, I’ll give you that, but your issues always come first, and I always support you.”

“Ash, hang on?—”

I can’t, though. I have to let it all out for once. I shake my head. “You and Sawyer were toxic as fuck when you got together. You nearly ruined your whole goddamn career for that man, but did I tell you to do anything other than be careful? No. I sat at dinner, and I nodded and smiled, and I let you make your own choices, and here I am tonight, celebrating your success. I’m happy for you. For both of you. But if you try to tell me how to handle my relationship with Jade or try to take any credit for making me see the ‘don’t-rush-into-anything-too-soon’ light, then I need you to shut the fuck up. I learned my own lessons, and you were actually surprisingly unhelpful.”

Adam’s jaw tightens, and he swallows hard. Shoving his hands deep into his pants pockets, he drops his head. “This is how it’s gonna be? You’re gonna make me feel like shit at my own engagement party because I tried to help you?”

“If that’s how you wanna see it, I can’t stop you.”

“You have changed, you know? You always said you were the nice one.”

“I am. And it’s fucking cost me.” I sigh heavily, exhausted and out of words. “Come on, let’s get back to the party.”

He shakes his head.

“Adam.”

“I don’t want to go back in there.”

“Sawyer will?—”

Adam cuts me off. “Sawyer can catch up with me later.”

I grab his arm before he turns to walk away again. “Brother, fuck. Just take a breath. You can’t leave this party. You’re gonna get through it just like you’ve done with a hundred other things that were a million times harder. I’ve still got your back. Always.”

Adam pulls me into a sudden hug that takes my breath away. He’s a strong motherfucker, and he’s not holding back tonight. “I love you. I’m sorry. I should have been there.”

“You should’ve,” I say. “But I know you will be next time.”

“I will,” he swears. “I’ll do better. You’re still the coolest fucking person I know.”

I laugh, but he doesn’t loosen his grip. He’s still wrapped around me like a boa constrictor. “When did I get cool?”

“When did you ever think you weren’t?”

39

jade

There’s a porn star who’s been checking me out since I first spotted him by the bar. No matter how close I cram myself to Asher on the couch we’ve been lounging on for the last half hour, he won’t stop with the suggestive looks.

I recognized him right away. Lucas Lopez. He’s a little like me, but instead of dancing as a side hustle, he stars in actual adult films. He’s also an influencer, a part-time camboy, and his dick is legendary. A strict top, he’s all brawn and bravado. Again, not my type, but I don’t think the same applies for him. He eats men like me for snacks.

“That dude by the bar has been watching you since we came over here,” Asher says talking directly into my ear because the music is so unnecessarily loud for a party. So fucking Gideon.

“I know. Would you mind putting your arm around me or something? It’s getting annoying.”

Asher laughs. I’m the only one drinking, but he’s laid back and loose, manspreading for days while I’m over here being fucked repeatedly in the ass by Lopez’s eyes. “Do you know him?” Asher asks.

“I know of him.”

“Oh. Who is he, then?”

“He’s an adult film star. And he has an OnlyFans.”

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