Page 99 of Ride a Cowboy

Nope, he was wrong. She was still plenty pissed off.

“The best,” Jack agreed, picking up one of the glasses.

She smirked at Jack, ignoring Oakley. “Yeah, I’m a regular humanitarian.” She walked away before Oakley could stop her.

Jack clinked his glass against Oakley’s and they both shot the liquor back.

“Okay, you want this next shot, you have to tell me why you deserve it,” Jack said, pointing to the two remaining shots.

Oakley frowned. “I have to deserve it?”

“Yep. Two shots to the guy with the worst day.”

“Fine.” Oakley figured this would be a piece of cake. Because he’d just had the day from hell. “I hit one of my best friends today.”

Jack arched a brow. “Okay, that’s bad. But,” he said, as Oakley reached for the tequila. “I’m in love with someone I shouldn’t be. I’ll never be good enough for her, but I can’t let her go.”

Oakley’s eyes narrowed. “You really wanna do this?”

“Decide who most deserves to get shitfaced?” Jack asked. “Absolutely. Bring it. I’m the biggest asshole at this table.”

“Don’t be so sure.” Oakley sat up a little straighter. It was a stupid contest to try to win, but Oakley needed a fucking win today. If it was for Asshole of the Year, then so be it.

Before Jack could drink the last shot, Oakley said, “I’m in love with someone who feels the same way but can’t face his feelings for me.” He paused, then emphasized, “His feelings” one more time, just to make sure Jack understood how fucked-up it all was.

Jack hesitated. “Dammit.” He handed the shot glass over.

Oakley felt a strange sense of accomplishment as he swigged it down and then chased it with a gulp of beer.

“Not sure I’m going to be much help. Not into dude on dude myself,” Jack said. “Pussies are just too good. Why don’t you want that?”

Oakley laughed. It was either that or cry. So he just laughed harder. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Jack he shouldn’t knock it until he tried it, but he remembered how much Joel had freaked out when Oakley touched him.

Instead, he focused on the one thing he and Jack had in common. “Pussies are so good.” Oakley clinked his beer glass against Jack’s bottle. “I love pussy.”

“But you like dicks too,” Jack said.

Oakley nodded. It was pointless to deny it. It wasn’t like everyone in Maris didn’t know he was bi. “That I do.”

“How come?” Jack asked, leaning in. “I’m being serious. What’s the dude thing like? Not bad, huh?”

Oakley remembered the kiss he had shared with Joel. It had been intense. Brute strength wrapped in a need so powerful, it had made Oakley dizzy. “No, bro, not bad at all. You don’t have to be nice about it. It’s sweaty and rough and, well, it’s a good way to get out some aggression and get your rocks off…all at the same time.”

“Looks like you worked off some aggression today,” Jack said, pointing to Oakley’s eye again.

“Yeah, but I didn’t get my rocks off.”

“So you like being the fucker or the fuckee?” Jack asked.

Oakley snorted, grateful to be able to talk about this stuff with someone. “I’m pretty often the fuckee, actually.” He fucked women, but when he was with a guy, he liked being on the receiving end. He could only assume it was because his first time had been that way.

Oakley wondered why he’d never hung out with Jack because from the gossip he’d heard about the guy, Jack had been just as wild as Oakley when he’d been younger. Oakley had never been able to walk a completely straight-and-narrow line—smoking pot, stealing beer from the convenience store when he was under age, driving his car way too fast—and he’d heard similar stories about Jack.

“My college roommate, Brian, was gay. Great guy. One of my best friends. He got wasted one night just before graduation. Admitted he’d always had a crush on me. Asked if he’d ever hit on me…if I would have been tempted.”

“What did you say?”

Jack shook his head. “Said no. I wouldn’t. Could tell it hurt him. Sort of had me reconsidering my answer.”

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