Page 23 of Ballads of Lines Blurred

“What happens if Milo and I become serious?”

“Then I back away and let you two be together.” Even saying it hurt.

With gentle hands on my hips, Slater eased me off him until I stood, so he could do the same and take measurable steps away from me. “I can’t do this. I can’t treat you like a plaything to only take out when my head gets too full and my body quakes in fear from the panic riding me.”

“I’m letting you do just that. I want it.”

He turned toward me, his hands balling into fists. “No, I won’t fuck you and kick you out.”

“I want you to.”

“Goddammit, Cody, no!”

I erased the space between us in three long strides, reached up to clasp his cheeks, and slammed my mouth against his. I couldn’t resist him any longer. I couldn’t let him put distance between us when what I wanted was within reach. Maybe we’d go down in a ball of flames or maybe I’d finally be able to get him to see me as someone he could spend his life with. Either way, I was in it now. There was no backing out.

Slater put his arms around my waist and crushed me to him. His lips parted and I dove in for a real taste of him. Our tongues met, each battling for dominance, but the longer we kissed, the harder we pressed together, the more he gave in to what I could offer him. Slater let me lead, let me drive what we were doing until he was trembling against me and not from anxiety.

Pulling back, I fought to catch my breath and end this where we were. He wasn’t ready for me to show him how good I could be. Hopefully, I gave him enough of a taste to become addicted. “I’m giving you my number and you’re going to call me when you need me. Got it?”

“Cody…”

“I’m going to be here for you because I want to be. No buts. We already went through everything. You talk to Milo and call me when you need me. I will always come to you, Slater, no matter what.”

With that, I pressed a kiss to his lips and turned for the door. I’d leave my number downstairs, on my way out, where he could find it. This was either the smartest or the stupidest thing I’d ever done.

10

MILO

A packed house at Untouchable was just what I needed to push the fact I hadn’t heard from Slater since the party out of my head. It had been a week and not a word. This was another reason why I didn’t get involved with anyone. I couldn’t get all twisted if I wasn’t waiting for a guy to contact me. And because I didn’t hear from him, I didn’t contact Cody. The words I’d said, that this wasn’t the end, still lingered in my mind. Although not strong enough for me to text him mundane randomness.

Before this thing with Slater, there were now and then calls or texts from one-night stands I mistakenly gave my number to, but I brushed them off. I wanted nothing more to do with them. Some tried to cling. If they got to be too much, I’d block their number and pretend they never existed. Mature, I know. That was what happened when I fucked someone and left without promises of more. It was better that way, until now. Until emotions were involved and I was a scattered mess.

The music surrounded me while Romeo commanded the stage. He was one of the top dancers who drew crowds as well as money. I didn’t get tips like the dancers did. Dexen paid me well enough where I didn’t need them. Plus, Hale and I both had the money we inherited when our parents died. After we lost them, we decided to sell our dad’s business. It wasn’t in either of our plans to follow in his footsteps and join the corporate life. He didn’t expect us to, so while it hurt to sell something our dad had built, he wouldn’t have wanted us to hang on to it for him. Even without the business, Hale and I would have been fine. Their life insurance policies plus their savings amounted to more money than we knew what to do with. I would give it back in a second if it meant we got to see them again.

Hale and I liked to work though. We wanted to follow our passions, so that was what we continued to do. He danced. I was a deejay. I just wished our parents would have been around to see us succeed and be happy.

I made certain to time the music perfectly, so the beat slowed as Romeo went to take his exit. Leaning toward the microphone, I told the crowd to give it up for him, then switched over to music that could play while I took a quick break. Dexen had other deejays he employed, and we worked in shifts. It didn’t matter to me what nights I was on. I made the same amount either way.

Hale grabbed my arm as soon as I got to the hallway near the back of the stage. He pulled me into an empty dressing room. Set to go on next, he was dressed in a school uniform with tight plaid pants and a white shirt with a matching plaid blazer. He even had a small pocket square with his initials embroidered on the blazer beneath it.

“Dex sent me to grab you,” he said in a hushed voice.

“Literally? Your grip is too tight.” I shook him off. “What does he want?”

“Slater’s on the outskirts of the floor, all moody and shit. I haven’t spoken to him, but apparently Dex tried to talk to him, and he waved him off.”

“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do about that. I haven’t talked to him since Sunday.”

“Right, because you don’t know how to use a phone.” He dramatically rolled his eyes.

“Don’t give me your shit.”

“Just go talk to him.”

I shook my head. “Nothing good will come from it. I was happy before him. Now I’m all…” I waved my hands in front of my face. “Fucked up.”

“It’s called feelings, Milo.”

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