Page 54 of Provoking the Punter

Chester nodded. “I liked him. He was nice and stable and…” He’d been a career-driven, up-and-coming engineer who fit into his workaholic lifestyle. “He was good for me.”

“So is fiber and flossing.”

Chester nodded. The relationship had been routine; a place of calm in the chaos that had been the early days of setting up and running Bathtubs.

“The fact that you’re agreeing tells you everything you need to know about that relationship.”

“He was perfect on paper.” And they had both made huge advancements in their career because of that stability.

“But not exciting. He didn’t make your heart jump when you saw him?”

Chester splashed at Preston. “No. But I thought I loved him.”

Looking back at the last year they were together, they had both been seeking a way to break up without hurting the other person. Which at least meant they both cared.

“And this time?” Preston asked.

“He’s so wrong for me my heart might be beating faster out of fear. Unfortunately, my dick doesn’t know any better.” Nor did his ass.

“Are you afraid of him?”

Chester glanced at Preston. “No. He’s not a biker or a criminal. He’s just younger, less experienced, with a job that requires a lot of travel.”

That was about all he could say without outing Garrett.

Preston hopped out of the pool to sit on the side, leaning back on his elbows to soak in the cooler morning sun. “So you’re worried he’s going to leave you the same way Michael did.”

“I’m not.” Maybe a little. “I’m more worried that when he’s done with his gay training wheels, he’ll leave me and find someone… better… more comfortable with what he does.”

“Now I’m really curious. Is he a spy? Contract killer? Stripper?”

Chester stared at his supposed friend. “Do I look like I’d date any of them?”

“Well, you said he’s not your type.”

“True.”

“Is he an actor? Oh my God, he’s someone famous. He’s got a bigger ego than you. Which gay celebrities are in the city at the moment? Musician or actor? Give me a clue?”

Chester pressed his lips together, but he needed someone to tell him this was all mistake and that he needed to run before it was too late. “He’s not out.”

Preston grinned at him. “Did I hear that correctly?”

“Yes. He’s negotiating coming out.” He made air quotes. “It has to be managed.”

In his mind, those words were spoken in Caitlin’s voice. He’d spent far too much time around football players and their PR machine to think any differently. When had that become his life?

When you made the deal and started using them for your own leverage. In exchange, they used him. And everyone was happy.

Is that what was happening with Garrett?

Were they using each other?

Did it matter if they were?

It did to him. He didn’t want to be used, or be the user, though he couldn’t deny that he was having fun exploring things he hadn’t done since before Michael. Then there was the way Garrett looked at him, and the way his own heart responded. He fiddled with his lip ring, his teeth flicking over the ball.

“I’m sorry to hear that, because from the look on your face, he’s what you want, not what you think you should have.”

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