Page 69 of Tell Me Lies: Manlove Edition

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Chapter One

“You want me to do what?” Will stared at the paper proposal. He hadn’t seen a proposal for art done on paper in forever. Everything seemed to come through email or mass shared files. The paper version was so … archaic.

He scanned through the information and his brain damn near misfired. Carsten Gold. He hadn’t heard that name in a long time. A shiver ran the length of his spine. Back in the day, Carsten had been mighty handsome. Unlike Will, he hadn’t had a gangly teen phase. Nope. Carsten always looked hot. Now that he had ten years on his frame, he looked even better.

But Carsten Gold wasn’t all that shimmered. Not in the least. Carsten had been the bane of Will’s existence. He’d done everything possible to make Will feel like an outcast.

Not that Marissa needed to know his life history.

He turned his attention to his fellow professor. “First, I thought we only did digital props. Second, when did we start catering to celebrities? Third, no. I’m not doing this.” He refused to take part.

“I’m sorry?” Marissa Kline shook her head. “You’re the best with graphic design and the artist demanded you.”

Sure he did. Probably to demean him again. Or to give him ten tons of shit. No, thank you. He set his jaw. “Artist?” He was an artist. Carsten was a creator. “He’s a musician. That’s not art.” It was, but now that he’d lost his temper, little coming out of his mouth would make sense.

“Why are you so bitter about this?”

If she only knew. “No reason. I’m just not feeling the spark for this project. Not being inspired.”

Marissa sighed. “Not feeling it? You’re kidding me. It’s a simple poster. The management is trying to rehab his image after coming out, so he’s doing campus shows. It’s not that complicated. He wants a basic poster and in your style. How hard is that?”

She was right. The concept wasn’t hard. The execution wasn’t either. Dealing with Carsten … now that was the hard part. If she knew how Carsten had treated him, she might not be so welcoming. But she had no idea and he wasn’t going to disclose.

She might not be cool with the job if she found out he was collaborating with his former bully. Then again, she might push him harder to do it.

He scrubbed one hand across his forehead. “Fine. I’ll do it.” To be honest, he couldn’t look away from the image of Carsten. The man had only grown hotter with time. The same chiseled features, same mischievous grin on his face, and those biceps … but Carsten peddled in handsome. He had to in order to sell tickets. His music was good, but he had to have the I to go with it.

If only his attitude matched his overall look.

“So you’ll do it?” Marissa asked.

“Yes.” She’d push until he agreed and part of him did want to work on the project.

“Great.” She grinned. Her green eyes sparkled and the spring returned to her step. “I’ll get the rest of the files over to you today. Some of it is in digital form, but the initial proposal was print.” She shrugged.

“Sure.” His stomach churned. He wasn’t thrilled. Hadn’t been since he’d seen Carsten’s face smiling back at him. Why did he have to come back into his life? Why now?

He’d thought he’d moved on. Thought he wasn’t ever going to revisit his past. Then Carsten happened.

He could still hear Carsten’s taunts. ”You’re so gay. You’re so boring. You think everyone loves you.” Carsten hadn’t been right, but that hadn’t stopped him. Then there was the time he’d pantsed Will in front of the football team. Real nice. Carsten had hit him, too. “I’ll knock you right into next week just for existing.” What a gem.

“You know he’s cute.” Deanna sat beside him. “And single.”

“And gay?” He’d heard this song and dance one thousand times before. A cute, single gay man must be his next conquest. Except his shyness tended to win out and he wasn’t interested. “I’ll pass.”

“What?” Deanna squeaked. “You can’t.”

She was a sweet girl and the best grad assistant he could ask for, but he wasn’t about to turn to her for dating suggestions. “Not my type.” It was a lousy answer, but it’d do for now.

“No one is.”

He pulled a folder onto the photo of Carsten, blocking the view. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Deanna folded her arms and leaned against his desk. “You really want to know?”

He didn’t, but he couldn’t help himself. “Yes.”

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