Page 23 of Unexpected Boyfriends

Now Deano looks even more horrified.

“You’re not serious about him, are you? Axel, he’s akid.”

“He’s eighteen. He's older than he looks.”

“And you’re what – twenty-two? I’m serious. Be careful. Someone's gonna get hurt here.”

“No-one’s getting hurt, okay? Oh,Fuck!” I leave Deano without finishing the conversation and head towards the restrooms. I just saw Jordy heading that way and Justin is still in there.

JUSTIN

I’m washing my hands at the basin when I become aware of a presence looming beside me. I don’t pay any attention, because we’re in the restrooms after all, and you just don’t, but then a deep voice next to me slurs “I gotta warn you, he’s using you.”

I look around to see what’s going on and realize the guy is talking to me. It’s Axel’s ex.Thatfigures.

Now that he’s got my attention, the dude keeps going.

“Always goes for the young guys,” he tells me, shaking his head in what I’m sure is fake sympathy, “because you’re inexperienced and all easy to manipulate. He’ll fuck you and leave you, like he did me.”

“Fuck off,” I tell him. Nothing he says resonates with the Axel I know.

“Just trying to save you some heartache down the road, Jamie.”

“Justin.” The jerk can’t even get my name right. He’s half off his face too, the smell of alcohol on his breath is even stronger now.

“Unless you’re just in it for the same thing,” he adds with a leer. “In which case, I can help you out right now.”

He puts his hand on my shoulder and gives a little push, backing me towards the cubicles.

“Leave me the fuck alone,” I snarl at him, shoving him away. He stumbles, not expecting that much resistance from a guy my size, but I’m a lot stronger than I look and he's pretty drunk. I storm out of the bathroom, furious.

I know he’s wrong about Axel. After all, Axel is the one who’s been putting the brakes on our sexual relationship, andintellectually, I know that Jordy is probably trying to put a wedge between Axel and myself,butalthough I know this, he’s prodded at my insecurity. The age difference between Axel and myself. How can a guy that age truly find me interesting? And even if he does now, how long will that last? I'm still in school, for fuck's sake!

I’m annoyed at Jordy for hitting on me when he knows I’m with Axel, but I’m mostly angry at myself. For listening to Axel’s slime-ball of an ex, and letting this niggling doubt settle in my brain.

AXEL

I arrive outside the restrooms to see Jordy saying something to Justin. My mouth falls open in rage when he dares put a hand on Justin’s shoulder and pushes him towards the stalls. Justin says something which sounds a lot likeleave me the fuck alone,and before I can intervene, pushes him roughly enough that Jordy, who's clearly as drunk as a skunk, stumbles. Justin steps round him and quickly leaves the restroom, almost bumping into me on his way out.

He looks furious and he grabs my hand and drags me to the exit.

“Come on, let’s get the fuck out of here.”

He’s shaking and his grip is so tight, it’s hurting but I let him pull me along.

“What did he say to you?” I ask quietly, once we’ve made it to the car.

“Nothing important,” Justin snaps.

“He’s upset you,” I observe and Justin doesn’t argue. Worse, he doesn’t say anything at all.

“Let’s get out of here, go to the beach,” I suggest. “There’s one just down the road. Two minutes.”

Silence for a minute. Then, “Ok.”

By the time we get to the beach, some of the tension has eased from his shoulders, and the fury on Justin’s face has been replaced with chagrin. He comes around to my side of the car in the empty carpark and wraps his arms around me.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

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