Page 39 of Riley

“Yeah, but how many guys do you know actuallylistento gay romance?”

Eric’s eyes sparkled for a moment as he smiled. “I think you’d be surprised.”

His tone made me feel at ease, which was truly dangerous. Being around Eric, it was just so easy to be myself.

To talk, to play.

So, I didn’t think twice before word vomiting out, “Are you? Into gay romance novels, I mean?”

Eric laughed, and I loved the sound.

That first night I’d seen him in the bar, playing pool, I’d assumed he was just a cocky asshole who didn’t like to lose. Who thought he was all that and a bag of chips.

But in the days since then, I’d come to learn that while he most certainly did not like to lose, he wasn’t some cocky asshole that was full of himself. If anything, I thought his cocky attitude was a front for covering up the person he really was, and that was something I could relate to. I wore a mask too.

Eric was funny, and easy to talk to. He was attractive, and mysterious, and I really liked being around him. I liked whoIwas around him.

Unapologetic.

Free.

Could this... could this serendipitous thing be something more?

More than just friends or a plus one type situation?

I dared to wonder what that would be like.

A lot of fucking fun, probably.

Eric shifted in his seat, propping his knee up as he got comfortable.

“Um, not quite novels, but I’m well versed in smut, you could say,” he said, his voice dropping an octave to sound evenbetterthan my audio narrator.

Maybe he should be narrating audiobooks...

Well versed in smut.

The words alone made my cock twitch and my heart jump.

I was so out of my league.

“Well, good,” I said, swallowing harshly. “Because I’m fairly certain I’m going to need your help tonight.”

“For the bachelor party, you mean?” he asked.

I nodded. “It’s kind of this unspoken thing between my brother and the other party members. They all think...” I started.

“They all think what?” Eric asked curiously.

The words were on the tip of my tongue. I knew what I wanted to say, but somehow saying it out loud made it a thousand times worse.

I looked at Eric, at his pristine blue eyes that coaxed me like a lamb to slaughter.

No embarrassment, no judgment.

“I know they think I’m going to make it lame. Like I don’t know what’s sexy, or what, you know, most guys are into.”

Eric raised an eyebrow, in surprise. “How so?”

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