Page 7 of Pretty Baby

Byron frowned. “I haven’t played with anyone at the club here so at least that won’t be weird. Who is it?”

Grant pressed his lips together. He felt nervous about telling Byron about Caleb. He didn’t want Byron to say anything negative about his boy.

“It isn’t Avery, is it?” Byron said with authority. “I’ve gotta say, man, that is not cool. Not only is Jace your best friend but he and Avery belong together.”

Grant barked out a laugh. “Jesus! No! It’s not Avery. And your right, Jace and Avery are perfect together.”

“Then who is it? Why are you hesitating?”

“Caleb Levell.” Grant watched closely for Byron for his reaction.

“Huh,” Byron sat back. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Grant opened his mouth to explain but Byron began to nod.

“I can see it though,” Byron said. He lifted his mug and finished off his coffee.

“You can?”

“Sure,” Byron answered. “That boy needs someone who will see more than what is skin deep.”

Confused Grant just stared at his friend.

Byron laughed. “I haven’t been going to the club as long as you have. When I joined I could see that Caleb was acting out for attention. You know the saying ‘bad attention is better than no attention’.”

“Yeah.” Grant rubbed his palms roughly over his face. “I didn’t see it until last night.”

“I’d say it’s not too late. Not if that smile was any indication.”

“That boy is not gonna know what hit him,” Grant preened.

Byron laughed. “Just make sure he has his safe word.”

“You boys ready to order?” Barb asked as she returned to their table.

Both he and Byron confirmed they knew their order and waited until Barb was away from the table before picking up the conversation.

“I sent him a dozen red roses just now,” Grant confessed.

Byron smiled. “Good plan. He’s probably never had flowers sent to him before."

“That’s what I suspect.”

“What’s next?”

“A fancy dinner of course,” Grant told him.

Byron laughed. “I’m going to enjoy watching you romance this young man.”

“I plan to make sure he enjoys every moment of it,” Grant declared.

Caleb

“Roses?” Caleb asked the delivery woman. “Who would send me flowers?”

“I don’t know sir. Could you just sign for them?” she responded with the same sour expression she’d had the entire time.

“Oh yes! Sorry.” Caleb grabbed the clipboard and signed quickly before reaching into his jeans and pulling out a crumpled twenty-dollar bill.

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