Page 3 of Gunner

“Because I’m not a whore.”

“We need the money,” he reminds me as I shake my head.

“Then you go blow his ass. I’m not doing it,” I protest as I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.

“You’re a real bitch you know that?”

“A bitch who isn’t selling herself for money,” I defend myself.

“A bitch who could, and then we wouldn’t have to live on the streets,” he adds.

“I’m not forcing you to be here, am I? In fact, you can run home to mommy anytime you feel like it, Rick. Don’t act like this is your life.” Fuck him for making me have to say it again, and fuck him for having a life to go back to. It makes me sick. He lives out here because he wants to, not because he has to.

“Don’t do that shit tonight,” he warns as he stalks toward me.

“Do what? Tell the truth?”

“You don’t know shit.”

“I saw your house, Rick. Don’t give me that shit.”

“Yeah, I can go back there and be Rick, the proper straight boy my mom thought she raised, or I can be here and be the gay man I know I am. Not much of a choice, is it?”

“Play the games they want you to play, Rick. She doesn’t know what you do at night, work, or whatever the hell it is you do.”

“She knows, Nat. Why are we arguing over this? Are you trying to get rid of me?” he asks. I shake my head. I would never want to do that because that would mean I’m alone once again, and I don’t think I can handle that.

“Of course not. I’m sorry. I just won’t whore myself out to anyone.”

“I know. Come here.” I step into his waiting arms, which wrap around me and pull me in close.

“I shouldn’t have asked that,” he murmurs.

“It’s fine. I get it. We need money.”

“And a shower.”

“And that. Let’s just go for a walk,” I tell him. He nods his head, agreeing with me. We pull apart and hold hands as we walk down the road. Instead of going our usual way, we take a right and head down the block. It’s a nice night. The wind is blowing ever so slightly as I walk hand in hand with my best friend.

“What’s that noise?” he asks as we get closer to the sound.

“A party. We should drop in,” I laugh. Rick laughs with me as we get closer to take a look. There are cars and bikes everywhere. I knew there was a biker clubhouse over here but I’ve never ventured close enough to see it.

“What’s going on?” Rick asks one of the girls, who looks way too happy to be heading in that direction.

“A party. Open night, anyone is welcome. Free food and drinks,” she replies as she wiggles her eyebrows. That catches my attention. Free food and drinks? I look up at Rick, and he has to be thinking the same thing as me. I smirk at him, and Rick nods his head as we walk in that direction together.

“You don’t think they will notice us?” I ask as we get closer. Rick glances around before shaking his head.

“There’s too many people here. They won’t notice us,” he tries to reassure me as we approach the clubhouse. The music is banging, and I find myself getting into the beat. I shake my ass as we walk inside and see everyone dancing and having a good time. Rick laughs as we make our way through the crowd.

“Dance with me,” I yell over the music. He nods his head, and we start dancing together in the middle of the room. There are so many people here that I doubt they’re going to notice us among them. So I relax and let the beat take me over.

I’m actually laughing and having a good time when Rick says he’s going to grab us a drink. I nod my head and keep moving to the music when I feel someone behind me. I think about stopping, but instead, I keep moving to the beat when a hand rests on my hip. Heat sparks through my veins as I turn my head and look up at the guy. He smiles down at me but keeps dancing, not saying a word. I figure he’s just wanting to dance so I dance along with him.

Rick eventually comes back with a drink and eyes the man behind me suspiciously which causes me to laugh. He must be one of the bikers because he’s wearing a vest. Two hands pull mybody back against the guy, and I shrug, going with it. Rick is just dancing and having a great time when I feel warm breath against my neck. A shiver runs over my body when I feel lips touching my skin.

“You’re so goddamn beautiful.” A voice says in my ear. He’s also drunk. I can smell the liquor wafting off him.

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