Page 13 of Drag Me Up

“Speaking of Kink Manor, it looks like most of the gang is here again tonight,” he tells me and waves over to their usual table. “I think the new guy from the neighborhood, the professor, is still here somewhere as well, but he said he wasn’t staying after the show.”

I peer around the room and spot Lucky, Spencer, Eli, Jay, and Scott watching the show and laughing at Lizzerati’s antics. Tonight, she is trying out a new operatic act. It’s better than her recorder playing, that’s for damn sure.

I’m not seeing much that sparks my interest until my gaze reaches the bar. Tyson is flirting like his life depends on it to the point he’s looking rather pathetic. Yeah, most nights his tips do depend on it, but his actions are screaming of desperation. Ugh, I’m going to have to save this guy from the overzealous baby gay.

“I’m gonna walk the room,” I tell Theo as I head for the bar. “I might cut out early if this is as lively as things are going to get tonight. Boss-man can cut me for all I care at this point.”

I notice his confusion, but I have stopped giving a fuck. I don’t need this fucking job. I got enough money to live a couple lifetimes. I don’t need to be disrespected.

What I need is to get the fuck away from everyone and everything.

My boss is putting me in timeout like I’m a toddler becausehecouldn’t be bothered to be clear enough in his explanation last week about the shows. My roommates are fucking stalking me like I’m a walking time bomb. The only time I’ve had to myself over the past week that was longer than a half an hour is when I’m asleep, and I get the feeling that they’re checking up on me then as well.

Ihatebeing a prisoner in my own home. I lived it for the first twenty one years of my life. I don’t need it now, as an almost twenty six year old.

Fuck…

Tomorrow is my birthday. That means Monday is…

Not going there.

I never get to celebrate my birthday. It’s time I push past…that event. I’m going to treat myself. I deserve to cut loose for a change,

Decision made, I saunter up to the bar.

“Ty-baby, get me a vodka tonic,” I say loud enough to pull his attention from the slightly uncomfortable looking man he was eyeing up. “And give that gentleman a free drink to make up for your pathetic attempts to flirt with someone who is clearly uninterested.”

The man turns to me with a nod and my heart stops. Well, not literally, buthot damnthis man is like Heath Ledger and Karl Urban had a baby and oh my Dolly Parton blessings, I want him.

Now, I understand why Tyson was trying so hard. Iwould give my left testicle for a single night with him. Hell, take them both. From his sexy scruff to the hints of muscle under that tight white t-shirt, he is all man. And the hair? Sooooo fucking attractive to see a man wear his hair longer and not pull it into a freaking man bun to go out. The only thing that would top it would be if he wore glasses. I have a thing for guys with glasses. My first crush had crazy hair and glasses, and I guess I never really got over him.

But I’m not going there. Mattie is my distant past. He left me for a good reason. I heard through the salon gossip line with that he got engaged to a nice banker lady or something last year. That news officially crushed my heart, but I didn’t have it in me to be sad in front of the girls at the salon. I couldn’t risk it getting back to Ms. Sara that I go to the same salon as her. She’s the best lady I’ve ever met. I used to wish she was my mom, too.

“Thanks for the drink,” the man says pulling my thoughts away from the only man, well boy, I have ever let into my heart. “I didn’t see you up on the stage yet. I was just closing out my tab to head home for the night, but I wouldn’t want to miss a performance from someone as beautiful as you.”

Be still my fucking heart!

Or rather my libido. He looks like thisANDhe’s a smooth talker? I don’t know if I can have just a taste and leave it at that with this one.

“Well thank you for the compliment, Sweetie, but I’m not hitting the stage tonight. I was about to head out myself.”

Tyson tries to interrupt, but I throw a bar towel at his head. I will not let him fuck this up for me. The man wasn’t interested in the young bartender, but there is something in his eyes that makes me want him in ways I haveneverwanted another man.

“Would you like to accompany poor little me back to my hotel room for the evening? Maybe have some coffee… Lewis?” I get his name from reading the credit card slip he’s signing. I suggest we meet there while wrapping my hands around his bicep, loving the fact that the strength I feel isn’t visible to the naked eye. Although, I certainly hope to see a lot of naked in my near future.

“I think I might enjoy that,” he says after only a slight hesitation. “I just have to tell the people I came with that I’m heading out. What hotel are you staying at?”

11

MATT

I didn’t bother to correct the cutie when they called me Lewis. I’m not sure why, but having this person call me Lewis feels wrong. I’ll have to correct them later if it keeps bothering me. Most of the people in my life for the last eight years or so use my first name. Only the people closest to me call me Matt. Well, now all of mynewfriends do thanks to Jackson, but for a long time, it was only those in my heart that would call me that, even in my dreams.

“I’m heading out,” I tell the table as I grab my button up shirt off the back of my chair. “I maybe met someone and want to see where it goes.”

I knew it was wishful thinking that I would get away with saying that, but it is the truth. I’m fairly certain the person at the bar is the same one I saw last weekend that disappeared from Pegasus. Up close, I could tell that, physically at least, they were assigned male at birth orare truly physically intersex. I saw the adam’s apple when they were talking to me.

Is it confusing as fuck to have your body decide to perk up for someone that you’re completely unsure of their gender?

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