Page 3 of Catching Him

Chipper held up his hands in surrender. “We’re going. Tell me your name, though.”

Baylor walked away.

Chipper flashed Oakley an unrepentant smile. “I think he likes me. Do know who he is?”

Oakley shook his head at Chipper’s ego. He couldn’t even imagine what it must be like to be him. “Yeah. That’s Baylor Keates. He’s the wedding planner.”

They headed for the tables. Chipper released a low whistle. “Damn. He put all this together? There must be five hundred people here.”

Oakley nodded. It was impressive. They found their table and sat. Oakley was more than a little relieved when Chipper found his name card at a different table. Chipper was the type to monopolize the entire night. Oakley had asked Eric to join him for a reason. He wanted to spend time together.

Eric looked his way the instant they were seated. “Well, he’s definitely something.”

There was no denying that. “Yeah, but I imagine it takes a fuck-ton of confidence to become the MMA Light Heavyweight champion.”

Eric’s gaze slid toward the table where Chipper sat. Oakley followed his stare. As Oakley expected, he had everyone’s attention. “There are a lot of athletes here.”

Oakley took a drink of the tea in front of him. He winced. Oakley hated tea. “Yeah. Rocky has had a lot of clients over the years and met a lot of very talented athletes.” He motioned for a nearby server. At least she had just dropped off plates at a different table, so he hoped she worked there.

She was all smiles as she rushed to his side. “How can I help?”

“How do we get a real drink around here?”

She motioned toward a line of bars set up around the room. “Visit any station and they’ll help you out.”

He nodded his thanks before focusing on Eric. “What would you like?”

Eric tried the tea. He immediately set it away from him. “Do you mind seeing if they have some sort of soda, or even just water? I’m not picky, but I can’t drink that.” He motioned toward his discarded glass.

“On it.” He headed for the closest bar.

Jayme was already there, waiting for his drink. He flashed a smile at Oakley when he noticed him. “Hey. I take it you tried the tea?”

Oakley laughed. “Yeah. I’m more of a beer guy anyhow.”

Jayme glanced toward the table where Oakley had left Eric. He looked as if he wanted to say something. Oakley wasn’t surprised. He had been waiting for someone to be the first. “So, Jakk’s ex, huh?”

“He’s actually a really great guy.” Oakley wanted to say more and defend Eric, but he didn’t know how much Eric wanted people to know. He ordered a beer and a Coke.

“You know one reason he’s no longer with Jakk is because he cheated, right?”

Oakley’s gaze shot to Jayme. “Who? Jakk?” He wondered if Rocky knew that.

Jayme shook his head. “Eric. Rumor is he had someone else for more than a year before Jakk finally put him out.”

“Oh.” Oakley knew all about that, but he also knew something no one else did. It wasn’t true. One night, when they had been deep in their cups, Eric had confessed he had done a lot of things, desperately trying to make Jakk get real about them. One thing had been pretending to see someone else, hoping the jealousy or even rage would shake up the situation Eric had found himself in. Being someone’s dirty little secret was enough to break anyone. Oakley got it. It hadn’t worked, though, and it was just one more thing Eric had to live with. It hurt Oakley’s chest to see the way Eric punished himself even though he was the only one who got hurt. He wouldn’t humiliate Eric by admitting the motives of a broken man.

“I’m not worried about that bullshit.”

Jayme’s gaze moved over Oakley’s face, as if digging for the truth. “Okay. If you say so.” Jayme took his drink and walked away.

Oakley rolled his eyes. He didn’t need anyone to protect him. If anything, Eric was the one who needed to be warned. Oakley wasn’t like Jakk. He had no shame when he wanted someone, and he wanted Eric. Eric’s gorgeous face and sad soul had caught Oakley’s attention. Anyone he had ever been with could attest. That wasn’t a good thing. He didn’t quit.

Eric had never wanted to go home so badly in his entire life. He felt like everyone watched him and judged him. Eric couldn’t even find the will to get plastered. He worried a single drop of alcohol would make him puke… or cry. Either way, he would end up humiliated. Eric hated feeling judged. It upset him Oakley would ask him to do this. In fact, his paranoia had spread from everyone watching him to Oakley, setting him up for a huge bout of degradation. He was just so damn used to men fucking up his life. This entire situation was a nightmare.

“What happened to getting drunk and crying?”

Eric tried for a smile. He looked Oakley’s way. Oakley had made the inquiry close to Eric’s ear, where no one else could hear. When Eric turned his head, Oakley was still there. Eric had never been so close to him. His eyes were twice as beautiful inches away.

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