Page 33 of Gold Rush
“Yeah. I know. I’ll come with.”
“No,” he said sternly. “I’m sorry, baby, but this isn’t a time to scheme or brainstorm plans. This is just…being there for him. No words. No solutions, not that there are any.”
Abs pulled his tablet off his nightstand and said, “Then I’ll brainstorm right here.”
“You do that.”
Knocking lightly on Cosmo’s door, he waited and heard the steps as they neared him, but a cracking voice called, “Who is it?”
“It’s Goldie. Let me in, man.”
The door opened, but he started back for his bed immediately.
Goldie closed the door behind him and went to sit on the edge of Cosmo’s bed.
Cosmo was the newest member of the pub, and it showed. The room, painted red with white trim, barely had any new additions to the walls or on the dresser or desk. It was as if Cosmo still didn’t trust calling it home enough to make the room his own.
Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Cosmo whispered, “It’s my fault.”
“What?”
“Him leaving.”
Goldie let a minute pass before he asked, “You know he fell for you, right?”
“Yeah,” he said, surprising Goldie. “Ain’t it my luck?”
“What? Having two great guys in love with you? Hell, man, most of us wish for one.”
Cosmo glared at him. “So, I love one, and hurt the other. How is that good luck?”
“I don’t think it’s good luck, Cosmo, but you gotta figure it out. I know you are nuts about Taran. But I’ve seen you and Hip together, and you…mesh so well. It’s like you found your other half. Taran, it’s that opposites attract thing. The thing I’ve been wondering, and I’m pretty sure the other guys have too, is that maybe it can work, the three of you.”
“Get real. Neither one would go for that.”
Goldie heard it and hoped Cosmo did, but when he didn’t seem to, Goldie said, “But you could see it.”
Cosmo shrugged. “Would be kinda cool, yeah.”
“Then, maybe while Hippy’s gone, start talking to Taran about it.”
“So I can lose him? Hey, Taran, mind if we add a guy? You may not like him yet, but hopefully he’ll be okay sucking your dick too.”
Goldie laughed, and finally Cosmo smiled. “It’s a thought. Just a thought. We’re all here for you, whether you want us to be or not. Abs…”
“God, what?”
“He’s hurting for you. You know him. Mims is probably hurting for you too, and Haze will be painting sad clowns for months.”
Cosmo threw a pillow at him. “Fuck off.”
They laughed, and Goldie got up, but not before he leaned over and kissed Cosmo right on the lips. “Pretty boys got all the trouble.”
“Didn’t I just say to fuck off?”
Goldie went to his room and fell on the bed, letting Dean fret over him. He told him what was going on, and Dean sat quietly. “You…you aren’t into Abs and will…will someday want us to…?”
“No, Dean. I’m not into him like that. He’s my very best friend. I don’t see him like that.”
