Page 165 of Slew Foot
And Rafe realized he was getting hard, grinding a little against Mickey’s thigh.
Rafe pulled back and glanced around. Thankfully, everyone else had wandered off and they were tucked in a shadowy little corner. Not private, but maybe private enough no one had noticed anything but them kissing. Hopefully, anyway.
Mickey tugged him in, his breath warm on Rafe’s ear as he whispered, “Later.”
With that thought in his head, Rafe stumbled over to the bar, dragging Mickey with him as he grabbed drinks for them both. There were a few toasts to Mickey and some more drinks and more food and at some point, head whirling, Rafe realized he was definitely buzzed and he desperately needed to pee.
“I’ll come with you,” Tanner said as Rafe pushed back from the bar.
“I don’t think I need your company,” Rafe said with a laugh, winding through the crowd toward the back hallway, Tanner on his heels.
“I know. But if I let you out of my sight, you’ll probably disappear somewhere with Mickey,” Tanner said, his tone disgusted.
“I will not!” Rafe protested but what was he going to do? He couldn’t exactlystopTanner.
Thankfully, Tanner waited in the hallway while Rafe disappeared into the bathroom.
After he was done, he came out to find Tanner trying to look tough or something as he leaned against the wall. Rafe snorted and wiped his damp hands on his jeans. With his curly hair and endless playful energy, Tanner was about as scary as a miniature poodle puppy.
Rafe opened his mouth to say as much when Tanner held a finger up to his lips then jerked his head toward the door at the end of the hallway. It was stuck open a little bit and Tanner eased it apart a few more inches.
The scent of fresh rain flooded in, along with the sound of a man talking.
Rafe stepped closer, peering over Tanner’s shoulder. From here, he could see a slice of the back patio and Graham scowling at Thad.
“Just be careful not to kiss any of your other buddies this summer,” Thad said mockingly. “They might not be as understanding about it as I was.”
Graham made a sputtering sound. “It wasone kiss!”
“And you broke up with your girlfriend immediately after,” Thad said, his tone cocky.
Tanner turned, his mouth open in a wide-eyed, exaggerated look of shock. Rafe bumped his arm against Tanner’s back but privately, he kind of agreed.
“I felt guilty for kissing someone else! It was the right thing to do,” Graham snapped.
“Or I’mthatgood.” Thad smirked. “I mean, you claimed to be straight and yet …”
“Iamstraight,” Graham protested.
“Good for you,” Thad said with a snort. “I’m not. And, hey, you know what? I think I’ll get out of here. Go hook up with that guy who’s been sending me filthy pics all night.”
“Go for it,” Graham said, jutting out his jaw. “It’s not like I care.”
“No?” Thad grabbed Graham’s shoulder and hip, spinning him and pressing him against the rough brick wall of the pub. He rested his forearm against the wall and leaned in.
Tanner’s elbow connected with Rafe’s ribs in a clear, “holy shit!”
Tanner wasn’t wrong about it that time either.
Guiltily fascinated, Rafe watched as Thad dragged his nose up the side of Graham’s throat, then kissed Graham’s jaw. “You really don’t want me?”
Graham reached for Thad’s shoulder and Rafe wondered if they were about to kiss again until Graham pushed him away and began to pace.
Thad stumbled, turning to face Graham, who looked … kinda confused and very unhappy. “I don’t fucking know what I want,” Graham rasped.
Rafe winced, feeling like he shouldn’t be watching this, so he tugged at Tanner’s shoulder. Tanner let out a quiet little grumble then backed away, carefully closing the door behind them as quietly as he could.
Rafe dragged him down the hall a little bit before he hissed, “Shit, what wasthatabout?”
