Page 52 of Jacked
“Nothing’swrongwith it, I just thought he’d have more of a main character name.” Fender actually sounds disappointed about the whole thing as he unwraps his hands and shrugs.
Butch helps guide his client’s weight bar back into the cradle then scrunches up his face and chuckles. “What in the ever-loving fuck is a main character name?”
Fender rolls his eyes. “It’s a name for main characters, genius. It’s, you know, unique and memorable and maybe even says something about who they are as a person.” Butch still looks confused, so Fender pats him on his oversized chest and keeps talking. “You know, like a himbo gym slut namedButch.”
He snorts a laugh. “I have a main character name?”
“You definitely do.”
“What aboutFender?” I say. It seems like his own name fits his criteria. Wait, is AJ a main character name? Probably not. It’s kind of bland and generic. Now Slater,there’sa main character name. Not to mention his main character smile, and main character charm…
I shake my head to get focused again before I accidentally spend all morning thinking about all the ways Slater is… well,Slater.
“Eh.” Fender shrugs. “Technically, yeah, it’s a main character name. But I have chaotic sidekick energy.”
“Is that anything like pain in the ass energy?” Callan asks.
“Kind of, yeah,” Fender deadpans.
“How do you know all this shit?” I ask with another laugh.
“He writes fan fic ‘secretly.’” Butch uses his fingers to make quotes around the word.
Fender’s eyes go wide and his face flushes bright red for half a second before he scoffs. “I do not.”
“I loved that one where the disembodied hand finger fucked the goth dude.” Silas smirks.
“What?” I sputter a laugh, trying to figure out what the actual fuck.
“That is the weirdest fucking way anyone has ever described Thing and Gomez Adams,” Callan says. “My favorite one he wrote was ‘FreddyVersus Jason’ where they flip fuck.”
“Really?” Fender lights up. “You liked that one? A lot of people thought the blood play kink was over the top. But was I really supposed tonothave them cut each other when they’re wielding finger knives and a machete? I mean, come on.”
“So you’re admitting that youdidwrite them?” Silas smirks.
Fender twists his lips into a coy smirk and shrugs. “Nope.”
“I…” I stop and shake my head. I don’t have a fucking clue what there is to say toanyof that. Luckily, my first client of the day walks in and saves me from having to try.
SLATER
After AJ leaves and I manage to drag myself up off the floor again, I lie splayed out on the couch for a while, just smiling to myself and replaying that blowjob over and over in my head. I sucked a dick. I sucked a dick and I fuckinglikedit.
A loud buzzing draws my attention to the floor next to the couch, where my phone must have fallen out of my pocketearlier. I reach for it and see Nolan’s name along with a picture of the two of us from a few summers ago lighting up the screen.
“Holy shit, come out as bi and apparently you can magically resurrect your ghost of a best friend,” I say dryly in place of a hello.
“I have not been ghosting you. We keep missing each other’s calls and I already feel like a dick for not trying harder, so please take it easy on the guilt.” The hint of pleading in his voice is enough for me to tone down the ball busting.
I love Nolan, he’s been my best friend since grade school, but I always have to remind myself that he takes shit more seriously than I mean it most of the time. I’ve always chalked it up to growing up without siblings, but maybe it’s just how he is.
“I know you’re pulling crazy hours at your new job, plus you and Cas justmoved in together. It’s all a lot more exciting than your long-lost bestie.” Okay, seriously though, that’s my last little dig.
He sighs dramatically, and I chuckle.
“Is this going to be a long guilt trip? Maybe I should pack a bag?” he grumbles.
“No, I promise, I’m done.” I draw an X over my heart even though he can’t see me. “Let’s skip right ahead to the part where I tell you that I can’t believe you let me go this long without knowing how fucking awesome it is to kiss a dude.”
