Page 25 of Bulletproof
CHAPTER SEVEN
Woken by the jostling tour bus, Derek’s first thoughts were of Travis. Vegas fucking rocked. Known for its bright lights, the glitz and the glam, the nonstop partying, and the city where anything goes, Vegas would forever be remembered as the placewhere Derek slept with Travis for the first time. And the place where he took Travis’ virginity. Derek had never been anyone’s first before, and it meant a great deal to him. His life was now irrevocably altered. To say he was honored sounded ridiculous, but it made him feel incredibly special. Travis wove his way around Derek’s heart and into his head. No one had ever gotten under his skin so quickly,so intently, with such all-consuming passion. Travis held a reigning title and a permanent place in Derek’s heart now. He was falling for this guy, fast, and it scared the hell out of him.
Wide awake with his head spiraling, Derek left his bunk to get a bottle of water from the fridge. When he opened the door, a cone of light fanned into the darkness. Everyone else was asleep, thesilence broken only by the traffic gliding by on the freeway. “How long till we get to Reno?” he asked Mike, the bus driver.
“About another three hours, providing there aren’t any more closures or accidents,” the driver answered.
Derek surveyed the contents of the full-size refrigerator. Beer and an assortment of beverages took up most of the shelves. Junk food and snackstook up the rest. He opened the large crisper drawer, filled with Cam’s healthy, organic nonsense, and wondered how anyone ate that shit. A black plastic container with the dog’s name written on it sat on the middle shelf. He lifted the lid, curious about its contents. Grilled chicken. The dog had a container full of grilled chicken cut into bite-size pieces, probably as a topping to her dogfood or as a snack. No plain dry kibble for the queen.
Derek settled on a bag of chips he found in the cabinet and a can of soda, and sat in front of the flat screen. Munching away, watching a B-rated slasher flick, he heard the roar of another bus approaching and wondered if it was Reckless’ tour bus. He pulled up the shade and waited, eyes focused on the road. “Slow down,” he saidto Mike. “I think that’s Reckless next to us.” The driver let his foot off the gas to allow the other bus to catch up. Not only was it Reckless’ tour bus, but Travis’ smiling face was in the window waving at Derek when it came into view. Derek chuckled and blew a kiss to his lover. Lover? He contemplated the expression. Too soon? Wishful thinking? No. Last night wasn’t a one-night stand. They werelovers. He pulled his phone from the pocket of his sweatpants.
Derek: Why are you up?
Travis: Watching a movie. You?
Derek: Same. Some chick just came home and undressed without turning the lights on. Want to bet on how long it takes before she gets stabbed?
Travis: LOL. Not my kinda movie.
Travis didn’t like slasher flicks? Theywere the best kind.
Derek: What are you watching?
Derek waited for the reply. When it didn’t come right away, he looked through the window. He saw the shadow of Travis with his head bent, as if he was formulating his reply. Then it came.
Travis: 10 Things I Hate About You.
Travis: Not you. That’s the name of the movie. It’s a sappy romance. Lame.But they get me every time.
Derek smiled inwardly. Travis was embarrassed to admit that he liked sappy romances. It was fucking adorable.
Derek: I know the movie. Who can resist Heath Ledger?
Travis:?
When Travis didn’t outright agree with the remark, Derek wondered if maybe it was Julia Stiles that had Travis’ attention, and not Heath Ledger.She had been cute and feisty in the role, and a rebel. His phone dinged and he looked down at it.
Travis: 10 Things I Like About You, by T. Fontana
A flood of excitement ran through Derek. A poem? For him?
Travis: #1. I like the warmth and security of your embrace.
Travis: #2. I like the muscles in your chest and the angles of your face.
Derek smiled and raised his eyes. It certainly wasn’t the most complex piece of poetry, and it bordered on being cheesy and corny, but it was a spur-of-the-moment token of sweet affection written just for him. And he loved it. He waited for more, but nothing came.
Derek: Is that it? Where’s 3 – 10?
Travis: In time.?
Anticipation made Derek scowl, butwith a smile tucked into the corners of his mouth.
Derek: I can’t wait. It’s beautiful. No one EVER sent me a poem. I love it!
Travis: It’s nothing.
Derek imagined Travis’ bashful modesty. The guy could be so damn cute. He looked through the window and found Travis smiling at him from the next lane. His phone dinged.
