Page 44 of Mr Nice Guy

“Why would someone freak out, though?” I press. “If they liked it, I mean. You’d think that’d be a good thing?”

Jazz shrugs. “I guess if you’ve always thought of yourself as being one way, and then suddenly this happens to change things, it’s going to come as a fucking shock. And kissing is one of those things…I mean, yeah you can still kiss someone you’re not that into but it’s never going to be as explosive as when it’s with someone you’re actually attracted to. That makes it different to things like BJs and anal, because they’re always awesome.”

I think his words over, applying them to my situation. Is it possible that I’m actually attracted to Deacon—as an entire man, and not just for his cock? I liked kissing him. No, Ilovedkissing him. It was just as Jazz described—explosive. But I’m still not sure if this is the right explanation for all my confusion and mental gymnastics.

Realizing I need to say something before Jazz starts getting too curious, I nod. “Right. I guess that makes sense.”

“It’s irrelevant,” Jazz says firmly.

I return my gaze to his, finding hm staring at me intently. “What is?” I ask, my brow furrowed with confusion.

“The fact he’s been taking dick every now and then for however long. That’s what you were thinking, right?”

Um, no it wasn’t, but I’m not about to correct him. “Why is that irrelevant?”

“Because the circumstances are completely different,” he says with a shrug. “If the info he’s given you is right, all the other times he’s been with a guy have been completely random and impersonal. More like a really, really fun deep tissue massage than actual sex. But things are different with this new guy, so there must be something about him that your friend likes?”

I shrug, offering a wry smile. “I guess there must be.”

“So if he wants to talk to you about it again, maybe that’s something you could say—forget about everything from before and just focus on this guy, because there’s obviously something there.”

I smile fondly at my son. “That was quite insightful, after all. Thank you.”

Jazz shrugs casually. “No worries. Maybe next time ask Reddit. Then I wouldn’t have this merry-go-round thing happening in my head with all your friends’ faces. I’d prefer not to know that one of them likes to get fucked to relieve stress.”

“And I’d prefer not to know that Jace likes to give blow jobs when he gets high,” I quip back. “At least I kept mine vague.”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “Fair.”

Yeah, definitely a good idea not to go into specifics.

We finish up lunch and then I stay for a couple drinks and watch Jazz’s afternoon guitar set. He’s decided to go to LA after all, so this will be my last chance to see him for a while. I don’t think there’s a huge chance that he’ll actually stay out there, but you never know. He’s got a lot of friends in LA, and I can’t help thinking that it’s only a matter of time before he changes his mind and decides he wants to do something meaningful with his musical talent.

And if that’s what he decides, I’ll support him. But, selfishly, I just want all my kids right here with me where I can keep them safe.

CHAPTER17

DEACON

Watching Sullivan and Drew play the happy couple at my sister’s wedding is…surreal, to say the least. Between Drew’s aversion to the whole money thing, and Sully’s tendency toward open affection with his partners, I really hadn’t expected Drew to last all that long. And let’s not get started on the fact that, for some reason, Sullivan decided to tell my mom that Drew is a vegan. I’m pretty sure my buddy was more freaked out about the prospect of going animal product-free for the entire weekend than he was when the entore dinner table started calling for him and Sully to kiss at dinner last night.

The weirdest part of it all is how my family seem to be buying the whole charade. Drew is so far removed from the perfectly polished, smarmy twinks my brother usually goes for it seems insane to me that none of them have questioned it. But I guess the fact that everyone in my family have hated most of Sully’s previous boyfriends, they’re just happy to see him finally branching out.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I step away from the conversation between my sister Willow—the bride to be—and our cousin Laura. I haven’t really been paying that much attention, but I think it was something to do with the honeymoon.

It’s not the first text that’s distracted me this weekend, and I doubt it’ll be the last. I know it’s kind of rude to be preoccupied with my phone while I’m a guest at an event—prarticularly when it’s my sister’s rehearsal dinner—but if I don’t check I’m only going to be distracted wondering about it, so what’s the difference?

My brow creeps up as I read it. It’s not as dirty as I was expecting. Or dirty at all, really. But it’s no less intriguing.

Tanner Grimsay:I asked my son about my…situation - he’s gay so I thought he might be able to shed some light

Me:You told your son you de-stress by getting fucked in the ass?

Tanner Grimsay:??God no. I told him I was asking about a friend

Me:Ahh, I see. Like the “friend” I had who wet his bed til he was nine??

Tanner Grimsay:??Yeah, that sort of friend.

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