Page 26 of Role Model

Besides, Harris would probably ask him a bunch of weird questions during the drive. Or normal questions that Troy couldn’t answer because he wasn’t normal. Normal people didn’t feel sick when they were asked about their favorite place on earth. It had been meant as an easy question, one that should have been pleasant to answer, but it had only made Troy think about Adrian’s bed. Adrian’s arms.

Harris: You sure? I’m heading there from the rink anyway.

Troy rolled to his side, leaning on one elbow. Despite having a hard time answering some of Harris’s questions, he had actually enjoyed the interview more than he’d been expecting. He liked Harris. He seemed like a good person, and Troy was trying to gravitate toward good people.

Troy: What time are you going?

Not that he was seriously considering going. Even if he were, he would drive himself so he could arrive late and leave early. Harris would probably make sure he was the first one there.

Harris: I’m swamped this afternoon. I probably won’t get out of here until 7.

What the hell work was Harris doing? How hard could being a social media guy be, especially on an off day? Couldn’t he post things on Twitter from, like, anywhere? Troy almost wanted to ask, but if Harris was busy he didn’t have time to explain his job.

Seven didn’t sound so bad. Not for a dinner thing. And Troy could get a cab back to the hotel anytime.

Troy: Fuck it. Sure. You can pick me up.

Harris: LOL love that enthusiasm.

Harris: I’m actually working on a video of your top five career goals right now.

Troy: You have to make that yourself?

Harris: Yeah. It’s, like, my job.

Now Troy felt stupid. He tried to think of something to say, but Harris sent another message.

Harris: I need to get this done, then I have a conference call with marketing and a new sponsor who wants to do some sponsored content. And I’ve got some posts I have to schedule.

Harris: Sorry. You didn’t actually ask for further info. I’m chatty when texting too. He added a happy face emoji to the end.

Harris was a really fast typer. Which made sense, Troy supposed, given his job.

Troy: Ok. Just text me when you’re leaving I guess.

He stared at the message after he sent it. It sounded rude as fuck. Did he always sound this rude? Probably.

Troy wrote, Looking forward to it, then deleted it because that seemed too far the other way. He wrote, Should be fun, but that didn’t sound like him at all, so finally he landed on, I can get you a coffee from the Starbucks in the lobby, if you want. He sent it.

He’d meant that he’d get a coffee and give it to Harris when he picked him up. So he could drink it in the car or whatever. But Harris wrote back, What? Now? That would rule.

Um.

It wasn’t like Troy was busy, but he wasn’t a fucking errand boy either.

Harris: Oh. You meant when I picked you up, didn’t you? LOL

Troy should have been relieved, but instead he just felt shitty. Harris wanted a coffee, and Troy could easily fix that problem. He had nothing but time and money.

Like, literally. Nothing.

Troy: I can bring you one now. What do you want?

Harris sent a string of excited face emojis, and then: Eggnog Latte.

Troy: Isn’t that a Christmas thing?

Harris: It’s November! Close enough! And it’s a DELICIOUS thing.

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