Page 10 of Don't Look Down

“Sure, why not?”

“Most guys wouldn’t be interested in queer romance.”

“I’m not most guys.” And I’m also queer, too...

“Oooh, okay, sir, color me intrigued. You’ll have to let me know what you think if you give them a chance.”

“I will.”

“I suggest the audiobooks. They’re perfect for me since I can’t stand to sit still long enough to read an actual book. The narrators for that series are absolute perfection. Talk about sexy voices. Total ear porn. Ungh,” he moans, and I ignore the tingle the sound caused in the region of my dick. Thinking of porn and hearing that sound. Fuck. It’s been too long. I should call Savannah so we can work a load or two out of my balls. “Anywho, I digress,” he continues, oblivious to the predicament he caused in my shorts. “Audiobooks are my jam. I can listen when I’m driving, cooking, cleaning, working out… The list goes on.”

“Hmm.” I cleared some of the hoarseness from my voice before I continued. “Well, I’ve never done an audiobook before, but you may have convinced me to give them a listen.”

“Winning! Anyway, Addy is giving me the death glare. I gotta go get ready for our lunch date. I’ll catch you later, LTB.”

“Catch you later, Sky.”

I should have just told him right then, but I felt vulnerable for some reason. Like I couldn’t expose that part of me just yet. No matter how many times I replay that moment and examine my actions I can’t make sense of it. And I can’t go back and change my response. I can only move forward.

I didn’t choose to be a liar. It just happened. Again, it’s a lie by omission, but semantics don’t matter. A lie is a lie is a lie. Either way, his sexuality, and my own sexuality, have no bearing here.

We’re just friends. He may have given me a semi once, but it’s only because I’d needed to get laid. It can’t be attraction, since I don’t even know what he looks like, and it hasn’t happened since. It’s no big deal. Right?

I fidget around, trying to find a more comfortable position while I wait not so patiently for a reply.

A reply that frankly might not come through for hours or days if he’s busy.

I’ll just call my mom to pass some time. She should be available. I am her favorite child after all. Her only child, but that’s not the point. Surely, I can convince her to join me for dinner. Operation dine and distract.

Yes, please.

That should work.

Clicking her contact info on my phone, I hit the call button. Seconds pass like minutes as I wait for the call to connect.

It doesn’t.

Fucking seriously?

Frowning at the ceiling, her voicemail greeting begins in my ear.

“You’ve reached the voicemail of Annie Spencer.” I’m smiling just from the sound of her cheerful voice.

Hmm, maybe she and Sky have that in common? He always manages to draw a smile out of me, too.

“Leave me a message, and I’ll return your call as soon as possible. Have a beautiful day!”

“Hey, Ma. I miss your voice, and now I’m feeling neglected over here since you sent me to voicemail.” I laugh so she knows I’m not serious. “We made it back home this morning, and I wanted to try to catch up with you over dinner. Maybe we can meet at Luigi’s? Call me back or text me and let me know. Love you.”

Hitting the end button, the first thing I do is refresh the game chat app to check for a response from Sky. Ignoring the fact I would have noticed if I’d gotten a notification.

Nothing yet. Obviously.

I am hopeless.

3

Landon

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