| |
Travis’ stomach rumbled. He could smell waffles. Was he still in some kind of dream? He yawned, opened his eyes, and stretched. Travis halted, unsure of his unfamiliar surroundings. Then he caught sight of Preacher, dressed in nothing but a pair of worn jeans and nothing else.
Hell. Preacher looked even better in the morning. Travis could stay right where he was and watch the muscles on Preacher’s abs and arms flex with the tiniest of movements. On the hotness scale, Preacher was a ten while he was maybe a four or zero.
Did they really have sex last night? Scratch that. Preacher said he’d wait but he gave Travis the world’s most amazing blow job instead.
Was any of this truly real? Nothing good ever happened to Travis. All his relationships sucked. One night with Preacher and he was already addicted. He’d been an ass to Preacher all this time as well. Travis should change his attitude, learn to start trusting his man a little before he managed to drive Preacher off.
He moved his gaze to what Preacher was unpacking. He spied the label on the brown bag. Preacher took out two Styrofoam containers from Gigi’s Diner, the best place in town for waffles. His stomach made that embarrassing noise again. This time, it got Preacher’s attention.
“You’re finally awake. Hungry?” Preacher asked.
“Shit. What time is it?” He pushed the sheets away from his body, only to realize he was buck naked. Travis didn’t know why he grabbed a pillow to cover his delicate bits.
“Relax. It’s only eight in the morning. What’s with the pillow? Not like I caught an eyeful of you last night.”
Feeling foolish, Travis put the pillow down and looked for his pants. Seconds later, he was finally dressed in the same clothes he wore the night before. He joined Preacher and looked at the spread. He raised his eyebrows at Preacher’s breakfast. No waffles for the fighter.
“A roasted chicken wrap?” He asked.
“Need to eat clean for the next few days.”
“How’d you know to get me waffles?” He asked. He looked at his container hungrily and saw it was prepared exactly the way he liked it, with plenty of whipped cream, syrup, and strawberries.
“Kurt mentioned it once. Said it was your favorite breakfast food.”
Pleased Preacher remembered that little factoid, he grabbed a plastic fork, sat on the bed, and began to devour his breakfast.
“For our next date, I’ll cook for you,” he said. “The food might not be as good as that amazing restaurant you took me to last night but I’ll do my best.”
“Our next date, huh?” Preacher flashed him that sexy, devilish smile that made his heart race. “Looking forward to it.”
****
“YOU SURE YOU DON’T want me to go in there with you?” Preacher asked him for the second time that morning.
Travis handed Preacher his helmet. “I’m sure.”
“I can talk to Kurt. I want him to know I’m dating his younger brother. Last night got me thinking, I don’t want to keep any secrets my best friend.”
Preacher had a point there but Travis wanted some one-on-one time with Kurt for this particular conversation. Travis knew Kurt was still at home. On weekends, Kurt usually swung by the gym before ten, and now, it was only nine-thirty. He was sorry their breakfast time had to be cut short but Preacher needed to train.
“I’ll ease him into the conversation. Leave this talk to me. Please?” He asked.
Preacher looked reluctant but he eventually nodded. “Understood. I’ll head to the gym now. You have my number.”
“I’ll text you,” he said.
Before he could head inside the apartment building, Preacher grabbed his arm and gave him a quick kiss on his mouth. Preacher then got back on his bike and zoomed off. His heart was still racing. Travis couldn’t believe how much could change in a single day.
He watched Preacher and his bike disappear further down the road before he entered the building. The cowardly part of Travis hoped his brother wasn’t in, that he could delay this task. Travis was finally in front of their unit. He took out his key but Kurt opened the door. Travis swallowed. Kurt looked mad. Time to face the music. He entered and shut the door behind him.
“You were out all night and didn’t answer any of my texts,” Kurt said, crossing his arms and staring down at him. “What the hell, Travis? I was fucking worried and then I saw you getting off from Preacher’s bike.”
Shit. Kurt must’ve seen them kissing from the window. Wait a moment. Why should Travis feel guilty? He wasn’t doing anything wrong and Preacher was right. Travis should learn how to stand up to his brother.
Kurt narrowed his eyes as he looked Travis up and down. “You’re screwing around with him.”
A question, not a statement.
“We went out on a date, that’s all. I put my phone on ‘no disturb mode’, that’s why I didn’t answer any of your messages,” he said.
Travis blew out a breath. He wanted to mouth off more to Kurt, but he knew that would only devolve into a senseless argument.
“I’m going to fucking rip Preacher a new one when I see him,” Kurt said.
His brother stomped towards the door, grabbing the key from the fruit bowl along the way.
“Kurt, wait. You haven’t given me a chance to explain,” he said, grabbing Kurt’s arm.
“What’s there to talk about? My former best friend screwed me over. He took advantage of my little brother—”
“Preacher didn’t do shit. I’ve had a crush on him since I was a teenager,” he shouted. That gave Kurt pause. “And for your information, he didn’t fuck me. Yet. He was a complete gentleman to me last night. I invited myself over to his room. We hung out. I fell asleep. He brought me breakfast. End of story.”
He didn’t think it was important Kurt knew that Preacher gave him a blowjob. What they did in the bedroom wasn’t any of Kurt’s business anyway. Kurt’s mouth hung open for a few entertaining seconds, then he closed it.
“That doesn’t sound like the Preacher I know. Preacher can’t hang onto a guy for more than a week,” Kurt finally said.
“I thought so too, but he’s proven me wrong. Kurt, I can tell there’s something between us. We’re both two consenting adults.”
“Preacher’s going to end up disappointing you. I love him like a brother but when it comes to a relationship, he’s a dog,” Kurt said.
“I can’t believe you’re badmouthing your best friend. Why can’t you give him a chance?” He demanded.
“What about you?” Kurt said.
“Me?” He asked, confused.
“These came for you earlier,” Kurt said.
His brother walked to the dining room and he halted, seeing the large tulips in a vase. He knew exactly who they were from. His insides twisted. Travis woke up in a good mood this morning, but now, he felt like throwing up.
Kurt was full of surprises today, wasn’t he?
Kurt plucked the white card by the vase and read the message out loud. “I know we parted on bad terms but I miss you badly. Come back to the company, to me. Love, Miles.” Kurt set the card down. “Who’s Miles?”
“Wait a moment. Are you implying I’m acting like this because I’m on the rebound?” He asked.
“Yeah. I never asked why you left your old job but to think it was over a guy? You gave up your future because this Miles guy broke your heart?” Kurt demanded.
“You don’t know a thing,” he blurted.
“Trust me, little bro. A relationship that’s built on need and desperation, isn’t a relationship at all. You and Preacher? That’s not a good idea. You’re just using each other.”
A wiggle of doubt wormed inside his head. Was Kurt right?
No, he refused to believe that. Travis was never in love with Miles in the first place. He held a torch for Preacher for what felt like forever. What they had was real. Preacher might’ve been a playboy in the past but he was putting that aside. He was trying to change for Travis. Kurt had no right to make judgments about other people when he could barely manage his personal life.
“Are you talking about yourself? Don’t compare us to whatever personal shit you’re going through.” That felt like a low blow, but he couldn’t care less.
Kurt blinked, looked like he’d been struck with a heavy punch to the face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Whatever. What I do is none of your business anyway.”
“None of my business? You selfish prick. You managed to leave this shit hole, to make something out of yourself. I bragged to everyone how smart and hardworking you were. Then you end up quitting.”
Travis was seriously tempted to sock Kurt in the face but his phone started to ring. He pulled it out, hoping it was Preacher calling to ask how everything went. Seeing Miles’ name flashing across the screen, his heart sank. He should ignore the call. Travis had moved back to Black River Bend a month ago. He thought Miles would’ve forgotten him by now.
However, Travis had a thing or two to say to Miles. Just when he thought he’d finally gotten rid of Miles, the bastard still found ways to wreck his life.
He answered the call, ignoring Kurt who was still glaring at him. “What?”
“Did you receive the flowers I sent, Travis? I miss you so much, baby.”
“Cut the crap, Miles. What do you want?” He asked, not bothering to hide the venom in his voice.
Travis wasn’t a vindictive person by nature but he didn’t need this in his life right now. Things started to turn around for him after last night. That was what he thought.
“Don’t be like that, Travis. I miss seeing you at work. Won’t you come back? The new guy HR hired to replace you is screwing up big time. Without you, this project is going to fall apart.”
“Did you forget? You threatened to fire me if I didn’t let you fuck me, so I quit.” It didn’t matter Kurt heard this conversation. Some petty part of him wanted to show Kurt that Preacher wasn’t his rebound guy. He didn’t leave his previous company because he got hung over one guy.
“Travis—”
“Don’t ever contact me again and don’t you dare send me anything anymore.” Travis ended the call.
Kurt was looking at him right now. He didn’t say anything but he could tell from the tight lines around Kurt’s mouth and eyes that he was mad. Silent, deadly rage was written all over his brother’s face. Kurt clenched his jaw.
“That fucker was the reason you left your job?” Kurt asked him in that scary, quiet voice of his. Kurt cracked his knuckles. “Did he hurt you?”
“I left before it got serious,” he said. “Kurt, fighting is pointless. You’re my brother, my only family. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me but I think I can stand on my own two feet now. You got to stop worrying about me.”
Kurt blew out a breath. “I hate fighting as well. I wished you talked to me earlier. About Miles. You were right to leave that kind of toxic work environment.”
“I wanted to forget him,” he said. “He’s in the past and I’m living in the present.”
“In case I never told you before, I appreciate you helping me out at the office. Without you, I’d be lost.”
Travis distrusted Kurt’s sudden change of heart but at the very least, they weren’t screaming at each other.
“What about Preacher?” He asked.
“You serious about him?” Kurt asked.
“Absolutely. I know you still believe he’s the same old Preacher but he’s not. So you’ll leave the two of us alone?”
“We’ll see.” With those ominous words, Kurt left him to the quiet apartment.