“Why is Blake not having lunch with us today?”
Justin glanced toward David, who was seated at the other end of the table. “Oh, he has a lunch meeting with some of the other vice presidents.”
“Damn!” Joshua exclaimed loudly from where he was, which was right next to David. “He’s hot, funny, a smart conversationalist, and successful. You better chain him up nice and tight. Otherwise, all of the single men out there will come sniffing around him.”
“We’re not dating,” Justin said, and he was about to shove the next spoonful of food into his mouth when he realized all of his friends were staring at him. “What?”
Javier rolled his eyes. “Just, come on! You haven’t asked him out yet?”
Justin was a little embarrassed as he shook his head. “I don’t think he’s into me. At all.”
Vincent snorted while the other guys at the table started laughing. “Who are you kidding, man? Blake isn’t into you? Are you stupid? Blind? Or both? He likes you, dude. A lot.”
“I agree with Vince,” Keenan interjected. “Blake had joined us for lunch almost every day for the past two weeks. Each time, he had sat next to you, and he had stared at you as if the fucking sun is shining out through your gaping butt hole. Plus, he looked at you with so much adoration in his eyes, it was sickening and nauseating. Fuck, dude. I envy you. Blake really likes you. Trust me.”
Justin raised his middle fingers at Keenan. “Bitch! My asshole isn’t loose and wide open.”
Keenan rolled his eyes. “Whatever. That’s not the point. You better lasso that man and make him yours. There are hungry and desperate single men out there waiting to bury their claws into him. He’s the fucking whole package.”
“This is so unlike you, Just,” Calvin said. “You’re not the shy type. You’ve always gone after what you want. Remember those three men at the bar last month? The ones who almost punched each other because they all wanted to take you home?”
David snickered and spoke up before Justin could utter a single word. “Oh, damn! I remember them. That was hilarious. They had started out simply competing for Justin’s attention, buying him drinks, and chatting him up. Somewhere along the line, they had begun to argue. Shortly after, they had grabbed onto each other’s shirts. All three of them had looked rather intoxicated by then.”
Justin grinned. “Oh, they had been both tipsy and horny.”
Joshua chortled. “I think everyone at the bar had been waiting for them to fight one another.”
“But you had spoiled the potential entertainment when you grabbed onto their shirts and pulled their faces down toward you,” Keenan added. “The sight had been hilarious and hot. You were so much shorter in comparison to those men. They were really tall and muscular. I’d been standing at the time, ready to rescue you from them, and I could tell two of those men were taller than me. At six feet three inches, I’m not exactly short. Those men were like mini giants, especially with all of the muscles on them. What had you said to them anyway?”
Justin could feel the blush coming on right at the moment, but at the time, he had been aroused and more than ready for some good times in the sack. “I’d told them to shut the fuck up and save all of their energies because I was in the mood to get fucked until the next morning.”
Justin chuckled when all of his friends let out a loud guffaw almost simultaneously. Javier even whistled at him before speaking up, sounding both impressed and amused.
“Dude, you’re the man. No wonder those men had immediately calmed down and followed you out from the bar like sheep.”
“They had also looked so smug and cocky,” Vincent added. “Damn, Just! You’re a certified slut.”
Justin stuck his tongue out at Vincent. “Fuck you. You’re no blushing virgin yourself, jerk!”
“How come you haven’t used some of your gutsy moves on Blake, man?” Calvin asked before Vincent and Justin could snap at each other like two overgrown toddlers.
Justin groaned under his breath. “I really don’t think he likes me that way. I mean, he’s polite, sweet, and friendly. He’s a wonderful man all around. He even sends me these cute text messages with some of the lamest jokes in the world at least once a day. I like that he has a sense of humor.”
“But?” David prodded.
“But I think he has friend-zoned me or something.”
Joshua snorted. “No fucking way. We’re all friends here at this table, but I’ve never looked at any of you with the same intensity that Blake has toward Justin.”
Javier nodded before gazing straight into Justin’s eyes. “I agree with Josh. I think you and Blake really have to hash things out properly. Don’t drag this on any longer.”
“All the pining, lust, and desperation between you and Blake are puke-inducing,” Keenan interjected while smirking at Justin. “The sexual tension between the two of you is so palpable, I think I can choke on it. Stop being such a damn coward, man. Talk to him.”
Justin sighed. “Easier said than done.”
“What’s so difficult about it? Just open your mouth and let him know how you feel. Ask him out,” Calvin pointed out before winking at Justin. “You can use your mouth to communicate. You know that, right? It’s not just a home for a nice, hard dick.”
Justin rolled his eyes upon hearing that while all of his friends burst out laughing. They were all twenty-eight years old, but it was obvious he was more mature than all of them combined. At least he was right at that very moment.
“Shut up, Cal.”
Calvin chortled even louder, and Justin simply gave up trying to calm his friends down. They were on a roll now, and there was no stopping them. They were right about one thing, though. Justin liked Blake, and he should just invite the man out for a date. He had been holding back for too long, and he was feeling more miserable with each passing day. The worst thing that could happen was to be rejected by Blake. Justin knew Blake was a sweet and lovely gentleman. He was certain Blake wouldn’t be cruel toward him. If Blake wasn’t interested, he would let Justin down gently. Justin was sure about that. The thought made him feel a lot better, but he had no idea how he was supposed to approach Blake about a date. He had to think of the right way to bring the subject up during their next conversation.
* * * *
Blake hadn’t seen Justin at all that day. He had many tasks to accomplish, and he also had to attend way too many meetings. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to have lunch with Justin and his group of friends. Now, it was nearly six o’clock, and he was finally able to take a breather. The first thing he did was to make his way across the hallway toward Justin’s office. He was delighted and relieved when he heard the sound of the clicking and clacking of fingers on the keyboard coming from inside the office. He was in luck. Justin might still be inside the office. He knocked on the door and pushed it open when he heard Justin’s voice calling out from inside.
“Hey, Just.”
Justin glanced up and beamed at him. “Hey, Blake. What’s up?”
“Just finished with my last meeting. About ready to head out. What about you?”
Justin pointed at the laptop. “I have a little bit more of data to input before I can go back home. I’ll probably be here for another fifteen, twenty minutes.”
“Cool. Do you mind if I sit here and chat while you type?”
“Not at all,” Justin said while gesturing at the chair across the table from him. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks,” Blake responded with as he sat on the chair. “So, how was your day?”
Justin groaned. “Long. We’re conducting several interviews for new employees for some of the departments. What about you?”
“Busy.”
Justin chuckled as he continued with his work. “I bet. I haven’t seen hair nor hide of you for the whole day. What was going on?”
“I’m trying to streamline some of the processes in the finance department to make them more efficient. I had meetings with all of the managers in my department, Vince included, to inform them about the changes. I’ll have another meeting with everyone, including all of the staff in my department, on Monday morning. I’m glad today is Friday. I need a break.”
Justin smiled at Blake for a second or two before returning his attention to his laptop. “What are your plans for the weekend?”
“Laundry and groceries.”
Justin laughed. “Same here. No hot dates?”
Blake shook his head. “Nope. I wish.”
“Why not? You’re hot, successful, and sweet. Any guy will be lucky to have you.”
“Unfortunately for me, the guy I like already sets his eyes on someone other than me.”
Justin visibly stiffened for a brief moment before he looked in Blake’s direction. “You have someone that you like?”
Blake nodded. “Yeah. He doesn’t know that I like him, though. I also recently discovered he was most probably going to confess his feelings toward some other man.”
“Oh, man. That sucks. I’m so sorry, dude.”
Blake bit back a sigh. “Yeah. Me, too.”
“Do I know him?”
“I don’t think you do,” Blake replied. It was a lie. However, he couldn’t tell Justin the identity of the man he liked. It would make things awkward between them, and he didn’t want to lose Justin as a friend. “He’s a wonderful man. He’s sweet, he has a sexy body, and his face is…fuck! He’s so damn good-looking and enticing, I’ve seen people ogling him like a piece of meat. I was jealous and furious when I noticed, and I wish he was mine.”
“Oh, right. Cool. It must really suck to be that guy, though.”
“Yeah. I guess.”
For the next few moments, neither of them exchanged a single word. The only sound in the room came from Justin’s fingers tapping on the keyboard rather forcefully. Justin seemed angry and sad at the same time, and Blake wondered about the reason for that. Then he was taken aback when Justin abruptly stopped typing and beamed at him.
“Why don’t we go out for a beer or two? My treat.”
Blake’s first instinct was to reject Justin, but he didn’t know when else he would get another opportunity to hang out with Justin one on one outside of the office. He wanted to inquire about Justin’s boyfriend or lover. Or whatever the fuck that man was to Justin. However, he was terrified that Justin would start gushing about that man and how perfect he was. After all, only an amazing, lucky man would be able to land someone as incredible as Justin. He forced a smile onto his face and nodded at Justin.
“Dinner first. My treat.”
Justin seemed surprised, but Blake thought there was also a hint of delight on the man’s expression. He knew he shouldn’t torture himself with his wishful thinking, but he was going to pretend that he and Justin were about to go out on their first date together. It fucking hurt inside, knowing it wasn’t real. However, he was more than willing to take what he could get. Just one time. He was going to fantasize he and Justin were together as a couple. After that, he would float back down to earth and return to reality. He just wanted this one chance to dream that the two of them were more than friends. That would be more than enough for him. It had to be. He would have to be satisfied with it.