Page 29 of Racing Hearts
I know that’s not fair, since I’m the one who blocked him, but of all the fucking places, why did he have to show up here looking so fucking good when I’m trying my best to stay away from him?
“Who’s the blond hottie you’re staring so hard at?” Sky’s deep, mocking voice has my head whipping around, and I meet his shrewd gaze. With eyes darker than mine, Sky is a mean-looking bastard. He’s big and muscular, with most of his hair pulled back into a bun tonight. Some might even call him handsome, but my tastes seem to be stuck on the ball of sunshine dancing like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“No one, my sister’s friend,” I reply, sipping my drink.
“He’s hot. Is he single?” Sky asks, leaning back with a wicked grin.
“No, he’s fucking not. Don’t go near him,” I warn, and Sky laughs, leaning back farther to escape my anger, holding his hands up.
“Shit, man, sorry. Didn’t realize he was yours.”
“He’s not mine, don’t be an idiot,” I mutter, looking away from his knowing eyes. I reach for the glass bottle on the table, pouring myself another drink and shooting it before pouring another.
“Uh-huh, since when do you care about anyone else? If he isn’t yours, I could just go over there?—”
My head jerks up, my glare only making him laugh before it fades and he winces. “Shit, looks like someone beat me to it. Are you going to go over there to defend your territory?”
My head swings around, my heart missing a beat when I see the blond idiot dancing against Evan, who doesn’t seem to care. No, he seems into it. I watch the guy’s hands grip Evan’s ass, pulling him closer, as jealousy and anger fill me.
“How the fuck can they be so open about that shit?” I ask, gripping my glass tighter to stop myself from racing over there and beating the shit out of the bastard for touching what’s mine.
“Alek Anders, don’t tell me you’re homophobic.” I look over at Sky, who wears a serious expression as he leans into me. “Because let me tell you, we’ll have some problems. Love is love, man.”
My eyebrows rise as I read the very dark look in his eyes, which is so out of place on the jovial race head. “I’m not. It’s just?—”
“He’s yours, and you’re acting irrationally, but you sound like an asshole, and as your very gay friend, be careful. You might get away with that shit elsewhere, but not with me. If he’s not yours, then he’s allowed to dance with and fuck whoever he wants,” Sky says, toasting me.
I mean, I didn’t know Sky was gay. Not that it matters but?—
“He can’t fuck whoever he wants,” I mutter.
“So he’s not yours, but he isn’t allowed to be anyone else’s.” Sky snorts. “That’s stupid. Make up your mind, man, before you lose him. If you want him, then take him. If not, I’m betting there are plenty out there who do want him, but you need to decide. Don’t play with his feelings. That’s not cool.”
I stare at Sky, shocked by his words. We don’t usually talk about anything deeper than cars. Where is this shit coming from, and why do I suddenly want to talk about it with him? “You’re not upset that I want him?”
Sky watches me sadly before leaning closer. “I don’t care who you love or fuck, Alek. Love is love. Gender doesn’t matter. I don’t know what kind of backwards people you’ve been around to make you believe you loving or wanting who you want is wrong, but that’s their problem, not yours. Do you want him?”
I stare before slightly inclining my head, admitting to him what I don’t even want to admit to myself.
“Then what’s the problem? You are allowed to want who you want and be attracted to who you want. Fuck what anyone else thinks. If they have a problem, then that says more about who they are than you. I’m not saying it will be easy—trust me on this—but it’s worth it. Being honest with yourself lifts a weight off you.” Sky nods, pouring me another drink. “I mean it, Anders. Be who you are and fuck everyone else.” He downs his drink, and I drain mine.
“You’re a pretty good guy, Sky,” I mutter.
“Glad you finally noticed. It’s only taken me a year of friendship,” he scoffs. “Even now, we wouldn’t be here if you weren’t stressing over that man.”
I wince because he’s right. I’ve never tried to deepen our friendship. I use Sky.
He laughs. “Don’t worry about it, man. I know that’s how you are, but you need to decide what you want quickly.”
My head snaps around again to see Evan and the blond sitting at a table, way too close and smiling at each other with a look that makes my blood boil.
I can’t believe him. My hands tighten around my drink in anger, and when he stands, grinning down at the guy, I feel the glass break, cutting into my already mangled palm, but I don’t care.
“Shit, Alek, what the fuck?” Sky snarls, jumping back from the spilling liquid.
I watch Evan leave with the guy, waving to his friends who just let him go with a fucking stranger.
Shoving to my feet, I throw some bills down without even sparing Sky another glance. “I’m out.”