Unfortunate Son (11 page)

Pain sliced through Evan. “What does Charlie have to do with anything?”

Gwen’s head snapped up and her gaze locked on to Evan’s, blue eyes so like his own suddenly hard. “He has
everything
to do with it!” Anger laced her low voice. “I lost one son because of something none of us could stop. I will be
damned
if I will lose my other son if there’s anything I can do to keep it from happening!”

Evan’s stomach roiled, and his hands clenched into fists. “Charlie always has ‘everything’ to do with it,” he shot back. He shook from the effort of keeping his words steady, of keeping himself from losing control. “Your golden boy died a hero in a war zone, and you’ve got him canonized in your memory. I spent
five years
trying to live up to that legacy, got into the Marines and everything, but just because I fucked another guy, I lost my lover, my job,
and
my family. You and Dad and the
goddamned
Marine Corps just couldn’t handle being touched by the gay.”

Uncurling his fingers, Evan reached for his wine glass and drained it even as he pushed to his feet. “Thanks for the wine and the heart-to-heart, Gwen.” He slammed the glass down on the table, almost disappointed when it didn’t shatter. “Enjoy your dinner.”

He turned on his heel and stalked out of the restaurant without looking back.

A
PHONE
rang in Evan’s dream. He tried to answer it, but the buzzing wouldn’t stop, no matter how many buttons he pushed. He threw the phone at the wall and it shattered, disintegrating into a million tiny shards of sand that slid down to land at the feet of his brother.

“Hey, Ev.” Charlie’s smile was lopsided, because half his face was gone. “How’ve you been?”

Evan gasped himself awake just as his phone quit ringing and the call clicked over to voice mail. He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling, willing away the ghoulish image of his dead brother’s mutilated face. When he felt like he could move without throwing up, he rolled over and grabbed his phone to check his missed calls. Two from his mom, both of which he’d ignored the night before, and a new one from Cory. Evan pulled up the call screen and waited for it to connect.

“Hey, honey.” Cory’s happy voice lifted Evan’s spirits even at his worst moments. “I was kinda hoping you’d call last night. How’d your dinner go?”

Evan groaned. “Disaster,” he muttered, letting his eyes fall shut. “She made it all about Charlie, and I went off on her and stormed out. Pretty much what I expected.”

Cory made a sound of sympathy. “I’m so sorry, babe. I know you were hoping for better.”

Evan shrugged one shoulder. “Pipe dreams.” He cleared his throat. “So, any other reason you’re calling me at o-dark-thirty and waking me up?”

Cory laughed. “It’s after eleven, dear heart. It’s past time you were awake. We’re going out dancing tonight. Wanna come?”

Not really, but Evan supposed he shouldn’t sit around and sulk all weekend, either. Not that Cory would let him. “Who’s we? Jimmy?”

“And a few other guys are supposed to meet us at Panther. It’s leather night, so strap on that hot harness of yours!”

Evan laughed. “Okay, okay. Ten?” That was the usual time they’d meet up for drinking and dancing.

“Absolutely! See you then, honey.” Cory made a loud smacking sound and ended the call, and Evan laid the phone on his chest and blew out a long breath, trying to erase the nightmare. With all the practice he’d had over the past five years, it should be easier to get past it.

Tell that to my brain
, he thought, forcing himself to get up and hit the shower. He needed groceries, and probably to do laundry. Maybe, just maybe, by the time he headed out that night, his mind would be clear and ready to just have some fun.

A
DRIVING
rhythm pounded from the building as Evan approached Panther. The dance club had never been one of his favorite places, though at least they’d cracked down on the drug activity that nearly got them shut down a year earlier. They’d gone no-smoking too, and Evan much preferred to have a few cigarettes when he drank. But Cory loved to dance, Jimmy loved to accommodate him, and Panther had the best dance music in town, so this was where they ended up more often than not when Jimmy was in the city.

Inside, Evan showed his ID to the bouncers and then headed for the bar. Sure enough, he saw Cory and Jimmy near one end, Jimmy leaned way over the bar, flirting with the bartender and Cory pressed up behind him, grinding his hips into Jimmy’s ass. Evan would bet on Cory being a few shots in already. He didn’t drink more than beer often, but when he danced, he always drank the hard stuff.

On a whim, Evan stepped up behind Cory and pressed in close, running his hands down Cory’s sides. “Hey, hot stuff, you got the moves,” he crooned, raising his voice to be heard over the music.

Cory’s head jerked around in recognition, and he smiled. “You know it, baby!” Cory leaned back and raised his arms, and for a few moments, they danced like that, hips moving in sync. The song shifted, and Evan gave one last grind before stepping to the side and sliding onto a barstool.

“Tease!” Cory yelled, waggling a finger at Evan. Evan stuck out his tongue, feeling silly but enjoying it, and turned to the bartender.

“Vodka cranberry with lime,” he yelled, handing over a credit card to start a tab, and the man nodded and got to work on the drink. While he waited, Evan turned on the stool and looked around the club. The crowd was thin, but it was early yet for a Saturday. A few dozen people gyrated on the dance floor, but Evan knew that by midnight, the space would be stuffed to the gills. Panther might not be his favorite thing, but it was definitely the place to go if you wanted to dance. And especially if you wanted to dance dirty and take your partner home for the night.

“Where’s your leather?”

Evan snorted but didn’t look at Cory. “Good thing I didn’t listen to you. I checked the website. Leather night is
next
Saturday.”

Cory giggled. “Dammit. You’re too smart for my own good.”

“You know damn good and well I haven’t gone off your word since you told me it was superhero night and I showed up in a cape.”

“That was an honest mistake!”

Evan gave him a look. “And every time since then?”

Cory threw back his head and laughed until Evan thought he’d never stop. When he finally wound down, he wrapped his arms around Jimmy’s shoulders from behind. “C’mon, stud. I wanna dance!”

Jimmy turned his head and grinned at Evan. “Duty calls!” He reached for Cory’s hand, and in another few seconds, they were gone.

Evan sipped his drink and watched the crowd surge and pulse under the flashing lights. Hands and hips moved constantly, bodies grinding together while fingers touched and teased. Lots of skin was on display, many of the men peeling off their shirts as things heated up, and several pairs or groups of three were all over each other, to the point that Evan figured they’d end up fucking in the bathroom before much longer.

Been there, done that
, he thought, draining the last of his drink. He waved the empty at the bartender. “Can I get another?” He’d have his three drinks right up front and enjoy the buzz while he switched to water so he’d be sober by the time he drove home. Panther was too far from his apartment to walk, and getting a cab on a Saturday night was more headache than he wanted to deal with.

“Hey, I know you!”

Evan turned toward the man who’d spoken. He didn’t look familiar, so Evan figured it must be Trevor Hardball the man “knew.” A second later, that was confirmed.

“You’re Trevor Hardball! I knew it.” The man grinned, but something about his expression appeared off.

“In the flesh,” Evan said. He held out a hand to shake. “Nice to meet you…?” he prompted, expecting the man to introduce himself, as usual.

Instead, the man’s grin twisted into a sneer. “Keep your dirty hands to yourself,” he growled. “Probably crawling with germs. Fucking slut. I can’t believe your dick hasn’t fallen off by now.”

Evan rolled his eyes. “They’re called condoms, asshole. You should look into it. Idiocy is contagious.” He turned back to face the bar, but a second later, a hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked. He almost fell off the barstool, but he got his feet under him in time to duck away from the fist that flew toward his face. His attacker nearly fell over his own feet, obviously drunk off his ass, but before Evan could even react, Jimmy and Cory were there with one of the bouncers.

“You okay, honey?” Cory’s voice was laced with concern, and Evan shrugged.

“Yeah, just some drunken idiot making a fool of himself.” He watched as Jimmy and the bouncer dragged the guy toward the door. With the kind of checkered history the place had, the last thing the club wanted was the cops coming out to break up a brawl, so they acted fast when anyone got physical in a bad way.

Evan slid back onto his barstool and picked up the fresh drink. “On the house,” the bartender yelled, and Evan lifted his glass in acknowledgment. He’d make up the cost with his tip.

Cory leaned on the bar next to him. “What was that all about?”

Evan shrugged as he sipped his drink. “The usual. I do porn, so I must be diseased. Never mind that he probably sleeps with more guys than I do, even counting on set.”

Cory laughed. “Gotta love the crazies.” His gaze stayed trained on the door as he talked. “I don’t know what Jimmy saw, but he was there one second and gone the next, stalking over here. You know how he gets when he’s on a mission.” He smirked. “I hope Asshole recognized him. It’d be poetic justice for him to get dragged out of the bar by the same kind of guy he attacked.”

Evan had to laugh at that. “And by the one who got me started, no less.” He glanced around, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention anymore. “Last time I got recognized in a bar, the guy was just a fan.”
And then….
Evan shot Cory a grin. “That reminds me. I forgot to tell you about this guy I hooked up with last weekend.”

That got Cory’s attention. “Oh-ho! Do tell!”

Evan raised an eyebrow and licked his lips. “Much more your type than mine. Hot in bed, though. Might even get a round two.” Evan’s cock throbbed at the thought. Damn, he should’ve looked Riley up by now.
Tomorrow
, he promised himself.

“You go, boy!” Cory shoved at Evan’s shoulder. “Next time bring him out dancing. I gotta get a good, long look at that one.”

A flare of jealousy surprised Evan—
What the hell? I hardly know the guy
—but he pushed it aside as Cory leaned over the bar. “Hey, hot stuff, can I get a couple of waters?” Cory asked, and the bartender nodded and grabbed two plastic cups off the stack behind the bar. Cory turned back to bump his hip against Evan’s. “You gonna dance with us, or just sit over here and drown your sorrows?”

Evan took another sip. “No drowning. Just not feeling it tonight.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Cory gave him an eloquent eyebrow, but before he could push further, Jimmy bounced up to them.

“Hey, lovers.” He hissed out the final letter and grabbed a handful of Cory’s ass. “Now that we got the trash taken out, let’s dance!”

“Just taking a water break, honey,” Cory replied, giving the bartender a winning smile and a couple of ones as he delivered their drinks. Cory picked up a cup and handed it to Jimmy. “Here, drink this so we can get back to shaking our asses.”

Jimmy took the cup and drained it in one long pull. He slammed the cup down on the bar, though the plastic didn’t give the same kind of satisfying sound as glass. “Finish that off, honeychild,” he told Evan. “You’re comin’ with us!”

Evan didn’t bother to protest. Jimmy could never be denied.

I
T
WAS
nearly three when Evan dragged himself into his apartment, thankfully not sloshed this time, but beyond exhausted. He stripped on his way to the bed and poured himself onto the mattress, not planning to move for at least twelve hours.

Unfortunately, Cory had other ideas. Evan almost threw his phone across the room when it rang at ten fifteen. He grabbed for it and thumbed the answer button. “What?” he demanded.

“Time to rise and shine, baby doll! We’re headed to brunch before Jimmy goes home. Come with?”

Evan rolled onto his back and wished for a painful death. For whom, he wasn’t sure. “How in the hell are you this awake?”

Cory laughed. “Oh, we haven’t slept. We’re running on pure endorphins at this point. We got that adorable bartender to come home with us. Sent him off an hour ago with a big cup of coffee and an even bigger smile.”

And probably walking funny
, Evan thought. He sighed. “All right. Piedmont Diner?” It was Jimmy’s favorite.

“You know it! See you around eleven! Love ya!” Cory ended the call, and Evan stared at the ceiling for a minute before dragging himself up and heading for the shower. Maybe he’d take a nap that afternoon.

T
HE
ROUTE
from his apartment to Piedmont Diner took Evan right past Piedmont Lofts. Remembering his promise to himself from the night before, he detoured from the sidewalk and climbed the steps to the door, where he found the buzzer for Riley’s apartment.
What’s the worst that could happen?
he thought.
He says no, and we go on with our lives.