Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Everybody here is a millionaire, I think,” Charlie said, gawking at it as much as I was. “I have never felt more like a construction worker in my life.”
“There he is,” Emmett said as he caught sight of us. “The star of the hour, and the talent behind him. Hi, Adam. Hey, Chase and Charlie.”
Emmett started to lead us over toward a long table, immediately working his way into a conversation with Adam about how much he loved the finishes he chose for his kitchen counters.
“The one millionaire in here that we actually know,” I said to Charlie. “I didn’t expect that Emmett could potentially be the least wealthy person in here.”
“Well, he’s not the only millionaire we know,” Charlie told me, gesturing over toward Kace, who was over at the big table already sitting next to Nathan and Shawn.
“Okay, true. Kace is a pro football player,” I said, “but he’s just as much of an inappropriate goofball as I am, so he’s an exception.”
Nathan had been with Kace Tomlin for as long as I’d known them both. It was a cute pairing, with Nathan being a humble, single dad construction owner, and Kace being one of the biggest hotshot pro football players in the nation.
But they worked. And it was always cool to see Kace Tomlin in Jade Brewery or around the Fixer Brothers offices.
We got to the table and took the last available seats. Adam took a seat right next to Emmett, and I was placed across the table, a couple of seats down from them. I was next to Kace and one of his football teammates, and I knew I’d have a great time talking with them—but Adam was sandwiched between Emmett and another professional-looking guy from the marketing firm, and directly across from Nathan.
A protective instinct came over me.
For Adam, being sat down there might have felt like he’d been thrown right into a den of lions. He was likely in for a long dinner full of conversations to navigate that even the most socially savvy people could struggle with.
But soon, everyone ordered their first round of drinks, and by the time it came out, I knew I had a different night ahead of me.
Adam wasn’t just doing fine in conversation with Emmett and the other guy from the firm—he was fucking knocking it out of the park.
Emmett didn’t seem to have any awareness that Adam was socially anxious to begin with. He treated Adam like he’d treat anybody else, and Adam rose to the occasion like a total badass. Emmett introduced him to his colleague and the two of them quickly got into a conversation about statistical methods while Kace got our side of the table in a conversation about electrolyte drinks.
It was like a little microcosm of so many different personalities, all at one table.
“So, Chase, my guy,” Kace told me a bit later, when I was halfway into my first whiskey sour of the night. “How’s the single life? I always thought you reminded me of how I used to be before I met Nathan.”
“Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?” I asked him.
“Biggest compliment in the world,” Kace said, looking at me like I was nuts. “Are you having fun out there, playing the field, picking up hotties?”
I glanced across the table and was glad the executives weren’t paying attention to us. Kace Tomlin really was the most famous person I’d ever known—he was a star football player for Denver, and was nationally known for being openly gay and really fucking good at running with a football. But Kace was also the only person I’d met who rivaled me in being able to say anything that crossed his mind.
I loved him. But for the first time ever, I felt self-conscious answering a question about my dating life.
“I haven’t been bringing as many guys home, no,” I said, looking over at Adam to see if he was listening. He looked absorbed in his own conversation, but at this point, I knew Adam. I knew he was sensitive to everything that went on around him, and I had no clue what he might pick up.
“I don’t buy it,” Kace said, giving me his big, signature smile. “You’re the hottest twink in Jade River.”
I laughed softly. “I don’t know about that.”
“For real,” Kace continued. “I had a guy over at my house for a party a few weeks ago and he said you gave him the best New Year’s dick he’d ever had in January.”
I took a swig of my drink. “What?”
“Best New Year’s dick,” Kace repeated. “That’s high praise for you, Chase.”
I shifted on my seat. I remembered the guy Kace was talking about.
“That New Year’s hookup was a relatively fun night, but the guy wasn’t for me. He insulted the blue streak in my hair, actually.”