Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“No problem. We’ll meet up another day.” We lived half an hour away from each other but still seldom got together. Work was always the most important thing in the Alston family.
“Thanks, Marcus. Love you.”
She ended the call. I tossed my phone on the table.
“We should go out to dinner tonight,” Corbin said. “My treat. Don’t argue.”
And while Corb had come today so he wouldn’t be alone, he’d suggested dinner because he could tell my folks had canceled on me. He would never admit that was the reason, but we both knew it was. “Yeah, but you have bad taste.”
He mock-gasped. “I can’t believe you just said that to me. I have the best taste.” Corbin grabbed my wrist and tugged. “Go shower and get dressed. It’s too early for dinner, but we’ll make an afternoon of it. I’m sure I can figure out some other shit for us to do. Ooh, we should go to Dec’s bar tonight!”
I grumbled but didn’t argue. I spent most of my time grumbling at my best friends, but there was nothing I wouldn’t do for them, and I was more thankful for them than they would ever know.
Chapter Two
Kai
“How you doin’, baby?” Mama asked. We were sitting in my parents’ backyard, watching my nieces and nephews play. I’d come to their house the day before for my brother’s birthday. I was the only one in my immediate family who’d left Riverside, and though I’d only moved to Santa Monica, they were always telling me they wished I were closer.
“All right. I gotta head back soon. I work tonight.”
“I know. I still hate that you’re so far away.”
“Mama…it’s only an hour and forty-five minutes.”
She cocked a brow. “I don’t care. That don’t count traffic, and it’s still too far.”
I was the baby, and my two older siblings—Jalen and Faith—were always talking shit about Mom spoiling me. I couldn’t help it if my mama had good taste. “I know. I miss you too.” I hadn’t yet told her there was a very real possibility I’d have to move back home soon. Our landlord had jacked up the rent in our apartment, and my roommate—who made a lot more than me and paid more rent for the master bedroom—was moving to San Diego. Rents in Santa Monica were outrageous, and though my boss, Declan, paid me well at the bar, no way could I afford to live there alone. Hell, with the payment spike, it’d be hard to make it even with another roommate, unless I got into a similar situation as I was in now.
But as much as I loved my family and as close as we were, I didn’t want to live in the IE—the Inland Empire. I wanted to be in Los Angeles County.
“You listening to me?” Mama swatted my thigh.
“Ouch. Why you gotta be so mean? And sorry, I missed what you said.”
“I asked if you’re seeing anyone. You’re twenty-six and never brought a boy home.”
Not everyone had it as good as me with supportive parents, and while I was thankful for that, it was a little hard to explain to her that I had no intention of settling down right now. I was young, queer, and fabulous. I could do that real-life shit later. “That’s because I never found anyone worthy of meeting you.” Yeah, I was charming my own mama, but what I’d said was true.
“Uncle Kai! Come play with us!” my niece called.
Mama nodded for me to go, and I shoved to my feet. “Yes, ma’am!” I teased, wanting to hang out with Aaliyah but also to escape this conversation.
I spent about an hour with them, Jalen and Faith eventually coming out too. My siblings were both straight and married. Faith was a nurse, Jalen an electrician, and then there was little old queer me, a bartender simply because it was a job. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my dream—not that I had any idea what my dream was.
Jalen was the first person I’d told I was gay. He’d just hugged me, said it was cool, then taught me how to fight so I could always stick up for myself. I was around ten at the time. At twelve, Faith started giving me manicure lessons when I’d watch her put polish on. Depending on whether you were an asshole or not, I could paint your nails or kick your ass with the best of them. But the point was, being myself had never been an issue for me. Lately, however, I’d been wondering if I should be doing more with my life, like they did. Or at least to avoid putting myself in a situation where I might have to move home because I couldn’t afford to live on my own.
* * *
Mama was right. Traffic fucking sucked, and it took me longer to get back to Santa Monica than it should. I had just enough time to go home, shower, and get dressed before heading to Driftwood for work. The bar had always stayed pretty busy, but none of us could pretend it hadn’t picked up since Declan got outed as being in a relationship with the Sebastian Cole. He’d had to hire security, and people definitely came in hoping to catch sight of Sebastian or to hit on the man who was boning him. Sebastian liked to hang out sometimes and be with Dec while he worked, so they’d arranged a little spot for him behind the counter where he was out of the way and people couldn’t get to him.