Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“How new for you,” Cal says. “Still going with the busy excuse, huh? I thought now that you were out, you’d stop hiding.”
I feel the guys’ stares, and I get it. I’m sure I’m not the only gay guy in the history of this school’s hockey team, but I’m the only one on the current roster. The only out one, at least. I don’t get any gay vibes from anyone else, but you can never tell. I’m proof of that.
“You’re all welcome to come with me, but I don’t know how comfortable you’ll be in a gay bar.”
There are some snickers.
“The boys couldn’t handle all this,” Cal says and does a ridiculous shimmy. He’s probably my biggest ally on the team. He didn’t even flinch when I came out.
“I thought I was the gay one.”
Laughter erupts in the locker room, and I let out a quiet breath of relief. It’s not always easy to drop the walls I’d spent so many years building.
While everyone starts making their way to the showers, Cal stops in front of me. “Seriously, though. If you want moral support or anything, I’m there.”
“As tempting as it is to see you out of your element, I’m good. Thanks.”
I don’t have the desire to strike out in front of my teammates. I have no idea how to flirt with a guy, let alone proposition one. I’m half hoping my boyish good looks help with that.
Who needs to talk when I have this face?
In two months, I’ll be a twenty-two-year-old virgin, and that’s just … no. I’ve promised myself I won’t let that happen.
So tonight, I plan to expand my newbie-gay-dude horizons. I’m going to check out Vino and Veritas. It’s not technically a gay bar but a wine bar owned by a gay man that’s welcoming to the queer community.
As I make my way into the shower block and take the last stall, I focus on the tiles in front of me and work the soap over my body.
With thoughts of tonight in mind, I contemplate giving myself a good scrub everywhere. What if Mr. Take My Virginity happens to be in the bar tonight and he’s, I dunno, like only in town for one night? I can’t pass up an opportunity like that.
A communal shower probably isn’t the place to get my body sex-ready, though.
Ugh. Virgin for at least another night, then.
Which is a good plan. Maybe I should knock other things off the virgin list. Like, kissing a guy, having another man’s hands on me, his mouth, feeling hard muscles caging me…
My cock gets excited thinking about it, and then I remember where I am.
Hockey!
I make a mental run through my scoring stats to rein in the anticipation simmering under my skin and finally manage to finish my shower.
After dressing in my post-game suit, I make my way to my car and drive toward town.
The closest parking garage on Church Street is a block away from the bar, so I find a spot and then walk to Vino and Veritas.
The combined bookstore and wine bar is relatively new, and as soon as I found out it was queer-friendly, I’ve been wanting to come check it out for myself.
The bar side was closed the other day when I was here, but I’ve been past it before when it’s been open, and it looked like a chill place to hang out.
Which, of course, intimidated the fuck out of me. Because coming here … that would be owning who I am.
But now I’m ready. I think.
I’ve done the hard part. I already came out to my family and friends. This is where the fun part can start.
I run a hand through my hair, making sure it’s parted on my right side, and then I try to flatten it so it’s not sticking up at all different angles.
Adrenaline and nerves stir in my gut, and I can’t tell if I’m trembling in anticipation or fear.
Suck it up, buttercup, and keep your eye on the W. You can’t be a virgin forever.
I rush in so I can’t change my mind, and in truest Most Graceful Award fashion, I run into someone like a bulldozer, and glasses of wine go flying.
Of course. Of fucking course.
My plan to sneak in unnoticed so I can watch for a bit before diving into the deep end has been smashed to pieces. It’s scattered on the floor with shards of broken glass.
That’s not even the worst part.
When the server straightens and turns toward me, his customer-service smile falls as soon as our eyes lock. Rainn Richardson not only works on the bookstore side of Vino and Veritas, he works on the wine bar side too. And … wait, does that mean Rainn Richardson is queer?
How cruel is the universe that the guy I completely embarrassed myself in front of, the guy who I think is one of the hottest men I’ve ever seen in person, might potentially be gay?