- BLAIR -
June, 2016
Working my way up a production company’s ladder was exhausting and often unrewarding. I was about ready to concede I’d be a PA for the rest of my life.
I had a few people I knew in the industry reading over my finished manuscript, and I was waiting on their feedback, which I hoped included a management rights cheque.
But until that happened, I was still everyone else’s bitch-boy.
After a sixteen-hour shift on the latest movie set, I was dead tired and ready for bed.
I didn’t even want to open my eyes to stumble through my apartment. It’d been two months since Garrett gave me his place. It was much nicer than the small shithole I used to live in. In a newer building, on the twelfth floor, it had three bedrooms and a large balcony. I almost felt guilty for taking it because I couldn’t afford the rent his previous tenants paid, but he insisted whatever I was previously paying would be fine. Said he owed me or whatever and wouldn’t accept it when I said I could find somewhere cheaper. Also, he pointed out he was good with his money and was ahead on mortgage repayments. It wasn’t surprising in the slightest.
Completely drained of energy, I had to force my feet forward.
“Hey, Rhodes. Miss me?”
Cure for exhaustion: getting scared to death by Garrett-fucking-Erikson unexpectedly waiting in your apartment.
“Holy Mother of God, what are you doing in the dark?”
He chuckled. “Surprise.”
“Fuck you.” I flipped the light switch and found him sitting on my couch—well, his couch—with a scowl on his face.
“That’s not a very nice thing to say to your landlord.”
“Neither is trying to kill me. A lot of twenty-seven-year-olds have heart attacks, right?” I grabbed my chest.
He stood and approached, wrapping me in a hug. “I couldn’t come home and not see you.”
I returned his embrace. “No, but a heads-up woulda been nice.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“What are you doing home?” I asked when he pulled away.
“Long story. Can I crash with you for a few days?”
“In your own apartment? You know you never have to ask, right? Give warning, yes. Ask, no. But does Derek know you’re staying with me?”
He cleared his throat and took an extra step back. “I’ll be in the spare room. It’ll be fine.”
I nodded, somewhat disappointed with his answer but expecting it. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t fantasised about this very thing happening. Although, the fantasies always consisted of him coming home and telling me he broke up with Derek, came out to his family, and was here for me. But I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I didn’t dwell on it like I once did, and I’d had a couple of dates over the last two months, but I didn’t feel right bringing any of them back to Garrett’s apartment. Well, that, and I wasn’t looking for hook-ups anymore. Although, shamelessly, I was still doing that too.
I’d been taking them back to Spencer’s place instead.
Spencer’s love life was as screwed up as mine lately, so we bonded over the fact we were both fucked up. At least I didn’t knock up an engaged person like he did.
He knew about my relationship with Garrett, but he didn’t know it was Garrett I was talking about. Garrett was referred to as the big, complicated mess.
Spencer was the only one of my friends I felt completely comfortable around. And that’s only because he actively asked about my life and inserted himself in it. He even offered to go to a gay bar with me to show how okay with it he was. The others were supportive now, and I knew I didn’t have to hide anymore, but I still felt weird talking to them about guys.
Old habits died hard.
“Is everything okay?” I asked Garrett.
He was standing there, hands in his pockets, looking nervous and boyish. And it was weird for him to turn up like this.
“It’s good.” His voice was rough. “Why were you home so late? Hot date?”
I shook my head. “I wish. Long day at work. It’ll be long again tomorrow. You want me to call in sick or something?”
“Do you want me to ask you to call in sick? You look exhausted.” He smiled. “I’m all good. I have shit to do tomorrow, and then I’m going up to Brisbane to see my parents tomorrow night. Hunter’s introducing us to his girlfriend. I was going to stay with him until I found out Cole also has a girlfriend.”
Laughter escaped me. It was weird to me that both Hunter and Cole were taken.
“What the hell are they drinking over there? It’s commitment central.” Garrett shuddered. “Maybe there was a manwhore death curse placed on the apartment or something. I don’t want that bad juju on me.”
I wanted to bring up the fact everyone would be as shocked about finding out he had a boyfriend, but I kept my mouth shut about that. “Sara’s cool. You’ll like her. Paige too, from the little interaction I’ve had with her.”
“Do you know I introduced Sara and my brother? It was years ago on one of the nights you and I weren’t on speaking terms. I wanted to get away as soon as possible so I didn’t have to pretend to be straight, and I pushed her onto him. But instead of going home, I sat there all night stewing over the fact I couldn’t touch you. So I drank. A lot. Then when I stumbled out of the bar not long after you left, I was lucky enough to run into cops walking the strip. I’m sure you probably heard how that ended.”
“The first drunk tank accident? I never heard the full story.”
“Not much to tell. When I say I ran into them, I’m being literal. I fell into one, and clearly I’m not small. Knocked the poor guy right over. Pretty sure they made the right decision in cuffing me.”
“Wait, that was the night Hunter met the tattoo girl, right? I didn’t realise that was Sara. Man, that group just got more incestuous.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Paige is Sara’s best friend. Paige is dating Cole who was married to Reece, who recently married Paige’s dad, but that’s getting annulled because Reece slept with Spence and now they’re having a baby together. I can’t even keep up.”
“Wait … Reece married Paige’s dad? As in, Cole’s dating his ex-wife’s stepdaughter?” He laughed.
“Told you; totally incestuous.”
Silence fell, and his smile faded.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
He nodded. “Everything’s good.”
I wasn’t convinced, but I was also exhausted so I didn’t push. I’d get it out of him tomorrow. “I should get to bed. I need to be at work in eight hours for another huge day.”
“Thanks for letting me crash.”
As I walked by him, I flicked him on the side of his head. “It’s your apartment, doofus. Just don’t scare the shit outta me next time.”
“I make no promises” is the last thing I heard from him before I shut my bedroom door and collapsed fully clothed onto my bed.