Alec
I COULD NOT BELIEVE TONIGHT had arrived. The night I’d be celebrating my twenty-first birthday, when I could go to any bar, nightclub, or casino I wanted. And who better to mark the occasion with than Carter Reece and Beau Mitchell, my two best friends in the entire world.
Arriving in Orlando earlier in the day, the midsummer heat was stifling by the time we’d checked into our suite at the Ritz Carlton. Carter had spared no expense, and didn't have to, since he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He’d already warned us that when it came to my birthday weekend, the usual rule of sharing expenses—a rule he despised more than anything—did not apply.
So here we were, taking some time out in a place we’d never been to before, all to let off steam and commemorate my big day before I celebrated with my parents back home.
After several hours of shopping, having each bought ourselves new outfits, we’d spent the afternoon waxing, shaving, and plucking until we looked so good, even I wanted to fuck us.
Gold.
The evening lay ahead like that fantastical road to Oz, each brick tempting us to follow the path to freedom. To suck on the cock of the big city, and I couldn’t wait.
“What’s that stupid smile for?” Beau gave me a smirk and sprayed some cologne on his neck before tossing the bottle on his bed.
“Yeah. I keep waiting for him to launch into a rendition of ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’. Which he totally might.” Carter guffawed.
“Shut up. Just looking forward to tonight, that’s all. It’s gonna be great.” I finished buttoning up my brand-new paisley shirt and thought about how lucky I was to have two men in my life who cared as much as they did.
For one so rich, Carter didn’t flaunt that side of himself. The entire time he’d been studying his bachelor’s in Business Administration at Jacksonville University, he’d roomed with me rather than living in one of his family’s numerous properties. The man may have been all of twenty-two, but already had his future mapped out, planning to crawl out from under his father’s shadow and open his own investment firm rather than sit on his ass for the rest of his life.
Then there was Beau, who was two years older than me and well on his way to becoming the best damn nurse he could be. We’d been neighbors when we were kids but had lost touch until running into one another at a café he was working at near Concorde Career Institute, the school in Jacksonville he’d been attending. Caring and kind, he was the most empathetic guy I knew.
“That it is, my friend. That it is. Now, come on. Let's make like a tree and leave.” Beau and I rolled our collective eyes.
“Jesus Christ, Carter. That’s the worst dad joke I’ve heard from you yet, and you don’t even have kids. How about we stop by a comedy club on the way and get you schooled on what a real gag sounds like?” I shot back with a chortle.
“Great idea. Might even get one of the jokesters there to gag on my humungous dick while I’m at it.” Carter didn’t go for a specific type when it came to who he dated, but one thing they all had in common was a quirky sense of humor. With his wealth and godlike looks, he could have his pick of the most eligible men around, but still hadn't found “the one.” And if he couldn’t find a decent boyfriend, what chance did any of us mere mortals have?
“Comedians are too loud and obnoxious for my taste. Give me quiet and understated any day of the week.” Beau heaved a sigh. He’d confessed on the ride down that he was tired of random hookups with the self-absorbed assholes who tended to cross his path. He wanted someone for their brain, not how badass they looked in a selfie. Someone subdued. Understated. Giving and sweet. If they also happened to be good-looking, that was a bonus, not a prerequisite.
“Don’t the quiet ones almost always end up being serial killers?” Beau laughed at my comment and punched me in the arm as we stepped off the elevator and headed outside.
“Gotta be better than the redneck types you seem to go for.”
Narrowed eyes directed at Beau, I snorted. “It’s called Southern charm, asshole. There’s a difference. Nothing wrong with wanting a boyfriend who’s adorable and also happens to look good in a Stetson.”
I’d spent my junior year of high school pining over a senior from a small Texas town. Though we became friends, my crush went on unfulfilled, since back then I was trying to deny my attraction to guys.
“Enough with the boyfriend talk before I hurl. Bring on the hot pieces of ass! It's party time!” Carter bellowed.
Laughing, I followed my friends as they clambered into a waiting Lincoln town car, all black and shiny new.