Guys on Top 02 - Guys on the Side (23 page)

Corey chuckled. “Will do.”

“Nice to meet you, Angelo,” Stewart said, then turned and headed for the van.

“You too,” Angelo said.

Corey walked toward Angelo, surprising him by resting his head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry about this. That must have been awkward for you.”

“It’s okay.” Angelo wrapped an arm around Corey’s shoulder. “Sounds like you’ve got some intense shit going on. I’m starting to understand that anxiety attack now.”

Corey stepped back and nodded, rolling his eyes. “Yeah.”

Stewart’s van drove off, then Angelo looked up as the door opened again, and two men stepped out. One was tall and lean with dark curly hair and bronze skin. The other was a younger brunette in a tight blue tee shirt, boyish looking with a pert nose and pouty lips.

Corey turned toward the house. “Ah, fuck.” He looked back at Angelo. “This is not how I wanted you to...meet everyone. I’m sorry, you should take off, but I’ll call you, okay?”

“Is that Angelo?” the dark skinned man called out. He wore a huge grin as he crossed the lawn toward them. The younger guy stayed up on the porch, pretty face set in a scowl.

Corey winced at Angelo. “Can you hang a minute longer to meet someone?”

Laughing, Angelo nodded. “Sure.”

The curly-haired man reached them, tugging a lock of Corey’s hair. “
Corey
, you missed all the
fun
.” He smiled at Angelo. “Or maybe not.”

“Angelo, this is Jairo. Jairo, Angelo.”

“I know.” Jairo shook Angelo’s hand, grinning. “I saw your photo while I was Internet stalking you.”

“Jairo!” Corey scowled.

“It’s okay,” Angelo said. “Corey and I met under strange circumstances, I know.”

“Well,” Jairo said, “I am late for my shift at the hospital, so gotta run.”

Corey glanced up at the porch. “You think there’s any chance Zach will just leave without trying to talk to me?”

Jairo laughed. “Ah, no.”

“Shit.” Corey glanced at Angelo before turning back to Jairo. “I’ve been
trying
to say a proper goodbye to Angelo, but instead he’s had to bear witness to all my drama, he probably never wants to see me again.”

Angelo laughed, shaking his head. “I’m a psychiatrist, I can handle drama. Besides, it’s kind of amusing. Watching people line up to speak with you like you’re The Godfather or something.”

Jairo pointed at Angelo. “I like him. And in case you didn’t catch it Corey, that means he does want to see you again.”

“Yeah, well he hasn’t met Zach yet, so Angelo, you should bail. Again, sorry for the drama.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Jairo said.

Corey frowned. “Why not?”

“I know you don’t want to expose your new friend to this, but Zach’s been on a full-blown regret-a-thon for the past fifteen minutes. If you allow yourself to be alone with him right now you’ll never get rid of him.”

Corey looked shaken suddenly, his cheeks flushing, and Angelo placed a hand on his shoulder. “You okay?”

“Zach stresses me out,” Corey said. “It’s okay, I’ll deal with it.”

“Well, I’m not leaving until he leaves,” Angelo said.

Corey turned to Angelo, and Jairo cocked an eyebrow. “Yeah,” Jairo said. “I like Angelo. Okay, gotta run, see you later.”

“Bye,” Corey said.

They watched Jairo get in his car, then take off down the road, beeping his horn and waving. Then they both looked at the house. Zach moved down the steps and started toward them. “Here we go,” Corey said.

“He looks young,” Angelo said.

Corey smirked at him. “He is.”

“I’m sorry,” Zach said as he approached. “I’m sorry for all the trouble my actions caused.”

“It’s not all your fault,” Corey said. “Don’t worry about it, Zach. Just go home.”

“It is my fault,” Zach said. “I heard everything when the cops were here, from Stewart. Brooks is a psycho and I led him back into your life.”

“Brooks
is
a psycho,” Corey said. “But when he ambushed me yesterday he admitted he’d targeted you because of me. So don’t be too hard on yourself. Go home, Zach.”

Zach looked at Angelo, his pretty eyes narrowing. “Who is this...person?”

Corey let out a shuddering sigh. “This
person
is called ‘None of your Business’.”

Zach sneered. “Don’t be an asshole, Corey.”

“No, I’m serious,” Corey said. “It’s like a Native American name.” Corey turned to Angelo. ‘None of your Business’, meet ‘Cheating Ex-boyfriend’.”

“Yeah, I’m the cheater. But you replaced me pretty damn quick, didn’t you? Or were you seeing this dude while we were still together?”

“Zachary...”

“Go ahead, admit it.” Zach looked at Angelo. “How long have you and Corey been fucking? Weeks?”

“Zach! Stop it. You’re embarrassing me, and you’re embarrassing yourself,” Corey said. “Just leave.”

Zach moved toward his car, pulling keys out of his pocket. As he opened the car door, he looked at Angelo. “Good luck if you’re dating Corey. I hope you’re a secure dude, because you’ll
never
be his priority.”

Angelo watched Zach drive away. He turned back to Corey, who leaned against the Corvette, rubbing his temples. “You all right?”

Corey groaned. “I’m humiliated.” He looked up and grinned. “Aren’t you glad you picked me up last night? Otherwise you would have missed
all
this.”

Angelo walked over to Corey. Standing in front of him, he leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Corey melted into the kiss, and Angelo had to force himself to draw back so he could say what he wanted to say. “I am
very
glad I picked you up last night. I wouldn’t change a single thing.”

Smiling slightly, Corey ran a knuckle down Angelo’s cheek. “Are you free tomorrow night?”

Angelo grinned and nodded. “Yep.”

“Maybe I could give you those books when you come over for dinner.”

“I look forward to it. Immensely.”

“Good. Come by around seven.” Corey glanced back at the house. “I better go in and talk to Doug. The last of my Godfather duties.”

“Okay, have a good night, and try to take it easy,” Angelo said. “No more stress, okay?”

“Yes, doctor. See you tomorrow night.”

Angelo rounded the Vette and pulled open the door, unable to stop smiling. “See you tomorrow.”

Corey started toward the house then stopped and turned back. “Angelo?”

Angelo looked up.

Corey smiled. “Last night was a ten,” he said, then turned and headed for the house.

Angelo watched him until he disappeared inside the house, then he got in the car and closed the door.

Yes!

He chuckled and started the engine. “I knew it was a fucking ten.”

Chapter Fifteen

Doug’s apartment door was open when Corey stepped into the foyer, so he went inside, calling out, “Doug?”

“In the kitchen!”

Boxes sat on the floor here and there, some open and empty, others taped up and labeled. “I don’t like this,” Corey said as he moved into the kitchen. “I hate that you’re moving out.”

Doug turned from the counter where he was pouring water into his coffeemaker. His brown hair was a mess, and he wore a tee shirt and jeans with bare feet. Corey smiled, thinking of last night with Angelo.

“I told you,” Doug said. “We’ll still hang out all the time. Quit being needy. You want some coffee?”

Dragging a kitchen chair out from the table, Corey sat. “I would love some. I had tea this morning but it didn’t quite meet my caffeine requirements. Why are you barefoot? It’s not summer anymore, you realize.”

Doug turned and leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. “I was awoken from my bed by the doorbell early this morning, and haven’t had a chance to get myself together yet. Stewart filled you in about the cops?”

“Yes.” Corey winced. “Yeah, heard all about it.”

“You do have a way of stirring things up, don’t you?”

“It’s
not
my fault,” Corey said.

Doug laughed, scratching the beard shadow on his chin. “No, I suppose it’s not. So, hey. I saw the Corvette out front. Did you get some spicy Italian sausage last night?”

“Really, Doug?”

Doug twitched his eyebrows, grinning. “Did ya get naughty with Angelo’s manicotti? Stick your cannoli in his holey?”

“Why are you so gross now? That’s supposed to be
my
forte. And you used to yell at me for it.”

“Yeah, I know. Been spending too much time with you, I’m absorbing your personality.”

Corey leaned an elbow on the table, smiling. “Everything’s backwards,” he muttered softly.

Doug shook his head. “What?”

“Never mind. Just something Angelo kept saying last night.”

“Oh,
really
.” Doug smirked. “Is that what
Angelo
kept saying last night?”

Corey steeled himself, then looked at Doug. “I like him.”

“O...kay. I’m glad. But why do I feel like you just told me you have cancer?”

“I don’t know. It happened so fast.”

“So? Not the first time something’s happened fast for you.”

“I know. But I’m the first guy he’s ever had feelings for. And...I
like
him.”

“Oh my God.” Doug pointed at Corey. “You’re scared.”

“Yes.”

“You’re never scared.”

“I know!”

“Well, you did just get screwed over hard by Zach.”

“But I’ve always bounced back when shit happened to me. I had an anxiety attack last night, did you know that? I’m talking full blown, couldn’t breathe, hands shaking meltdown.”

Doug moved over to the table and sat next to Corey. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I ended up having the greatest night with Angelo. But now I feel all weird and vulnerable.”

“I think I know what’s wrong with you.”

Corey perked up. “What? What’s wrong with me?”

Doug leaned in, grinning. “You’re becoming
human
.”

“Fuck off!”

Doug leaned back in his chair. “It was bound to happen eventually.”

“I don’t like it. I used to be bulletproof.”

“Even superheroes get older.”

“Oh, now I’m
old?
”

Doug got up and poured them each a cup of coffee. He brought the cups over and set them on the table, then sat down again. “You’re not old. But you’re
older
. Though I can’t say that with a straight face while you’re wearing that ridiculous jacket. Did you sleep in your clothes?”

Corey shrugged off the letterman jacket and slung it over the back of his chair. “Not exactly.”

“Then what
did
you sleep in? Or did you actually
sleep?
”

“I slept.” Corey smiled. “After I fooled around with Angelo.”

Doug’s eyebrows rose. “So not so straight after all.”

“So far,” Corey said. “You hear all these horror stories about supposedly straight guys having a one-off gay night, then freaking out afterward. But...he didn’t freak out. He seems...
into
me.”

“And you’re surprised?”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

Doug took a sip of his coffee, brow furrowed in concentration. He set his cup down, eyes shifting as he thought. “Okay. Clearly Angelo had some sexual ambivalence deep down, even if he hadn’t acknowledged it, because duh, last night. Let’s say it was already there, dormant.”

Corey cackled. “Dormant? That’s the word you’re going with?”

“What? Dormant works here.”

“Right.” Corey rolled his eyes. “Like
The Manchurian Candidate
. I came along and activated his gay nano-implant and now all he can think about is cock.”

“I’m just saying. If anyone could bring that shit to the foreground, it’s you. Jairo was like a religious convert the day after he slept with you, and shit, you’ve got how many stalkers now?”

“While I appreciate that verbal hand-job, Doug, Angelo isn’t Brooks Carmichael. He’s a smart, successful, seemingly sane professional, who up until recently thought of himself as straight.”

“So what are you saying here? You trying to talk yourself out of him?”

Sighing, Corey shook his head. “No.”

“And you like him.”

“Yes.”

“And he likes you.”

“It appears so.”

“Then what’s the real problem here? Real, not speculated.”

Corey stared down at his lap. “I guess I’m feeling...” He looked up at Doug, wincing. “Insecure.”

Doug snickered. “Because I care about you, I’m trying really hard right now not to point and laugh.”

“Thank you. You’re a real peach.”

“So you’re insecure. So what? It happens to everyone.”

“Not usually to me. How do you mere mortals handle it?”

“Corey.” Doug laughed. “Okay, tell me this. Do you think Stewart loves me?”

“Do I think Stewart
loves
you? Well, yeah. I know Stewart pretty damn well, and trust me, he loves you. He looks at you the same way he looks at Krispy Kremes. And Stewart
loves
Krispy Kremes.”

“Okay, then. Do you have any idea how insecure I felt when I first fell for Stewart? All odds were against it. The popular theory from friends and family was that he’d crush my heart into little bits and stomp on it. And I agreed with them. But I took a chance and followed my heart, and now, I’m his Krispy Kreme.”

Corey smirked and narrowed his eyes. “I used to be his Krispy Kreme. Prick.”

“I thought we were past that now.”

“We are.” Corey groaned and rubbed his eyes. “All I can think about now is Angelo, and his fucking...Angelo-ness.”

“You make plans to see him again?”

Corey nodded. “He’s coming over tomorrow night.”

“You’ve gotta give him a chance, Corey. Even if there are no guarantees. There are never guarantees.”

Corey smiled, looking into his coffee mug. “The unknowable is all there is.” He looked at Doug. “Something Angelo said this morning.”

Doug smirked.

“Don’t start, Crandall.”

Laughing, Doug said, “I’m sorry. But I never heard you
quote
Zach after sleeping with him. You usually just tried to gross me out by telling me how hard he blew you.”