Chapter 2

“Holy shit,” Javier mumbled out loud when an unknown customer flirted with and caressed Pablo’s muscular chest. “Keenan must be pissed now.”

Vincent pointed at Keenan’s clenched fists in the distance. “He is. Look at how tense his whole body is.”

Justin got to his feet. “I’m heading there, guys. Keenan is an awesome guy, but his temper needs work. We need to stop him before he punches that man for touching Pablo.”

David agreed, but none of them expected what occurred next. He gasped and gaped when Keenan reached Pablo’s side, gripped the man by the face, and proceeded to press their lips together. Pablo was obviously startled, but the man was smiling as he returned the kiss with just as much passion.

Calvin wolf-whistled before shouting at Keenan. “Hot damn, Kee! You’re the man!”

Keenan didn’t break the kiss. Instead, the man raised both middle fingers at Calvin, who laughed out loud. David chortled, but he was a little bit envious, too. He definitely needed a bit of love and romance in his boring existence. He was ecstatic on Keenan’s behalf, though. After a moment, he excused himself to use the restroom. The bar was so packed, it took him almost fifteen minutes just to reach the toilet. He groaned at the long line outside.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Mr. Pretty Face himself.”

The familiar voice astounded him. David turned and glanced up, meeting those unforgettable beautiful amber eyes. It was Tobias Ruiz. He never got alone with Tobias, not in high school and not even when they bumped into each other again in college. Tobias was two years older and six inches taller than his own five-foot-eight. He knew Tobias had plenty of bulky muscles since their high school and college years, but the man he was staring at now seemed to have double the muscle mass than before. It made him a little self-conscious about his own one hundred and sixty-five pounds of lean muscles.

“I want to say nice to meet you, but lying is a terrible habit.”

Then he swiveled around and proceeded to ignore Tobias, who stood way too close behind him. He jumped a little when he felt Tobias’s breath against his right ear.

“You still have that icy, arrogant attitude, haven’t you?”

He faced Tobias again and glared at the man in irritation. “And you’re still a sanctimonious prick, aren’t you?”

Tobias shrugged and sneered at him. “At least I don’t behave as if everyone else is beneath me.”

David could feel the anger boiling deep in his guts. “I’m friendly toward everyone, except the people I can’t stand.”

Tobias scoffed. “Stop deceiving yourself. You’ve always been a cold asshole.”

David narrowed his eyes. “Why don’t you reflect on what you’ve done to deserve that from me?”

Tobias snorted. “I haven’t done anything to you. This animosity between us is all your fault.”

David clenched his fists. He was tempted to wipe that smug expression off Tobias’s face with his fists, but he didn’t want to cause a scene.

“You can believe whatever you like. I’m not going to waste my breath on someone like you.”

“Okay. Whatever.”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

After that, neither of them exchanged a single word with each other. They stood in line in complete silence. David was relieved when it was his turn to use the restroom. When he was done, he lifted his head up high and walked past Tobias while letting out a small huff of displeasure. It was petty, but it made him feel a little bit better. He was determined to have a wonderful time with his best friends. Nobody, not even Tobias, would ruin this night for him.

* * * *

“Toby!”

Tobias cocked his head at Pablo in acknowledgment. “Hey, man.”

Pablo rushed toward him and pulled him into a tight hug. “I didn’t know you were coming to my bar tonight.”

“It’s a last-minute thing.”

Then he noticed the man next to Pablo. The man had wrapped one possessive arm around Pablo. This had to be the man Pablo had been obsessed with over the last three months.

Tobias smiled and offered his hand to the stranger. “Hi, I’m Tobias Ruiz. I’m Pablo’s best friend since we were still in diapers.”

Pablo burst out laughing. “Fuck you, Tob. You’re two years older than me. Don’t lie about your age, man.”

The man next to Pablo seemed to thaw a bit toward Tobias and shook his hand. “Keenan Underwood, Pablo’s boyfriend.”

Tobias nodded. “I saw the display earlier. Nice kiss.”

Pablo blushed. “Kee is a Neanderthal.”

“But you like it, babe.”

“I certainly do. I’ve been waiting forever for you to make a move. I’d almost given up. You didn’t respond to any of my flirting for the past few months. You were starting to give me a complex, stud.”

Tobias mock gagged. “Tone down the PDA, guys. Have pity on single men like me who will most likely be going home alone.”

Pablo snorted. “You’re a fucking man-whore. I can’t remember the last time you had to go home without at least one man or woman by your side.”

Tobias gasped at Pablo. “Slander. I don’t sleep around that much.”

Pablo rolled his eyes. “Just six different people every week then.”

“More than that if I get more than one person in one night,” Tobias admitted while winking at both Pablo and Keenan.