Page 21 of A Cold Hard Truth

Allan, The past few days have been… enlightening. You’ve helped me in ways I can’t describe, and you’ve also made me hornier than I’ve ever been. If I had any doubts at the onset about the validity of these ideas in my head, I don’t anymore. This is right for me, and I hope it’s right for you. I would like to meet you in person if you think I deserve it.

- G

Before he could think better of it, Sebastian hit send, then turned off his phone. He didn’t need it to know what his schedule was for the rest of the day because he’d already committed it to memory. He was good. Or he was getting good.

Sebastian was sitting again at the counter eating an early dinner when he heard the sound of a key in his lock. The door swung open, and a red-faced Callahan appeared in his entryway.

“Jesus,” Callahan whispered, bending over and bracing his hands against his knees. His entire body heaved from the exertion of his breaths, and he blinked up at Sebastian with fear in his eyes.

“What?” Sebastian stood up and set his empty plate and silverware in the sink. He poured himself a glass of water and leaned against the counter, waiting for Callahan to compose himself.

“I thought… you didn’t… answer your phone.”

“I turned it off,” he said.

“You can’t.” Callahan straightened, his eyes still laced with fear. “I thought something happened.”

“Why would something have happened?” Sebastian could not hide the confusion from his face, his brows knitting together and his lips twisting into half a frown.

“I don’t know, Sebastian. You could have drank yourself to death, drowned in your own vomit or something. Fell asleep in the bath…”

“I don’t take baths,” Sebastian cut him off.

“Whatever.” Callahan gestured madly with both of his hands. “I didn’t… please don’t do that again.”

“Hey,” Sebastian’s voice softened, and he reached for Callahan, who came to him easily. He wrapped his arms around his best friend, holding him in a firm embrace until Callahan shook free of it.

“I’m fine,” he assured Callahan. “I haven’t had a drink in a week.”

“What?” Callahan blinked, taking a step back and smoothing out his shirt.

“A week,” he said again, setting his water on the counter.

“Did brunch really do you in?” Callahan asked.

Until he’d started talking to Allan, Remington bringing him home from brunch and tucking him into bed had been the highlight of his year, but he could never admit that to Callahan.

“It was getting the better of me,” he said.

“What was?”

“Vodka.”

Callahan laughed. “And champagne.”

“And literally anything with a proof.” He smiled and gave a small shrug, then jerked his head toward the couch. “You’re here, let’s talk.”

Callahan followed him to the living room and they both sat down, Callahan toeing off his shoes and propping his feet up on the coffee table.

“Do we have someone to thank for the one-eighty on the drinking?” Callahan asked, giving Sebastian a calculating side eye.

“What?” He swallowed.

“Jace told me he set you up on one of those apps. Have you met someone you’re trying to get your shit together for?”

“I have my shit together,” he snapped, then he cleared his throat and stared down at his hands. “I’m not a disaster. I know I’m not the best kind of person…”

“What?” Callahan interrupted him. “You’re a great person.”