Page 23 of Bobby Green

Lance woke him up at four in the morning. Apparently Chance, whose real name was Chase, had tried to kill himself the night before, and all the guys who knew him were at the hospital, trying to see if he’d be okay.

Reg shot up in bed, winced, and fell back down. He remembered Veronica, asleep, but who would be awake shortly and need her meds if he didn’t want her to kill him the next time he slept, and how she was going to need him three times a day for the next couple of weeks.

“I can’t go,” he said disconsolately. These guys were his friends—his brothers, like Lance—and he wanted to be there for them.

“Dex’ll understand,” Lance said, patting his calf. “Here—go back to sleep. I’ll set your phone and lock your door, okay?”

Reg nodded, remembering that Lance had been up all night. “Get some sleep,” he said. “Just… you know. Take care.”

Lance nodded soberly. “You take care too, Reg. And if you ever want someone to help get her settled someplace else, I can do that.”

But Reg couldn’t think about that. He could, however, get a few more hours of sleep. He’d take what he could get.

New and Normal

BOBBY’S FIRSTshoot was a girl named Trisha, who had dyed black hair and a lot of tattoos along her belly-dancing-skirt line. She was likable enough, but after getting used to posing one way to show off his pecs, and another way to show off his cock, and then a third way so everybody could see his hands on her less-than-ample boobs, the thrill was gone.

He got it up—he always did—and he did the thing.

Dex gave clear directions, made him feel comfortable, and by the time pleasure actually took over and he couldn’t stop himself from thrusting his hips into Trisha’s willing body, the name “Bobby” fit him like it was the name he should have been born with.

When it was over, Trisha took a deep breath, grabbed some offered tissues to wipe off, and rolled off the bed.

“Damn,” she said admiringly. “That thing’s huge. I’ll shoot a scene withthatanytime.”

“Uh, thank you?”

She laughed self-consciously, pulling on a robe she’d left offscreen. Some of the “fuck-me-baby” armor that had carried her through the scene fell away. “Sorry—that was rude.Youwere nice to work with. If you stay in het, I’d love to work with you again.”

He nodded, feeling more human himself. “Thank you—it was a pleasure working with you too.”

She dimpled charmingly, like a pretty girl at a dance, swung her sweaty hair behind her, and turned toward the door. “I hope it’s okay if I get the shower first?”

“It should be all clear,” Dex said, putting away his precious equipment. “Thanks, Trisha. He’ll give you about twenty minutes before coming in.”

“Thanks, Dex.” She gave a little wave and sauntered off, yawning behind her hand. Well, they’d been working that scene for about four hours. Bobby could use a shower and a snack and a nap himself—but not necessarily in that order.

Dex nodded absently and locked up his case. “See you in a few weeks, hon. Study hard.” He then gave a tired smile to Bobby. “How you doing?” he asked. “All good?”

Bobby thought about it, but the thinking was easier with the check from his solo burning a hole in the jeans he’d worn that day. He’d managed to find a cheap hotel for the last two nights so he’d be rested and clean, because when Dex had offered him sort of an “emergency shift,” as it were, he jumped right on it.

But how did he feel after shooting sex for money—notsolo?

Soiled? Immoral? Self-loathing?

“I’mhungry,” he said with passion. “God—I haven’t eaten in two days!”

Dex’s laughter sounded sincere but subdued. Bobby had gotten that vibe all day, pretty much from everybody. He’d heard “How’s he doing?” asked a lot of times, and he figured somebody had been hurt in a car accident or something, but he didn’t want to ask.

“Well, good. There’s a couple of all-you-can-eat places nearby. Ask Kelsey—she’s got a map—and a few gyms nearby, if you miss your workout.”

Bobby didn’t want to look at his body—he was pretty skinny from the last two months. He figured his cock might have gotten him in the door, but he’d been looking at the other guys walking in. He’d have to step up his game.

“That’s awesome,” he said, because it was a nice thing to do. “Thank you.”

Dex nodded and bit his lip. “Look—think you can shoot again in a week? I know it’s short notice, but we’re sort of two men down.Imight end up shooting with you, if that’s okay.” He paused. “Goddammit.We didn’t evenask—are you up for guys? I could have another girl in here—I mean, I swore I was out of the game, you know?”

Bobby stared at him blankly. A guy.Dex, who was sort of giving Bobby the warm fuzzies in his chest already. Could Bobby… dothe thingwith Dex?