Page 21 of Declan

“Fuck, you’re so hot,” he slurred as he rubbed my chest.

“Let’s get you out of here.” Preferably somewhere less public.

And then he puked on me.

He passed out, and I caught him before he hit the floor. The rancid smell nearly made me sick, as well, but luckily it had missed my chest and only landed on my shoes. That was enough to still make me gag a bit, though.

“He mixed his alcohol,” Royal said with a cringe. “He wanted to get wasted tonight. Looks like he got his wish.”

Red trickled from Kyler’s mouth.

“What the fuck?” I asked before using the bottom of my shirt to wipe it away.

“Strawberry jello shot,” Royal answered. “Thanks for helping me. If I’d known they’d be like this, we would’ve gotten drunk at home.”

Ignoring the vomit on my shoes, I picked up Kyler—who had woken but was speaking nonsense and too weak to walk on his own—and helped him out of the club. Royal walked beside me, carrying the blond twink.

“I’m Royal, by the way,” he said once we were outside.

The fresh air was nice and I breathed it in, clearing my nostrils of the smoke and smell of puke.

“Nice to meet you,” I greeted, giving no introduction to myself. His reaction when he’d first seen me had been obvious that he knew who I was. “So, are you and him dating?”

“Brysen?” Royal lightly laughed. “No. He’s more like a little brother to me.”

“Not him. Kyler,” I corrected.

“Ah, that’s also a no.” Royal walked toward the parking lot, and I kept pace beside him. “You know, Kye didn’t mention that you two were friends. In fact, he seemed kind of upset about the filming.”

“Really?”

Had I been the one to upset him?

“Yeah, he didn’t say much, but he usually only gets this shit-faced when he wants to forget something.” Royal arched a brow, and the streetlight reflected in his blue eyes. I didn’t know what he did for a living, but I knew plenty of photographers that would fall all over themselves to shoot him. “You’re kind of his role model. He’d probably kill me for saying that, though.”

Kyler mumbled and pressed his face against my neck.

I turned my head and touched my cheek to his. Just to know what it felt like to be close to him. Then, I jerked away, inwardly cursing myself and hoping Royal hadn’t seen it.

He had.

He regarded me with a curious expression before opening the car door and placing the blond guy—Brysen, he’d said his name was—in the front seat and buckling him up.

“Can I ask you something?” Royal reached for Kyler, and I almost didn’t let go of him.

“Sure.” I reluctantly released my hold on him.

He placed Freckles in the backseat before shutting the door and turning to me. “What are you playing at? You’re a huge actor. Kind of an asshole, too, if the stories are true. Why are you interested in my best friend?”

Overly protective, much?

“I’mnotinterested,” I lied. “It’s a coincidence I bumped into him. I’m in town to film a movie, and there’s not much to do.”

“So, you come to a gay club?”

I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but words failed me.

“Look, I don’t give a damn if you’re straight, gay, bi, or a fucking unicorn. But don’t fuck with Kyler. The last thing he needs is his heart broken again because of some closeted guy who can’t get his shit together.”