Page 31 of Jacked (Gymbos #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY

AJ

I’m still in a minor daze from that epic blowjob when I reach Sweat.

I spent the short walk from the apartment thinking about the look on Slater’s face right before he took my cock in his mouth, like he was in heaven or some shit.

I run my hand over my mouth, trying to wipe the grin off my face before I step in there.

It’s impossible to stop smiling though. The second I go inside, they’re all going to be able to tell with one look at my dopey face that Slater and I hooked up.

Maybe once all these endorphins and hormones or whatever wear off I’ll be more embarrassed about it, but right now it doesn’t feel like the worst thing in the world for them to know.

Sweat is always busiest on Saturday mornings.

Maybe everyone is trying to work off the booze they drank the night before or desperately trying to get jacked before they go out on the hunt for ass tonight.

Either way, it’s my least favorite day of the week to be here.

It’s noisy and crowded and half the time my morning training appointments flake due to hangovers.

Joke’s on them, they still have to pay my training fee for last minute no-shows.

“Ajaaaax!” Butch shouts as soon as I step inside. “Our newest Rainbow Mafia recruit. Welcome to the family.” He’s spotting his client at the bench, so he can’t go anywhere, but he gives me an air high five from across the room.

Heat rises in my cheeks and I chuckle. I was so wrapped up in everything going down with Slater last night that I didn’t really stop and think about the fact that I kissed him in front of everyone.

Maybe it’s because they’re all gay, but it doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would.

There aren’t any knots in my stomach, no denials or explanations rising in the back of my throat, nothing but that same stupid grin on my face that just refuses to quit.

Silas just gives me a nod in greeting and Callan fist-bumps me as I pass.

Dre is nowhere to be seen this morning, but that’s not unheard of on the weekends.

The perks of being the owner, right? I glance around for Fender, bracing for whatever out-of-pocket gremlin shit he’s going to come up with.

He saunters out of the back room with his hands wrapped and a sheen of sweat glistening on his skin.

I don’t know if he has a sparring partner this morning or if he’s just been going at the punching bag hard, but he’s obviously been getting a solid workout in.

He pushes his hair out of his face and the move reminds me of Slater. My stomach flutters and my smile tugs a little wider. How many hours until I can get my ass home to hang out with him again? Like, eight. Ugh.

Fender spots me and smirks.

“Hey, man, thanks for that assist last night. That twink was fiiiiiire .” He singsongs that last word and does prayer hands like he’s thanking god for the bountiful ass he received.

I frown for a second, then remember the guy who offered to buy me a drink before I kissed Slater. Everything outside of the memory of Slater’s lips and hands and… yeah, all of it, is kind of a blur.

“Uh, you’re welcome. What was his name? Josh or something?” I drag my hand over the rough stubble on my chin.

Fender makes a face. “His name was Josh ?”

My eyebrows shoot up. “You didn’t bother to ask yourself?”

“Of course not.” He waves dismissively. “Seriously though, Josh ?”

“What’s wrong with the name ‘Josh’?” Silas asks.

“Nothing’s wrong with it, I just thought he’d have more of a main character name.” Fender actually sounds disappointed about the whole thing as he unwraps his hands and shrugs.

Butch helps guide his client’s weight bar back into the cradle then scrunches up his face and chuckles. “What in the ever-loving fuck is a main character name?”

Fender rolls his eyes. “It’s a name for main characters, genius.

It’s, you know, unique and memorable and maybe even says something about who they are as a person.

” Butch still looks confused, so Fender pats him on his oversized chest and keeps talking.

“You know, like a himbo gym slut named Butch .”

He snorts a laugh. “I have a main character name?”

“You definitely do.”

“What about Fender ?” I say. It seems like his own name fits his criteria. Wait, is AJ a main character name? Probably not. It’s kind of bland and generic. Now Slater, there’s a main character name. Not to mention his main character smile, and main character charm…

I shake my head to get focused again before I accidentally spend all morning thinking about all the ways Slater is… well, Slater .

“Eh.” Fender shrugs. “Technically, yeah, it’s a main character name. But I have chaotic sidekick energy.”

“Is that anything like pain in the ass energy?” Callan asks.

“Kind of, yeah,” Fender deadpans.

“How do you know all this shit?” I ask with another laugh.

“He writes fan fic ‘secretly.’” Butch uses his fingers to make quotes around the word.

Fender’s eyes go wide and his face flushes bright red for half a second before he scoffs. “I do not.”

“I loved that one where the disembodied hand finger fucked the goth dude.” Silas smirks.

“What?” I sputter a laugh, trying to figure out what the actual fuck.

“That is the weirdest fucking way anyone has ever described Thing and Gomez Adams,” Callan says. “My favorite one he wrote was ‘Freddy Vers us Jason’ where they flip fuck.”

“Really?” Fender lights up. “You liked that one? A lot of people thought the blood play kink was over the top. But was I really supposed to not have them cut each other when they’re wielding finger knives and a machete? I mean, come on.”

“So you’re admitting that you did write them?” Silas smirks.

Fender twists his lips into a coy smirk and shrugs. “Nope.”

“I…” I stop and shake my head. I don’t have a fucking clue what there is to say to any of that. Luckily, my first client of the day walks in and saves me from having to try.

SLATER

After AJ leaves and I manage to drag myself up off the floor again, I lie splayed out on the couch for a while, just smiling to myself and replaying that blowjob over and over in my head. I sucked a dick. I sucked a dick and I fucking liked it.

A loud buzzing draws my attention to the floor next to the couch, where my phone must have fallen out of my pocket earlier. I reach for it and see Nolan’s name along with a picture of the two of us from a few summers ago lighting up the screen.

“Holy shit, come out as bi and apparently you can magically resurrect your ghost of a best friend,” I say dryly in place of a hello.

“I have not been ghosting you. We keep missing each other’s calls and I already feel like a dick for not trying harder, so please take it easy on the guilt.” The hint of pleading in his voice is enough for me to tone down the ball busting.

I love Nolan, he’s been my best friend since grade school, but I always have to remind myself that he takes shit more seriously than I mean it most of the time. I’ve always chalked it up to growing up without siblings, but maybe it’s just how he is.

“I know you’re pulling crazy hours at your new job, plus you and Cas just moved in together. It’s all a lot more exciting than your long-lost bestie.” Okay, seriously though, that’s my last little dig.

He sighs dramatically, and I chuckle.

“Is this going to be a long guilt trip? Maybe I should pack a bag?” he grumbles.

“No, I promise, I’m done.” I draw an X over my heart even though he can’t see me. “Let’s skip right ahead to the part where I tell you that I can’t believe you let me go this long without knowing how fucking awesome it is to kiss a dude.”

He barks out a startled laugh. “That’s on you for not listening. I’m positive I mentioned how hot guys are at least a few times over the years.”

“You did. It’s definitely my fault for not believing you.”

“Sooo?” he says, and I swear, even though we’re a thousand miles apart I can feel him nudging me with his elbow and see his eyes lighting up with curiosity, waiting for me to tell him all about what happened.

“I don’t even know where to start.” I chuckle and take my hat off, flinging it onto the coffee table and then running my fingers through my hair.

“I’ve got time. I can’t believe you’ve been going through this whole sexual awakening without anyone to talk to about it. I seriously do feel like a dick that I’ve been so busy and kept missing your calls.”

“It’s fine,” I assure him. Would it have been nice to talk to Nolan or Cas about it? Sure. But it all worked out, so I’m not going to dwell on it. Besides, it probably helped that I had time to get my head around everything without their input first.

“Is there a guy? Is this all just theoretical? Come on, you’ve gotta give me something here.”

“There’s a guy,” I confess, raking my fingers through my hair again and grinning like a fool. “AJ.”

“Wait, your roommate?” There’s a shift in his tone, but I barely register it.

The chance to actually talk about what’s been going on is like a shot of adrenaline straight to my veins. I sit up and swing my legs back around so my feet are on the floor, and I just start talking.