Page 9 of Joey’s Trick

Excitement and joy raced through Joey as he stood there staring up at the building in front of him. A year had passed since he’d made the best decision of his life to return home to visit his family. In that time, he and Trick had spent as much time together as possible between weekend visits, holidays, and other ways of communications. They’d become pros at sexting and using video chat.

Two months into their long-distance relationship, Trick finally declared his feelings for Joey. Which led to a fantastic weekend marathon of sex and cuddling. Joey still couldn’t believe how good things were between them. In and out of the bedroom. He showed Trick around the various tourist sites in Orlando, including Disney World and Universal Studios. Actually, Joey had lived just outside of Orlando for the last several years, but he’d never taken the time to go to the amusement parks or other attractions around there. It was fun discovering everything with Trick.

Joey had taken Trick with him to several sessions with Dr. Garrett, mostly because Trick still didn’t believe that he wasn’t to blame for Joey’s attempt to take his own life. It took a while, and a lot of talking with Dr. Garrett, but eventually Trick accepted it wasn’t his fault. Joey had also told Dr. Garrett about Vince, the stalking, and how he’d attacked Trick.

The little prick pleaded insanity and ended up in a mental health facility instead of jail for the one-year sentence the judge gave him. During the trial, it came to light Joey wasn’t Vince’s first stalking victim. There’d been at least two others, but they’d never pressed charges. He didn’t know how they’d gotten Vince to leave them alone.

Vince had gotten out about a month ago, but thankfully he hadn’t shown up or tried to contact Joey. Of course, the agency he worked for fired Vince and Joey couldn’t have been happier about that. Joey had gone to see Vince once. Mostly because Dr. Garrett had encouraged him to confront Vince, but also because Joey still didn’t believe he’d told Vince anything about Trick. He’d needed to know how the fuck Vince had known about everything.

That was when Vince admitted Joey hadn’t told him about his tattoo or the scar on his wrist. Vince had followed him one day to one of his appointments with his therapist and then hired someone to hack into Dr. Garrett’s private records from Joey’s sessions. He’d listened to the recordings she made and read through her notes about Joey. Angry didn’t begin to describe the rage he’d felt when Vince told him the truth. If he could have, he’d have strangled the little shit right then. He’d told Vince to never contact him again and to stay out of his life.

Joey jumped when arms came around his waist and a chin dropped onto his shoulder. He leaned back into Trick, placing his hands over Trick’s. “Hey, babe.”

“Happy?” Trick asked.

“Absolutely.” Joey smiled and looked at the sign on the building again. Epic Waters Sports Agency. He’d chosen to go into business for himself when he knew Trick and he were a sure thing and he no longer wanted to be separated from him by over two hundred miles. Every weekend he’d been in Fort Lauderdale with Trick, he scouted office locations, setting up the renovations, and putting together the business plan to get a loan at the bank. A month ago, he’d made the move down from Orlando after resigning from his job. Today was the first day of the office being open, and Joey could hardly believe it.

“So proud of you,” Trick said, kissing Joey’s cheek, down his neck, to his shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re here with me,” Joey replied, snuggling further back into Trick’s embrace. “I love you.”

“Love you, too, baby. Maybe during lunch, we can rechristen your desk,” Trick said.

Joey chuckled and shook his head. They’d already christened his desk on multiple occasions during the remodel of the office. “Don’t you have that new project to start over in Lighthouse Point?”

Trick shrugged. “Anthony told me he’d start without me. Gave me the day off to celebrate with you.”

“I still have to work,” Joey said. “Until I get a couple more clients, I’m running on my savings.” A couple of his clients from his previous agency followed him, wanting to keep him as their representative. His boss hadn’t been happy, but had grudgingly agreed to let him have the two. One of which was Wesley Prince. Joey had considered declining Prince’s option to move with him, but they’d had a conversation about Joey no longer being able to provide those additional “benefits” and Prince had been understanding. In fact, the guy had been downright jovial when he’d met Trick, wishing them the best.

Pouting, Trick sighed. “Okay. But tonight, we’re going to dinner and then I intend on ravishing this sexy, amazing body of yours until you can barely move.”

“Bet,” Joey said, grinning.

Trick reluctantly released him, giving him a quick kiss, and then headed to his truck. “I’ll see you tonight, baby.”

Joey waved at Trick before walking through the front door and into his office. Things definitely hadn’t worked out the way he’d expected a year ago when he’d been dreading his trip to Fort Lauderdale, and he couldn’t be happier about it. A wide smile crossed his lips as he took the seat behind his desk, eager to begin his new job and, more than anything, his new life with Trick.