Page 32 of Kiss-Fist (Deaf Hearts #1)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ROBBIE

Thom looks so fucking good tonight. I mean, he always looks good, but hell, my friends are gonna comment. They’re going to wonder why someone as hot as him is going for the likes of me.

I’ll have to try and fend off the questions, but damn it, when I’m around Deaf, my Deafness comes out. I’m going to end up spilling all the beans. They’re going to know everything.

‘Come on,’ I sign, waving my hand forward. Thom wets his lips and then takes hold of my hand, letting me pull him forward. We’re walking toward a building with large flashing lights on the outside and a neon sign that reads Rainbow Realm.

I love coming here. It’s an amazing safe space for queer people, and I really respect that they have a weekly Deaf Drag night where we can gather and just exist.

We enter through the front door, and I’m automatically blinking at the colorful lights on the stage. They’re flashing and bright, making for an intense visual experience. I know the drag show is going to start soon, and I am so curious to see Thom’s reaction to this.

Fuck, I’m excited and nervous all at the same time.

Glancing around, I see my group of friends all at a round table, the four of them chatting away. Mellie, Rhett, Fayid, and shit …Rome’s here. I should have known he’d be in attendance. He always is. But with everything I had going on with Thom, I’d almost completely forgotten about him.

I clutch onto Thom a little tighter and debate telling him about Rome and our casual on-again off-again fling, but don’t have the chance. They’ve caught sight of me. All of them. They wave us over, Mellie signing the loudest.

‘You both look hot!’

Rhett knocks into him, and Mellie grins. ‘I mean, my boyfriend is obviously the hottest, but I love seeing him jealous.’

‘I’m not jealous,’ Rhett says as he pulls me in for a hug and then does the same to Thom. Hugs are one more thing Thom will need to get used to, but he doesn’t seem bothered. Thom pats his back as Fayid comes over and pulls me into a hug, winking at me as he leans in.

I know what that means.

And fuck him for being so unsubtle.

He hugs Thom after and seems to relish in his nerves. ‘Happy you could make it.’

Thom’s hands have lost a little of their confidence under the watchful eye of my Deaf friends. ‘Thank you. It looks fun.’

Fayid grins wider and slings his arm around Thom, pulling him closer. ‘Great. Want to sit? You can be next to me.’

Thom just flushes red and glances back at me, the expression on his face almost frantic. ‘Leave him alone,’ I snap, and Fayid rolls his eyes, pulling out a chair for Thom, which will be right next to me. It’s all totally fine.

Until it isn’t.

Rome moves over to me and arches an eyebrow. Christ, I knew this was coming, but I really, really don’t want to have this conversation in front of Thom. He won’t be able to catch all of it, but he’ll understand enough.

‘Really?’ he signs. ‘A hearing guy? I mean, I know he’s hot and all, but I thought you said none of those.’

I roll my eyes and then sigh. ‘I broke the rules.’

Rome laughs and then pulls me into a side hug. ‘Yeah, I get it. I’ll miss fucking you, but you can call me when it ends.’

Then he moves over to Thom, who was watching us with a cocked head, and god, I hope he didn’t understand any of that. I mean, there’s no way, right? It was signed too fast for him to get it. And most of it were signs Denver would not have taught his students. At least, not yet.

My eyes move over to Rhett, who is chatting with Mellie, and I thank the stars above that he didn’t decide to interpret any of that. I mean, he may once we’re all around the table chatting, but right now, I’m safe.

Right?

‘You okay?’ I ask Thom, and he swallows, giving me a small nod.

‘Yes. ’

‘You want a drink?’

He peers at me and then nods toward the bar. ‘I can get it.’

I watch as he stands there awkwardly and then waves his hand, getting everyone’s attention. ‘Want new drink?’

It’s so fucking cute, and I love that he’s making an effort.

That he’s trying. Everyone seems to think so too.

Fayid shakes his head as Mellie gulps down his beer and then asks for another.

When Thom doesn’t understand, Mellie just grins and signs slower.

So slow, in fact, that my eyes start to cross, but I adore him for trying to make Thom feel included.

Thom eventually understands and bobs his head as Rhett offers to accompany him to the bar. Rome is the last one to give his order, and when Thom turns his gaze toward him, Rome grins wickedly.

He always was a shit.

‘Yeah, I’ll take a Ramos Gin Fizz.’

I stare at him, hating that he’s fingerspelled that way too fast. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s doing it on purpose.

‘Slow,’ Thom says, his mouth moving into a small frown. ‘Please.’ It’s not even about the fact that he’s new. He also struggles with spelling, and it’ll always be harder for him.

Rome rolls his eyes and does as requested, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, especially because Thom caught that and is getting flustered. Thankfully, Rhett steps in.

‘Don’t be a dick.’ He turns his face toward Thom, and his lips move, telling him what it is Rome wants.

Swallowing thickly, pink in the cheeks for all the wrong reasons, Thom meets my gaze, then looks at Rome and nods. ‘Be right back.’

Rhett casts a glance at me. He’s obviously checking to see how pissed I am, and when he knows I’m not going to explode, he pulls Thom to the bar.

‘Stop it,’ I say, turning toward Rome and glowering. ‘Don’t be mean to him.’

‘I wasn’t being mean. I was telling him what I wanted.’

‘You signed too fast on purpose. You’re being an asshole.’

Rome rolls his eyes once more and folds his arms across his chest, turning his head to look away from me. As he does, the lights dim slightly, and I can feel the boom of the music rumble the floor and chairs.

Oh, it’s going to get so loud in here.

‘He’s jealous,’ Fayid signs, his hand low while Rome is still not looking. ‘Ignore him.’

‘That’s ridiculous. We weren’t even a couple.’

‘I know, but he is. Trust.’

I sigh, not wanting any drama. I just want tonight to go well.

Rome turns his head and stares at me. I don’t have anything to say to him at the moment. I’m disappointed in the passive-aggressive attitude he has. It wasn’t like he was ever interested in more than a fling, so I don’t know why he’s behaving like this.

I spend the rest of the few minutes before the show chatting with Fayid and Mellie until Thom and Rhett come back, earplugs in their ears, drinks in their hands. Thom is smiling now, and I promise never to be mad at Rhett again. He can do no wrong from this point forward .

The drinks are set down, Thom handing me mine and Rome his. Rome doesn’t even say thank you, just turns and chats with someone else at another table.

Rhett rolls his eyes and signs, ‘Immature,’ his pinkie finger landing on the tip of his nose before he takes a seat near Thom.

I agree, Rome is being immature, but he’s always come around in the end. He will with this as well. He has to. Losing the benefits part of our relationship wasn’t supposed to mean losing him as a friend.

Thom takes a sip of his drink, and his hand lands on my thigh, squeezing it gently.

I peer over at him and grin softly. ‘Thank you for the drink.’

He nods, his cheeks flushing until Rome waves a hand at him. He pales slightly and jerks his chin up to let Rome know he’s paying attention.

Fucking hell.

‘So how did you two meet?’ Rome asks, his signs a little slower than normal but not enough for Thom to catch. Thankfully, Rhett is next to him and interprets, speaking loudly into Thom’s ear for him.

I could kiss him, seriously.

Thom wets his lips and signs, ‘Workout.’

I clarify, ‘I’ve been going to the gym. He’s been training me.’

Rome’s eyebrows rise. ‘Really? You hate working out. I mean, I’ve never seen you run, and the most you ever move is when you’re being fucked. ’

I stare at Rome, hating that Rhett is interpreting this. But he wouldn’t omit it. It wouldn’t be fair to Thom.

‘Shit, sorry. I forgot he’s your boyfriend.’ Rome shrugs, then leans over the table slightly. ‘Robbie and I fuck sometimes…or used to,’ he explains, directing his signs at Thom. ‘Usually, it was when we were bored or horny. Everyone knows about it. Deaf world is small. You’ll learn this.’

Thom’s hand falls from my thigh, and he takes a sip of his drink, his eyes not meeting mine. He nods but otherwise doesn’t answer.

Damn it, Rome. He’s being such a shit tonight. ‘Stop it,’ I tell him, and he halfheartedly hides a smirk.

‘He should know. Everyone else does. I’m surprised you forgot to mention me.’

Yeah, well. So am I.

Thom doesn’t say anything, just continues to sip at his drink, looking slightly flushed and nervous. I did that, god damn it. I really should have said something, and I would have if I’d known Rome was going to be such an ass. I stare daggers at him. He really needs an attitude adjustment.

I peer over at Thom and notice him asking Mellie something in sign. It’s about his workout routine, so I don’t pay close attention to what he’s asking, only that he’s engaging with my friends, and they’re all smiling. Well. Most of them are smiling.

Mellie is being patient with him, responding in slow, careful signs so Thom can follow along.

He’s probably trying to make up for Rome being a dick, but I also like to think that the two gym bros will get along.

Especially once Thom becomes more fluent.

And hell, maybe that’s what Rome’s so pissed about.

Maybe he feels threatened that once everyone gets to know Thom, they’re going to actually like him.

My gaze flicks to Fayid, and he changes the subject. ‘Can we talk about Johnson for a minute,’ he says. The new dean of academic affairs who’s kind of making all of our lives hell. ‘I swear to god that guy is out to get me. You should have seen him in the meeting he called on Thursday…’