Page 26 of Mr. Naughty List

“Sit down,” Casey said, motioning at the wrapping-paper-strewn couch. “Let me just…” He moved the colorful rolls down to the floor, and Bruno promptly sat on them, crunching them up. Casey patted the sofa. “Have a seat.”

RJ did as he was told. He was tired, the night before was starting to catch up with him now, and in the cozy warmth of Joel and Casey’s living room, he yawned.

“Long night?” Casey asked with a gleam in his eye.

“Maybe.”

“Fun night?”

“Definitely.”

“Ah.” Casey cocked his head. “Was it with Mr. Danvers?”

RJ’s drowsiness fled and he sat up straight. “How did you…? I never said that.”

Casey laughed, his head flinging back as he shook with it. “Oh my God, you slept with Mr. Danvers!”

“Hey, now,” RJ said, before groaning and covering his face, understanding dawning. “Shit. You saw me talking with him after you finished loading out.”

“Yeah. We were gonna come make sure you didn’t want a ride home, but when I saw who you were talking to, I knew better than to interrupt.” Casey flashed an incredulous grin. “Wow. You did it? You really slept with him? Your high school wet dream?”

RJ rolled his eyes, but a sheepish smile drew over his face. “You could say that.”

“Was it everything you wanted it to be?”

RJ flopped back on the sofa, eyes on the ceiling, and let out a long, wretched groan.

“Oh, wow,” Casey said, chuckling. “That good, huh?”

“Unreal.”

“So, what are you going to do about it?”

RJ pressed his hands to eyes and sat up again. “Something. I don’t know what yet, but I’ve gotta dosomething.”

“Isn’t he kind of old?”

“Just twenty-eight. Not that old.” Hell, RJ had been in a semi-long-term relationship with a guy way older than Aaron. Like in the second half of his thirties kind of old. Of course, he and Pan had seriously crashed and burned in the end, but who didn’t? He just hoped Mom and Doug didn’t napalm the kids’ lives when they inevitably went down in flames.

Nothing was permanent.

Not bands, not tours, not homes, or relationships. It was best to try not to overthink anything or get too invested. Just take the rides as they came. And fucking Mr. Danvers had been one hell of a ride. He supposed this attitude was why he was so behind on the whole “being a grown up” thing.

“So you’ll see him again?”

RJ hissed out his confusion. “I don’t know. I want to. But…he wanted to keep it to just one night.”

“Did he give you his number?”

RJ reached down to rub Bruno’s head. “I gave him mine.”

“But did you get his?”

RJ shrugged. He wasn’t a fool. Of course, he’d sent a text from Aaron’s phone to his own, so that he’d recognize Aaron if he called. But would it be a good idea to use it? He didn’t want to be creepy about it.

Casey guffawed. “Why are you even hesitating?”

“Because…I don’t know. It’s probably best to just leave it at the one night. I mean, he’s a teacher here in town and, from what I can tell, probably a closeted one. I’m a homeless musician on tour most of the year. What could really happen?”