Page 17 of Numbers Boy (Working Boys #2)

ON THE WAY down to Chicago, stuck between boxes and the door of Andrew’s car, I wonder how I got roped into sharing the back seat with Greg, while Jamie gets shotgun.

It maybe, sort of makes sense since he’s Andrew’s best friend and roommate.

Well, ex-roommate now, I guess. But couldn’t one of us long-legged folks have driven Henry’s car and put him in a back seat?

He and Leighton are driving separately since Henry wanted a vehicle to go to his pole stuff early, and Jamie ended up needing a bit more space for his final few boxes that didn’t fit in the trailer we’re pulling.

But besides the slight cramp in my leg, the drive goes by fairly fast, with all of us chatting excitedly about seeing Henry perform and asking Jamie about what he’s looking forward to the most with his move.

Before I know it, we’re there. We take a few seconds to laugh and tease Jamie about the fact that he now lives on 69th Street, and then everyone gets busy hauling all of his shit up to the seventh-floor apartment.

Fortunately, there’s a working elevator.

“Hey, Steve,” Jamie starts saying as he settles gracefully down beside where I’m unboxing some of his clothes. “How are things now that you’ve been free of that giant dick of an ex for a few months now? Or was he more of a tiny dick of an ex?”

I snort a laugh when Jamie nudges me with his shoulder suggestively and roll my eyes. This is one of the reasons I wanted to get to know Jamie better, regardless of where he’s living now. He’s fun and not afraid to tease. He fits right in with the rest of us.

“Unfortunately, Adam was actually quite well-endowed down south.” I see Jamie’s skeptical expression at my wording and continue before he can ask. “Unfortunate because he thought that meant he didn’t have to try. Also, it probably made it easier for him to lure in his side pieces.”

“Ah, got it.” Jamie nods and starts to put a few piles of leggings into a drawer.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a teeny bit” – he holds his thumb and pointer finger about a half an inch apart – “of a size queen when it comes to guys, but honestly, being fucked by girls and trans men is always amazing because whatever size they’re using, they know how to use it well. ”

I cock my head, not pegging Jamie for someone who would be into people who would, well, peg him. “Girls?”

“Oh yeah. I’m into just about anybody as long as they’re funny and nice.”

“Hell yeah!” comes from the doorway, and we both look up to see Leighton bring in another box labeled “teaching leggings” along the side. He grins as he sets it down and holds his hand out for a high five. “Hearts, not parts, all the way!”

I chuckle as Jamie gives Leighton’s hand a slap, matching grin on his lips.

“But forget about asking him about Adam,” Leighton continues. “Jamie, did you hear Steve’s got a new guy?”

“What?” Jamie whips his head back toward me, excitement lighting up his perfectly put-together face.

Honestly, I need to ask what setting spray he uses because even my makeup is going to need a touch-up after all this moving nonsense.

“Tell me all about him. How did you meet him? Is he going to fuck Adam out of your mind for good?”

“His name is Noah, and he helps with Stacy on Fridays when I’m out late to rehearse.”

“Ooh, good start. If he was a walking douche, Stacy would’ve let you know something’s wrong,” Jamie says, nodding distractedly as he goes back to organizing his things.

“Yeah, it was always a little suspicious that Adam didn’t want a dog. I know some people don’t want pets, but his reasons were stupid,” Leighton agrees.

“Well, Noah is amazing, and based on the little bit of fun we’ve had, I’m assuming he’s going to get me past Adam without even breaking a sweat.

Honestly, I had forgotten how great good sex could be.

” I see Henry walking past the doorway with some pillows and can’t help but give him grief.

I raise my voice so I know he can hear me.

“But someone had to have a pole dance thing that took us out of town, so I’m here instead of under a big hunk of sexy man! ”

Henry pops his head through the door and sticks his tongue out at me. “Sucks to suck, boo. Besides, he’ll still be there when we get back.”

“Well, you know what they say,” Jamie says with a pointed look at Leighton. “The best way to get over one guy is to get under another one. By the way, Leighton, can you come help me set up my yoga stuff in the spare bedroom?”

“Ooo-kay…” I drag out the word, wondering a bit about the sudden subject change and the weird look those two are sharing, but don’t question it, even though I’m pretty sure something else is going on here.

I know that Leighton and Jamie left the club together last Halloween, but I don’t know what all went down.

If they hooked up, there hasn’t been any drama from it.

Figuring I should probably mind my own business, I let them go without prying and get back to sorting through mountains of clothes.

Seeing some of these pieces, I don’t blame Henry for volunteering to take any cast-offs.

Jamie has great taste, even if leggings aren’t really my thing.

The next few days pass quickly, our time split between getting Jamie set up and cheering Henry on.

Henry does amazing during his routine, his movements flowing seemingly effortlessly around the pole, even though I know he works constantly to make it look that way.

It’s as if the pole is his dance partner, almost an extension of his body.

And seeing how supportive the audience is for everyone who goes on stage makes me wonder if Henry needs to change his approach with Chad.

I don’t think he’d be able to see this much love and acceptance for what Henry does and not feel more comfortable with it all.

But Henry has made it clear that he’s not ready to open himself up to the chance that Chad wouldn’t change, and I get that. I just hope someday they can figure it out.

And through the whole weekend all is a steady stream of texts from Stu and Noah. The things from Stu are typical. Mostly wishing Henry good luck and asking random questions like this one he sent on Friday night.

Stu-boo: Would you rather be proposed to with a Ring Pop or a cock ring? *diamond ring emoji*

Me: Well, I’m not super into delayed gratification so most likely the Ring Pop

Me: Although it would also make a difference if it was a private or public proposal

Me: What about you?

Stu-boo: I’ve never tried a cock ring, so I don’t think I have enough information to form an opinion

Me: Let’s be honest, they’re both going to end with something getting sucked *lollipop emoji*

Or the one he sent that made me face-palm in the middle of dinner.

Stu-boo: Why is it called “precum” and not “pre-nut butter”?

Me: You text me way too often about precum.

Stu-boo: No I don’t!

Me: Just last week you sent a picture of your hot dog and said the mustard precum got all over!

Stu-boo: You knew exactly what I was talking about! Also, that’s only two texts!

Me: That’s two too many!!!

Stu-boo: Whatever. Also, I’m forever calling it pre-nut butter from now on.

Me: Good to know.

My messages with Noah are decidedly less sex-filled, although we have been messaging back and forth almost constantly since I went over to his place, so I’m hopeful that we’ll get there eventually.

Noah: Getting ready to go for a park visit and Stacy is looking especially fetching today *image attached*

I let out an embarrassing squeal that earns me looks from Henry and Leighton from where they’re lounging on the other hotel bed on Saturday morning.

With a grin, I show them the picture of Noah and Stacy wearing matching sunglasses.

Stacy even has on a forest-green bandana that matches Noah’s beanie.

Both of the guys let out an “aww,” and I feel vindicated in my reaction.

Me: Watch out for the pup-parazzi! *heart eyes emoji*

Noah: Don’t worry, we’ve been practicing her bitch stare and how to say “no paw-ment”

I giggle to myself and flop down on the bed, bouncing to rest near Henry’s feet.

“You guys, I think I’m in trouble,” I say with a massive smile, my eyes roaming greedily over the picture again.

“I think you’ve passed trouble and are headed for L-O-V-E,” Henry laughs.

My heart jolts at his words, and all I can do is stare at him. “What?”

“What, what?” Leighton asks from his spot on the other side of the mattress. “Have you seen how you look when he texts you?”

“I mean, yeah, I like him, but…” I trail off, not really able to think of an end for that sentence.

“Great argument, babe,” Henry says, not unkindly. He rolls over to lie next to me. “Did you really not realize how far gone you are?”

I pick at my cuticles and think about the past month and a half.

How Noah felt special even from that first time we met at Spill the Beans.

His grin whenever he sees Stacy. The way he called me Princess without making me feel like I was asking for too much.

When he first said it, I almost asked him not to.

I’ve been accused of being a pillow princess before, like the way I enjoy relaxing and soaking up what my partner does isn’t good enough.

But the way Noah said the word made me feel like he wanted to do whatever it took to make me feel good.

Like I’m actually something – no, some one – precious to him.

“Isn’t it too quick? I barely just got out of that shitshow with Adam and was working on finding out who I am on my own. ”

Leighton flips around to join us and laces his hand with mine.

“Steve, you know who you are on your own. We all do. You’re a confident, sweet, sometimes slightly nerdy man with a kick-ass stage persona and a best friendship people would kill for.

And that’s why it sucked to see you lose yourself when Adam started taking over. But we aren’t seeing that with Noah.”

“Not at all,” Henry agrees. “But let’s get the aforementioned best friend’s input on this.”

He grabs my phone and uses my face to unlock it before calling Stu.

“Rude,” I mutter, not really annoyed.

Stu quickly picks up the video call and laughs when he sees it’s Henry and not me on the screen.

“Steve, you got really short since you left on Friday.”

“Hush, you big giant,” Henry snips back. “We called to get your take on Steve’s new man.”

We all squish into frame, and I wave at my best friend, who has been there for most of my life. “Hey, dude.”

“Hey. What’s this about Noah?”

“Henry thinks I’m falling in love with him. I think it’s too soon.” I bite my lip from saying more, but I know Stu will read between the lines and get to the root of the problem.

“If this is about Adam, you need to stop those thoughts right now,” he says, proving me right, an uncharacteristically stern look on his face. “You’ve said it yourself: Noah is not Adam. And Adam doesn’t deserve to take up any more space in any of your relationships. You know what he does deserve?”

My lips twitch with a smile, sure that this is going to be good. “What does he deserve?”

“He deserves to have his sock always falling down over his heel.”

My smile grows, and then Henry chimes in. “He deserves to have his audio just slightly out of sync with the video on his favorite TV shows.”

Now Leighton joins. “He deserves to feel like he needs to sneeze but is never able to.”

My nose crinkles at that one, and I let out a laugh. Back and forth, all three of them shout out random annoying things that my ex deserves.

“To hit every red light.”

“To have his phone automatically forget Wi-Fi passwords overnight.”

“One computer keyboard leg that always folds under.”

On and on this continues for a few minutes until they run out of ideas. Finally, Henry turns to me and plants a kiss on my cheek. “And you know what you deserve, boo? You deserve a guy who will love you for all of you.”

Stu’s voice comes again from the phone speaker.

“The fact that you haven’t once said anything about Noah commenting negatively on your style, not to mention the fact that he actively supports you being yourself, dog puns and makeup and all, makes me think you’ll be okay with him.

No, more than okay. I think you could be truly happy with this guy. And if you’re happy, we’re happy.”

Henry and Leighton nod, and I pull them in for a hug pile, glad I have these men in my life. “Thanks, guys.”

“That’s what the Working Boys are for.”