Page 38 of Sharing Shadow Secrets (High Five Novella #6)

“ H ow’s that girl you met at the wedding reception?” Patrick asks, spotting me during this squat set at the gym in my building. “You haven’t talked about her in a while.”

“Building her business,” I grunt, exhausted. “This is why I work out in the morning. I’m too tired at the end of the day.”

“Not all of us can be morning people, and you can do one more.”

I squat, and on the way up my legs hit a wall. Patrick has to assist me to bring the bar back up to the rack.

“Till fatigue. Great work. Now back to Taylor. You were so excited about her, and now it’s crickets.”

“She has a goal she wants to accomplish before dating someone seriously. So, we’ll regroup once she’s ready.”

Patrick nods. “Rachel and I are thinking about going to High Five’s Halloween party. Now that she’s renting out her place, would it be cool if we stayed at the lake house?”

“You can stay there anytime, you know that.”

“I still have to ask.”

“Please stay there. How’s living together going?”

“Great. Well, she is a clean freak and constantly annoyed by where I put things and how I do things, but otherwise it’s amazing.”

“I get to be the best man, right? Since I pushed you to go to High Five.”

Oh Patch … about to talk himself out of attending the St. Patrick’s Day party at High Five.

But I saw the way he and Rachel looked at each other when they first met in the lake house foyer.

It was an instant connection. She even took the initiative, inviting us to the party during our first conversation.

“My best friend since I was five might want to fight you for that role,” Patrick says with a laugh.

“Well, that’s great. I’m happy for you,” I say, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

“Do you want to come up with us and go to the Halloween party?”

“I’ll be in Puerto Rico,” I say, removing the weight from the bar.

“Right. That fucking sleaze fest.”

“I know …” I groan.

Patrick tilts his head. “Are you dead set on never going to High Five again?”

“Yup.”

“You don’t care that it's renovated and has a new owner?”

“Nope,” I say tightly, then mutter, “I don’t need those triggers.”

Patrick shakes his head, and I clap him on the back. “See you at work tomorrow.”

Walking back to my condo, my phone lights up.

Taylor

Be honest with me. Is my vampire cheesy or cool?

Staring at this shirtless guy in a cape, I nearly freeze on the street. I haven’t seen him in a while.

Brandon

Not cheesy.

Taylor

Good. I’m starting to fret about every little thing for this party. Should I ask Kyle to not cut his hair until then? Or is that too weird? I just don’t think a vampire should have shorter hair.

Kyle? I know him as Andrew.

Brandon

You’re the boss.

Entering my unit, I can’t stop replaying memories with Andrew. Especially naked ones. Scrolling through my contacts, I find his. I wonder if he still has this number.

Don’t do it. But if Tayor and I end up dating, we’ll talk about him at some point. I’d rather her not hear it from him first.

Brandon

Do you have a twin? Or did you change your name to Kyle?

Andrew

Kyle is my modeling name.

Brandon

When did you get into modeling?

Andrew

Before the pandemic. Did you just stumble on my account or something?

Brandon

My friend says you are her vampire.

Andrew

You know Taylor? That’s awesome. Yeah, I’m looking forward to working that event at High Five … which is where I believe I met you. Funny.

I’m biting my thumbnail. My heart’s racing. I’m stressed, tempted.

Brandon

The world can be very small.

Andrew

Do you know if she’s single?

Of course he’s into her.

Brandon

She isn’t looking for anything serious at the moment.

Andrew

Sounds fun … and familiar. So why are you texting me?

That’s a great fucking question. Why am I texting him? To tell him not to tell Taylor about our past …

Andrew

You only ever text me when you want to see me.

We’re not doing this.

It’s been forever since someone has sucked your dick …

You’re not doing this.

Going back to the text thread with Taylor, I start a new text.

Brandon

How close are you to getting your fourth account? Because I’m thinking about hiring you to make my succulent famous at this point.

Taylor

I’m not accepting any money from you. No cheating!

Her fourth client is imminent. Patience. I can be patient. It sucks to be patient, but I can do it. I can.

Another text from Andrew comes in. “Fuck,” I mutter, taking in this photo. He’s sitting in a chair, leaning back with just trunks on, holding his hard dick. I groan, conflicted.

Don’t. You don't have random hookups anymore. You don't do booty calls anymore.

You are only sleeping with people who want more than sex from you.

He’s always a good time.

You are only sleeping with people who want more than sex from you.

He always leaves right after.

You are only sleeping with people who want more than sex from you!

I turn off my phone, debating whether or not I should throw it out the window. But instead, I put it in my safe, needing to get it away from me.