8. Beau

Chapter 8

Beau

Me

Can we please talk about what happened the other night?

I stare at the message I sent Perry days ago. I don't even know if he left me on read because he doesn't have that feature turned on.

I hate that he thinks I rejected him.

"Hey man," Owen says, pulling me out of my musings. "I'd assume you were staring at porn, but that doesn't usually make people look so miserable. Unless…" he looks around the coffee shop before turning back to me to whisper. "You know those dudes are hired for their big dicks, right? Having a small one isn't a bad thing. It's all about how you use-"

"Please stop," I hiss. "I'm average sized and I'm not looking at porn."

His face brightens. "Oh, that's awesome. I didn't want to judge you for watching it in public, but I would have."

A laugh bursts from me.

"That is much better. Let me go get us both a coffee and then you can tell me all about why you are actually miserable."

He heads up to the counter and I'm really glad I took him up on the offer to get a platonic coffee. I could really use a friend other than Perry. If we are even friends anymore?

"Okay, you're sad again," Owen says, putting a coffee down in front of me. "Spill."

I run my hand through my messy hair, wishing I'd remembered my hat. "My neighbor tried to kiss me and now he isn't talking to me."

A wordsmith, I am not.

Owen nods. "Ah, yeah, I can see that being awkward. Do you regret not kissing him?"

"Yes. No. Maybe?" I say.

"Yes, those are all of the options."

"I guess I do, but there are reasons. Good reasons. Like how he is only twenty-one, he's in college, and we are working together to set up my business." I look at Owen, who has an eyebrow raised.

"Seriously? They are non reasons." He says with a snort.

"They are valid reasons."

"Okay, let me prove to you how they totally are not." He raises a finger with each point he solves. "Twenty-one is only four years and not that it matters, but the rule works in your favor."

I sit up straight. "What rule?"

"The half your age plus seven rule," Owen says. I stare at him blankly and he continues. "The rule to dating someone younger than you is half your age, plus seven years. You are twenty-five so if my maths is mathing, that means you can date someone who is nineteen and a half without it being weird. Your guy is twenty-one, so you are more than okay."

"I didn't know this was a thing."

"It only counts if all parties are over eighteen and I personally think it's whatever. It doesn't work with me and Garett, and there is a soccer player in England who is dating his ex teammate who is nearly twenty years older than him. So fucking hot." Owen rests his chin on his hands. "Forget the reasons for not dating him. What are the reasons for being with him"

I can't help but smile. "He's fucking brilliant. Perry is the most loyal person in the world. He would set the entire world down for anyone who hurts someone he loves and cares about. He has a wicked sense of humor. I told hm about a cashier being rude to me and he said he was going to manifest their spouse getting their dream job abroad and deciding to divorce them before they sign the contract so the cashier couldn't go with them or get alimony. He's also hot as fuck. He has blue eyes that look like they have a splash of violet and blond hair that looks like it will be so silky to touch."

"Dude," Owen says looking at me with a soft smile. "You've got it bad. You have to date him."

Is it that simple? the pros outweigh the cons.

Before I get the chance to answer my own question, my phone starts ringing and Perry's name flashes up on the screen.

"He's calling me."

Owen rolls his eyes. "So stop looking like a dillapitaded stingray and answer the phone."

"Hello?" I say as soon as the call connects.

"Hi, is this Beau?" a voice that definitely does not belong to the man who is currently occupying my every thought.

"Yeah, who is this? How do you have Perry's phone?"

"I'm Luke, Perry's best friend. Perry is currently zip tied to a tree. We could really use your help."

I still. "He's what?"

"I'm going to send you the address," Luke says before he hangs up.

"What's going on? Why the face?" Owen asks, concern written all over his face.

"I think Perry has been kidnapped." I have to have this wrong. I just need to keep my head on straight and it will all be okay. Do not overreact, Beau.

"What?"

"I need to call my uncle. He's a cop," I say as the address comes through. "Shit, I walked here. Can you drop me off at the address?"

"Of course." We leave the coffee shop, drinks abandoned. I quickly type out a message to Lou as I get into Owen's car.

Me

Perry has been kidnapped. His friend said they were at this address.

I forward the address Luke sent via Perry's phone and hope like hell they are both okay.

He's resourceful and smart. If anyone can escape a kidnapper, it's going to be Perry.