47. The Hot Mess

Hunter

By the end of that week, while sipping his drink at a bar in San Francisco, a text from Grayson lit up Hunter’s phone. Twenty minutes out and then I have to park.

It was right around happy-hour. He took a sharp breath, watching the door intently. An overwhelming sense of safety came over him when glancing at the large rainbow flag behind the counter. Not a full minute later, Logan walked through the doors. His hair was different, shaggy, with a bit tucked behind his ears, almost touching his shoulders. His facial hair was thicker, too, trimmed up around the neck. A dashing smile parted the dark beard when his eyes met Hunter’s.

Hunter slid out of the booth, his throat clenched, and knees almost buckled. “Hey.” Hunter couldn’t tell what Logan had said but soon felt the heavy weight of his embrace, soothing him like a warm blanket. For a second, his tension melted away, but the feel of Logan’s nose against his neck brought it back with a vengeance.

Fuck.Hunter pulled back, then slipped into the booth, and motioned for Logan to sit across him. “It’s great to see you.”

“You too, you look—” Logan started but then stopped himself.

His intense, green eyes paralyzing, making Hunter swallow, hard. “Thanks for coming. Grayson’s running late.”

Logan’s soft smile disappeared. “What’s this about? Why does he want to meet me?”

“What happened between us last time … it messed things up for us,” Hunter said, tapping his pointer finger to his thumb beneath the table.

Logan raised the corner of his lip. “What a shame.”

“He wants to know that there is nothing between us.”

Logan shot him a look that made Hunter’s foot begin to shake. “Is that what you feel? Nothing?”

“Stop.” Hunter loosened the buttons on his collar and wrists before rolling up his sleeves.

Logan watched him attentively. “I feel nothing, too.”

Hunter stared at Logan’s lips and how he once thought they were a puzzle piece that would only fit on his. “Perfect.”

“You know, I’m seeing someone, too,” Logan boasted.

Hunter grabbed a plastic menu in front of him and casually flipped it from front to back. “Oh, yeah? No Amber?”

“It’s a guy.”

Hunter slapped the menu down, and sent a piercing glare at Logan’s direction. A hollow smile lifted his face. “You’re ridiculous.”

“What? Can’t I meet a guy of my own? You’re not the only man in the world.”

“Logan, you don’t even like men.”

“I like this man. And he actually lets me fuck him,” Logan said, as the waiter came by and gave them both a curious look. Hunter scoffed and stared at the drink menu, not making sense of the letters. “Two rum and Cokes,” Logan said to the waiter, sending him off.

“You’re too much. You don’t have to make up a man to piss me off.”

“So, you’re pissed off?” Logan smiled devilishly.

Hunter chuckled and shook his head. “Fuck off, Logan … So, what’s his name?”

“His name is Ethan. And he’s sexy.”

“Whatever. You made that up.” Hunter scanned Logan’s face for a tell, a swallow, the early signs of a grin, anything. “What does Ethan do?” Hunter asked, playing along.

“He works in L.A.”

“Doing what?”

“What do you care?”

“I don’t. I know you’re making this whole thing up.”

Logan pulled out his phone. “Want to see a clip of him sucking my dick?”

“I’ll pass,” Hunter said, rubbing his forehead with pinched in brows. Hunter looked up to the door, expecting Grayson to walk in any minute. “I’m happy for you—and Ethan … How are things otherwise? Emma? Amber?”

Logan parted his lips as if to say something and then stopped himself. Finally, he shook his head. “Don’t act like you care. You ended things.”

Hunter’s mouth hung open. “What? Logan, you blocked me. We couldn’t keep doing what we were doing. Too many people were getting hurt.”

“You know a lot about hurting people.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I wasn’t the one who ended us.”

Logan rolled his eyes. “Here we go.”

“Here you are,” the waiter said, placing their drinks in front of them. “Did you get a look at the appetizer menu? From five to seven we have a happy hour special. Wings are half off and—”

“No, thank you,” Hunter said coldly, dismissing the waiter as he stared Logan down. Logan gazed at Hunter’s lips while licking his own, and Hunter forced down a swallow. “You’re such a brat.”

“I don’t know,” Logan said. “I feel like there’s a magnet or something. A force.”

“Stop.”

“Remember that time after our last lacrosse party?”

“Please, stop,” Hunter said, fiendishly aroused.

“Secret hot tub hand jobs and then the shower and then all night,” Logan continued in a low, breathy voice.

Hunter threw his drink back in two gulps and squeezed his eyes shut. Logan’s hand over his made him melt into the cushioned booth. When opening them, he noticed Grayson walk in and yanked his hand away.

Grayson

Grayson hesitated a moment before dragging his footsteps over to Hunter. Logan had his back to him, and Grayson couldn’t begin to imagine his reaction. He twisted his wrists on the way before allowing Hunter to embrace him, possibly for the last time. Hunter’s kiss tasted of rum, and he wondered how many drinks were had before his arrival. This was it. Everything would be out in the open after this.

Averting his gaze toward the table, he slipped into the booth and Hunter followed behind him. When he looked up, Logan’s eyes locked on his—mouth gaped open.

“Logan, this is Grayson. Gray, Logan,” Hunter said, more chipper than Grayson had ever known him to be. With hunched shoulders, Grayson’s heart pounded against his chest. Flashbacks of kissing Logan all week flooded his thoughts. Logan’s face scowled in disgust, shaking his head from side to side in disbelief, making Grayson feel the ground beneath him drop like an elevator falling into the pits of despair.

“I’m sorry,” Grayson said, barely a whisper, dropping his eyes to the table.

“What are you sorry about?” Hunter asked, taking Grayson’s hand, and grasping it against his lap. Tension seeped through his fingers.

Logan’s nostrils flared and chest heaved. “I can’t believe you. I can’t fucking believe you!” He slapped his open hand against the table, making Grayson flinch.

“Yo, what the fuck?!” Hunter’s voice boomed through the bar, a vein in his temple making an appearance.

Logan’s face reddened and his curled lip bared his teeth. “I can’t believe you would fucking do this to me.” His anger directed at Hunter.

Hunter glanced from Logan to Grayson to Logan again. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

A bouncer appeared at the end of their table. “You all gotta leave.” Logan got up in a huff and hurried toward the door. Hunter darted his eyes around, baffled and soon followed behind.

Grayson looked up at the frightening man who towered over him with his hand out.

“Oh, sorry,” Grayson said, as he dug through his pockets for his wallet and haphazardly snatched out cash, barely able to peel his eyes away from the mess he’d made. Logan had only made it a few steps down the sidewalk before Hunter tugged on his arm.

Grayson didn’t have to hear what they were saying to know that this was it. He slapped a fifty-dollar bill on the table and rushed out the door.

“What do you mean, ‘ask Grayson’? What are you talking about?” Hunter said, further down the block, near residential homes.

Do they even know I’m here?

“Why would you do this to me? Why would you hurt me like this?” Logan sounded as if he’d cry. A sharp pang of remorse hit Grayson in the gut, feeling suddenly queasy.

Hunter pulled Logan into him, and he looked to be stroking Logan’s back. For a second Grayson swore Logan’s eyes met his over Hunter’s shoulder.

“What’s wrong with you, you silly man?” Hunter whispered in Logan’s ear, loud enough for Grayson to hear. Grayson’s throat made a sharp sound, announcing his presence. Hunter pulled back with a jolt and turned around. “Gray, what’s going on? What’s Logan talking about?”

“Can we discuss this … in private?”

Hunter

Hunter tried to take Grayson’s hand as they walked to Logan’s rental, just up the street, but he pulled away—shrinking his shoulders and shoving his hands into his pockets.

What the fuck is going on?

Logan seemed surprisingly calm as he poured himself and Hunter a drink. Hunter sat on the edge of the couch in the colorful, modern living room, not planning on staying long.

“So, what the fuck is going on?”

Grayson looked at Logan and Logan pursed his lips, shook his head, and darted his eyes to the floor.

“Tell him, Ethan,” Logan said.

Hunter cocked his head to the side, baffled. “What? You know Ethan?”

Grayson let out an exasperated exhale. “I spent all week with Logan,” he blurted.

Hunter stared in astonishment. “What?”

“I’m Ethan. Logan had no idea. It was all me. I kept asking you to let me talk to him and you always kept him hidden from me. So, I had to do it myself. I found him, talked to him, and asked him out, and well—yeah. We’ve spent all week together.”

Silence came over Hunter as he tried to process the information. For the life of him, he couldn’t decide who of the three was the most deranged. “Are you serious?”

“I was going to tell you, eventually. I can see why you love him,” Grayson said, smiling at Logan but Logan only shook his head.

Hunter chuckled as he got up, grabbed the bottle of spiced rum, and poured himself another drink, listening to the madness unfolding around him.

“I can’t believe you did that. I can’t believe you made a fool of me like that, and I even let you—” Logan said, but then stopped himself. “You know, ever since I found out you deleted my messages to Hunter, I’ve known you had issues.”

Hunter split at the seams with laughter, on the brink of insanity. “Oh my god, this is too fucking rich!” Hunter continued to laugh. “You let him fuck you? No, wait—who fucked who?”

Grayson and Logan looked at each other and then at Hunter.

“Well?” Hunter persisted. The alcohol flowed through him like gasoline and Logan was the match.

Grayson took a step toward Hunter and upturned his hand as if surrendering. “I’m really sorry, Hunter. I—I…” Grayson said, his voice quivering.

Hunter took a large gulp of rum straight from the bottle and rose to his feet, smiling with delirium. “Do you think that Logan didn’t know who you were?”

Grayson shot his eyes at Logan, who tightened his lips, repressing a grin.

“Logan spent hours dissecting your pictures online last time I saw him. You think he didn’t know who you were right away?” Hunter paused for a moment and watched Logan avert his eyes. “See? He plays games.”

Grayson’s jaw dropped and a pained look grew on his face. “Did you know? … Why did you—I mean, how come you—” Grayson started. “When did you know?”

“In the coffee shop.”

“You—you’re unbelievable.”

“Me?!” Logan laughed. “I was totally honest about who I was.”

“You see?” Hunter said, gesturing to Grayson and then turned to Logan. “Why are you doing this? Why are you meddling in my life like this? And now you’re taking advantage of Grayson?”

“What?” Logan laughed. “Me?”

“Hunter,” Grayson said. “It wasn’t just him. It was me, too.”

“You’ve always been like this.” Hunter continued, his face reddening and eyes tight. “You’re selfish. You only think of yourself and your wants. Just like college.”

“College? Are you nuts?”

“Becca, Andrea, Maxine and Amber—your wife!”

Logan shrugged it off. “You’re fucking drunk.”

“Like you did with me. You use people until you can’t use them anymore and dump them the second you get bored or decide you’re into the other sex. Which one is it, Logan?”

Grayson stared back and forth in confusion.

Logan looked at Hunter, a wild look in his eye. “I know you’re mad at me because of what happened between us. But I love you. I’ll always love you, Hunter.”

“He doesn’t love you,” Grayson said to Logan.

Hunter covered his head with his hands and dragged his fingers down his face. “Why do you do this to me?”

“Is anyone listening to me?!” Grayson shouted, his breathing intensifying.

Logan smiled. “Because you know it’s meant to be.” Grayson stormed out of the room before anyone could say another word and Hunter chased behind him.

“Gray, wait!” Hunter called out and pulled him back by his shoulder. “I loved you so much, Gray. You will never understand how much I loved you.” Hunter’s voice cracked.

Grayson caressed his face gently, brushing his thumb over Hunter’s lips. “I’m right here.” Hunter kissed him, shoving his tongue into Grayson’s mouth and clawing his hands up and down his sides. Hunter imagined what the last week of events must have been like: Grayson kissing Logan … Logan’s dick in Grayson’s mouth, in his ass … Grayson fucking Logan, his first love … Logan fucking Grayson, his tender, bratty angel … Grayson calling Logan ‘Daddy.’ He couldn’t stand it; he couldn’t stand any of it.

“You’re mine, okay? You’re mine!” Hunter pulled Grayson toward him forcefully. Fear shot Grayson’s eyes open.

Logan rushed to separate them. “Hunter, chill out.”

“You’re fucking, both, mine!” Hunter screamed, grabbing Logan by the neck. “And you can’t have each other!”

“Hunter, get off him!” Grayson tried to intervene, but Hunter pushed him back with his free hand.

Hunter grinned. “You didn’t tell Grayson that this is what you like?”

Logan cracked a smile. “Kiss me already.” Hunter pulled him onto his mouth so hard their teeth clashed. Their kiss hurt. Hunter’s teeth closed around Logan’s bottom lip as he pulled away. Logan grabbed Hunter’s face with both of his hands and devoured him, kissing him so deep Hunter felt it in his soul. Hunter released his grip on Logan’s neck and Logan roughly slammed him back toward the wall.

“Logan,” Grayson called out, stepping closer to them and Hunter pulled Logan behind him, shielding him with his body.

“Don’t touch him,” Hunter warned Grayson, while Logan kissed the side of his neck from behind.

“I’m yours, baby. Tell him to go,” Logan whispered in Hunter’s ear and then gave his lobe a suck.

“You shouldn’t have come here, Gray,” Hunter said while Logan rubbed up and down on his cock over his jeans. “You were playing with fire. He is literal fire. He burns and he hurts everything he touches.” Logan wrapped his arms around his hips, and undid his pants.

Hunter’s head felt woozy, and his vision blurred. The last thing he remembered was Grayson charging forward and kissing him while multiple hands tugged and prodded at his body. He closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them, he was flat on a bed, staring at a ceiling fan. Logan? … No, two Logans kissing above him.

“Logan?” he managed to utter and one of the two leaned forward and shoved their tongue in his mouth, a prickly beard tickling his chin. A whimper escaped Hunter’s mouth as he shuddered, feeling another tongue work its way up and down his shaft.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Logan’s voice was distant and muffled. A blurry but familiar face hovered over him.

“Logan.” Hunter brought a hand up and touched the side of Logan’s cheek. “I love you so much, Lo.”

“Hunter.”

Hunter blinked hard and jolted up. When opening his eyes, blue eyes met his gaze.

“Gray.” He looked around the room and was fully dressed, on his back in a bed that wasn’t his. Logan stood near the door as if keeping watch.

“Do you need to throw up again?” Grayson asked him, concerned. Despite Hunter’s efforts, no sound came out. He watched Grayson get up and have an exchange of words with Logan, who had his arms crossed as he leaned against the door.

“You’re welcome to stay.” Logan’s voice. That’s all he could catch before his heavy lids fell over his eyes.