5. Chase

I pulled on a brand-new blue long-sleeve shirt, the soft cotton sliding over my skin. I could hear the faint thump of bass coming from the apartment downstairs—it was Friday evening, and everyone on Spruce Street seemed to be getting their own little party started.

It had been a few days since I'd first met Adam, and he hadn't used my number in the time since I'd given it to him. I was pretty sure that I'd only ever see him again while filming his house for renovations, or anonymously when I watched his videos online.

So tonight, my goal was to do what I always did: find some random cute-enough guy to hook up with for one night only. Adam was hot, but I was pretty sure I'd been a little too forward with him the other day.

I liked the guy. I liked him a little bit too much. But I didn't want to scare him.

I checked myself in the mirror near the front door of my apartment. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out, seeing my brother Jamie's name on the screen for a video call.

"Just the person I need to see right now," I told Jamie as I saw his face pop up on my phone. "I need an outfit check before I go to the brewery."

"Outfit checker, on duty," Jamie said. My brother and I had been close forever, and we video chatted all the time. He'd call me to ask how he looked, and I'd do the same--in reality it was just always a nice excuse to talk and see each other's faces for a bit.

I held up my camera near the mirror. "Just got this blue long-sleeve. Is it good tight, or too tight?"

"I think that is definitely good tight," Jamie confirmed.

"It's softer than a fucking sloth's tummy," I told him. "Sure as hell feels good."

Jamie snorted. "A sloth's tummy? What the fuck?"

"What?" I protested. "They always looked soft to me in the cute videos."

"How do you even know what a sloth's belly feels like?" Jamie protested.

"I don't," I said. "But if it's soft, then I guarantee you, this shirt is softer."

"You're crazy, and I love you. You going out with somebody tonight?" he asked.

"No one on deck," I told him, turning a couple of times in the mirror. "But hopefully there will be somebody cute at Jade Brewery."

"I'm sorry to hear that Victor left town," Jamie said. "You seemed to have fun with him."

"No biggie," I said, waving a hand. "Onto better things. It's trivia night at the brewery, so I have high hopes."

"Since when do you like trivia?"

"I don't like it," I said. "I mean, it's fun, but I don't know jack shit about anything other than the art, the entertainment industry, and cameras, and that stuff doesn't come up as often as U.S. presidents or geography."

"So why are you so excited for it?"

I winked into the phone camera. "Trivia nights attract hot, smart guys. And I like smart guys. They're always good in bed."

Jamie rolled his eyes. "If you weren't my brother I'd think you were a nut job."

"You already think I'm a nut job."

"Very true."

I gave him a look in the camera. "Jamie, you have to visit Colorado. You'd love it here."

"I'll visit when I retire or when I win the lottery. Whichever happens first," he said.

"Your ass better visit Colorado before you retire," I said. "You're way too young to wait that long."

He grumbled. I watched him shift on the couch he was sitting on, and I could hear his roommates in the background.

It was a slightly sore subject. Jamie still lived in the tiny beach town where we'd both grown up in California, and as a restaurant line cook, he didn't usually have much cash on hand.

I'd moved to Colorado on a whim for a guy I was dating four years ago.

And then I'd promptly been dumped by that guy. He'd encouraged me to use all of my savings to move here after only knowing him for two months.

Soon after, I'd told him I loved him.

Then he'd told me I was "too much," and kicked me to the curb.

That may as well have been ancient history, now. Even though he had been a prick, I'd landed on my feet as best as I could. I'd fallen in love with the mountains and made friends, and now I was glad that I'd come to Colorado.

But that guy was also the last person I'd ever truly dated. My hopeless romantic days were over. Since I'd been so badly burned, I'd been strictly no-strings-attached for the last four years, and it was a freedom I'd badly needed in my life. I still had fun. I still made connections.

I just didn't dare let anyone into my heart these days. Giving my all to somebody else was like giving up a part of me, hoping to hell they wouldn't crush it under their feet.

And I'd rather be unattached and free forever than have that kind of pain again.

My life was fun and simple now here in Colorado, even if I missed Jamie and my mom every day. Mom was sweet as hell and had dealt with medical bills for years after suffering an injury long ago. Jamie helped her out in person, and I sent back money to help whenever I could, but truthfully, before my current job I hadn't had much cash on hand, either.

"You're ready for a night out in that long-sleeve. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," he joked. "I'm about to head to Mom's for dinner."

"I've been doing things you wouldn't do all my life," I said with a smile. "And that sounds good. I'll call Sunday night and video chat with both of you for longer, okay?"

"Love you, Chase."

"Love you."

I headed downstairs onto the street. The sun was just setting over Spruce Street, the main street in Jade River. When I'd moved here I'd been more than happy to take a small apartment in one of the brick buildings that lined Spruce Street, because every time I left the front door, I was greeted by the slow bustle of people walking from shop to shop, big trees overhead, hanging lights, and plenty of little mom-and-pop restaurants. It was nothing like Stellara Beach, California, mainly because there was no beach here and instead every street was lined with pine trees.

But as far as the small-town feel went? Jade River almost felt like a little sister-town to my old beach hangout. Both of them were relatively out of the way of a major city. And Jade River had everything I'd ever need, with a bar like Jade Brewery sitting near the end of Spruce Street, just across a little bridge near my apartment building.

I walked over the bridge now, past a mom pushing a stroller, a man running with his Boston Terrier, and a group of teenagers aimlessly beginning their Friday night.

Jade Brewery was like a big, giant wooden cabin of a brewery. Tonight, people were steadily streaming inside up the short wood front steps and in through the front doors. Some sort of world dance music was playing on the speakers, and I moved along to the music as I headed in.

"Chase," Jax said from behind the bar, waving me over. He was one of my favorite bartenders, a friendly frat guy type who was always in a happy mood. "What can I get you started with tonight?"

"Give me something pink and fruity and delicious," I said. "Something pretty and tropical to sip while I'm on the hunt for smart-guy dick."

Jax snorted. "Is that the plan for tonight?"

"I sure hope so. Have you seen any contenders yet? My type is guys who look smart but also like they could pin me against a wall."

"I wouldn't know," Jax said as he started making my drink, taking a long spoon and dipping it into a jar full of crushed sugared strawberries. "I only have eyes for one person, and he's sitting at the other end of this bar."

I looked over and nodded at Charlie, Jax's boyfriend. Charlie worked for the Fixer Brothers, and they'd met here at the brewery and fallen head over heels for each other.

"Does Charlie even know how lucky he is, turning a straight frat guy like you into a dick-sucking extraordinaire for him?"

"Not exactly sure I was straight, even before I knew I liked Charlie," Jax said. "I was just clueless. Ninety percent of my thoughts were about soccer until about… oh, two years ago."

"And what are your thoughts about now?"

He turned his head to one side. "Still at least fifty percent soccer, but the rest are really, really gay, sickeningly loving thoughts about Charlie."

"I heard that," Charlie shouted from the opposite end of the bar, "and I liked what I heard."

Jax blew him a kiss and then finished my drink, sliding the tall glass across the bar. The drink was ruby-red at the bottom and formed a gradient, getting peach-colored and bubbly near the middle and topped off with some sort of frothed pink cream and a fresh sprig of mint.

"She's a beauty," I said. I stirred it a bit with my straw and took a sip. "Oh my God. That's not just strawberry, it's like… fizzy punch-me-in-the-mouth strawberry and peach bliss. Insanely good, Jax."

"Making cocktails is fun," he said.

Jax busied himself behind the bar and I chilled, relaxing with my drink and glancing around the brewery. Jade Brewery was usually starting to fill up by this time of night, but with the trivia event it was even busier. A few of the long, dark wood bench tables were full of groups sitting down and getting ready to play, and most of the leather booths had people at them now.

What I didn't see were any obvious contenders in the "guys who would want me to suck them off" category.

I knew the night may end up as a bust, but at least I'd get to see friends and have amazing drinks while I struck out.

After a few minutes I checked my phone and thumbed through it. Without thinking, I went on autopilot and landed in the OnlyShots app, looking at my suggestions page.

A little electric fizz went through my chest when I saw Adam Dix's name.

And next to it, the little hot pink icon that meant he had uploaded a brand-new video.

The video had only been uploaded 50 minutes ago. I loved when I happened to stumble onto a video that was that recent. It had been at least a week since he'd posted anything—he hadn't uploaded anything new since I'd met him in person.

And suddenly I realized it had been a mistake to check that particular app while sitting in the middle of a very public place, because I was getting hard just thinking about Adam's videos. I took my drink and my phone and meandered over to a dark section of the brewery, standing in a corner and leaning against the wall. I wasn't going to stand over here and fish my dick out in public, but I could at least watch the video.

I tapped on the video. It was a short one at only 90 seconds long.

I watched as Adam lay down on a blanket on the floor in the sun and filmed himself stroking his very hard cock. The camera panned up for a second and I noticed where he was: on the floor in his bedroom, right in front of the sunny balcony doors.

And he'd put up a light diffuser, right along the panes of the window like I'd suggested.

He'd taken my advice. And I really liked it.

I glanced back up toward the long oak top bar, barely registering the people sitting there. I was supposed to be out trying to charm the pants off of cute guys, and instead all I wanted to do was stand here and gawk at Adam's new video.

I tapped out a comment. It was something I used to be embarrassed to do, but a couple of months ago I'd let go of what small amount of shame I had and just let loose, complimenting his videos whenever I felt like it.

ChillyIcyBlue: You only get better. My favorite video yet.

I watched the loop of the video one more time before locking my phone and taking a deep breath, making sure I could re-enter the main area of the brewery and be decent for public.

And as soon as I stepped back out toward the long tables, I did a double take so hard I felt like the world had just flipped on its axis.

Adam's face was right there at one of the tables, staring back at me.

For a second I thought I must have been seeing things, because I'd just been watching Adam on my phone, in a very private moment, hoping to God I wasn't going to get caught.

And the real Adam—Adam Richardsen—sure as fuck wouldn't be out on a Friday night at a very busy bar. I'd gotten the distinct impression last week that he'd rather take a bath in hot oil than ever go somewhere social at peak hours.

But it was him.

Sitting there, all alone.

After I caught his eye, he looked back down at the table, staring intently at a piece of paper in front of him.

I walked over, taking him in. I still didn't know a guy could look achingly handsome and awkward as hell at the same time, but Adam managed it perfectly. He was wearing a black jacket and his dark hair was in a perfect swoop again, but it seemed like he'd left his rimmed glasses at home.

When I got to the edge of the table he looked up at me.

"When did you get here?" I asked.

"Oh. Hi," he said, shifting on the bench. "Just now. I mean, probably about three minutes ago, if you want to get exact, but… yeah. I just got here."

"I'm surprised to see you here. Very happily surprised."

I glanced down at the sheet of paper in front of him, which was a trivia group sign-up sheet. There were spaces for up to six names, but only his name was written there.

My heart ached, even though my dick was still at a solid half-chub looking at Adam.

It was clear how hard he was trying, coming here tonight.

And it couldn't have felt good to be sitting alone at a trivia table, even if you did happen to be the hottest guy in the room.

"Are you meeting anyone else here?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. Just me."

I plopped down across from him immediately, taking the paper and a pencil and writing my name beneath his.

"Then I'm on your trivia team," I said, resolute. "I'm not going to be much help, because I know about as much trivia as a brain-dead chihuahua, but I'll do my best."

My little joke got a half-smile out of him, and I could see his whole body relax as he realized I was here to stay.

I knew how it felt to be alone in public, and even for me as an extrovert, it could really suck. I wanted to be here for Adam, and when his green eyes met mine again, I knew I'd made the right choice.

Even if he had no clue that I'd just been getting hard while watching his video.

"Thanks, Chase," he told me.

"You and me," I said to him again, the same thing I'd told him after my little pep talk while filming at his house. "We've got this."