Crushed

Chapter 2

“Cindy!” he’d cry, and then he’d wrestle her into the car while Tom laughed and she looked around, confused. “God, I don’t want his number.”

And Tom wants me to come to another party at his place? Nathan rolled his eyes. “Who’s she trying to get me with this time? That dork in sales?”

“You like him?” Tom asked, surprised.

“I’m teasing.” Just to spell it out for him, Nathan added, “No, I don’t like him, okay? So don’t tell her that—I’m just kidding here. I’m not coming.”

“Why not, man?” Tom wanted to know. “It’ll be loads of fun, you’ll see. It’s not a dinner party—”

Nathan was unconvinced. “Uh-huh, right, sure.”

“It’s not!” Tom sounded hurt that Nathan didn’t believe him. But do you blame me? “It’s more like…”

“Who all’s coming?” Nathan asked. “People from work? That’s it?” There was no one there he wanted to get with—he’d looked them all over many times. Even if he lowered his standards a little bit, eased up some on what he wanted, there was nobody in the office that turned him on. Was it too much to ask for a guy who could get him hard just looking at him? Nathan didn’t think so. “A party with those geeks doesn’t sound like my idea of fun. I get paid to hang out with them during the week. I don’t want to waste my weekend with them, too.”

“It’s not just guys from work,” Tom argued. “I’ve got a few friends over at State—”

“Kids?” Nathan’s voice filled with contempt. He didn’t like college boys much, with their fraternities and their school spirit and their study groups. He was so over that scene. “Tom, this is getting worse by the minute.”

Another laugh…was it that funny? Nathan didn’t think so. When he sighed, Tom said, “No, listen to me! It’s not going to be that bad, honest. I’ve got a few kegs and Cindy’s lined up a DJ—”

“Let me guess,” Nathan said. “He’s gay and single and looking to score. And nothing I want to get with.”

Tom lowered his voice. “She tries.”

With a tight grin, Nathan said, “I wish she wouldn’t.”

“So are you coming or what?” Tom asked. “I got other people to call, you know. It’s tomorrow night, my place.” When Nathan didn’t answer, he added, “You’re gonna be there? Great. Let me pencil you in.”

Nathan sighed. There had been a time when he wouldn’t turn down a party no matter what. Yeah, I’m tired of being alone, but you know, I’m almost more tired of looking. There are too many damn toads out there in this world, and not enough princes. “How many people are coming?”

“Including you?” Tom asked.

“Yeah,” Nathan said. “Including me. How many?” Tom didn’t reply. “Tom?”

“Well,” his friend hedged, “adding in me and Cindy? Three.”

Nathan laughed. “Three? Oh, God. I am not—”

“Give me some time!” Tom cried. “I got calls to make, I’ll have this place packed, you’ll see. People spilling out into the lawn. The last big fling before winter, a harvest party, it’ll be huge. Come on, man, you have to come.”

“Sounds like I’m a third of the guest list,” Nathan muttered. “I’ll think about it.”

“You’re coming,” Tom told him. “You don’t, and I’m telling Cindy what you said about that guy at Burger King. You’re talking about the young one, right? The skinny blond?”

“Don’t you dare!” Nathan laughed. “He’s not even old enough to drive…”

“Then you’re coming,” Tom said again. “Tomorrow. Be here by seven. You hear me? If you’re not, I’m picking him up on my way to get you.”

Before Nathan could argue further, the phone went dead in his ear. You can tell me I’m going. Nathan hung up the phone. But you can’t make me have fun. I ain’t staying long, my friend, and the first dumbass your girl pulls out of the closet for me, I’m outta there.

He closed his eyes and let the soothing sounds of “Comfortably Numb” wash over him. Why can’t I find the right guy? He had no problem finding all the other ones out there, but just anyone wasn’t enough. Was it so bad to want to wait for the best rather than just settle for anything that came along?

Most of the time he thought so, but right now? Alone in his room, his body beginning to ache for someone else’s touch, right now he wished he wasn’t so damn picky about guys.

Chapter 2

Nathan knew the party would be a bust, but he still worried over what to wear and how he looked. Studying himself in the full-length mirror on the back of his bathroom door, he checked out his outfit…not too shabby. He wore a tight black turtleneck, very soft and smooth, like a second skin along his chest and arms. His dark blue jeans hung a little below his waist, cinched in place with a black braided belt, the legs rolled up into cuffs above his black clunky shoes. His hair swept across his brow in a perfect wave, with faint blond streaks shot through the dark length like a lingering remembrance of summer. I look amazing, and for what? Some loser Cindy’s picked out for me.

But suppose he was wrong? Suppose there was someone at this party worth noticing, someone he took a liking to and wanted to get with? It was that maybe person he wore the diamond stud earring for, the thin gold necklace draped outside the turtleneck, the splash of musky cologne. He even checked his wallet before he shoved it into his back pocket, just to make sure he had a condom behind his license. Hell, who knew? He might get lucky.