Chapter One
“Pink or purple?” Markie held up two Polo-style shirts. He cocked his head and thoughtfully studied one before checking out the other. “Purple?”
Draegan McCall grunted. “Some men claim they hear voices inside their blasted heads. Me? I have one that follows me around wherever I go.”
“Ah, doll. That’s real sweet.” Markie flitted across the room in his high-heel boots. “One of these days, you’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
“Any idea when you plan to leave? I’ll throw you a helluva going away party.”
“You got me.” Markie saucily licked his index finger, striking up an imaginary point.
Draegan and Markie were as different as night and day, but they’d been best friends for as long as Draegan could remember. Wherever Draegan went, Markie followed close behind.
“I’m standin’ in your room for a reason, sugar.”
“I can see that,” Draegan said, staring at the red shirt he’d just purchased. If he’d taken the time to clip off the price tag, Markie wouldn’t have set his sights on something new.
Markie huffed and puffed a few times, all for the sake of theatrics. He lifted his left arm and frowned at choice number one. “Um…ya know what? This one may be more lavender. When one thinks of purple, he thinks of a deep amethyst shade. Ya know?”
“Amethyst?”
“Uh-huh,” Markie sang, nodding his head up and down. “Like the pretty birthstone for February, which happens to be my—”
“Birthday month. How could I forget?”
Markie grinned, strolled across the room, and quickly pinched Draegan’s cheek. “Of course you wouldn’t, doll. It’s a month-long celebration.”
“Always is,” Draegan muttered under his breath, unscrewing the top of his cologne and dabbing some on his neck.
Feeling Markie’s gaze burning a hole throu
gh him, he turned around. “What?”
Markie tapped his neck region then sliced his hand down the center of his body. He stopped right above his groin area.
“Speak or leave,” Draegan snapped.
“Start at the collarbone and dab all the way down, sugar.” He fluttered his eyelashes. “That’s what I do when—”
Draegan slapped his hands over his ears. “I don’t want to listen to your X-rated memories, Markie. Please. For once let me go on a date without my gay friend offering pointers.”
“Well, I can’t give you pointers anyhow.”
“True.”
“Agreed,” Markie said, shifting his weight between his feet. “Cause I like dick and you like pus—”
“Markie! Enough!”
“Just sayin’, sweets.” He stood in front of the full-length mirror with a serious expression stamped upon his face. “All jokes aside, what do you think?” He lifted both shirts and see-sawed his arms as he seemingly tried to reach a final decision.
“What are you askin’ me?” Draegan stopped rummaging through his closet.
Markie clucked, tilted his head sideways, and narrowed his gaze. “The pink really brings out my eyes. Don’t ’cha think?”
“Ah for the love of God.” Draegan snatched his new red T-shirt. Hangers clanged together as he tossed his latest purchase at Markie. “Next time save us both some trouble and just ask.”
Markie grinned from ear to ear as he juggled his shirts and caught Draegan’s. “You know I love ya, sugar.”
“Is that all?”
“Is that all?” Markie drawled, working his swagger as he sashayed to the center of the room with his arms spread wide.
“I don’t have time for this,” Draegan said, dodging his best friend as he puckered up and blew kisses to the room.
Harley and Mac, Draegan’s brothers, entered then, sporting their sheepish grins. Apparently it was just Draegan’s day for disruptions.
“Are we interrupting something, man?” Harley teased.
Mac laughed. “Seems we’re always missing the show. Did you pitch or catch today, Markie?”
“Ha!” Markie smacked his lips. “I always catch, lover.”
Harley elbowed Mac. “Keep that in mind. If Sable ever sends you packing to the couch, you have options.”
“I’d hate to make big brother jealous. Speaking of which. What’s up with you, Draegan? Walking around this place in your underwear sort of invites trouble.” Mac jerked his head at Markie, but Markie was already wiggling his way into Draegan’s shirt, striking poses in front of the mirror, all of which were reenactments of Marilyn Monroe’s famous windblown white dress pose.
“I don’t want to hear a word from either of you.” Draegan waved his fingers in their direction.
“Wait a sec,” Markie said, whirling around to face them. “It just occurred to me.” He pointed at the alarm clock next to Draegan’s bed. “It’s nearly six o’clock and you smell like a freshly showered stud-slut.” He tapped his chin with his index finger. “I spy a handsome guy dumping a whole bottle of aftershave all over himself which he followed up with that expensive cologne right there on the dresser.”
“Well how about that, Harley?” Mac grinned. “Looks like big brother pulled one over on us. Huh?”
“What are you rambling about?” Draegan returned to his closet and considered his choices. He’d meant to wear his latest clothes before Markie stormed his room with his obvious hints.
“Seems I might have heard something about a hot date tonight. Any truth to it?” Mac asked.