The Real Baxter (The Baxter Chronicles 1)

15

SEB

Carlos waited for me at the curb in front of Gray and Justin’s Hollywood Hills estate. I’d tried to wave him on, but he wouldn’t budge. I supposed he mistakenly assumed I’d knock on the door like any courteous, socially-aware friend would. Not me.

I was teetering on the brink of drunkenness and had no fucks left to give. And no qualms about using their security codes to let myself into their house at ten p.m. on a Wednesday. Or Thursday. Or whatever day it was. This was an emergency.

I tapped the keypad and tried the latch. Nothing. I did it again, pausing when I heard a muffled, “Fuck, Seb” from the other side of the door. It swung open a moment later.

“Did you change the code?” I grumbled.

Justin glared at me. “It’s late. What are you doing here, Seb?”

I pushed past him into the entry and pivoted to face him, resting my hand on the steel-and-glass banister of the grand stairwell. “It’s only ten and you’re a rock star.”

“It’s midnight and I’m not in rock-star mode. I’m in ‘I’m fucking cranky your drunk ass showed up out of the blue’ mode. What do you need?”

“Where’s Gray? Gray!”

“Shh.” Justin pulled me away from the stairs. “He’s sleeping. Come this way. I’ll make you some coffee and—”

“What’s going on?” Gray croaked from the top of the landing.

Bare-ass naked.

“Holy crap. I cannot believe I have to be the adult here,” Justin huffed, raking his hand through his longish dark hair. “It’s Seb. I’ve got this. But if you’re coming downstairs, put some clothes on, for fuck’s sake.”

I glanced up at Gray, who I had to admit looked pretty damn hot with his semihard cock jutting between his legs. But I waved dismissively. “It’s okay. I’ve seen it all.”

I chuckled drunkenly when Justin shook his head in mock dismay and motioned for Gray to get moving. He was cute when he was grouchy. I wondered if I’d interrupted some nocturnal sexy time. Didn’t care. This was important.

Of course, I couldn’t help noticing the absence of my old friend, jealousy. A few months ago, I would have been eaten alive with envy at the physical proof that what was once mine now belonged to someone else. Now? I didn’t want my past. Well…I didn’t want to have sex with it, anyway. That didn’t sound right, but you know what I mean.

“I’ll be down in a sec,” Gray called as Justin pulled me into the great room.

He motioned for me to sit at the island before making a beeline for the coffee machine.

“No coffee for me. Let’s raid the wine cellar instead. Pinot, please.”

Justin shot a hesitant look my way. “You’re going to feel like shit tomorrow.”

“That’s a given,” I agreed. “But I’m only halfway drunk.”

He uncorked a bottle of wine, poured a single glass, and slid it toward me. I thanked him for the wine and really looked at him for the first time since barging in.

Justin wore black sweats that hung low on his hips…and nothing else. His fans would have sold their souls for my current front-row seat. Jus was a handsome man. He emanated cool, even when he was annoyed and exhausted. And yeah, now that I noticed, he seemed very tired.

He folded his arms over his inked torso. “So…what’s your deal? Are you okay?”

“Of course,” I bluffed, sipping the wine.

“Right. That was a stupid question. This is completely rational behavior,” he growled testily.

I frowned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be a dick.”

“Oh, really?” He leaned his hip against the island and treated me to a scathing once-over. “It might surprise you to know that I have a vested interest in your welfare, Seb. There are times that I want to care as little as possible, but I can’t do it. You’re Gray’s other important person. And that makes you mine by default. You’re family now. I can’t shake you, and you can’t shake me. So quit being a fucking ass and tell me if I need to worry about you.”

I shook my head no, then nodded yes. “I’m not great, but I’ll be okay.”

“All right.” He tilted his chin and looked up when Gray walked into the room. “I’ll leave you two to discuss world issues. I need sleep. I’ve been up for almost twenty-four hours.”

I tugged his wrist as he walked by. “Hey. Thank you, Jus.”

Justin squeezed my shoulder and smiled. “Anytime.”

He linked his fingers briefly with Gray’s before sailing out of the room, leaving me with my now fully-clothed ex. Gray grabbed a wineglass and the bottle, then opened the sliding door and motioned for me to join him outside.

The mid-August evening was warm enough, but the hint of ocean breeze was an adequate excuse to ignite the firepit. Gray did the honors and took a seat while I filled his glass and set the bottle on the side table between us.