Carey Thornton is tired of couples. All his friends have someone special and he feels like the odd man out. Painfully single, Carey cruises the nightclubs and gay party scene, flirting with any hot guy who looks his way, but he always seems to be the one to go home alone.<br><br>It's comic convention weekend at the Omni Hotel where Carey works, and somehow he got roped into working the registration desk in the dealer room. While checking in the vendors before the crowds arrive, he meets the sexy Pat Dix, setting up the booth for Kryptonite Comics.<br><br>Painfully shy, Patrick has never dreamt an outgoing, fun-loving guy like Carey would ever find him attractive. He's surprised when Carey asks him to hang out after the convention hall closes, and he surprises himself by saying yes. A late night in the hotel pool with Carey's rowdy friends might just be what Patrick needs to break him out of his shell. But it isn't until the friends leave them alone that Patrick gets "Carey'd away."

Carey'd Away

The hotel pool was edged with a tall privacy fence and large stadium lights,but the lights were off.As they approached the gate,Patrick could hear the steady lapping of water and quiet laughter inside the fence.Out here behind the hotel,the sounds from the street and the city were muffled,faraway,and the lights from the parking lot were just pinpricks,like the lit windows of the hotel and the stars above.After the rush of people through their booth today,this solitude was a welcome change of pace.


At the gate,Carey knocked softly.“Hey,it’s me.”


His voice carried easily into the night.The only response was more laughter from inside the fence.


Carey raised his voice and rattled the gate.“Open up already,guys!”To Patrick,he muttered,“Sometimes I don’t know why I hang out with them,you know?”


From the other side of the gate,a woman’s voice called out.“Hold your horses.”


Chapter 9