Chapter 52

Chad followed his gaze, and slowly moved his hands off Xavier’s chest. “I guess he’s the boyfriend,” he said.

Billy cut through the crowd and went straight to Xavier. “Thank you,” he said, taking the beer from his hand. He drank and clicked his glass to Xavier’s, and then looked over at Chad with steely eyes. “Oh, hi.” He grabbed Xavier’s arm and led him away. “And, yeah, bye.”

As Billy pulled him to the bar, Xavier laughed. “That was kind of cruel.”

“Yeah, well.” Billy squeezed his arm hard. “What did he want?”

“I think…me.” Xavier winked, feeling the effects of the alcohol. He’d spent the last days in a perpetual state of awareness, the tension, lack of good sleep, and anticipation taking their toll on his nervous system. He didn’t care tonight. No more rules. He’d let it all go.

Billy took the glass out of Xavier’s hand and set it down on the cluttered table behind them. Without a word, he grabbed Xavier’s hands and tugged on them.