Chapter 1

1

It was finally the end of February, and Javier Gisbert was thankful for that. As much as he had enjoyed visiting the homes of his friends who celebrated the Lunar New Year at the beginning of the month, February was also the month he dreaded the most because of the damn Valentine’s Day. He understood why many couples put so much emphasis on that particular day, but he was a single man. Valentine’s Day was a painful reminder of how pathetic and lonely his existence was. Granted, he didn’t need a boyfriend or a husband to be happy, but the endless lovey-dovey messages and music on the radio or in the stores at the malls could be too much sometimes. It didn’t help that most of his friends were in loving relationships themselves, and he was one of the very few remaining bachelors in the group. Hence, he was relieved to be sent to Saint Louis, Missouri, on a business trip the next day. He needed a break from hanging out with his paired-up friends even if it was just for the next two days or so.

He checked through the entire folder for the third time. It was nearly seven o’clock in the evening, but he was stuck in his office, attempting to complete a few last-minute preparations and packing before his early morning flight to Saint Louis the next day. He enjoyed his work as a Marketing Manager at one of the best pharmaceutical firms in San Francisco, California, and the nationwide trips were one of its perks in his opinion. He had even gotten a couple of international trips in the past few months, which allowed him to accrue a much higher mileage to his personal accounts for certain airlines. Naturally, the salary and the end-of-year bonuses were just as attractive, but he really liked to travel a lot, especially since that would also be the perfect excuse for him not to visit his parents, Juan and Camilla, and his two older sisters, Isabella and Mariana, in San Antonio, Texas. Once a year for five days during Christmas was more than enough for him.

Not that he had a terrible relationship with his family. Their love for one another was mutual. Even after he had come out of the proverbial closet as a proud gay man at the ripe old age of twenty-two six years ago, complete with rainbows, unicorns, and glittering shit, they still loved him. He knew he was blessed to have such a wonderful, accepting family. Not everyone had that. However, he could use a little less prodding and a thousand less nosy questions from his parents with regards to his nonexistent love life. He was aware they meant well. They wanted him to settle down with a nice, kind man who would be with him through thick and thin, especially after Isabella and Mariana had gotten married a year apart to Matías and Alejandro, respectively. His sisters had always wanted to get married, but he wasn’t them. He was tired of having to evade the endless questions from his parents about when he would finally get married, especially now that marriage between two people of the same gender had been legal for quite a few years.

“Hey, man.”

Javier glanced up at Keenan Underwood, the Sales Manager at the firm and one of his closest friends. “Hey, what’s up?”

“The guys are waiting for us at The Overrated Llama. Are you done here?”

Javier groaned. “I’ll have to skip this round, man.”

Keenan pouted. “Oh, come on! You’ll be gone for the next couple of days. We’re going to miss you.”

“As much as you’ll miss your darling Pablo Cotilla?” Javier teased before winking at Keenan. “Pablo has the sexiest lips and ass.”

Keenan chuckled. “Watch it, buddy. Pablo is my man, and I don’t share. Get your own man.”

Javier snickered. “Take it easy. I’m just joking.”

“I know. Anyway, up you go. I’ll get the first round.”

Javier shook his head. “I really shouldn’t, Kee. I have an early flight tomorrow.”

“Three rounds. Please?”

“Kee—”

“Okay. Fine. Just one. Please?” Keenan pleaded while shooting that lethal puppy-eyed look at Javier.

Javier caved in an instant. “All right. One glass of beer, and then I’m out.”

“Yes!”

Javier chortled at the sight of Keenan’s victorious fist-pump. “You’re an overgrown man-child. You’re lucky Pablo is so damn in love with you. No one else will want your sorry ass.”

Keenan grinned. “I know, right? Pablo is so fucking hot. Plus, he owns The Overrated Llama, so I get to do things with him in the privacy of his office away from the noise at the bar.”

Javier grimaced as he packed up everything he would need to bring for the business trip the next day into his bag. He would come back to his office from the bar afterward to pick it up. Then he put his jacket on.