Chapter Three – To Have Lost vs. Not At All

He needed to busy himself with something, so he began preparing the small sofa where he and Vince dropped like potato sacks to binge-watch the latest sci-fi series. There was no way this thing would be enough to accommodate his guest’s impressive frame, but it wasn’t like he could invite Ryder to sleep with him in his bed. With so many misunderstandings running rampart around his small studio apartment tonight, he might end up doing something he’d regret in the morning. Or not. He might regret not regretting it, which could make the whole thing rather complicated. What was better? To have fucked and lost or not to have fucked at all? Vince would sure know the answer to this one.

As if one of the naughty demons in hell was watching over Danny turning the sofa into an inadequate bed, his phone buzzed with an incoming message.

All good, buddy?

Danny huffed and decided to call Vince for a short talk.

“Fuck, you’re calling me, which means that you’re not with your ass up, getting rammed properly by that buff guy,” Vince said without any preamble.

“No, I’m not, and I’m in quite the pickle because of you and your crazy ideas. He misunderstood everything. He thinks I’m offering him lodging for the night.”

“Oh, fuck,” Vince snickered at the other end, “what a story to tell your grandkids. So, where is he?”

“He’s taking a shower.”

“That’s a good sign. He wants to bang you.”

“No.” Danny scowled for his own sake. “He obviously doesn’t. He must be from one of those communities that aren’t interested in going to the city unless they want to show their young the depraved ways of the world.”

Vince’s laughter grated on him to no end. “Awesome. Although he doesn’t look that young, and he’s nothing like one of those innocent boys. He’s definitely been around the block. You’re so getting banged tonight. You just don’t know it yet.”

“No, no, you’re projecting your porn fantasies onto me here,” Danny protested some more. “Sex is not on the menu. He even wanted to pay me for a bed and a roof above his head. Yes, that’s pretty much the way he talks.”

“He sounds like a riot. Bag him or you’re not my friend anymore.”

“Bye, Vince. Don’t call me again.”

“So, lunch tomorrow?” his friend asked smoothly. “There’s this new place that just opened.”

Which Danny surely wouldn’t be able to afford.

“My treat,” Vince continued. As someone who worked in the financial district, Danny’s bestie had no problem with checking out every new place that opened in the city.

“Vince,” Danny tried to protest.

“Come on, you know how lonely I can get if you’re not with me.”

“For half an hour during lunch?”

“It’s a very important meal of the day. The second most important, right? But you’ll always come first for me,” Vince joked.

Danny knew he couldn’t resist. Vince always treated him, and he knew Danny felt bad about his almost constantly empty pockets. But such was the nature of their relationship. And there was a bit of truth in what Vince liked to joke about, such as feeling awkward if he had to have lunch by himself. As successful as his bestie was in his career, and as many acquaintances he had, there were hardly a handful of people Vince could call friends. Danny knew he was at the top of that list and he always would be. And he felt damn proud about it.

“See you then. I have to get the sofa ready for my guest,” Danny said quickly, stealing a look at the bathroom door. The water was no longer running, which meant that Ryder would soon be out, wearing the horribly small clothes Danny had found for him.

“That giant won’t fit there,” Vince said like the expert he believed himself to be in what man size went in what bed. Danny was low-key envious of his friend, but he couldn’t hold it against him; his bestie was too much of a looker, and that signature smug grin that defined him made it look like he deserved it all.

“It’s the best I can do.”

“He’ll end up sleeping with you. With his cock in your ass.”

“Bye, Vince. Go to sleep already.”

“Fine, ugh. Tell me everything tomorrow.”

“Yeah, yeah, I don’t kiss and tell.”

“You don’t kiss, to begin with.”

“Keep it up and you’ll enjoy your little luncheon all by yourself.”

“Okay, I’ll shut up now. Have fun with that giant. Take pics of his cock.”

Danny groaned and ended his convo quickly. Just in time, too, because he heard the bathroom door opening.

***