Second Hand by Marie Sexton

Author:Marie Sexton [Sexton, Marie]
Language: nld
Format: epub
Tags: erotic MM, Romance MM
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Yes, but your projects have gotten very large, haven’t

they?” It sounded lame, but El couldn’t very well say

your hoard. “With extra people, we’ll want room to move

around.”

It was as if the peace accord hadn’t happened. Patti

bristled. “One more person isn’t too much trouble.”

El’s head spun as it tried to keep up with his mouth. “Rosa

wants to host it, Mami. Besides, I’m bringing someone too.”

Rosa and Patti both turned to him, stunned into silence.

El was right there with them. What the fuck had he said that

for? Who the hell was he bringing to Fourth of July?

Paul. You want to bring Paul.

“I don’t want to get in the way,” Noah objected.

Rosa, thank God, finally came to life. “No—no. It’s fine.

I want you to come. I was going to ask you myself ”—like

hell—“but El’s right, I wanted to talk about hosting it before

I offered. I can’t wait to have thirty people in my house and

backyard. And El can’t wait to help me clean up and get ready

for it.”

Everyone laughed at that, but inside, El was groaning and

imagining his very own orphanage again.

As soon as he could escape, El chain-smoked his way

down Rosa’s street, but once he made it to the Light District,

his phone rang. It was Rosa.

“What the fuck, El? I don’t want the party at my house!”

“Hey, I was thinking on my feet. Mom had already invited

Noah—”

“Then how about I uninvited him later, or something that

doesn’t upend my life, huh?”

El winced. “I know. Sorry, Rosa. I’ll help you clean.”

93

“You’ll do all the cleaning, you bastard. But first you’re

going to tell me who you’re bringing to the party.”

He stopped dead in the middle of the street, panic shafting

through him. “Nobody. I was just bullshitting there, trying to

sell the reason for moving the party.”

“No, that’s the bullshit, what you just said to me. When

you said you wanted to invite someone, that was the truth.”

Goddamn Rosa and her ability to see right through him.

“It’s nobody. Just this guy that’s been hanging around the

shop. He’s a friend.”

“A friend you want to fuck. Interesting. What’s his

name?”

Fuck. “Bob.”

“You’re lying,” Rosa declared, sounding pleased with

herself. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it out of you while you’re

cleaning.” She hung up.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

Though it hadn’t been his original intention, El headed

to Lights Out instead of back to the shop. When Denver

greeted him at the door, the bouncer’s expression changed

from welcoming to something heavy and sober.

“Somebody die?” he asked.

“No, but I have the feeling I’m going to wish I had.” An

idea struck him, and he seized it. “Denver, what are you doing

for the Fourth?”

“Working here, what do you think?” He gave El a funny

look. “Why?”

“Nothing. I just had this—” He grimaced and shook his

head. “Forget it.”

Denver grinned at him. “You’re looking nervous, buddy.

Any chance this nothing has to do with Strawberry? Because

94

if it means I get to watch you with him again, I’ll get Jase to

find someone else to man the door that night.”

Murmuring “Fuck you” under his breath, El nudged past

his friend and a gaggle of giggling girls playing tourist, heading

straight for Jase and the bar and the alcohol.

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