Page 48 of Pieces of Me

“Well, thank you,” Rylan forced out. “I had a―good time.” The lie threatened to choke him, and Sloan beamed.

“Great! Well, get me the costume back tomorrow morning. Have a good night.” Dismissing Rylan, Sloan started rummaging in his box of stuff, getting ready to pack up.

“Uh, Sloan?” Rylan asked. “Do you happen to maybe have an extra T-shirt I could―” He waved his hand down his half-naked body. “I’m gonna have to walk home like this, and―”

Sloan shook his head regretfully. “I didn’t bring any Cock Sucker tanks this time,” he said. “But you could probably buy a T-shirt from one of the other booths.” He shrugged, and Rylan gulped.

“Okay. Well, thanks.”

With no other choice before him, Rylan left the booth and walked slowly through the exhibition hall, feeling horribly exposed without even the meager comfort of the wooden tray to clutch in front of him.

He could feel air wafting over the bottoms of his ass cheeks as he walked, each step making the shorts ride up in back. How the fuck was he supposed to walk down the street like this? Rylan felt like crying, and he bit his lip. Maybe he should buy a T-shirt…

An underwear company display had some for sale, and Rylan stepped up to the booth but hurried off immediately when he saw the prices. He didn’t work his ass off and suck “cock” all day to spend his hard-earned cash on a fucking mesh T-shirt.

He reluctantly exited the relative safety of the building into the bright Arizona sunshine. It was hot already, even in April, but Rylan was grateful for the warmth. As he walked through the park, he heard stifled laughter and wolf whistles coming at him from all directions.

He stopped at a few Pride T-shirt sellers’ booths, but the prices were well beyond what he could afford. Rylan appealed to them, promising he would return the shirt if he could only “borrow” one for a few hours, but each time was turned down flat. Finally a man took pity on him and handed him a shirt, saying that Rylan could keep it. Rylan pulled it eagerly over his head, suppressing a groan as he realized it was a crop top. The cheap fabric left his navel and those fucking shorts exposed, but at least it covered the salacious tattoos advertising how “Lickable” and “Suckable” he was.

“Thanks, dude,” he muttered, and the guy shook his head. As an afterthought, he tossed Rylan a ball cap made of some shimmery bright-purple material, and Rylan pulled it low over his eyes. The more he could use to hide behind, the better.

“Good luck, kid.”

Rylan walked toward the entrance to the large city park and stood there, watching the cars whiz by on the busy street outside. In here he was relatively safe, but out there…

His apartment was only a half mile from the park, but Rylan knew this was going to be the longest walk of his life. The road he would have to walk along was a major thoroughfare, and Rylan would be parading down the sidewalk next to it on full display. Full gay display.

Rylan took a deep breath and blew it out again. He didn’t have any other choice. Sure, he could probably catch a bus, but his frugal nature rebelled at paying for such a short ride when he could suck it up and walk for free. Plus there was the simple fact that sitting down in these goddamn shorts was going to be next to impossible, and if he stood, his half-exposed ass cheeks would be in someone’s face and―no, just no.

Better to keep his head down, walk quickly to his apartment complex, and― oh God―face old Mrs. Popovic once he got there over the issue of his missing keys. Rylan grimaced at the thought of his apartment manager, who was none too pleased with him right now about the late rent. How she would react to Rylan showing up looking like an escapee from a seedy gay strip club was beyond him.

All right. Here we go.

Rylan firmed his lips, squared his shoulders, and headed off down the sidewalk. It wasn’t long before shouts of “Fag!” and “Go back to Fagville!” were flung at him from passing cars, horns honking and middle fingers extended. There were some wolf whistles and even a “Yeah, Pride, baby,” but most of the catcalls were rude and vaguely threatening.

Fifty yards, one hundred yards. There was the light on the corner, the Circle K, and then one more block…all Rylan could think to do was stare straight ahead, not make eye contact with anyone, and hope for the best.

Please let me make it home alive.

✩✩✩

“God, you’re so fucking sexy, Scott.”

The man pushed into Scott’s personal space, his face yearning. Scott gave him a well-practiced smile and eased away without looking like he was easing away.

“Thanks so much,” he purred, as if he’d never heard that before. “I try.”

The dude was practically panting as he stood there, and Scott could see him opening and closing his fingers as if fighting not to touch him. He gave an inward sigh. All in a day’s work.

“The booth is closing now,” he said, infusing his tone with regret. “But I’ll see you at the club tonight?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” the man said eagerly. “And can I buy you a drink?”

“Of course, and we’ll dance. It’ll be fucking amazing,” Scott drawled, and the dude grinned.

“See you tonight!” he called as he started to turn away. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

Scott winked at him. “I’ll be looking for you, baby.” The guy exited the building and Scott turned back to his companion.