Better Than Good by Lane Hayes Read Free Book Online Page A

Creatures of the night, right, Matty?” Uh-oh. Aaron was on the defense now, and Sam was giving me the weirdest look. It was time to retreat.
    “Right. Hey, Sam. We’re gonna be heading out. Let me know when your next gig is, ’kay?” I started to get up from the table, but Sam grabbed my wrist before I got anywhere.
    “Wait. I was going to ask you if you would come play a song or two with me. Come on, dude, it would be great. We can do a couple of the ones we practiced last week.”
    “Do it, Matty. I want to hear you.” Aaron was the one giving funny looks now.
    “Yeah, Matty…,” Sam pleaded, drawing out my name to let me know he wanted to know when I’d gone from Matt to Matty.
    “Alright, but only one, Sam. We haven’t practiced enough. It’s going to be edgy anyway. I’m assuming you have more than one guitar?” I figured it was easier to give in and then get out of here. I felt like I was paying for my impulsiveness now, and I really wanted out.
    Sam slapped me hard on the back once and held out a hand to Aaron.
    “Nice meeting you, Aaron. I’ll introduce you right away so you can head out if you want afterwards. I appreciate it!”
    “Shit!” I sighed. “I’m sorry, Aaron. You are probably so ready to get out of here. I’ll just do the one song and we can go. Is that cool?”
    “Matt. I want to hear you play. I’m totally cool. I’m not sure you realize this, but I’m here of my own free will. I know how to get a taxi home, and this isn’t a date anyway, right?” I nodded in agreement. “Good. Because if it were you would have fed me before you started giving me this gut-rot vodka. I am going to have a headache in the morning for sure.”
    I ended up playing and singing three songs with Sam. I was having too much fun to quit after one, and Aaron looked like he was enjoying our impromptu concert anyway. The audience ate it up, just as Sam had predicted. We were definitely a little rusty since we hadn’t practiced together in a while, but no one seemed to notice.
    I gave Aaron a signal to follow me as I made my way toward the exit, giving my new fans high fives on my way outside. Aaron had grabbed my leather jacket and handed it to me once we were out in the cool evening air.
    “You were really great. I think I recognized one song, but it was all terrific. You have a sweet, sexy voice, Matty. I like.”
    Aaron’s compliment made me feel ten feet tall. I felt that adrenaline rush sweep over me and turn into fire deep inside. I was unbelievably horny, and although I knew exactly what I wanted, I had a feeling I wasn’t going to get it tonight. I didn’t want to take him home yet, regardless.
    “Let me feed you. We need to counteract the bad vodka with a greasy burger or something. Sound good?”
    I was rewarded with his beautiful smile.
    Aaron pointed me toward a diner near his place that served all night. We ordered a huge plate of chili cheese fries to share and a pitcher of ice water.
    “I love these fries, but I’m on a green diet starting tomorrow. Or I mean when I wake up. I can’t believe how late it is. Way past my bedtime! I figured I’d go to my tame little work party, exit before I had the chance to embarrass myself in front of my coworkers, and then hang out with Jay for a while until Peter got home. Who knew I’d be swept away to a hetero bar to listen to top-forty music performed live and in concert in part by none other than the guy who whisked me away? A first for me.” Aaron raised a chili fry in salute. There was a wicked gleam in his eye, so I knew he actually had enjoyed himself. I was suddenly very happy I’d gone with instinct this evening. It had been a lot of fun.
    “Jay is your friend? Peter too?” We didn’t know much about one another, but he’d met a few of my friends already, well, in passing anyway, and I didn’t know anything about his.
    “Mmm-hmm. Jay is my best friend, and Peter is his partner. In the land of gay, they are what I would wish