Phoenix by Joey James Hook Read Free Book Online Page B

theater with a million people.
    “What about you, Blake?” Devon asked, interest
    obviously inflected in his voice as he leaned over the table.
    Blake just smiled a bit and shook his head.
    “Nah, I’m good. I should catch up on my reading for my
    class tomorrow, ‘n I don’t really like big crowds,” he
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    confessed with a shrug, feeling just how tense his shoulders
    had gotten just in the last few moments.
    “Okay, guess it’s just you and me, Riley,” Devon said,
    looking over at him and grinning like a maniac.
    Riley was looking between them for a moment with a
    calculating look in his eye that made Blake want to squirm,
    before he turned his attention back to Devon with a wide
    smile and nodded firmly, saying, “Yep, guess so.”

    * * * *

    Devon had hoped that Blake would have agreed to come
    with him and Riley to the movies, but it was understandable
    that he didn’t like big crowds. At least he didn’t lie about it
    and say he had something better to do. He liked how
    straightforward Blake was. But he was still deathly curious
    about him, about that darkness in his eyes that passed every
    so often.
    The foursome separated into two pairs as they left the
    restaurant, and Riley gave Blake a big hug before walking
    toward the theaters. Devon just smiled and waved at the
    other two before bouncing up to walk beside Riley.
    “Well, that was fun,” he said in an upbeat tone, and Riley
    laughed with a nod. He grinned broadly. He was glad
    people here appreciated his sense of humor, honestly. Back
    home, the only people were Andy and his idiot sidekick
    genius, Jimmy. With these guys, though, he felt like he could
    just be a complete fucking idiot and be perfectly fine.
    Riley was an anomaly. He seemed like a typical frat boy,
    but he seemed so nice and fucking awesome, not to mention
    the fact that he had tattoos littering his arms under the black
    and white plaid shirt he had rolled up to his elbows. He
    wasn’t sure exactly why Riley hung out with the people that
    he did, but he was glad that he was diverse. He would have
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    to say that Riley and Blake were probably two of his favorite
    people that he’d met so far, and that was mostly because
    they both absolutely fascinated him.
    “Yeah. Not to mention I’m fucking stuffed,” Riley added
    with a shake of his head, shoving his hands into the pockets
    of his blue jeans as he walked.
    “Me, too . God, that place is fantastic,” Devon said with a
    grin, thoughtlessly falling in step with Riley as they made
    their way through town. “So, what are we gonna go see, o
    fearless leader?”
    Riley snorted and shook his head. “Never been called that
    before,” he muttered dryly, but then he sobered and got a
    thoughtful look on his face. “Well, I dunno. What kinda
    movies do you like?”
    “I dunno,” Devon replied with a casual sort of shrug. “I
    guess I like action-adventure or whatever. Slasher flicks are
    always a good option. I don’t really like rom-coms, or
    straight-up comedy ‘cause I don’t think it’s as funny as
    me…” He trailed off with a shrug.
    “Well, we could go see Red. I’ve heard good things about
    it,” Riley suggested.
    “Oooh, is that the one with Bruce Willis and John
    Malkovich?” Devon perked up with a grin, watching as
    Riley laughed and nodded. His expression broadened as he
    proclaimed in a nearly echoing voice, “I’m down!”
    “All right then,” Riley laughed as he began to lead them
    to the theater. Devon could definitely feel a crush
    developing on Riley, but that was all right. He liked the idea
    of it, and maybe Riley felt the connection, too.

    * * * *

    Blake decided that he was going to go back to his dorm
    room alone. Ethan said that he needed to do some hardcore
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    reading and that Blake would distract him. He resigned
    himself to spending the night by himself, at least until
    Devon came home from his movie.
    He changed his pants, getting out of his