Rock Bay 2 - Letting Go by M. J. O’Shea Read Free Book Online Page B

girlfriend.
     
Not much. U?
     
He didn’t have to wait long for a reply. Took u lng enuf. We’re coming to visit. Partay!
     
Mason smiled but he was worried his friends wouldn’t like the small-town life.
     
Dude, there’s not much to do here. Just sayin.
     
Logan’s answer was quick and indignant.
     
We’re only comin 2 see u. Jeez. No worries.
    They made quick plans to meet at Mason’s apartment Friday night. It was one of his rare regular weekends off. He was really looking forward to seeing his friend. As much as he didn’t miss the big city at all, Mason did miss Logan. Even when they’d been going to different schools, they still only lived less than a mile apart and managed to see each other a few times a week. He realized it had been over a month and a half. The longest they’d been apart since the day they met.

B
OYS ’night out was really damn awkward.
    Not even worth commenting on, to tell the truth. Brock went right back to idolizing Tally the moment he laid eyes on him, but kept his homophobic rants up. Tally looked, by turns, uncomfortable in his skin and exactly like the king he used to be. The whole thing was just… awkward. That really was the only word to describe it. Brock being all pathetic and sycophant-ish, Tally looking uncomfortable but growing back into his role as leader, Drew and Rick pushed to the sidelines just like they always had been when Tally was around. Everything was basically just like it was back in high school, only they weren’t in high school anymore. They were adults, and popularity contests should’ve died when they put away their graduation caps. Drew did what he did best—sat quietly and watched. It was only when Brock insulted Lex that
    Drew said much at all. He knew the whole fucking situation was awkward for Tally, so he told Brock to shut it. Luckily, Brock was already drunk enough to let the whole thing go. It felt good, to stand up for himself like that… or for someone else. Drew was starting to get the hang of telling Brock what he really thought. At least when Brock was drunk and Tally was there to back him up. Yeah, guess not.
    At the rate he was going, he might come out to Brock by the time they retired. At least by then it wouldn’t matter if Brock took all of his business away. It would matter, however, if he was still sitting alone by then, still waiting for his life to start. That was enough to put some steel in Drew’s spine. He hoped.
    Dinner was long and alcohol soaked, as usual. Brock and Rick’s jeers at their top-heavy waitress got closer and closer to arrest level as the empty glasses built up. Drew was glad when they left the restaurant, and at least they went bowling afterward instead of Brock’s usual nudie bar down on the highway. Thank God. Drew had Tally to thank for that. He also could thank Tally for helping him drag a drunk Brock up the stairs to his condo. Rick had pled wife duty, whatever that meant, and took off, leaving Drew and Tally to take care of his royal messiness.
    “Interesting night,” Drew murmured once they had Brock installed on his couch and snoring. His arm flopped to the floor, and Drew went over to prop it on his chest and tuck everything under a blanket that had been folded on the ottoman.
“You do this a lot, don’t you?” Tally stared at Brock for a few long moments.
     
“A few times a week. He doesn’t like to go home. Says his wife’s a nag.”
    Tally made a disgusted noise. “And he thinks what Lex and I have is wrong? At least we love each other and want to be around each other.”
“I know. It’s not fair.” Drew shrugged.
    “So listen,” Tally started. “I’m sorry things didn’t go as planned. Tonight wasn’t the right time to bring it up. He was….”
    “Yeah. I know. He was Brock. Douche extraordinaire.” Plus Drew had the feeling that Tally liked being appreciated by his old friend, if only temporarily.
    Tally chucked Drew on the shoulder. “Hey, you’re the one who’s