The actual title for this book is supposed to look like this:
His Fake GirlBoy
Friend
Below is a part of chapter one. I will post the rest of chapter one tomorrow. I don't have a blurb just yet, but you should get the idea of what the story is about from the first chapter. Very long chapter...
Chapter one
“Oh my God!”The scream jarred Noah awake and nearly off the couch. With eyes wide and his heart in his throat he darted his gaze around the large living room expecting big foot or murderers or at the very least a hot guy running naked across the floor. But there was none of those things. Just Griffin’s latest, his longest actually, standing there trying to cover her nakedness with perfectly manicured fingers. Her hair was only a bit out of place; however, she had definitely gone to bed with her makeup on.
“What’s wrong?” Noah croaked out, trying to calm his heart as Griffin came tearing―okay stumbling―up the hallway behind her yanking on a robe.
“Lauren? What the fuck?” Griffin made it into the living room to stand beside Lauren. He, too, had perused the room with eyes that were barely open, squinting against the bright early sunshine already pouring in the windows. “Why are you screaming?”
She pointed a finger, having to bare a plump breast to do it, right at Noah. “There’s a man in our house.”
Griffin glanced at Noah and grinned. “Where?”
“Funny,” Noah deadpanned as he let his head drop back to his pillow. “What time is it, anyway?”
“Fuck,” Griffin grouched. “Six. Lauren, what the fuck are you screeching at six in the morning for?”
“I’m not screeching!”
Oh, she so totally was.
“There’s a stranger sleeping on the couch in my living room!” she insisted.
Wait. Her living room?
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Griffin yawned. “That’s Noah. You know Noah.”
Which was true. It would be hard to not know him if anyone met Griffin even a little. They were pretty much inseparable.
“How did he get in here and what is he doing in our condo at six in the morning?”
“You know he has his own… wait…” There was movement and suddenly Griffin was hunched down near Noah’s head. “Hey buddy, she has a point. What are you doing here? What happened?”
“I was kicked out,” Noah moaned sleepily.
“What? That asshole!”
“Who’s an asshole?” came that shrieking voice again. Evidently, she felt it safer to shout from a distance.
“Can you tell her to tone it down a bit?” Noah whimpered.
“I can tell her. She won’t listen.”
“Quit talking about me like I’m not here!”
“Pretty tough to forget that,” Griffin murmured.
She squealed again but seemed to storm off because it was blessedly quiet again. Noah really did need to learn to like her better. Or at all. The problem was, she hated Noah.
“You’re going to pay for that,” Noah said.
“Believe me, I already am. Tell me what happened.” Griffin picked Noah’s head up, scooted himself under it so he was sitting on the couch and laid Noah’s head in his lap.
“You need to go do this with Lauren.”
“Do what? Besides, I want to find out what happened.”
Damn. Noah should never have come here. He wished now he had barged in on Genny and Marcus instead. Except he didn’t have a key to their apartment. Still… “Sorry for… well, ruining your morning with Lauren.”
“You didn’t ruin anything. Quit stalling. Was it that asshole, Sebastian?”
“Who else? He…”
“He what?”
“He’s a jerk. They’re both jerks. They fucking kicked me out last night.”
“Fuck, Noah, you’re the one on the lease. Not even that asshole you let move in with you. Why do you… never mind. I’ll deal with it.”
“How?”
“I don’t want you to worry about it.” He patted Noah’s head and smoothed his hair. “What time did you get here?”
“About two.”
“Really? Wow. Go back to sleep.” He continued to stroke Noah’s hair. “Even I got more sleep than that.”
Noah opened his eyes and turned his head to stare up at Griffin. “Are you serious? Two o’clock, Griffin. You guys were going at it like… like… well, whatever. I shouldn’t have come.”
“Of course, you should be here, you know that. Why didn’t you just sleep in the guest bedroom?”
Noah rolled his eyes and turned back away. “You mean the one next to your room? You know why.”
Griffin harumphed. “Come on. We were noisy?”
“You were deafening. Earsplitting. God. I hate the sound of hetero sex.”
Griffin laughed. “Wait a minute. Sex? At two this morning? I’m thinking I was just watching the action at that point. Well, maybe dozing through it. So, it wasn’t me you heard.”
“No, no, no!” Noah moaned as he momentarily put his hands to his ears. “I don’t want to hear this.”
“Yeah, I think she was trying to put on a show for me, if you know what I mean.”
“Oh my God, Griffin, Stop! I don’t want the image in my head.” But Griffin dozed through it? Was something wrong in paradise? “Ug,” he moaned. “It’s kind of sad, really. For what you have to pay for this monstrosity, you would think the walls wouldn’t be so paper thin.” He cuddled into the warmth of Griffin’s lap, feeling more guilty than ever. But, to be fair, this position was fairly common for the two of them. Especially on Thursday nights when the three of them, Gwen, Griffin and him, would go out to dinner, a tradition that had started a year or so back. “Anyone can fake a Friday,” Genny would say. Then they would usually end up back at Griffin’s pricey condo to watch something on Griffin’s monster T.V. and Noah right here, head in Griffin’s lap. He loved it.
But he shouldn’t.
Because things had changed.
There were five of them now that both Griffin and Genny had significant others and insisted on bringing them on what they called their Thursday Date Nights. Well ―Genny insisted Marcus come but Noah was pretty sure it was Lauren who tagged after Griffin, hell or high water. Griffin didn’t seem to care one way or the other. He still sat next to Noah. They still shared their meals, talked each other’s ears off as if they hadn’t seen each other in ages, and argued like an old married couple.
"You guys are so damn cute,” Genny had gushed once. “The only thing missing is the two of you kissing and making up.”
Unfortunately, Lauren just happened to be there at the time, and she proceeded to basically take Genny’s head off.
“Oh my God, Genny, that’s disgusting!”
Of course, it didn’t help that Genny had also leaned into Lauren to make sure she heard. “And especially,” she had whispered. “the making up part, right?” All while doing air quotes and wiggling her eyebrows.
Lauren seemed quite taken back by that. There might have also been some derogatory comment which had substituted the word “gag” with “gay”. Noah hadn’t caught the whole of it. Whatever it had been pissed Griffin off. Which might have been the reason Lauren being in the room didn’t stop Griffin from being just like this.
It wasn’t right, obviously. Griffin should have quit this type of behavior and certainly Noah could have stopped it too. Except, it was simply second nature now, habit. And definitely, Griffin meant nothing by it. Even so, it always warmed Noah’s heart to be the recipient of his attention.
Mainly because he loved Griffin.
Oh God, in love was the actual term. Yep. With his best friend. And had been for a while.
So very not cool.
Thankfully, Griffin was clueless about it. He wasn’t into men in that way and that meant he would marry someday and have kids and a life that Noah prayed to stay a part of. But that was just it. He would only be a small piece of it. He had always known that, anticipated it, told himself day in and night out, especially Thursdays, Griffin was not his. He would belong to some girl down the road and even though Lauren had been a steady presence lately, it wouldn’t be today.
Which became his mantra.
It would happen but not today.
Except there was no denying Lauren had been by Griffin’s side off and on for the better part of seven months now. Which brought that fateful ‘someday’ closer than ever.
It did make sense. They wouldn’t be young forever. He supposed Lauren was at that age, too, probably early to mid-thirties, even Griffin wasn’t sure exactly, where she most likely was hearing that biological clock pretty loudly. And Griffin? Not only wildly handsome and attentive and protective and funny and smart and, oh, so many beautiful things Noah couldn’t name them all. But was rich to boot. Sure, he started out that way, but Griffin was brilliant and had strengthened his family’s coffers with the ideas and changes he had already brought to the board table of Colewater Properties.
And then there was the fact his parents were also on him all the time about “settling down” as well. “Carrying on the family name”.
“You need to quit hanging around these friends, Griffin, and show some effort on growing up,” would be his mother’s greeting every time she saw Noah standing at her door with her son. “You need a nice girl.”
Yep. Girl.
Damn it.
Griffin was the oldest son of the owners of a multi-gazillion-dollar hotel business which he was expected to take the reins of at some point, and even though Griffin was already well along in that extensive process, it would begin in earnest as soon as he got his master from Hamilton University. With honors, of course. Not that Griffin didn’t deserve it. He did. He studied hard, did well on his academics and stayed out of trouble. Unlike his semi-sort-of-rich-but-not-really-compared-to-the-Colewaters so called friends. Which they weren’t. Friends, that is. Having money meant parties and skipping classes and whole semesters altogether. After all, what was mama and daddy’s money for if not to slick up the rails of life?
The Colewaters unfortunately didn’t feel any different. In fact, Hamilton University had an entire wing of the main building named after Griffin ―Griffin Colewater Hall. Genny and Marcus still teased Griffin sometimes, often calling him Lord Colewater or Prince Griffin or some such nonsense. Noah never did. It was a very tender spot for Griffin. He was torn between horror and embarrassment wanting to believe his parents meant well when they paid a fortune for the naming privilege.
“It’s always something with them,” he would moan. “An Italian car, a quaint twenty-three room cottage on the ocean, some grand charity event in my honor. I wish they would just ― I don’t know ― send a card on my birthday, not a private chef.”
Noah had gasped that time. “Oh yes,” he gushed. “Raffiel. He was kind of adorable though, you have to admit.”
“He was straight.”
“Yeah,” Noah had sighed wistfully. “I know.”
“And too old for you,” Griffin had grouched and cuffed Noah on the back of the head.
And no, it wasn’t that Griffin was a poor little rich boy. All Griffin really wanted was his parents love, his parents to be proud of him now, not of what they envisioned his future to be. It broke Noah’s heart how often Griffin’s parents behavior seemed to break his.
“Come on. Up.” Griffin tapped Noah’s head.
“Where we going?” Noah yawned.
“I’m tucking you in to the bed in the guest bedroom. You can sleep for another hour or so.”
“I have to go to work.”
“I’ll get you up in time to get you there by nine. I’ll even stop at our favorite coffee shop and buy you coffee and breakfast, okay?”
That got Noah’s attention. “The breakfast crepe with extra whipped cream? Oh! Wait! It’s Thursday. They’ll have the Maple Waffle sandwiches! I think I want the strawberry and blueberry one. No! The burnt brown sugar and peanut butter!”
“I’ll get you both. All of it. Whatever you want.” He slapped Noah’s bottom. “Now up!”
“You’re my hero.” Noah rose to his feet drawing the blanket he pulled off the guest room bed around himself tighter. He turned to tug Griffin up with his fingers just peeking out of the folds.
“Of course,” Griffin chuckled. “It’s my only aim in life.”
After work that day Noah took the subway to the restaurant, one of four they rotated on a weekly basis. Noah liked this one best. Tazzio’s offered an extensive pasta menu, the spinach ravioli with gouda cheese was Griffin’s favorite although he would never order it. So Noah always would and was lucky to get a quarter of the dish eaten with Griffin “stealing” bites the moment the plate hit the table. But it was fine. Griffin always tried to share whatever meat dish it was that he would order.
“You’re too skinny. You need some meat.”
Noah wasn’t a big meat fan but Griffin would usually order something with chicken which was okay. Noah drew the line at anything beef or seafood. Or lamb. And Griffin knew it so, like the awesome best friend he was, stayed away from those.
“Actually, I don’t like lamb, either,” Griffin had told him once. “Even the smell of it.”
Genny and Marcus were already at their table, always the same one if they could get it, with a view of the busy sidewalk.
“Hey, you two,” Noah said as he sat.
“Noah!” Genny rose and hugged Noah’s shoulders. “We ordered drinks and apps,” she announced as if she had done something drastically different than any other Thursday. But Noah still sighed relief. It had been a long day and he was exhausted and if he were honest in that moment, would have rather gone back to Griffin’s condo and gone to bed. But a drink, or several, and a meal with his best friends in the world, was a close second.
“Where’s Griffin and that woman he’s dating?” Marcus asked. Marcus had made it incredibly clear he disliked Lauren. “She isn’t good enough for him,” he had once told Noah under his breath.
“Why, Marcus,” Noah had countered, a little jealous. “You want to date him?” Noah did sometimes wonder.
“No, you goof,” he had chuckled. “I love Genny.”
As if that answered the question.
“That woman,” Noah cocked his head at Marcus, “has a name and it’s Lauren and I would imagine they will be along shortly.” At least he hoped they would. Griffin rarely missed their Thursday night dates. But lately, as he got closer to graduation, and especially since his parents had been out of the country for the last several months, Colewater Properties had demanded more and more of Griffin’s time.
Plus, there was that little mishap this morning…
“What’s it been now,” asked Marcus. “Seven months?”
“Almost,” Noah said as he took a swallow of the Cosmo that the waiter put down in front of him.
“Getting serious.”
“Maybe.” Noah’s heart tripped a little.
“Hey guys,” the waiter said as he set the other drinks down. He eyed Noah and winked.
“Hey Ray,” they said in unison. Ray did a little wave.
“You should ask him out, Noah,” Genny said watching as Ray pretty much danced away throwing a smile over his shoulder. “He really likes you.”
“He’s not Noah’s type,” Griffin growled as he took the seat next to Noah.
“Griffin!” Noah gasped. “Crap. You scared me.”
“Yeah, Griffin,” Genny said. “Way to sneak up on us.”
“I didn’t sneak.”
“Where’s your girlfriend?” Marcus asked.
“Not coming.”
“Are you kidding?” Genny chuckled. “She trusts you out all by yourself?”
“We broke up,” came the reply.
“What?” both Genny and Noah shouted.
“Settle down. It was time. Is this mine?” Even though it was a question, he evidently knew the answer as he lifted the indicated mug of beer to his lips and took a long drink.
“Time?” Genny asked. “How was it time? And what’s not Noah’s type” ―She did air quotes ― “about Ray?”
“Everything. And she was starting to get on my nerves. She was noisy and loud, left shit all over the place and besides, she gave me an ultimatum this morning. I had to choose between her and you guys.”
“Us?” Genny exclaimed. “No way! You mean she wanted you to dump us?”
“Well ―more like just Noah.”
“What?” Genny gasped. “Why Noah?”
“Yeah, why me?” Although Noah was pretty sure he already knew.
“She thinks I hang around you too much.” He grinned at Noah, a tiny bit of foam from his beer clinging to his beautiful mouth, and Noah’s heart thumped hard enough to make him whimper. Instantly the grin morphed into concern as Griffin put a hand on Noah’s cheek. “What’s wrong?”
Noah pulled back and shook his head, trying to hold back a smile so big and wide over the turn of events that it was sure to hurt his face should he let it out. “No, nothing. Just… I’m sorry ―you know ― about this morning.” But… he really wasn’t. If indeed this put an end to a relationship that was beginning to look permanent…
Crap, he was awful. A miserable friend.
“This morning?” parroted Genny. “What happened this morning?”
“It wasn’t that,” Griffin scoffed, ignoring Genny’s question. “Like I said, she’s been getting on my nerves. Always complaining about how much time I don’t spend with her. I have school and the Colewater firm and she’s been coming along with me every time I ever hang out with you guys, so I didn’t get the problem. I just don’t fathom women, I guess.”
“Who does?” Marcus chuckled and Genny elbowed him. “Ouch!”
Guilt swept over Noah as he thought about how cute Griffin and Lauren really were together. She looked good on his arm, all petite and gorgeous. She was perfect for him. Even her family was perfect. They were not as rich as the Colewaters but certainly far wealthier than Noah’s family, which was just him and his grandma.
“Sorry, Griffin,” Noah murmured. “I really shouldn’t have come over last night.”
Griffin grabbed Noah’s hand and squeezed it. “Now just stop. If I loved her or wanted to be with her, we would have worked that out, I promise. I can never be with someone who doesn’t love you guys just as much as I do. Understand?”
“But ―”
“No buts. That’s the way it is. She didn’t get that. Which tells me she didn’t love me. Just what I represent. Because if she did, she would see how important all of you are to me.” He glanced at Marcus. “Well, not Marcus. Just you two.” He grinned at Genny’s sour expression.
“And Marcus is important to me, mister,” Genny countered. “So if you loved me ―”
“Yeah, yeah, I would love him too.” He blew a kiss at Marcus who smiled slyly and winked at Noah lifting his chin slightly.
Noah sneered at Marcus and stuck out his tongue. If anyone was going to get an air-kiss from Griffin, even a fake one, it would be Noah, thank you very much. But Griffin was still holding his hand. So…
“What happened this morning?” Genny insisted.
“Nothing,” both Griffin and Noah said at the same time.
“Bull! Tell me.”
Noah sighed. “Fine. I… I ended up on Griffin’s couch and Lauren ―”
“She freaked out,” Griffin finished.
Genny inhaled sharply at the same time Marcus asked ‘Why?’ She elbowed him again. “That’s not important.” She turned to Noah. “What happened, Noah?”
“Sabastian is such an ass,” seethed Noah. “He was at the apartment yesterday. Evidently Jason had the day off. Anyway, he brought his dog with and locked him in my bedroom while he and Jason ― well, retired to Jason’s bedroom. The poor thing was in there for hours I guess, and he peed and pooped on my bed. When I got home and found out I told Sebastian he was going to have to buy me a new mattress. Well, maybe I yelled it. But it stunk in my room. The apartment doesn’t even allow for pets. Jason knows that. Sabastian will get us evicted and I told Sabastian he was a terrible dog owner and he needed to get his dog and leave. Plus, he owed me for a new mattress. But all they both did was laugh at me.”
“Is that why you left?” Genny asked.
“Well ―kind of. I got up in Sabastian’s face and next thing I knew…”
“What?” Genny cried. “What happened?”
“They somehow both picked me up and tossed me out into the hallway. I thought I broke my elbow. Then they deadbolted the door. They evidently put a chair or something under the knob, too, because, even though I was able to unlock it, I couldn’t get back in.”
“Bastards!” exclaimed Griffin.
“Yes! They’re both asses, Noah,” Genny said. “I don’t know why you let that jerk Jason take such advantage of you.”
“Which reminds me,” Griffin said as he dug in his pocket. “I stopped over there before I came here.” He gave Noah a wad of cash. “Now I wish I had waited until after I got the full story. I would have brought a couple of heads, too.”
“What’s this?”
“Your damage deposit and three months of rent.”
Noah stared at Griffin. “Come again.”
“That housemate of yours and his insignificant other decided they owed it to you.”
“They simply gave you this?” Because that wouldn’t happen.
“Well, it took a little convincing but as of today, you’re off the lease.”
Off the lease? “How… how did you accomplish that?”
“I told you I would take care of it. You’re free of that situation.”
“But… that was my home. Where am I going to live?” Okay. Screeching. Not cool.
“With me, of course. Until you can find something else,” Griffin shrugged. “if you want.”
“With you?” Noah laughed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Lauren and I are through, remember?” He leaned in and whispered, “No more hetero sex noises.”
“That’s not the problem.” Although it kind of was. “Your parents are never going to allow it.”
“I am a grown man and can make my own decisions.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I’ve got some movers going to your old place too,” he looked at his Bell and Ross aviation watch, “Should be there about now, to move your furniture out.”
“Griffin! I don’t have any furniture. With the exception of my bookshelf and my bed, which is just the frame and mattress and I no longer want the mattress, all the rest belongs to Jason. It’s the only reason I accepted his offer of being roommates. I had the actual apartment and he had furniture.”
“Well, now he doesn’t.”
“Griffin, You can’t do that. Besides, it’s crap. Sebastian’s very untrained dog has done his business over all of it. I wouldn’t want it even if it was mine. Which it’s not. And Genny, this is not funny!”
“Yes, it is,” she laughed.
“Calm down. I happen to agree with you,” Griffin continued. “I’m having them drop all his shit at the secondhand store.”
“Oh my God, you are kidding me.” Visions of Jason coming home to an empty apartment, calling the cops and Griffin being arrested, flashed through his mind.
“Yes. Yes I am.”
“You can’t do that. I’m ser…” Noah scowled and, with his free hand, punched Griffin on the arm who proceeded to pretend it hurt. “Oh, I absolutely hate you sometimes.”
“You absolutely hate me never.” Griffin grinned widely at Noah, patted his hand and let go.
“Yeah. True,” Noah muttered.
“Besides, I never agreed for you to move in with that guy―”
“Jason.”
“―in the first place. I offered to buy you anything you needed. Furniture, house, condo, motorhome. There was no reason to take on a roommate.”
“Motorhome?”
“If that was what you wanted."
“I never wanted a motorhome.”
“It was still on the table.”
“No, actually, you offered for me to move in with you back then, too, and, if I remember correctly, your mother went ballistic.”
“She didn’t go ballistic. She had an opinion.”
“She threatened to have me kidnapped and shipped to Australia. In a crate.”
“Whatever. I had no problem telling her to mind her own business.”
“You actually did have a problem telling her and you are her business.”
Griffin sighed as he put his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. “Yeah, I know. I… I wish she would just back off for once.”
“Never going to happen.”
Marcus let out a laugh. “You would have to denounce the crown. Abdicate the throne.”
Genny slapped Marcus on the arm. “Knock it off. He has enough stress as it is.”
“His own doing,” Marcus muttered. “He needs to stand up to both of them.”
“Oh no!” Noah gasped. “That brings up another problem.”
Griffin narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Noah. “What’s that?”
“Your mother’s birthday.”
“What about it?”
“It’s tomorrow.”
“No. Not tomorrow. But damn, it is Saturday. And oh shit.”
Genny gulped. “And you broke up with Lauren!”
Marcus smirked. “Been wondering when you would get around to that little detail.”
Genny turned to Marcus. “I said hush!”
Noah cleared his throat. “You’ll… you’ll just have to make up with her.”
“Not an option.”
“Why not?”
“Let’s just say when it ended it ― um ended.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m fucked.”
“How come?” Marcus chimed in. “Just tell your parents.”
“I can’t. Not on my mom’s birthday. It’s also…” Griffin sighed.
“The anniversary of your grandmother’s death,” Noah whispered.
“Oh yes, that’s right.” Genny reached across the table and put a hand on Griffin’s arm. He immediately put his hand on hers. “I am so sorry. I know how painful this whole year has been for you.”
“Thanks,” Griffin murmured. “Nowhere near as difficult as it’s been for mom and dad. I… I just don’t want to add to that, you know?”
“Okay,” Marcus continued. “Pick another girl. You know enough of them. Oh wait. They all hate you.”
Genny turned to Marcus with a scowl on her face. “Tell me again why I like you?”
Marcus grinned. “You don’t. You love me.”
“Really? That is very debatable right now.”
Marcus put his own elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Too bad. And just when I am about to bestow on you the answer to Griffin’s problem.”
Griffin jerked his head in Marcus’s direction raising an eyebrow. “I’m afraid to ask,” he said after a moment.
“Then don’t,” Noah interjected.
Genny waved a hand at the both of them. “Hang on. At least he’s thought about this.” She turned to Marcus, “What’s your idea?”
“He was straight.”
“Yeah,” Noah had sighed wistfully. “I know.”
“And too old for you,” Griffin had grouched and cuffed Noah on the back of the head.
And no, it wasn’t that Griffin was a poor little rich boy. All Griffin really wanted was his parents love, his parents to be proud of him now, not of what they envisioned his future to be. It broke Noah’s heart how often Griffin’s parents behavior seemed to break his.
“Come on. Up.” Griffin tapped Noah’s head.
“Where we going?” Noah yawned.
“I’m tucking you in to the bed in the guest bedroom. You can sleep for another hour or so.”
“I have to go to work.”
“I’ll get you up in time to get you there by nine. I’ll even stop at our favorite coffee shop and buy you coffee and breakfast, okay?”
That got Noah’s attention. “The breakfast crepe with extra whipped cream? Oh! Wait! It’s Thursday. They’ll have the Maple Waffle sandwiches! I think I want the strawberry and blueberry one. No! The burnt brown sugar and peanut butter!”
“I’ll get you both. All of it. Whatever you want.” He slapped Noah’s bottom. “Now up!”
“You’re my hero.” Noah rose to his feet drawing the blanket he pulled off the guest room bed around himself tighter. He turned to tug Griffin up with his fingers just peeking out of the folds.
“Of course,” Griffin chuckled. “It’s my only aim in life.”
After work that day Noah took the subway to the restaurant, one of four they rotated on a weekly basis. Noah liked this one best. Tazzio’s offered an extensive pasta menu, the spinach ravioli with gouda cheese was Griffin’s favorite although he would never order it. So Noah always would and was lucky to get a quarter of the dish eaten with Griffin “stealing” bites the moment the plate hit the table. But it was fine. Griffin always tried to share whatever meat dish it was that he would order.
“You’re too skinny. You need some meat.”
Noah wasn’t a big meat fan but Griffin would usually order something with chicken which was okay. Noah drew the line at anything beef or seafood. Or lamb. And Griffin knew it so, like the awesome best friend he was, stayed away from those.
“Actually, I don’t like lamb, either,” Griffin had told him once. “Even the smell of it.”
Genny and Marcus were already at their table, always the same one if they could get it, with a view of the busy sidewalk.
“Hey, you two,” Noah said as he sat.
“Noah!” Genny rose and hugged Noah’s shoulders. “We ordered drinks and apps,” she announced as if she had done something drastically different than any other Thursday. But Noah still sighed relief. It had been a long day and he was exhausted and if he were honest in that moment, would have rather gone back to Griffin’s condo and gone to bed. But a drink, or several, and a meal with his best friends in the world, was a close second.
“Where’s Griffin and that woman he’s dating?” Marcus asked. Marcus had made it incredibly clear he disliked Lauren. “She isn’t good enough for him,” he had once told Noah under his breath.
“Why, Marcus,” Noah had countered, a little jealous. “You want to date him?” Noah did sometimes wonder.
“No, you goof,” he had chuckled. “I love Genny.”
As if that answered the question.
“That woman,” Noah cocked his head at Marcus, “has a name and it’s Lauren and I would imagine they will be along shortly.” At least he hoped they would. Griffin rarely missed their Thursday night dates. But lately, as he got closer to graduation, and especially since his parents had been out of the country for the last several months, Colewater Properties had demanded more and more of Griffin’s time.
Plus, there was that little mishap this morning…
“What’s it been now,” asked Marcus. “Seven months?”
“Almost,” Noah said as he took a swallow of the Cosmo that the waiter put down in front of him.
“Getting serious.”
“Maybe.” Noah’s heart tripped a little.
“Hey guys,” the waiter said as he set the other drinks down. He eyed Noah and winked.
“Hey Ray,” they said in unison. Ray did a little wave.
“You should ask him out, Noah,” Genny said watching as Ray pretty much danced away throwing a smile over his shoulder. “He really likes you.”
“He’s not Noah’s type,” Griffin growled as he took the seat next to Noah.
“Griffin!” Noah gasped. “Crap. You scared me.”
“Yeah, Griffin,” Genny said. “Way to sneak up on us.”
“I didn’t sneak.”
“Where’s your girlfriend?” Marcus asked.
“Not coming.”
“Are you kidding?” Genny chuckled. “She trusts you out all by yourself?”
“We broke up,” came the reply.
“What?” both Genny and Noah shouted.
“Settle down. It was time. Is this mine?” Even though it was a question, he evidently knew the answer as he lifted the indicated mug of beer to his lips and took a long drink.
“Time?” Genny asked. “How was it time? And what’s not Noah’s type” ―She did air quotes ― “about Ray?”
“Everything. And she was starting to get on my nerves. She was noisy and loud, left shit all over the place and besides, she gave me an ultimatum this morning. I had to choose between her and you guys.”
“Us?” Genny exclaimed. “No way! You mean she wanted you to dump us?”
“Well ―more like just Noah.”
“What?” Genny gasped. “Why Noah?”
“Yeah, why me?” Although Noah was pretty sure he already knew.
“She thinks I hang around you too much.” He grinned at Noah, a tiny bit of foam from his beer clinging to his beautiful mouth, and Noah’s heart thumped hard enough to make him whimper. Instantly the grin morphed into concern as Griffin put a hand on Noah’s cheek. “What’s wrong?”
Noah pulled back and shook his head, trying to hold back a smile so big and wide over the turn of events that it was sure to hurt his face should he let it out. “No, nothing. Just… I’m sorry ―you know ― about this morning.” But… he really wasn’t. If indeed this put an end to a relationship that was beginning to look permanent…
Crap, he was awful. A miserable friend.
“This morning?” parroted Genny. “What happened this morning?”
“It wasn’t that,” Griffin scoffed, ignoring Genny’s question. “Like I said, she’s been getting on my nerves. Always complaining about how much time I don’t spend with her. I have school and the Colewater firm and she’s been coming along with me every time I ever hang out with you guys, so I didn’t get the problem. I just don’t fathom women, I guess.”
“Who does?” Marcus chuckled and Genny elbowed him. “Ouch!”
Guilt swept over Noah as he thought about how cute Griffin and Lauren really were together. She looked good on his arm, all petite and gorgeous. She was perfect for him. Even her family was perfect. They were not as rich as the Colewaters but certainly far wealthier than Noah’s family, which was just him and his grandma.
“Sorry, Griffin,” Noah murmured. “I really shouldn’t have come over last night.”
Griffin grabbed Noah’s hand and squeezed it. “Now just stop. If I loved her or wanted to be with her, we would have worked that out, I promise. I can never be with someone who doesn’t love you guys just as much as I do. Understand?”
“But ―”
“No buts. That’s the way it is. She didn’t get that. Which tells me she didn’t love me. Just what I represent. Because if she did, she would see how important all of you are to me.” He glanced at Marcus. “Well, not Marcus. Just you two.” He grinned at Genny’s sour expression.
“And Marcus is important to me, mister,” Genny countered. “So if you loved me ―”
“Yeah, yeah, I would love him too.” He blew a kiss at Marcus who smiled slyly and winked at Noah lifting his chin slightly.
Noah sneered at Marcus and stuck out his tongue. If anyone was going to get an air-kiss from Griffin, even a fake one, it would be Noah, thank you very much. But Griffin was still holding his hand. So…
“What happened this morning?” Genny insisted.
“Nothing,” both Griffin and Noah said at the same time.
“Bull! Tell me.”
Noah sighed. “Fine. I… I ended up on Griffin’s couch and Lauren ―”
“She freaked out,” Griffin finished.
Genny inhaled sharply at the same time Marcus asked ‘Why?’ She elbowed him again. “That’s not important.” She turned to Noah. “What happened, Noah?”
“Sabastian is such an ass,” seethed Noah. “He was at the apartment yesterday. Evidently Jason had the day off. Anyway, he brought his dog with and locked him in my bedroom while he and Jason ― well, retired to Jason’s bedroom. The poor thing was in there for hours I guess, and he peed and pooped on my bed. When I got home and found out I told Sebastian he was going to have to buy me a new mattress. Well, maybe I yelled it. But it stunk in my room. The apartment doesn’t even allow for pets. Jason knows that. Sabastian will get us evicted and I told Sabastian he was a terrible dog owner and he needed to get his dog and leave. Plus, he owed me for a new mattress. But all they both did was laugh at me.”
“Is that why you left?” Genny asked.
“Well ―kind of. I got up in Sabastian’s face and next thing I knew…”
“What?” Genny cried. “What happened?”
“They somehow both picked me up and tossed me out into the hallway. I thought I broke my elbow. Then they deadbolted the door. They evidently put a chair or something under the knob, too, because, even though I was able to unlock it, I couldn’t get back in.”
“Bastards!” exclaimed Griffin.
“Yes! They’re both asses, Noah,” Genny said. “I don’t know why you let that jerk Jason take such advantage of you.”
“Which reminds me,” Griffin said as he dug in his pocket. “I stopped over there before I came here.” He gave Noah a wad of cash. “Now I wish I had waited until after I got the full story. I would have brought a couple of heads, too.”
“What’s this?”
“Your damage deposit and three months of rent.”
Noah stared at Griffin. “Come again.”
“That housemate of yours and his insignificant other decided they owed it to you.”
“They simply gave you this?” Because that wouldn’t happen.
“Well, it took a little convincing but as of today, you’re off the lease.”
Off the lease? “How… how did you accomplish that?”
“I told you I would take care of it. You’re free of that situation.”
“But… that was my home. Where am I going to live?” Okay. Screeching. Not cool.
“With me, of course. Until you can find something else,” Griffin shrugged. “if you want.”
“With you?” Noah laughed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Lauren and I are through, remember?” He leaned in and whispered, “No more hetero sex noises.”
“That’s not the problem.” Although it kind of was. “Your parents are never going to allow it.”
“I am a grown man and can make my own decisions.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I’ve got some movers going to your old place too,” he looked at his Bell and Ross aviation watch, “Should be there about now, to move your furniture out.”
“Griffin! I don’t have any furniture. With the exception of my bookshelf and my bed, which is just the frame and mattress and I no longer want the mattress, all the rest belongs to Jason. It’s the only reason I accepted his offer of being roommates. I had the actual apartment and he had furniture.”
“Well, now he doesn’t.”
“Griffin, You can’t do that. Besides, it’s crap. Sebastian’s very untrained dog has done his business over all of it. I wouldn’t want it even if it was mine. Which it’s not. And Genny, this is not funny!”
“Yes, it is,” she laughed.
“Calm down. I happen to agree with you,” Griffin continued. “I’m having them drop all his shit at the secondhand store.”
“Oh my God, you are kidding me.” Visions of Jason coming home to an empty apartment, calling the cops and Griffin being arrested, flashed through his mind.
“Yes. Yes I am.”
“You can’t do that. I’m ser…” Noah scowled and, with his free hand, punched Griffin on the arm who proceeded to pretend it hurt. “Oh, I absolutely hate you sometimes.”
“You absolutely hate me never.” Griffin grinned widely at Noah, patted his hand and let go.
“Yeah. True,” Noah muttered.
“Besides, I never agreed for you to move in with that guy―”
“Jason.”
“―in the first place. I offered to buy you anything you needed. Furniture, house, condo, motorhome. There was no reason to take on a roommate.”
“Motorhome?”
“If that was what you wanted."
“I never wanted a motorhome.”
“It was still on the table.”
“No, actually, you offered for me to move in with you back then, too, and, if I remember correctly, your mother went ballistic.”
“She didn’t go ballistic. She had an opinion.”
“She threatened to have me kidnapped and shipped to Australia. In a crate.”
“Whatever. I had no problem telling her to mind her own business.”
“You actually did have a problem telling her and you are her business.”
Griffin sighed as he put his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. “Yeah, I know. I… I wish she would just back off for once.”
“Never going to happen.”
Marcus let out a laugh. “You would have to denounce the crown. Abdicate the throne.”
Genny slapped Marcus on the arm. “Knock it off. He has enough stress as it is.”
“His own doing,” Marcus muttered. “He needs to stand up to both of them.”
“Oh no!” Noah gasped. “That brings up another problem.”
Griffin narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Noah. “What’s that?”
“Your mother’s birthday.”
“What about it?”
“It’s tomorrow.”
“No. Not tomorrow. But damn, it is Saturday. And oh shit.”
Genny gulped. “And you broke up with Lauren!”
Marcus smirked. “Been wondering when you would get around to that little detail.”
Genny turned to Marcus. “I said hush!”
Noah cleared his throat. “You’ll… you’ll just have to make up with her.”
“Not an option.”
“Why not?”
“Let’s just say when it ended it ― um ended.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m fucked.”
“How come?” Marcus chimed in. “Just tell your parents.”
“I can’t. Not on my mom’s birthday. It’s also…” Griffin sighed.
“The anniversary of your grandmother’s death,” Noah whispered.
“Oh yes, that’s right.” Genny reached across the table and put a hand on Griffin’s arm. He immediately put his hand on hers. “I am so sorry. I know how painful this whole year has been for you.”
“Thanks,” Griffin murmured. “Nowhere near as difficult as it’s been for mom and dad. I… I just don’t want to add to that, you know?”
“Okay,” Marcus continued. “Pick another girl. You know enough of them. Oh wait. They all hate you.”
Genny turned to Marcus with a scowl on her face. “Tell me again why I like you?”
Marcus grinned. “You don’t. You love me.”
“Really? That is very debatable right now.”
Marcus put his own elbows on the table and leaned forward. “Too bad. And just when I am about to bestow on you the answer to Griffin’s problem.”
Griffin jerked his head in Marcus’s direction raising an eyebrow. “I’m afraid to ask,” he said after a moment.
“Then don’t,” Noah interjected.
Genny waved a hand at the both of them. “Hang on. At least he’s thought about this.” She turned to Marcus, “What’s your idea?”
