Page 5 of Gargoyle Sentinel
He squeezed the stone, pressing his lips together as determination surged through him.
“Then I’ll see that he’s rescued, kept safe.Nothingwill get in my way.”
Chapter Two
Danny rubbed the back of his neck, exhausted from a long day of teaching clumsy newbies how to stand on skis. He plopped down on the small sofa in his apartment, yanking off his boots. Normally, he would’ve changed in the locker room where he worked, but his desire to escape his hideous day had overridden any other considerations.
Actual skiing was impossible with this crowd. The group of awkward, activity-fearing office workers was at the lodge as part of a team-building exercise. Only their supervisor had skiing experience, and he lorded it over them as if he‘d just returned from accepting gold at the Olympics.
Seniority shmeniority.
Not only was he treated like something management had scraped off the bottom of their shoes, but he was the newest hire. In other words, he got stuck with all the dorks and vertically challenged tourists who could barely stand upwithoutwearing skis, let alone with them on. They wouldn’t even assign him to teach the kids. At least that would be fun. He loved kids.
Too bad my parents don’t.
That probably wasn’t fair.They liked kids who met their expectations.His perfect, fashion-influencer sister had once been a kid, and she could do no wrong. Spoiled. Bratty. Mean. But had definitely once been child-sized.
Danny continued to peel off layers of clothing as he moved around his studio apartment, the pre-furnished abode part of his contract for the season. Employee housing at its most vanilla. The place had no personality whatsoever. Beige walls, beige carpet, beige furniture. Every time he stumbled in after work,it was like entering a sensory deprivation chamber—except his senses were deprived of anything remotely interesting.
“Beige, beige, beige,” he muttered, hanging his ski jacket on the wall hook by the front door. “Heaven forbid we have a splash of color to remind us we’re alive.”
He padded to the kitchenette in his socks and boxers, grabbing a beer from the fridge. The cold bottle felt good against his palm as he twisted off the cap and took a long swig. He leaned against the counter, staring out the window at the twinkling lights of Aspen. So beautiful, so boujee, so not where he’d imagined himself living at twenty-three.
New York would’ve been more his vibe, but his parents were within driving distance. He shuddered. Too bad Greenwich, Connecticut, wasn’t a million miles away. He took another slug of his beer.
If only.
His phone buzzed on the counter. Danny glanced at it, grimacing when he saw his mother's name on the screen.
Speak of one of the devils.
With a groaning sigh, Danny picked up the phone. His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment before he swiped to decline. Not tonight. He couldn't handle another lecture about his ‘lifestyle choices’ or subtle hints about the ‘nice girls’ from their country club.
“Sorry, Mother Dearest. Danny can’t come to the phone right now. He’s busy being a disappointment.” He raised his beer in a mock toast.
The phone immediately buzzed again. He rolled his eyes and set it face down on the counter. Whatever family crisis had erupted could wait until tomorrow. Or never. Never sounded sublime.
The beer bottle was empty before he realized it. Danny tossed it into the recycling bin with a clang and stretched hisarms above his head, feeling the pleasant burn in his lean muscles. Despite the annoying clients, at least skiing kept him in shape. However, he needed to get out of his beige prison before the walls closed in on him.
“Time to wash away childhood triggers.” He headed toward the bathroom.
The shower was hot, steamy, and precisely what he needed. He stood under the spray longer than necessary, letting the water pound against his shoulders. It was relaxing, yet something felt off tonight.
A weird tingling sensation had been crawling up his spine all day, like he was being watched. He’d attributed it to the pervy supervisor who kept staring at his ass during the lessons, but now, alone in his apartment, the feeling persisted. Maybe he was finally coming unraveled.
The opportunity to escape his family when his primary college hookup told him about the ski instructor job had seemed like a good idea at the time. An impulsive move, but had achieved his goal of distance and self-sufficiency. He didn’t want their money to continue having a hold on him, didn’t give two shits about being a business major and figured he’d meet a lot of hot guys in the luxury resort town.
On the one hand, he’d been correct. On the other hand, he hadn’t planned on how lonely and empty he’d feel after a year of isolated existence. He didn’t miss his family. He just missed having real friends. Any positive relationships he’d formed over the years were gone once they’d all become adults and chosen different life paths.
After drying off, Danny pulled on a pair of tight as fuck jeans and a blue sweater that his sister had once said made his eyes pop. Not that he gave a shit what she thought, but the compliment had been rare enough to stick with him.
A quick ruffle of his shoulder-length blond hair and a spritz of cologne later, he was out the door, headed for the Silver Fox. The trendy club was Aspen's most popular gay bar, nestled between high-end boutiques and art galleries that he could no longer afford to browse, let alone shop in.
He rubbed his palms together after shrugging on his down jacket. “Time for some overpriced drinks and a meaningless hookup.”
As he made his way through the snow, the club being only a few blocks from his building, the night air bit at his cheeks, and he pulled his jacket tighter. The streets of Aspen were still bustling with the après-ski crowd, all designer clothing and perfect hair. He weaved through the jovial groups of people, feeling both part of and separate from the privileged world he’d once inhabited.
The Silver Fox’s neon sign cast a purple glow across the snow-covered sidewalk as he approached. The thump of bass grew louder with each step, promising the oblivion he craved. He nodded to the bouncer, a burly guy named Rex who’d turned him down twice yet still remembered his name, and slipped inside.
