Lance Hardy.
One of my closest friends from college… Who I haven’t seen or spoken to in a very long time, for averygood reason.
Shaking myself out of it, I croak, “What are you doing here?”
His deer-in-the-headlights look somehow turns even more terrified. He covers his face with his hands. “I… I’m not sure, honestly.”
Naturally, the first thing I notice is the ring on his finger.
There are so many questions,so manythoughts suddenly rushing up to the forefront of my mind. Things I’ve been forcing away and stuffing down for years are suddenly flooding my brain and it’s almost too much.
I scoff and shake my head. “I can’t believe that was you…”
“Me neither.” He rubs his eyes.
Just seeing how visibly distraught he is brings up way too many old wounds; so many memories and feelings, I just can’t deal with it.
I need to leave.
“Well… great reunion, Hardy, but I should be going.” I push past him to stalk out of the restroom.
He rushes after me, grabbing my arm.Very different from the last time I saw him.
“Wait… hang on, T. Let’s just… talk for a second.”
Whipping around, I glare at him. “Blast from the past, huh?”
He gawks at me, eyes wide and filled with shame.That’sa look I remember well.
Fuck all of this.
I fold my arms over my chest. “So I see you’re still married,” I hiss accusingly.
He says nothing, simply looks around, as if anyone here is going to care what we’re talking about. It’s like we’re back in the dorms, sixteen years ago. Not standing in a gay club during Pride.
I mean, seriously. What the fuck is happening right now?!
“What the hell are youdoinghere, Lance?” I ask again, aggressively, through gritted teeth.
This is all so fucked up. I swore up and down that when he walked—or ratherran—out of my life all those years ago, it would be the last time I’d ever see him. And now here he is, standing,fluttering, in front of me… Still as huge and beautiful as he always was. Giving me that straight guy act… Only this time, it makes no fucking sense, and is enraging me much more than when we were in college.
Lance’s eyes fall to our feet between us. “I… I don’t know.”
I roll my eyes. “Okay, well, now it’s my turn to leave you standing around like an idiot.”
I spin away from him again, pausing at the sound of his voice. “Tate… don’t go.”
Closing my eyes, I push down the hostility. The anger and the vulnerability I’ve been fighting so hard to overcome since the last time I saw him… I swallow it down and take a breath, forcing a casual, unaffected twist of my lips as I peek at him over my shoulder.
“Good to see you, Hardy. I hope you eventually figure out what you’re doing here.”
And I leave him standing there, mouth agape, as I rush out of the club.
I leave him in the past, where he belongs, and go to find another bar. One with less… emotional damage.
Chapter Two
Lance
