Gay Since Today

 

 

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And an quick excerpt:

 

“He’s gay.”

“Not funny,” Tyler Harris muttered, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on his computer screen.

His friend didn’t take the slightest notice of his attempts to ignore him. “I’m not being funny. He’s gay,” Ryan repeated.

Tyler held back a sigh. Okay, so he could admit it. He had a crush on the guy. And yes, he could put up with his friend’s teasing—especially since he was well aware that he was making a complete fool of himself over a man who didn’t know he was alive. But still, if they wanted to wind him up, they could at least put a bit of effort into it.

Tyler pushed his chair away from his desk and spun around to face his friend. “Gay? James Ford. Is he, really? Since when?”

“Since today! He is officially gay since today. Now will you please stop being a stubborn pillock and get down to the damn bar before someone else snatches up the guy you’ve been obsessing over for months!”

Tyler rolled his eyes and abandoned the idea of getting any tiny bit of work done until he gave in and fell for whatever trick they wanted to play on him before the rush of stupidity that would surround April Fool’s Day tomorrow. Grabbing his coat and his keys, he headed for the door. Ryan remained hot on his heels, still babbling away even though they both knew he wasn’t listening to a word of it.

It wasn’t entirely a coincidence that Tyler had chosen to take up residence in the student halls directly opposite the most popular gay bar at the university. It was a decision that had proved very convenient on numerous occasions—like that night. Within minutes, Tyler was striding through the door, ready to give his friends a very large piece of his mind regarding the appropriate use of practical jokes when a guy had an essay due in the next day.

James Ford stood on the other side of the room.

Tyler’s feet stopped moving him forward. All he could do was stare.

Black hair falling in careless little waves over the collar of a well worn leather jacket? Check. Eyes so dark it was hard to believe they weren’t pure black too? Check. Bone structure that would have made Michelangelo weep for joy? Check. Body that would make any gay man in his right mind do a lot of other things with considerable joy? Check.

James Ford, right there in a gay bar, in all his tall, dark and dominant glory? Check.

“Told you so,” Ryan sing-songed behind him.

Tyler’s every fantasy come true? Check!

“You might want to close your mouth. Not that the fish impersonation isn’t cute, but you know what they say about never having a second chance to make a first impression,” his friend added.

Tyler turned his back on his fantasy, and stared at Ryan. After a few seconds he took his friend’s advice and closed his mouth.

“Did he see me make an idiot of myself?”

Ryan glanced past him and shook his head.

Tyler risked a glance over his shoulder and took a deep breath. “Why isn’t anyone talking to him?”

Ryan shrugged. “It’s singles’ night at The Prince’s Crown. The only guys who are here instead of there, are here with their boyfriends. Oh, and there’s this guy who’s been going on and on about what a fantastic leather dominant James Ford would make—I’m pretty sure damn near everyone thinks he’s going to turn into the next Marquis de Sade if they say the wrong thing to him.”

Tyler nodded, still trying to wrap his head around the fact the guy was there, let alone anything else.

“Don’t worry, you can thank me for running all the way up to your room and practically dragging you back here so you could take a shot at him before anyone else gets here later.”

Tyler nodded again.

“Now you’re doing an impression of one of the little nodding dogs people put in the back of their cars. It’s not much of an improvement on the fish act.”