Free Eastshore Tigers 01 - Strong Side by Alison Hendricks Page B

"Yeah, so?"
    Griff arches a brow. "Not exactly your scene."
    Now I have to dig myself out of this hole I've created. I could go back on my offer, act like I was just joking. But there's still a part of me that won't budge on it.
    "You're my friend," I say as casually as I can manage. "I can still be your wingman even if I’m straight, right?"
    "Yeah, sure. I guess."
    I have to keep digging. "Plus, you don't know this guy. He could be a serial killer or something."
    That actually makes him laugh. An honest guffaw that I can tell catches him off guard. Finally, I'm off the hook.
    "A serial killer? Really?"
    "It could happen."
    We spend the rest of the night arguing about the logistics of a serial killer who preys on random hookups at a gay bar before finally getting back to psychology. I've managed to dodge a bullet here, but I can't help thinking that I've just gotten myself into an even bigger mess.

CHAPTER TWELVE
    - Derek -
     
    It feels really weird bringing my straight friend to a gay bar.
    Not that there aren’t other straight people here acting as wingmen or just enjoying some time out with friends. Despite the glittery façade, Dazzle is a pretty low judgment zone, so a lot of people who don't like regular bars come here because it feels less threatening.
    It's pretty easy to spot the gay guys who brought along a straight friend, but I don't see any of them standing too close, or giving lustful looks, so I can’t imagine there's anyone else caught up in the same predicament as I am with Hawk.
    I should be thinking about the guy I'm here to meet. He actually texted me a picture of his face, and he’s pretty good-looking. Not a 10, but neither am I. And he's got a nice body, so that's really all that matters for some random hookup. At least, that's what I'm tell myself.
    I almost decided to make up some sudden illness, but Hawk had a bug up his ass to get us here on time. I don't know what's up with him. Ever since I texted this guy, he's been distant and short with me.
    He's not making any sense, and the fact that he's so uptight about this is stressing me out. It doesn't help that he walks into the place stiff as a board, afraid to leave my side or even look around.
    "Nobody's going to come over here and molest you just for looking, man. Trust me, you give off the straight vibe loud and clear."
    Fuck, now I'm getting snippy. This night’s definitely not going to end well.
    "It's not that," he says in a gruff voice. "I just don't like crowds."
    It's a shitty lie. We’re packed together like sardines in the locker room, and the halls of Eastshore College aren't much better. But maybe he just doesn't like the bar scene. There's a special kind of claustrophobia that takes place when you're surrounded by drunk people and loud music.
    I'm not going to bug him about it. Truth is, I’m thankful for his company. I always feel like a perv doing this alone, and even if it's super weird having Hawk here, at least I have a backup plan if everything goes to shit.
    Then again, what if everything goes well? What if this guy asks me back to his place or even just to his car for a quick fuck? Am I really going to be able to walk back to the dorms with Hawk like nothing happened?
    "Show me the picture again?"
    I fish out my phone and open picture of the guy am supposed to meet, flashing it to Hawk. Because this isn’t a weird at all.
    "I think that's him over there," he says, nodding toward the bar.
    Hawk’s right. It’s a dead ringer for the guy sitting at the bar, sipping on a martini.
    "Last chance to bail," I say, glancing up at my friend.
    "I'm good."
    I just shrug and start toward the bar, trying to derail my natural instinct to turn right back around and leave. I must be one hell of an introvert, because we've only been here a couple of minutes and already I'm already over this place.
    Either that or my treacherous mind is trying to tell me not to waste my time.
    I sidle up to him and drop into a bar stool. Hawk stands