The Cupid Crawl: The Williamsville Inn, #2

CHAPTER ONE

S top pulling so hard, you’re going to stretch it out.

I bet you don’t say that to Rex, Carter said as he stepped back.

Will stopped struggling and turned to face him. Or, rather, he turned his body in the direction of Carter’s voice, his face covered by a too-tight sweater that wouldn’t pull down over his head. Carter smirked and shook his head as he looked fondly at his best friend.

Stop smirking like that, Will said.

You can’t even see my face, Carter replied. What makes you think I’m smirking?

Because I know you.

Fair point, Carter said.

Will struggled a little longer, his arms trapped in an awkward raised position that made him look like he was half-heartedly trying to surrender. He finally gave up with a heavy sigh and bent at the waist, extending his arms toward Carter.

Can you pull it off please? I’m getting claustrophobic in here.

Not sure I feel comfortable pulling you off now that you’re a married man—

Pull the sweater off, Will said, the volume of his voice going up and his tone edging close to anxious. You know what I mean.

Oh, of course, Carter said, and stepped forward.

He grabbed the sleeves of the sweater and stripped the garment off Will in one yank, the motion producing a barrage of popping and snapping from static electricity. Carter tossed the sweater onto the bed as Will straightened up and looked at him, his face red and hair standing out all over his head.

Thank you, Will said with a nod.

You’re welcome, Carter said. That sweater is a death trap. And I think you might have sent a power surge through your building.

Will grinned as he smoothed wrinkles from his static-ridden white undershirt and ran a hand through his hair. Maybe it charged my phone battery?

Anything’s possible.

Carter flopped onto bed and lounged across the mattress, toying with the sleeves of the discarded sweater as he watched Will go through the clothes hanging in his closet. Will was by far the best friend Carter ever had. Years ago, a mutual friend had introduced them, and Carter, being the more outgoing, had pretty much forced Will to go out. They’d dated for two weeks, and while the sex was enjoyable for both of them, they’d realized they fit better together as friends. It was a realization Carter was continuously grateful for.

I never have anything to wear to these events, Will grumbled.

Ah, the price of marrying into fame, Carter said with an elaborate sigh.

Will glanced over his shoulder at him. You sound jealous.

Envious, Big Willie. It’s envy you hear. He rolled on his back and stared at the ceiling fan. Last year, you left me here in Boston to scamper off on a business trip to Nowheresville, Montana—

Williamsville, New York, Will corrected automatically without turning away from the closet. And I have never scampered in my entire life. Ever.

Carter continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted. And you lived a storybook gay romance that ended up with you marrying one of the most eligible gay bachelors around.

Will looked over his shoulder. You really think Rex was a most eligible gay bachelor?

Carter fixed him with a raised-eyebrows look. You don’t?

The blush that crept into Will’s face was adorable, and a surge of joy swept through Carter. Joy tempered just a touch with envy. A little more than a year prior, in the weeks before Christmas, Will had gone on a business trip to Williamsville, New York, and stayed in a place called the Williamsville Inn. Across the snow-filled courtyard from Will’s room, up-and-coming, out-and-proud gay singer, Rex Garland, had been trying to write a Christmas song with very little luck. Will overheard Rex’s struggles and left lyric suggestions in a series of secret notes on the patio of Rex’s hotel room. Eventually, the two met face-to-face and dated for a year. On this past New Year’s Eve, Will and Rex were married, and now, five weeks later, Will was traveling with Rex to some event honoring out and visible gay artists from a variety of art forms.

While Carter was happy for his friend, he couldn’t help wondering when his own life might go through a similar change. It wasn’t that he was unhappy. Well, not really. Lonely would be a more appropriate description than unhappy. Deep down he knew he had no one to blame but himself. His excessive use of Grindr had gotten him to this point. The freedom and lack of commitment that accompanied the hookups had been nice, at first. But lately, Carter couldn’t help missing something more substantial that a Grindr date couldn’t provide.

How about this?

Will’s question pulled Carter out of his musing and back to the moment. He assessed the blue Oxford that perfectly matched Will’s eyes and provided a nice compliment to his dark blond beard.

It’s perfect, Carter said with a smile.

Yeah? Will held the shirt up and looked it over before nodding once. Okay. Good. My top half is figured out.

He returned the shirt to the closet. Now I need to find a pair of pants to go with it.

Carter sighed and got up. He took Will’s arm, leading him to the end of the bed and gently sitting him on the edge of the mattress. Returning to the closet, Carter quickly assessed his friend’s clothes, choosing a pair of black wool pants with blue pinstripes he’d forced Will to buy the year before. He hung those alongside the blue Oxford before selecting three more shirts and another two pairs of pants. For a final touch, he pulled a shiny gold bowtie off a hanger and draped it over the shoulder of the blue Oxford.

Stepping back, Carter gestured toward the closet. Ta-da.

Remaining seated, Will gave him a beseeching look. Permission to approach the clothes, your honor?

Carter nodded once. Permission granted.

Will stood and inspected the outfits, running his fingers along each item to feel the material. He smiled at Carter. Thanks, Cartier.

The nickname Will had bestowed early in their relationship never failed to send a flutter of platonic warmth through him. You’re more than welcome, Big Willie. Can’t have you looking like a mess on the red carpet.

Ugh, red carpet. Will shook his head. I can’t believe I have to walk up a red carpet and be photographed.

Oh no, how awful, Carter said with zero sympathy.

Hey, I’m not an extrovert like you. Something like that is way outside of my comfort zone.

It’s good to stretch your boundaries once in a while. Just make sure there’s a safe word involved.

Will chuckled, then turned serious. Do you think I should come up with a safe word to let Rex know I need to escape for a little while and catch my breath?

Carter nodded. That’s a good idea. How about ‘man rammer’?

Will frowned. You’re making fun of me.

Am not.

Are too.

Am not.

Are too! Will exclaimed. This is serious. You know I have self-esteem issues, and as great as Rex has been the past year, I’m kind of freaked out about all of this.

I understand that, but I wasn’t making fun of you, Carter said. A safe word should be something you wouldn’t say in the situation. When you’re on the red carpet and hobnobbing with other musician types, do you think you’ll spout off the phrase ‘man rammer’ at any time?

No, but—

Then that, or something like it, will definitely work. Plus it might give you both a moment of brevity during a stressful time.

Will looked at him in silence a moment, slowly stroking his full beard. Your explanation makes sense, but the phrase seems a bit much.

Carter held his arms out to either side and smiled. That should not surprise you.

Will cocked an eyebrow. It doesn’t. He suddenly strode across the room and gathered Carter into a tight hug. Thank you. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this past year without you.

Carter hugged Will tight and closed his eyes, savoring the closeness. He didn’t want for physical contact—he got plenty of that through Grindr—but this was leaps and bounds different from that kind of contact. This was more personal than the hottest, sweatiest sex Carter had experienced. Will’s simple hug was more intimate than any of those sexcapades, and it satisfied some quiet need inside him, even while it awakened another, deeper craving.

I’m sure you would have muddled through somehow, Carter muttered.

Not even a little bit, Will said and stepped back.

Carter’s arms felt empty and his body slightly chilled at the loss of contact. What the heck was going on with him? He wasn’t crushing on his best friend, he knew that much about himself. But something had definitely shifted in his life lately.

Will made a face. I hate that I’m not going to be here for Valentine’s Day.

Carter pushed his contemplations aside and frowned. Why? You’ve got a husband now, your place is with him.

But we always spent it together, Will said. It was like the two of us against the rest of the married or committed world.

Oh, Big Willie, don’t you worry about me. Carter gave him a smile he hoped looked genuine. I’ve got big plans for Valentine’s Day.

Will regarded him closely. You do?

I do. So you don’t give me a second thought while you’re down in Nashville with that man you swept off his feet out in Boise.

Will grinned. We met in Williamsville, New York. You know that.

Oh? Carter smirked and shrugged. Anyway. Have no fear, I have an afternoon and evening of debauchery planned that will put the hottest porns to shame.

Oh? And who will you be porning things up with? Will asked. Anyone I know?

Oh sweetie, I don’t think your phone could handle the Grindr app, Carter said. I’m afraid it might explode.

Very funny, Will said. I mean, are these just random hook ups from Grindr, or someone you’ve been out with before?

It’s going to be a chocolate box of sex I’m gifting to myself, Carter said. Some of the sweets I’m familiar with, and others will be like biting into an unknown treat.

Be careful, Will said.

Always, and in all ways, Carter said. Don’t you worry one little iota about me, Big Willie. Since Valentine’s Day is this Friday, I’m taking the day off, and will have two days over the weekend to recover.

Well, I’m going to check in on you from time to time, Will said, just to make sure you’re okay.

Okay, but if I’m in the middle of a three-way, do you want me to answer your FaceTime call?

Uh, no. Thank you. Will shook his head, but with a smile. I’m going to miss you.

Me, too, Carter said. Now, get yourself packed up and safe travels, my beary best friend. Don’t spare a thought for me. I’m going to be busier than a beaver in a lumber mill.

CHAPTER TWO

Carter read through the final paragraph of his document one last time and, with a satisfied nod, saved it to the corporate share drive. He read over his list of tasks, and crossed off the last item. Despite what had seemed like an insurmountable number of things to do before his Friday off, he’d actually managed to get everything completed.

Employee of the month, watch your back, Carter said to himself. I’m coming to steal your crown.

You know we don’t have employee of the month here, right?

Carter started and gently glared at Alicia Bakshi, who worked at the neighboring desk. What are you still doing here?

I had a few things to finish up as well, Alicia said. You were so involved in that gothic novel you’ve been working on, you didn’t even notice me here.

It’s not a gothic novel, Carter said with a sniff. It might lean a bit toward the horror genre, but it’s definitely not gothic. Anyway, I would have thought you’d be out of here right at five to get the kids.

My husband’s picking them up and taking them to a movie tonight, Alicia said. That’s his Valentine’s Day gift to me. I get an evening on my own.

And you’re spending that time here at the office? Carter shook his head. You’re crazy.

She chuckled. That is very possible. I think I’ve managed three consecutive hours of sleep each night the past two weeks.

I take it that sleep wasn’t interrupted for fun times with Santosh?

Far and away from fun times with my husband, Alicia said with a tired sigh. If it’s not one kid up puking, then another has a nightmare or a project due, or I have work I need to get done. It’s been a tough couple of weeks.

Carter made a face. Sorry to hear that. But you should really get the hell out of here and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Yeah, I’m about ready to leave. Since I had the time today, I wanted to finish up a few things. Did I hear you say earlier you’re taking tomorrow off?

I am. I’m giving myself a three-day weekend of Valentine’s fun.

Ah, Valentine’s Day, Alicia said with a sigh. It used to be so much fun.

You’re getting an evening to yourself tonight, Carter said. That’s going to be nice, isn’t it?

Yeah, it’s nice, Alicia said. But it’s not like back when I was single. A bunch of girlfriends and I would all get together and go out to the bars. Oh my God, we had so much fun. Met a lot of handsome guys, went on some follow up dates. It was a good time. I miss those girls.

Hitting the bar with friends is the best, Carter said, and felt a pang of loneliness at the thought of Will out of town for this Valentine’s Day.

What are your plans? Alicia asked.

Carter assessed her, taking in the bruised and puffy skin beneath her tired, hooded eyes and the dreamy expression coupled with a mischievous grin. He couldn’t tell her he was going to wallow in hedonist entertainment, so he came up with something.

I’m going to hit a few bars and see where my luck takes me.

With a group of friends?

Carter managed a smile as he nodded and thought again about Will being so far away. Yeah, a little group of us will be going out.

That sounds so fun. Alicia sighed, then sat bolt upright and widened her eyes. Oh my God! You should do the Cupid Crawl!

I’m sorry, the what now?

The Cupid Crawl! Alicia sat at her desk and started clicking her mouse and typing on her keyboard. I’m still on the mailing list, and they just sent out an updated list of bars. It’s a bar crawl that hits a bunch of bars on Valentine’s Day. My friends and I did it a couple of times, and Santosh and I even went on it when we first started dating.

You know, as fun as bar hopping with a bunch of drunk straight people sounds, it’s not really what I had in mind.

No, no, it’s not just straight bars, Alicia said, still focused on her computer. That’s the best part. It’s a mix of gay and straight. It’s really a lot of fun. And no one ever gets out of control. I can’t remember the name of the guy who organizes it, but it’s a fun event. Here it is. I’m sending it to your work email.

Carter’s laptop pinged with a new message alert, but he couldn’t look away when Alicia turned her attention back