-Eric-

"Look, I wouldn't be calling if it wasn't important..." I explained nervously.

I had the sudden urge to hang up, though the damage was irrevocable by this point. The fact that I'd even called was already lame beyond belief, yet the chances of my phone battery lasting through another phone call were... slim at best.

So, this was my only bet.

There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by a delighted laughter. "Yeah, what's up?" Jacqueline asked, as if it wasn't absolutely inappropriate for me to be calling her at two in the morning. Or at all, really, outside of work hours.

"I—I," I started, huffing under my breath as words momentarily failed me, flustered by how shameless I was being. Though, it wasn't as if I had any other options left, right? "I need a favor."

"A favor?"

"N-nothing weird," I interjected before she could jump to any incriminating conclusions, resisting the urge to fling the phone across the street in a feeble attempt to escape the embarrassment. I could do that after.

"I'm listening," she replied, no hesitation present in her voice.

-Shawn-

I frowned over at Jacqueline, trying to make sense of why she seemed so damn pleased with herself. Especially when I still hadn't agreed to anything.

"Why should I?" I retorted at her sudden, unreasonable request to pick up her friend from a bar. "Can't you go get 'em?"

"Me?" she questioned rhetorically while lifting her half-empty glass. "I don't drink and drive, Shawn... unlike some of us."

Not this shit again.

"It was once," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes. Of course she'd hold it over my head. "Besides, nobody gave you permission to raid my bar."

She shrugged rather dismissively. "You have too many expensive bottles that you don't deserve. Now, are you going already? I said you were on the way."

Oh boy.

I scrunched up my nose in displeasure at the idea of picking up some stranger who was seemingly wasted enough that they couldn't find their own way home. What if they threw up in my car?

My phone was already out, fingers grazing over the coordinates she'd sent me just seconds prior. I looked it up, noticing it wasn't all that far. "Can't they walk?"

She rolled her eyes. "Can't you pretend to be a decent human being for once?"

I grumbled. "I can just send an uber over to pick them up," I pointed out, unamused by her insistence. What difference did it make? "Or a taxi, if you prefer?"

Jacqueline scoffed, as if I was threatening to run their friend over with my car. "I want you to take a few moments to think about the optics of what you're suggesting."

"Huh?"

"One."

"Jacq—"

"Two."

I rolled my eyes, releasing a tired sigh. Yeah, fine. Perhaps the safest option was for me to head over there and pick their friend up myself, but that didn't make me any less resistant. "Who even is it, huh? Laura? Is she still a mess?" I questioned while eyeing the keys on the counter, trying to think of some way to weasel my way out of this.

"Laura's been through a lot due to the divorce!"

"It was an annulment," I corrected.

She peered over at me, suddenly ominously composed. "I'll ban bagels in the office."

... what?

My eyes widened, the perplexion likely painfully apparent on my face. "You don't have the power to do that," I blurted out, searching her expression for any sign that she may be bluffing. If anything, I was the only one who might be able to impose such a harsh, unreasonable sanction.

Not that I ever would.

"Are you willing to take that risk?"

"You're full of it," I retorted, pointing at her accusingly. "How would you even enforce that?"

Jacqueline cleared her throat, setting the glass down on the table. "I'll order Paul to stop picking up your daily order. I'll—"

"I'll fire him!"

She gasped before narrowing her eyes in defiance. "I'll bribe the next secretary."

"I—"

"I'll intercept every delivery driver. I'll buy out all the nearby shops of bagels every single morning like clockwork, just so you can't get them on your way to work. You'll have to drive two hours through heavy traffic at six am just to secure your daily, breakfast bagels. And sure, you might, for a week or two, but we both know that you're a lazy, lazy man at heart. I'll make it so miserable for you that you'll start to resent bagels. In a few weeks, you won't even recall liking the taste of them."

I stared in sheer disbelief, gasping under my breath. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Go pick up my bestie, Shawn."

---

I tightened my hands on the wheel, bitterly muttering under my breath at the mere memory of her triumphant grin. That rat. I hadn't even bothered with a response, aware that the more time I wasted, the longer before I could peacefully head off to sleep.

With half-lidded eyes, I followed the GPS' instructions, frowning when it didn't take us downtown. Most of the popular bars were on the strip by the beach, so where the hell was this goddamn friend at?

So, I knew it wasn't Laura.

Though, she hadn't said much beyond that.

I peered down at my outfit, somewhat regretting my decision not to change before heading out. In the heat of the moment, I hadn't considered much beyond storming out with my keys and wallet in hand, yelling at her to shut up already.

I was out of my work clothes at the very least, donning some joggers and a faded hoodie with half the letters of my alma mater's acronym still hanging on by a thread. Though, really, they were lucky I was even showing up at nearly three in the morning.

-Eric-

I had sent my location to Jacqueline just as my battery died, effectively ending the call.

And so, all I could really do was impatiently stare at my faint, disillusioned reflection on the phone screen, grumbling in annoyance before shoving the phone back into my pocket. I settled for sitting down at the curb and waiting it out, the ground swirling dangerously beneath me even as I walked over.

I let out a weary sigh once sprawled down against the concrete, watching the occasional car drive by, faintly distracted by the liveliness of the bar behind me. It was a bit troubling how little I could relate to the joyfulness of their laughter and chatter now... when I'd eagerly partaken in it less than an hour ago.

Now, I just wanted to go home.

"Did I send the text to the right person?" I whispered under my breath, hoping for my own sake that I had.

Hell. It was at times like this that it really hit me how I didn't know anyone's phone number by heart. Sure, I knew some of Mason's social media usernames, but that wouldn't change the fact that he was stoned out of his mind. Or that he never fucking checked his notifications anyways.

One time I'd tagged him on a birthday post and he hadn't replied to it for two months.

And so—

"Hey, pretty boy," a bright voice suddenly called out from somewhere behind me.

I frowned while turning back, expecting one of Wyatt's friends to have noticed me huddled on the ground like a loser. Instead, I came face to face with a prominent crotch that was only somewhat contained by a tight pair of ripped jeans.

I lifted my gaze to meet a semi-nude man who, in all honesty, was flexing quite intensely, proudly displaying his muscular physique. The mesh shirt was doing little to hide anything, though at least it was a pretty share of light blue.

"Hello?" I asked awkwardly, leaning my face away.

"Why are you just sitting there?" the attractive man scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief while signaling for me to get up. "How do you expect to score like that?"

I blanked.

"Seriously, you have to show a little skin or nobody will stop for you," he encouraged, forcibly pulling me up to my feet before I could protest, frowning down at me in disapproval when I stumbled, having to lean against his arm to stay upright. "And wear something a bit more flattering next time. You're drowning in those jeans. I guess that naïve, straight boy routine works sometimes, but only if they're into that. Otherwise, you just come across as inexperienced."

He thought I was a—oh.

"Oh. Uhm, n-no. I don't, y'know," I stammered, pointing at him and then back at myself, completely at a loss for words. "I'm really not..."

He snorted. "You're not getting any customers? Yeah, yeah. A blind man could've seen that. Look at you, huddled on the curb like a stray puppy waiting to get adopted."

"Wait! Seriously, I haven't—"

The man rolled his eyes, patting my shoulders. "I can see it in your eyes. You're quite new to this, aren't you?"

I sighed, shrugging helplessly. "I—I suppose."

"Dawn," he introduced himself while patting my shoulders. "And you?"

"Eric."

"Have you only been working as a callboy until now? Or were you working with Frankie? He tends to take care of all the pretty boys around here," he explained while stroking my hair, peering down at me. "So?"

"Frankie?"

He nodded, glaring at a few passersby before pulling me closer, manhandling me while looking my face over, searching for something. "You look scared out of your damn mind, baby boy. Are you sure you're up for it tonight?"

I sighed, too tired to keep trying to convince him that I wasn't here, on this curb, trying to sell my body. "Is it that obvious?"

He shrugged. "A bit. I bet one of those pent-up professors that teach at the uni a few blocks away would have a field day with you, though."

My eyes widened. Huh?

"Why are you so over-dressed though?" the man scolded while tugging on my shirt, forcing it up and over my head before I could complain. "There we go. Wow. Nice pecs, kid."

"T-thanks," I grumbled as he patted my chest, blushing furiously while clutching onto my shirt, raising it up in a feeble attempt to cover myself up a little. "Can I put it back on, now?"

Surprisingly, it wasn't quite as cold as I'd imagined. Perhaps it was the adrenaline pumping through my veins, though, my brain still trying to process the fact that this was actually happening. "I—I really just want to go home."

Dawn sighed. "Don't we all?"

As much as I wanted to bolt, I had told Jacqueline that I'd stay put in this corner. How the hell could I expect her to pick me up otherwise?

So, against my better judgment, I stuck around.

"Do the women around here pay well at least?" I asked once they were done ogling me, awkwardly trying to make conversation while we waited. I couldn't have imagined that he got any traction in such a desolate street, though I had seen a few cars driving by despite it being so late.

Dawn burst out laughing.

"Not around here. Men are where it's at. They're needier, but they tend to pay much more too to keep it DL," he explained, frowning at me like it was obvious. "Besides, what would you do with most female customers? I doubt they just carry a strap around for you."

He said this while leaning over to frown at my ass, nodding in silent approval as he reached over to squeeze it.

"H-hey!" I yelped while smacking his hand away, a flustered, speechless mess. I stepped back while crossing my arms across my chest, avoiding his gaze. "I—I've had a girlfriend before. A f-few, actually!"

It was the goddamn truth. So, why the hell was my voice shaking as I said it, then?

Dawn snorted. "Alright, kid."

I groaned in annoyance. "Are you always this bold?"

He shrugged, gazing out towards the empty street before peering back. "Not always. Must be cause it's an uneventful night."

Well, that made sense, at least.

"I'm staying in one of the motel rooms around the corner," he pointed out, peering down at me before gazing up, quirking a half-smile. "We could call it a night. I'm sure there's a lot I could teach you."

"Listen, Dawn. I—"

I honestly didn't know how I was going to turn him down. Though, it didn't seem to matter, as our conversation was suddenly cut short due to the sound of a car pulling up behind me. I felt my body relax as relief flooded through me, eternally thankful that Jacqueline had actually showed up. And right on cue.

"I—I should go, Dawn. That's my... ride," I explained while turning towards the vehicle, the words fading into dead silence as I suddenly met Shawn's gaze. I stumbled back in a drunken stupor, my eyes widening as I noticed a disgruntled Shawn glaring up at me through the open car door window, the car revving impatiently.

"Nah. I'll be taking this one, honey," Dawn whispered before taking a step forward, confidently leaning against the window sill and smiling down at Shawn. "You looking for a good time, handsome?"

Shawn's eyes darted between us quite judgmentally, his mouth opening and closing a few times before he managed an answer. "Excuse me?"

I just sighed under my breath while tugging Dawn back. "That's... so not happening. I—I should really go," I hissed at him while forcing my way into the passenger seat, refusing to meet Shawn's gaze as I slammed the door shut and buckled in the seatbelt.

Though, of course, Shawn just scowled at me instead of driving away, clearly waiting for some kind of explanation. "What's going on?"

But of course, Dawn was back at the window sill before I could answer, reaching in and patting my chest like he was proud of me or something. "Damn, pretty boy. You're a lot more proactive than I thought."

"N-no... it's not that!"

"Hey, don't worry! I'll let you take this one," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss against my cheek before stepping away from the car, abandoning me before I could explain that this was all some huge misunderstanding.

Shawn, per usual, just glared expectantly, his eyebrows furrowing in bewilderment. "Are you a—?"

"No!" I yelled back while hastily reaching back for my shirt, struggling to unbuckle my seatbelt so I could throw it on.

"Are you sure?" Shawn questioned while smacking my shaky hand away, unbuckling the seat belt for me whilst quirking an eyebrow. "Your friend seems to think so."

I muttered out a quiet thank you while shoving the seatbelt out of the way, refusing to meet his gaze while awkwardly slipping the shirt back on. Tonight was simply not going my way.

"He saw me sitting at the curb and got the wrong idea, alright?"

There was an unsettling silence as I buckled myself back in.

I refused to turn towards Shawn, aware that he was likely relishing in my discomfort. I tried to ignore the expected chuckling as he pieced it all together, pouting to myself. Yeah, laugh it up, jerk.

"Why did you come anyways?" I snapped without much thought, which was rather hypocritical considering I was the one stranded. A part of me still couldn't believe that Jacqueline had left me out for the wolves just like that. Why would she send Shawn of all people?

"Should I leave you here with your friend, then?" Shawn retorted just as pettily.

I sighed, slowly shaking my head. "No. Sorry."

I leaned back against the seat as he drove off, tightly shutting my eyes, unsure of how to face him after tonight. "I—I don't usually," I tried, grumbling under my breath when he snorted in amusement.

"Why did you call Jacqueline?" Shawn suddenly asked, thankfully ignoring my pathetic attempt at excusing why I was even plastered outside a random bar.

I shrugged. "My phone was about to die. I couldn't think of anyone else that wouldn't be just as wasted or busy."

Shawn sighed. "She is just as wasted."

"Oh."

"Luckily for you," Shawn continued, shooting me a judgmental look. "She was at my house when you happened to call, boy."

I groaned in frustration, throwing my head back. Of course he wasn't going to let me live this down.

"Cute," I murmured. "Real cute."

Shawn waved it off. "I believe he called me handsome, actually."

I debated opening the car door and flinging myself out into oncoming traffic, only stopping myself because it would most definitely hurt. "I wouldn't believe anything he says," I muttered, still somewhat frustrated that I hadn't been able to clear things up. "He thought...ugh."

"Thought what?"

I huffed. "Nothing."

Shawn quirked an eyebrow. "I'll stop this car."

"HeimpliedthatIwasabottom,", I murmured under my breath, narrowing my eyes when he burst out laughing.

"What was that?" he asked while trying to suppress a smirk.

"You heard me!" I complained.

Shawn just chuckled, slowly shaking his head before focusing back on the road, glancing out towards the dimly lit road. And for a moment, I thought that maybe, just maybe, he was going to let it go.

"Well, are you?" he asked.

---

A/N: Thank you very much for reading.