Choices - 8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Saturday found Liam laid out on his living room floor trying to finish the home exercises Corey had assigned. He was relieved to find the workout got a little easier each time he did it, and knew from experience this meant his therapist would soon be increasing the intensity.

Just as he decided to take a break, there was a knock at his door. “One minute,” he called out, rolling over and onto his feet. Opening the door, he grinned widely, seeing Bryce standing in the hall with a cat carrier at his feet. “Bryce, you made it. Come on in.” After giving the smaller man a hug, he reached for the carrier and set it down beside the couch.

“Tux, sweetie. Did you miss me?” Hearing a meow in response, he opened the small door and the black and white head of his baby peeked out. The cat looked up at him for a moment before turning his back and stalking into the kitchen.

“Your cat is an ass,” Bryce said with a laugh.

“Nah,” Liam replied with a grin. “He’s just mad I sent him away. He’ll be back for love within the hour. How was the drive?”

“Tiring,” Bryce responded, flopping onto the couch. “I’m looking forward to tonight, though.”

Liam chuckled. “I’m sure you are.”

“It’s too bad you don’t have any good clubs around here.”

“I know it’s not Toronto or Montreal, but I like it. It’s not like I go out all that often anyway.”

“That’s part of your problem.” Bryce shook his head. “You need to get out there. Get over that ass. If he doesn’t want to be out with you, there are a lot of other guys who would.”

“Yea, like I’m such a hot commodity.”

“Babe, you know you’re hot. You have that cute athletic vibe going for you. And what about the paramedic, Mark? He sounded interested.”

“Nathan. His name is Nathan, and it’s not like that between us. I wouldn’t want to lead him on.”

“Don’t be such a prude. It’s just sex. You know he wants to fuck you, so let him. It doesn’t have to be complicated.”

“Bry….”

“Fine.” His friend threw his hands in the air and sighed. “I’ll drop it, but you need to find someone. You can’t pine after Alek forever.”

As if Nathan knew he was being discussed, Liam’s phone buzzed with an incoming message.

“Is that the hot paramedic?”

“Yea, he wants to know what I’m up to tonight. He has the night off.”

“Invite him along.”

“I don’t know….”

“Come on, Li. It’s just a night out. You said you two have been spending time together, so why not at a bar?”

Liam thought for a moment before realizing Bryce was right. It’s not like Nathan would get the wrong impression. He quickly sent an invitation, and was pleased when he received a positive response.

“He said he can pick us up. He has to work early tomorrow, and won’t be drinking tonight anyways.”

“Awesome.” Bryce clapped his hands together and stood. “Time to get you into a shower and then find something in your closet to make you look delectable. I swear I’ll get you laid yet.”

Several hours later Nathan arrived to pick them up, looking good in jeans and a black, button-down shirt that had a slight shimmer. Liam felt a little self-conscious in the tight jeans and body-hugging shirt Bryce had picked out, but judging by the appreciation in the paramedics eyes, he looked good in the outfit.

Smothered laughter from Bryce seemed to alert Nathan to the presence of another person in the room. He turned to the other man, and his eyes widened slightly as he took in Bry’s clubbing attire: tight black leather pants and a shimmery, reddish-pink top that would sparkle under the club lights. Bryce grinned as his eyes slowly roved over Nathan. With a wink he held out his hand.

“You must be Nate. Li’s description didn’t do you justice. I’m Bryce.”

Liam rolled his eyes when a blush crept up Nathan’s cheeks. Nathan cleared his throat as he shook Bryce’s smaller hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

Liam grabbed his jacket and threw Bryce’s to him. “Come on, Casanova. Time to go.”

Bryce laughed, and Nathan’s blush deepened. The paramedic’s expression was tinged with guilt as he looked sidelong at Liam. Giving the man a reassuring smile, he gestured for Nathan to lead the way out the door. The last thing he wanted was for Nathan to feel guilty about being flirted with, especially by someone as practiced as Bryce. The paramedic was a good looking man who didn’t owe him anything. There was no reason to wait for Liam to get his head on straight.

When they arrived at the club it was already packed. After paying the cover charged, they waded through the crowd towards the bar.

“What would you like?” Nathan leaned in to ask.

“Just a beer for me,” Liam responded with a grateful smile. When he reached for his wallet he was waved off.

“This one’s on me.” He turned to Bryce, took his order, and then muscled his way to the front of the line.

“Come on, LI,” Bryce whispered conspiratorially. “You have to admit your paramedic is looking fine tonight.”

Liam huffed in irritation. “I never said he wasn’t a good looking guy, just that I wasn’t sure I was ready to put myself out there yet.”

“What? Not ready for a hot guy to fuck you until you can’t walk?”

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Nathan heading their way with drinks in hand. “Stop. I’ll find someone when I’m ready.”

Bryce shrugged a thin shoulder. “It’s your life, but don’t be surprised if someone else snaps up a man that fine.”

Rolling his eyes and shaking his head he turned to Nathan. “Thank you,” he said gratefully. “I didn’t relish the idea of trying to get to the front of that line.”

Nathan smiled and handed over his beer, and Bryce’s vodka and cranberry cocktail. Bryce murmured a thank you, looking up at Nathan through long lashes. Once again Liam was struck with the desire to roll his eyes. Bryce was a dear friend, but incorrigible. He’d always hoped the man would find someone to settle down with, but so far no one had lasted long enough to form any attachments with.

After a couple of drinks, Liam was feeling more relaxed. He’d decided to stop at two, considering he was still recovering from a concussion. Bryce, on the other hand, was under no such restrictions. He laughed and flirted with Nathan, as well as other men and women throughout the night. There was little doubt Bry knew how to have a good time.

“I need to use the bathroom,” Liam said as he stood up. There were several people at their table, some he knew, and others, such as a pair of giggly young women, who were friends Bryce had made during the course of the evening. Nathan looked up at him and smiled, while Bryce gave him a teasing leer.

“Don’t do anything in those stalls I wouldn’t do.”

Liam snorted a laugh. “There isn’t much you wouldn’t do,” he teased before walking away without waiting for a response. After taking care of business and washing his hands, he stepped out of the room only to run into a wall of muscle. He was about to apologize when he looked up to Alek’s shocked face. The man looked just as good as he remembered.

“Alek,” he said, embarrassed with how breathy his voice sounded.

“Liam?” The man’s surprised expression faded into a sad smile. “It’s good to see you. I didn’t realize you were here tonight.”

“Bryce dragged Nathan and I out.”

Pain flashed in Alek’s eyes for a moment before he straightened his back and smiled again. “It’s nice that your friend is making sure you have some fun.” In his periphery Liam saw Alek’s hand reach out before pulling back again. “How is your arm?”

Liam looked down, and lifted his casted wrist. “It’s getting better. The doctor said I should have this off in a few weeks.”

“That’s great news… and your head? The concussion?”

Liam touched the healing scar on his forehead. “It’s much better. I’m completely off of pain medication now.”

Alek’s smile became more genuine, his brown eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m very happy for you.” He looked up at the bathroom door. “I should let you get back to your… friends. Take care of yourself, Li.”

Liam was still trying to decide what to say, when Alek stepped around him and into the bathroom. Exhaling a shuddering breath, he made his way back to the table, which was now empty. It only took a moment to find Bryce and Nathan on the dance floor waving him over. With a shake of his head, Liam went to the bar and grabbed a bottle of water, needing a few minutes alone. For a brief moment he wondered if his ex-boyfriend had followed him to this place, but the surprise in the man’s eyes refuted that. His next thought was to wonder if Alek was here with anyone… maybe his girlfriend? Liam’s heart ached, and he rubbed it absently. After all this time, it still hurt to think of Alek with someone else.

Now that he knew Alek was there, his eyes constantly sought the Russian out. He spotted the man sitting at a table near the bar with another man. Liam recognized him as one of the mechanics from Alek’s garage. A tall, pretty brunette woman approached the table and sat between the two men, smiling at them both. Was that Natalia? Alek laughed at something she said, before the other mechanic took her hand and led her to the dancefloor. He couldn’t tear his eyes away until Alek finally looked up, smiling for a moment before it slipped away and the Russian’s gaze returned to his drink.

“I haven’t danced that much in a long time,” Nathan said as he reclaimed his seat beside Liam. “Your friend is a dancing machine. I don’t think he ever runs out of energy.”

Liam turned his attention to his friend and grinned. “I think Bry would dance an entire night away if he had the chance.”

“Oh, honey,” Bryce retorted as he pulled up a chair next to Nathan. “I could do so much more than dance all night.”

Nathan almost spit out his water, and Liam laughed as he patted the man’s back. “You’re an ass, Bry.”

“You love my ass,” the other man quipped.

“I’m going to get myself a soda,” Liam said, standing. “You two want anything?”

“Water, please.”

“Another vodka and cranberry. Thanks, you’re a doll.”

Liam turned and made his way through the throng to the bar. It took some doing, but he finally got to the front, squeezing between two stools. The bartender, busy flirting with the half-naked women in front of him, didn’t even acknowledge his existence for several minutes. By the time he finally got the man’s attention, at least fifteen minutes had passed. He grabbed the drinks and carefully turned, not wanting to drop anything in the crush. When he cleared the worst of the crowd he breathed a sigh of relief. Crowds were not his thing.

Paying careful attention to the people around him, he didn’t look up until he was a few feet from the table. The scene in front of him made him stop in his tracks. Alek was there, with his back to Liam, shoulders tense. Bryce was staring up at the Russian, clearly amused, while Nathan appeared to be more confused than upset. Liam was about to interrupt when a break in the music allowed him to hear Alek’s gruff words.

“And you... you’re supposed to be his friend, and you’re all over his boyfriend? Don’t fuck this up and hurt him. He deserves to be happy.” Alek turned, freezing when he saw Liam. A flash of shame, and some other emotion crossed his features before the man strode away, and continued out the door.

“What was that about?” he asked, setting the drinks on the table.

Nathan opened his mouth to reply but Bryce cut him off. “The asshole thought I was trying to move in on your territory.” The younger man snickered. “Like he has a say in what you or I do. For all he knows we were planning a hot threesome tonight.”

Liam felt a blush work its way up his neck as he turned to Nathan. “I’m really sorry about that. I hope he didn’t say anything to upset you.”

Nathan cleared his throat. “I’m fine. He was just being protective… I think.” The man flushed and looked over at Bryce before his gaze dropped to the table. “Bryce had his head on my shoulder, and the next thing I know, this big guy was standing in front of me telling me to smarten up and not to hurt you.”

“But why….” Liam shook his head, feeling more confused than ever. “Why would he think we were together?”

“I don’t know,” Nathan responded. “His sister did see us at the coffee shop, and we came here together. I guess it’s a logical assumption.”

Liam huffed out a breath. Maybe it was better this way. If Alek thought he and Nathan were together he would think Liam moved on. Right?

“Fuck him. Leave closet-boy in the past where he belongs,” Bryce said, jumping up from his seat. “Come on. It’s time to dance.”

Liam let himself be dragged to the dance floor, and tried to lose himself in the music. No matter what he did, Liam couldn’t seem to get his mind off of Alek. Although he was determined to move on, he’d be lying if he said a part of him wasn’t touched at the thought of Alek trying to protect him. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and swayed to the beat. Serious thought could wait. Right now he wanted to have some fun.

A big thank you to my friend/editor and chief pot stirrer, Gary.       Thank you to everyone who reads and support this story. 
If you want to weigh in on the Nathan / Alek debate you can join in here.