Into the Wild

14. Gnawing Thoughts

A/N: Image of Ira Rowan

You can now check the Cast listing for Ira's pictures since Wattpad hates keeping my fucking images up, yay😑😑

Luca glanced at Jared, who sat next to him in the front seat of his Jeep, while Piers buckled up in the backseat, pulling out his phone as it vibrated. Luca adjusted the rearview mirror, catching their friend grinning at the screen.

Jared nudged Luca's elbow. "Quit snooping."

Luca scoffed playfully, smiling as he was caught. "I'm not, just curious."

"Didn't curiosity kill the cat?" Jared purred.

Luca leaned closer to him and smirked. "I thought the dog got to it first?" He returned, making Jared's jaw slacken. The younger one smacked his shoulder.

"Oh, you're so vicious, Luc!" Jared laughed as Luca sat back and pulled away from his parking spot.

Pierson glanced up at his friends in their cute banter and smiled. He was envious of their adorable bond and satisfying relationship. Pierson had longed for something like theirs, where he could be himself and be accepted and loved all the same by his partner. Lord knows he was trying to find love, but he seemed to be searching in all the wrong places. His phone dinged.

"You're quite popular today, Piers." Luca quipped.

Pierson rolled his eyes, "well, I'm a fun person, Luca. Unlike you, I haven't heard your phone go off once since we met up this morning."

Jared choked on his laughter, covering his mouth at how Piers roasted his lover. "Ouch, tone down the fire, please." Jared snickered, and Piers laughed at his remark, reaching forward to pat Luca's back, who rolled his eyes at him.

Pierson grinned. "Ah, it's all in good fun, Luc. But don't mind me, I'm just texting an old friend. We haven't spoken in a few years, so we're catching up." Pierson explained, looking for Jared's reaction.

"Oh, does this friend have a name?" Jared asked, fetching his water bottle.

Pierson nodded. "Yeah, it's Eli from the band."

"Oh, how is Eli?" Jared asked. He hadn't heard that name in a while.

"Band?" Luca asked.

Jared nodded as he checked his email. "Yeah, Pierson had a band back in college—"

"It was wonderful and short-lived—" Pierson said, cutting him off as he sat up.

Luca and Jared shared a look, then Luca cleared his throat. "Piers, not to sound like Jared here, but about our reason for meeting up... can't help you out if you don't tell us what's going on and who with."

"He's right, Piers. You can trust us." Jared added.

Luca smiled. "Yeah, so who is he?"

Pierson groaned, covering his face, hiding away the blush that came to his cheeks. "I know that. It's just... he's kinda, famous." Jared's eyes widened, and Pierson hissed a swear under his breath.

"Pierson, no!" Jared snapped. "Him? He's back?" He turned around in his seat to face his friend. "Pierson! Is it him?" Piers clumsily mouthed unintelligent words as he looked at him. Jared sighed and shook his head. "Luca, go to that one bistro with private booths, please. This conversation is... serious." He sat back correctly as Luca changed their direction.

Luca glanced between the men, Pierson looking guilty and Jared exhausted suddenly. "Umm, am I the only one with no clue what's going on?" He asked, looking at Jared. His boyfriend gave him a tired look and a forced half-smile.