For a Good Time, Call | Mashton/Malum ( #Wattys2017 )

[3] My Rulebook

Michael was literally walking with a skip in his step. His "meeting" with Ashton was in about half an hour and he was on his way to the Starbucks. He didn't understand why he was so excited. This wasn't a first date - well, not in the proper terms - and a relationship wasn't about to amount from it. He was meeting this guy because they were going to fuck in the future. This Ashton guy wasn't going to care whether or not Michael looked like a million bucks. Well, if he looked homeless, Ashton could reject him because he would think that Michael wasn't going to pay him. Either way, Ashton wasn't going to give much of a shit about Michael. He was in it for only sex and money. That's what drives escorts to do what they do.

He felt his phone continuously vibrate in his pocket. It had started this afternoon and it was Luke calling and texting him. Michael didn't know what he wanted, but he assumed that it was to hangout with him and Spencer or just him. If he wouldn't be meeting up with an extremely sexy guy, Michael would've considered. But he was going to have to sacrifice being the third wheel today, which he didn't have much of a problem with.

Another reason he wasn't answering Luke was because he would feel guilty and Luke would be able to tell, interrogate him, and then Michael would end up letting it slip. That's when Michael would get scolded and Luke would turn into his second mother. That's what angered Michael about Luke. He took the place of Michael's mother Karen, acting like a know-it-all and bossing the elder boy around. Michael hates it because he got enough of that growing up. He doesn't need it from someone who's nearly a year younger than him. Also, not only that, but just because Luke is in a happy relationship, he thinks that anything Michael does in the dating field is completely stupid. When he signed up on the dating websites, Luke looked down at Michael and told him how he could end up being murdered and acted like it was a felony to even have a profile.

Just because Luke is attractive and able to get any guy he wants, he thinks Michael has the same luxury - which proves not to be the case. Michael has to go out of his way to try and find someone who has a low enough standard in the looks department to go for him and honestly, he was rarely ever successful. It seemed the only people he could score with were perverts that sat behind their computers, desperate for anything, and played videogames for a living. Not that he was describing himself - he had standards unlike them.

He finally got to the Starbucks he was meeting Ashton at and followed an old couple in. Once he was in the doorway, he scanned the place, looking to see if Ashton had decided to arrive early as well, but he didn't see anyone that was as God-like as the escort. Figuring that he'd grab a scone and a coffee to kill time, he got into the short line, looking at the fresh pastries. There wasn't much chat and the smell of coffee was overwhelming but delicious. The smell of coffee always made Michael feel relaxed and comfortable. He didn't know why, but it did.

It was finally Michael's turn and he ordered the apple fritter along with a tall espresso macchiato. The girl behind the counter was having a hard time trying to figure out the cash register and Michael took it as being her first day. He felt for her because he could see her trying to be quick and efficient and trying not to panic.

"Rough day?" Michael asked, offering a small smile to the girl, in which she returned while pressing the screen.

"Try first day," she responded with a frustrated laugh.

"Take your time. I'm not in a big hurry," he said sweetly.

"Thank you, sir," she thanked with a gracious smile.

The line behind him wasn't long, so he occasionally glanced at the door every now and again, just to see if Ashton would casually walk in. It didn't take that long for her to figure out the price and then she bagged up the fritter and asked for his name to write on the cup. He didn't mind how long it took because it killed time for him. He wouldn't have to awkwardly sit by himself and wait for long.