The Nice Guy (Book 1)

Chapter 13

Pete felt all the blood drain from his face as he spotted Ae drinking alone in a corner booth. He had a bottle of whiskey in front of him and was playing with the shot glass. He stood and changed seats so his back was to Ae's booth. What bad luck was following him lately?

Tin returned to the table holding two beers. "I forgot to ask what you liked. I figured beer was a safe choice." He sat down across from Pete and asked, "Was there a particular reason you moved? I figured you for a people watcher."

Pete just shook his head slightly. "No, I'm just not used to such busy crowds. It's a little overwhelming." He decided to stick with partial honesty because if he lied, it showed. 

Tin squinted at him. "It's not the truth, Pete, but enough I won't push you." He settled back in his chair and asked him, quite seriously, "If I asked you to dance with me, would you do it?"

A look of instant horror passed over Pete's features. "I don't think I have that much courage, Tin." Pete stiffened in his chair and his knuckles turned white as he wove his fingers together to stop them from shaking. The stress of having Ae and Tin in the same room was beginning to be too much.

"Why? Its only a dance. I'd like to know how you feel in my arms." Tin knew he was pushing Pete too fast but seeing his reactions was very interesting. Pete was definitely hiding something from him and he would find out what it was. He always found out what he wanted to know. Pete was a friend and he wouldn't use the family detective for this.

"I'm sorry, Tin, I think we should leave. I really don't feel well in here." Pete put his bottle down and stood up. He was white as a sheet and shaking. 

Tin stood, and took hold of his hand. It was now cold and clammy. "Damn it, Pete! Am I that scary? You're supposed to have fun on a date! If you couldn't handle going to a club, I would have taken you to see a movie or even just gone for a walk." He put his arm around his shoulders to more effectively guide him out of the crowded club.

Pete was so cold and scared of being caught that he hid himself as small as he could into Tin's larger, warm body and let him take over. He began to chant, silently, Please, please let me disappear without Ae seeing... 

But poor Pete was not lucky at all on the disastrous first and only date with Tin Medthanan, the heir to the city. 

A dozen steps before he escaped a short, ugly man stood in front of Tin Medthanan and yelled, "Let go of my man, you fucking prick!" 

Pete, stressed beyond belief, fainted. He slipped from Tin's arm and landed with a soft "pufft" on the cold tiles of the club. 

Tin and Pete glared at each other, neither giving way. 

Tin snarled, "Pete's my date tonight. Get lost, Shorty!"

Ae growled back, "I don't believe I gave you permission to use my name, prick!" Drunk or sober, Ae didn't care who a person was, what their social standing was. If they were nice to him, he was nice back. He could tell at a glance there was nothing nice about the man in front of him. Is this the reason why Pete hadn't come to the football field?

Ae bent down and smoothed Pete's hair, "Pete? Pete, come on, wake up."  Having no response, he looked up at the taller man and snapped, "Just don't stand there like an idiot, go get him some water!"

As Tin grumbled something under his breath and disappeared, Ae carefully picked Pete up bridal style and carried him to the nearest bench. Cradling him on his lap, he smoothed his hair with his free hand and whispered, "You fool, where have you been hiding for the past few weeks?"

Pete felt strange. He didn't feel cold anymore. He felt warm and safe, like he was wrapped in the hottest setting of a electric blanket. He rubbed his head against the very firm pillow, trying to burrow deeper and sighed. It was the best feeling he'd had in weeks and he did not want to wake up.

"Pete," the pillow rumbled, "I've told you before, don't do that. It gets me hot. You're very sexy when you do that." 

Pete's eyes shot open and he was looking directly into Ae's deep brown ones. The thick brows were drawn with worry but there was the slightest smile on his lips. Ae shifted slightly and Pete felt the lump of his erection poking his upper thigh. 

A faint pink started to spread across his cheeks.  Oh god, not again! Why did this always happen around Ae! Another embarrassing incident to add to the list and to make it all worse, now Tin has witnessed his failure as well.

Pete struggled off of Ae's lap and moved a person's length away. He pressed his hands to his cheeks and sighed. "I'm fine now, Ae. I'll wait for Tin and you can just go."

"Tin? Is that the guy you're with? I've got lots of questions about him, Pete." Ae leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. He had a weird look on his face. "For a 'friend', he's quite bold, don't you think?" 

Pete blushed harder and refused to explain. What was to explain anyways? Ae never asked him out again or asked him to be a boyfriend. All of a sudden there was nothing... He did nothing wrong in accepting the date!

Ae simply stared at him and waited. Pete wasn't escaping him again. Pete, on the other hand, had a stubborn streak and had already decided that he wasn't going to justify his actions to someone who had already admitted he was only a body he wanted. 

They sat in a weird silent limbo until Tin arrived with Pete's water. In seconds, Tin's astute gaze assessed the situation. 'Ah, this is the reason why Pete isn't into me. He's in love.' Keeping his face blank, "Here darling, drink this and we'll go." Tin carefully helped Pete the way a lover should.

He kept a careful eye on the smaller man and Ae was angry, very angry. It showed in every line of his frame. He was almost vibrating from holding his temper. Tin refrained from smiling in triumph. Pete placed a shaking hand on Tin's arm. "Take me home, please."

"Of course, darling." Tin dropped his head close to Pete's as he helped him to stand. 

Ae stormed out of the club, "Fucker" floated back in the air. Tin's laughter broke free.