The BL Nook

Chapter 24: The Sounds That Haunt Me

Today marks six months of dating Josh. I’m turning 25. I usually don’t care much about birthdays. Back in Minnesota, it was just me, a few friends, and some beers in the living room. Nothing fancy.

But this year? I don’t know. I’m feeling kind of… good. Work’s been going great, promotion vibes are strong. I have a hot, sexy, successful, smart, funny, well-hung boyfriend who treats me like I’m the only man alive. Life is suspiciously good.

Until he told me he planned an extravagant birthday party.

Not happy. Not happy at all.

He booked out an entire bar just for tonight. Invited everyone, including Diana and her friends. He wasn’t thrilled about that part, but he invited her anyway. Even Tyler’s coming. Ugh. I begged Josh to just do something lowkey, just the two of us. But he already put down a deposit, so there was no getting out of it.

This morning, he handed me a gift: clothes for tonight. I’ll admit it, the man has good taste. I’m wearing them now. Took extra time with my hair. Sprayed my “special occasion” cologne. Not gonna lie, I look fine as hell. Let’s see what Josh thinks when he sees me.

I just got to the bar. Everyone greeted me in unison. “Happy birthday, Sean!” I rolled my eyes and pretended to leave, but Josh caught me, laughing, and pulled me into the party. First one to hug me, even though he already tackled me with love this morning. He leaned in and whispered:

“You look sexy as fuck right now.”

Tingles. Literal tingles.

I spotted familiar faces, but also some strangers. Diana was next.

“Hey, sexy birthday boy!” she said, hugging me tightly.

Josh glared and physically separated us when the hug went on too long. Then Sarah walked up.

“Hi Sean, happy birthday. Listen… I hope me sucking your boyfriend’s dick doesn’t bring any weirdness between us.”

Josh burst out laughing. I clenched my jaw and faked a smile.

“Of course not. We’re good.”

The memory, the sounds, still haunt me like a fucking sleep paralysis demon. But it’s not her fault. That mess was mine.

I wandered over to the bar where Tyler was chilling with Oscar and Georgie. Oscar saw me first and grinned.

Georgie: “What’s up bro, happy birthday!”

Oscar: “Look at this birthday boy, lookin’ all fly and shit.”

I smiled and thanked them. Tyler finally turned toward me.

“I ordered you a Jack and Coke.”

No “happy birthday” or anything? But I guess this is his version of being nice. I took the drink and glanced across the room.

Josh was laughing with some guy who looked like the bar owner. I took a moment to really look at him. The leather jacket. The trendy glasses. He looked like a sexy, nerdy guy with a dangerous secret underneath those clothes. The kind with straight A’s and a filthy mouth. The type who’d pull me aside after class, scolding me for not pulling my weight in the group project. And then, just when I’d try to explain myself, he’d shove me against the desk, bend me over, and fuck the excuses out of me like it was part of the lesson plan.

He caught me staring and made his way over, leaning in over the music.

“Stop looking at me like that, you’re gonna give me a boner.”

I was about to say, “Can you blame me?” but then…

Fucking Tyler.

“Here, your favorite. Whiskey sour,” he said, handing it to Josh. But he looked straight at me when he said it.

Josh smiled. “Thanks, man!” Totally missing the pissing contest happening right in front of him.

Tyler loves playing that “I know him better” card. Irritating as hell.

Despite everything, the night was… actually fun. I mingled with strangers, laughed more than expected, and drank way too much.

Then the door opened.

Matt.

My best friend from back in Minnesota. Jess, his wife, was with him. I practically tackled him with a hug.

“Holy shit! What are you doing here?!”

Matt: “What do you mean? We were invited. Don’t tell me you didn’t know.”

“Fuck no, I didn’t! Hi Jess, how are you?”

Jess: “Excited to be in Seattle! Oh and to see you, of course. Haha.”

“Where’s the baby?”

Matt: “She’s not a baby anymore, haha. She’s with Jess’s parents.”

“Let’s get you guys a drink”

I can’t freaking believe he’s here. Of all the people I imagined showing up tonight, he was the last on my list. But seeing him? It was a damn good surprise. We spent hours catching up like no time had passed, just us in our own little world. He told me about life back in Minnesota, how he’d bumped into my dad a few times. I told him how things have been for me here, carefully skimming around the topic of Josh. I didn’t want to say too much and raise any eyebrows.

Speaking of Josh… where the hell is he?

I scanned the bar, and there he was. In a corner, deep in conversation with someone.

And when I saw who it was, the buzz I was riding crashed and burned.

Sarah.

She was laughing, touching his arm. He leaned in, whispered something. That familiar charm of his. It used to pull girls in one by one. And now it was happening again. Right in front of me.

Jealousy hit me like a brick wall. My drink tasted bitter. My heart raced.

What the fuck is so funny?

I started walking over, ready to confront him, when Matt stopped me.

“Oh, where you going?”

“Be right back.”

I stumbled a little buzzed beyond reason when the last person that should be stopping me stepped in front of me. Fucking Tyler.

“Wow, where you going?”

“Mind your own business.”

“You’re not going over there to interrupt Josh, are you?”

“What’s it to ya?” My Minnesotan accent slipped.

“Haha. Leave him. He’s about to pounce.”

“Fuck off, I just need to ask him something.”

He gave me a look but let me pass.

I looked again. They were gone.

Panic surged through me. I searched the bar like a man possessed. I needed to catch him in the act. And then what? Slap him? Too dramatic. Punch him? Won’t do anything. Punch her? Definitely a felony.

Then Josh stepped out from one of the back rooms.

“Hi baby, were you looking for me?”

He smiled like nothing was wrong.

I brushed past him and yanked open the door to the back room he had just come out of. I didn’t care if it was rude, I had to know. He followed me in, but I froze the second I saw her.

I knew it.

My blood boiled. My fists clenched at my sides as I turned on him.

“What the fuck were you two doing in here?”

He blinked, clearly caught off guard by my tone. “Oh she was feeling sick, so I brought her in here to cool down. I was just about to call Diana, I swear.”

I looked over at Sarah, hunched over a bucket, her makeup smeared, hair clinging to her face. She was clearly out of it, a total mess. All the anger surging through me drained in an instant, replaced by a cold wave of shame. I suddenly felt pale, like the floor might drop out from under me. God, what was I thinking?

Josh stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me from behind. He chuckled softly, almost teasing.

“Haha, baby… were you just jealous?”

I shoved his arms off me and spun around, furious.

“What do you think?!” I snapped, pushing him hard. His drink spilled over his hand and splattered onto the floor.

He flicked his hand, sending drops flying, then stepped toward me again. Closer this time, tension crackling between us.

“You know… this jealous side of you is really sexy. If she weren’t here, I’d bend you over right now and pound the shit out of you.”

My hole throbbed at his words, and I grabbed him by the collar, pulling him into a deep, desperate kiss. Our mouths moved in sync. It was hot, messy, and hungry. In the distance, echoes of Sarah’s gagging and spitting played as she retched. The vulgar soundtrack that once haunted me as she choked on Josh’s dick, was now drowned out by these sounds. Her ghost had no place here anymore. I wasn’t haunted by those sounds anymore.

Later, I introduced Matt to Josh. Diana helped Sarah sober up. Josh and I were glued together the rest of the night. I kept my eyes on him like a hawk, just in case another girl dared.

Eventually, Matt pulled me outside for a smoke.

“You dating anyone?”

The liquor courage responded.

“Um… yeah.”

“She here? You haven’t introduced me.”

“Ahem… It’s not a she.”

“…Oh. My bad. He here?”

“You surprised?”

“Not really. I mean… it’s not uncommon now. We’re not living in the 20th century.”

“Yeah, I guess not.” I flicked my cigarette.

“Huuu… You know the guy I introduced you to. Josh?”

“That was him? He’s funny. Super charismatic. He was the one that invited us. He paid for our tickets, too.”

“He did?!”

“Yeah, thought it was odd at first, but now I get it. He must really care about you.”

“Yeah. He’s crazy. But I’m glad you guys came.”

“How long’s it been?”

“Six months. Going strong.”

“Half the time you’ve been here.”

“Yeah… love at first sight, I guess.”

“I never pictured you with a guy.”

“Trust me, neither did I. But I knew I didn’t want to live without him.”

“That’s all that matters. Jess and I will always have your back.” He paused, then added, “So who’s the bottom?“

We went back inside. Most of the crowd had cleared. Josh was chatting with the bar owner but came right over when he saw us.

“Hey ba- I mean Sean, they’re closing down.”

I smiled. “It’s okay. Matt knows now.”

“Oh? Well in that case, hi again. I’m Sean’s boyfriend.”

Jess gasped. Matt laughed.

“You better take good care of my friend.”

Josh grinned. “I wouldn’t dare to do otherwise.”

God, he’s cheesy.

We stayed till everyone left, then headed back to Josh’s place. Once we were home, I slurred:

“Hey babe… thank you for tonight. Best birthday I ever had.”

“You just call me babe?!”

“That’s all you took from what I said?!”

“Haha, come here.”

He wrapped me in kisses, licking my face like a damn dog. Then he stopped, looking into my eyes.

“You did so many unexpected things tonight. You got jealous. Told your friend I’m your boyfriend. Called me babe. I thought it was your birthday, not mine.”

“Haha. Shut your mouth and kiss me.”

The kiss was sweet at first. Then I pushed him toward the bed.

“Ack!”

“Take off your clothes. Now. I’m gonna show you just how grateful I am. My hole’s been twitching since the moment I saw you tonight.”

“Yes, sir.”

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