The Player's Protégé

by CJane Elliott

  Tyrone had finished being mulish about Jerry’s six-point plan for him to find The One and was back to his easygoing self. Will and Eric kissed as usual, but now every time they did, Jerry turned to Arlo and kissed him too, just because he could. The best part? Jake happened to walk by. He did a visible double-take and almost bumped into the waiter coming the other way when he saw Arlo and Jerry cozied up.

  “Hey, Jake,” Eric called as Will smirked. Jake had also been a would-be rival back when Eric and Will were still dancing around each other, but nothing had ever come of it.

  “Umm… hey.” Jake gave Arlo a stiff nod and rapidly walked away.

  Jerry glanced at Arlo. He appeared undisturbed as he caught Jerry’s eye. “You cool?” Jerry murmured.

  “Yep. I’ve got the one I want.”

  Eric broke out into a rendition of “You’re the One that I Want” from Grease and had them all laughing with his “oo, oo, oos.”

  “You know,” Jerry said when they’d calmed down, “I don’t much believe in fate, but it’s pretty cosmic that y’all made me come to Club Risque to celebrate winning the bet and then all this happened.” He surveyed their bland expressions. “Right? Who would have thought…? Wait. Why’re you looking at me like that?”

  Tyrone said to Eric, “You wanna tell him?”

  “No way. You tell him.”

  “Oh, I’ll tell him.” Will smiled. “It was a setup. We ran into Arlo on campus, and he filled us in on your stupidity.” He ignored Jerry’s indignant “Hey.” “So we came up with the Club Risque scheme and pretending that you won the bet. Eric wanted to be a go-go dancer anyway, and we all agreed that having you see Arlo with some rando might get your head out of your ass.”

  “Wh-what?” Jerry turned to Arlo, who didn’t even have the decency to look contrite. “You mean… the thing with you getting out there tonight was all a fake? And you already knew about the bet?”

  “Yeah.” He shrugged. “Whatever works, right? Seems like I’ve been mentored by the best.”

  The others broke into laughter.

  Jerry tried to huff in annoyance but found his lips tugging into a smile. “Well, I’ll be damned. But just for this, forget about me doing your laundry, Eric and Will. Pride outfits are all you get.”

  Epilogue

  One Month Later

  “NOW I’VE got two couples being nauseating out here with your PDA,” grumbled Tyrone as they watched the Pride Parade. The Dykes on Bikes zoomed past, and the roar of their Harleys matched that of the crowd. They were followed by a float of drag kings and queens from the local queer bar.

  Jerry pulled his lips away from Arlo’s. “Quiet, Tyrone. You don’t get to complain until you’ve taken step one of my six-point plan.”

  “Trust Jerry,” Arlo said. “He’ll help you make it happen.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Tyrone’s scowl didn’t match the happy tone of his rainbow makeup and satin vest and shorts. His dancer’s body was on full display and, per usual, Ty seemed not to notice the numerous admiring glances he was receiving.

  “Stop, my dear. You know I’m the best.”

  “No doubt,” Will drawled as he adjusted the fringe on his sequined cowboy vest. “His talents are legendary. Only Jerry could get me into this… whatever it is.” He pulled on the waistband of his chaps. They, of course, were assless, but Will wore shorts because he drew the line at that much nudity. Jerry’s revenge was to make the shorts out of a glittery red material, to match Eric’s outfit.

  “And I’m going to get you out of it ASAP, babe.” Eric wore a positively indecent red sparkly onesie. It wasn’t exactly what Jerry had planned, but Will insisted on a reprise of the Halloween devil outfit Jerry had made for Eric back when Will and Eric were still only roommates with secret hard-ons for each other. So Jerry had sewn a rainbow cape to go with it, and Eric looked even more edible than usual.

  “Y’all look great. Every single one of you. Hold on. I’m taking a picture.”

  Jerry preened as he surveyed his friends in his Pride creations and took a few shots. He lowered his phone and ran a loving gaze over Arlo, his angel come to earth. Jerry had sewn his rainbow-colored shirt himself. It was hardly a shirt, though—more a lattice of ropes in different colors that set off Arlo’s sculpted chest and arms. Arlo had nixed the gold lamé short shorts—alas—but Jerry wore a pair under his sparkly mesh top. And Arlo’s martial-arts pants, retrofitted by Jerry to be skintight on the top to show off Arlo’s assets, dazzled without even being shiny.

  “When are you going to the farm?” Will asked Arlo.

  “Tomorrow. Jerry’s coming with me.”

  “Ohmigod, take pictures. No, videos. I’m going to have to see this to believe it. Jerry Helstrom on a farm.” Eric opened his arms wide, laughed, and then belted, “What I did for loooooove.”

  “Oh, be quiet.” But Jerry couldn’t keep his expression severe, not with Arlo beaming at him so happily. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s all for love of this lunk right here.” He put his arm around Arlo’s waist and cared not one whit that he’d turned into the world’s biggest fluffball.

  “Awwwww. Aren’t they the cutest?” Eric blew them a kiss.

  Tyrone was so quiet that Jerry glanced over to find him staring blankly at the marchers. It was rare for easygoing Ty to be out of sorts, but given what happened at graduation, Jerry wasn’t surprised. As the others’ attention returned to the parade, he sidled nearer so he could speak into Ty’s ear. “How’re you doing, boo?”

  Ty turned a miserable face his way. “I can’t stop thinking about him.”

  “And Jerry is here to help.”

  “I know. But I have no idea how you’re gonna help me with this particular situation, boo.”

  “Me neither,” Jerry admitted. Arlo moved next to him and put his arm around him, so Jerry rested his head on Arlo’s shoulder. “But believe me when I say miracles can happen.”

  Tyrone’s face softened. “You two are the walking, talking example of a miracle, so yass—I will believe, sweet Jesus.” He lifted his hands into the air and tilted his face skyward. “Bring it on, universe!”

  At that moment someone in a group of dancers parading down the street hailed Tyrone. “Ty! Get in here. Dance the parade with us.”

  Jerry gave him a gentle push. “There you go. Your dance buddies await you. Meet us at Club Risque afterwards, okay?”

  “Okay. Later, y’all.” Tyrone bounded over to join the dance troupe.

  “What did happen at graduation?” Arlo rested his chin on the top of Jerry’s head.

  “A guy from Ty’s past showed up, and it upset him, but I haven’t been able to get the full story out of him.”

  “Maybe I’ll try talking to him.”

  “Good idea, Sir Arlo.” Jerry glanced around for Will and Eric, but they were nowhere to be seen. “Seems we’ve been deserted. How sad. I have no choice but to take you home, then.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yes, indeed. Your top is giving me ideas.” Jerry eyed the colorful ropes.

  “But aren’t we meeting at Club Risque?”

  Jerry hooked his finger through a purple strand and pulled Arlo closer. “We have time for a quickie. Let’s just say you’re going to be tied up for a while.”

  “THAT’S RIGHT. Roll the tortillas like this.”

  Jerry followed Rosita’s deft movements intently because he was bound and determined to learn how to make enchiladas before he and Arlo left. The Barnes family kitchen delighted Jerry with its red and orange tablecloth and curtains and the chili peppers—real and also Christmas lights—strung along the walls. He wanted to make Arlo a shirt out of those curtains.

  Bonnie sat at the table, leafing through a magazine. Arlo was out in the barn with his dad and Leon, Bonnie’s husband. He’d offered to show Jerry how to milk a cow, but Jerry had declined to add that to his list of life skills.

  Even so, Jerry was a little in love with Lancaster and Arlo’s farm. The house was surr
ounded by lush pasture. At night they watched fireflies from the porch and listened to the hoot owls.

  “I don’t know,” Jerry said as he and Rosita worked. “Maybe me and Arlo living on the farm wouldn’t be so bad.”

  Rosita smiled. “It’s a fine life. People talk about it being a lot of work, but it has its moments, right, Bonita?”

  “I love it. But who said anything about you guys living here?”

  “Arlo said he’s expecting to take over running the farm after he graduates next year.”

  Rosita and Bonnie looked at each other and broke out laughing.

  “Huh?” Jerry paused his tortilla rolling. “What am I missing?”

  “Oh, Arlo. Always wanting to help.” Rosita wiped tears of laughter from her eyes and shook her head. “I love that boy. But there’s no way he’s taking over the farm.”

  “Really? He was saying that he thought y’all expected it of him. And that Mr. Barnes needs the help because of…. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about things I know nothing about.”

  “That’s okay.” Rosita patted his arm. “My husband does have a chronic illness, and he gets flare-ups from time to time. I know it hurts Arlo to see his father weak.”

  Bonnie said, “But he’s not getting the farm because me and Leon have already put in dibs for it.”

  Jerry tried to tamp down the wild happiness that suffused him, maybe because he’d never thought he deserved joy. “Well, that may be news to Arlo. But I don’t think he’ll mind.”

  “Of course he won’t mind. He’s destined for greater things. Why d’you think my parents sent him to college in the first place? It wasn’t to end up here.”

  Jerry scanned Bonnie’s face for any jealousy of Arlo but found none. “So you and Leon are taking over the farm. And—just so I’m clear—you’re not expecting Arlo to work here.”

  “No way. Leon and I have it all planned out. We’re going to have tours, and I’m going to run a food cart with Mama. Arlo is a sweetheart, and I love him to death, but we don’t need him moping around here. He should do what he really wants, which is that martial arts stuff. And now, being wherever you are. Because frankly, Jerry, I don’t really see you as the dairy farm type.” Bonnie arched an eyebrow, and Jerry giggled.

  “Truthfully? Neither do I. I just have one request. Please tell my darling Arlo what you’ve just told me, so we can ride off into the sunset without him feeling guilty.”

  “We’ll talk with him tonight.” Rosita pushed the tortillas toward Jerry. “Now let’s keep going so we can get dinner on the table for our hungry boys, hmm?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Please. Call me Mama. Everyone else does.”

  “IT STILL seems surreal,” Arlo said. “It’s like I have a whole new life stretching out in front of me.”

  Jerry squeezed his hand. They were watching the sunset after dinner, waiting for the nightly firefly show. “Are you all right with not inheriting the farm?”

  “Of course. Bonnie and Leon are perfect for it. I probably should’ve seen that way earlier but I was stuck on this… dutiful son thing, trying to do what the dutiful son would do.”

  “You’ve been the utmost in dutiful sons, my dear. But now you’re free.”

  “Free.” Arlo turned shining eyes to him. “It’s all so amazing—starting with having you in my life.”

  “Get used to it. You’re not getting rid of me.”

  “And you’re not getting rid of me. Ever.”

  “Good. Because I have a plan.”

  Arlo kissed his hand. “Of course you do. I’m all ears.”

  More from CJane Elliott

  A Campus Connections Story

  Life is good for Eric Brown. He’s a senior theater major, an RA for a freshman dorm, and has a great circle of friends. Single since sophomore year, Eric isn’t looking for love. But then Will Butler—fellow senior, co-RA, and the cutest guy Eric’s ever seen—walks into his dorm. Will has a girlfriend he sees off campus—a minor disappointment that becomes a major problem when a housing shortage causes Will and Eric to become roommates, and Eric is forced to witness Will’s hotness day in and day out. For protection, Eric asks Jerry, his ex-boyfriend, to pretend they’re still together. Jerry warns him it’s a stupid idea, but he reluctantly agrees.

  Too bad it won’t save Eric from losing his heart.

  Will Butler has never believed in himself. His dysfunctional family saw to that. Although Will has loved music since childhood, he’s never seriously considered pursuing it, and the person he’s dating doesn’t encourage him. Then he and Eric Brown become roommates, and everything changes. Eric believes in Will and his talent. He’s also gorgeous and playful and fast becoming Will’s best friend. And that’s not good, because Will is hiding some big things, not only from Eric, but from himself.

  A Stories From the Shore Book

  Jonathan Vallen has never felt good enough. A gentle musician who loves to garden, he’s woefully unsuited to running Vallen Industries, the family business. When his father hires a hotshot executive, Marco Pellegrini, to save the company, Jonathan moves away and leaves his humiliation behind. A year later and forty pounds lighter, Jonathan runs into Marco on an LGBT cruise. Marco doesn’t recognize him, the sparks fly, and Jonathan pretends to be someone else for the week—Jonah Rutledge—someone good enough to be loved.

  Marco Pellegrini has always been driven. He rose from poverty to the pinnacle of business success, and he’ll do anything to protect his reputation—including hiding his bisexuality. Having saved Vallen Industries, he’s weary of the rat race and ready for a more meaningful life. When Marco meets his soul mate for that new life—Jonah Rutledge—on an LGBT cruise, he prepares to stop hiding and start living.

  Back on land, the romance crashes when Marco discovers his perfect man is not only a lie but the son of his boss, Frederick Vallen. Jonathan resolves to win Marco back, but Frederick takes vengeful action. Jonathan and Marco must battle their own fears as well as Frederick’s challenge to get to the future that awaits them on the horizon.

  A Stories From the Shore Book

  Anthony Vallen is the life of any party. Full of energy and fun, Anthony adores romance and enjoys playing matchmaker for his friends while dancing the night away with a series of Mr. Right Nows. But he’s given up on his own happy ending. A bad breakup years ago made him a secret cynic about love… until he runs into Walter Elkins—the boy who broke his teenaged heart—on a scuba-diving vacation in Key West. Suddenly, Anthony’s reasons for shunning romance no longer hold much water. Being with Walter again forces Anthony to get serious—about himself, his worth, and his heart’s desires.

  Brilliant and self-contained, scientist Walter Elkins prefers deep thoughts to other people. He’s a good boss and a model citizen, but Walter doesn’t let anyone get close. After a tragedy drove him out of his science career, Walter landed in Key West and became owner of a dive shop and a bar. Things are fine until Anthony Vallen—the only person who ever penetrated his defenses—shows up, and Walter’s calm, controlled life capsizes. He and Anthony have a second chance for love, but Walter must confront the old fears that threaten to torpedo their happiness.

  Wild and Precious: Book One

  Aspiring writer Brent Granger has good friends and a great job at an arts magazine in DC, but he’s batting zero in the arena of love. Brent begins to get a clue why things aren’t working with women from his strong attraction to his gorgeous, gay, and already attached boss, Graham Stoneford. When he sees a personal ad from a man that quotes his favorite poet, Brent decides to do something wild and answer.

  Enter Cody Bellstrom, easygoing bisexual musician, who is happy to initiate Brent in the ways of gay sex. Brent now has a new problem: he realizes he’s gay and no one in his life knows it. Cody tires of hiding their relationship, but Brent finds it challenging to come out to family, friends, and especially to Graham. In the end, Brent must confront the truth of where—and with whom—his heart lies.

&n
bsp; Wild and Precious: Book Two

  Bisexual musician Cody Bellstrom is a free spirit, easygoing and unattached. On a cross-country trip, Cody befriends young Sandy Nixon and gets him safely to Portland and his uncle, Phineas MacDonald. Beautiful Phineas turns Cody’s life upside down, and Cody learns he’s not as unattached as he aspires to be. With the hard-won knowledge of what lies underneath his need to be free, Cody wins a chance at real freedom and true love.

  Ever since his longtime lover Allen died, Phineas MacDonald has lived a circumscribed life. He stopped performing as fierce drag queen Phanny Hill and works part-time in a bookstore. Phineas never expected to find love again. But when sexy and caring Cody Bellstrom turns up, Phineas feels his orderly life slipping out of his control. Cody brings him alive again, but now Phineas must find the courage to let go of his grief over Allen and give love a second chance.

  After years of hearing characters chatting away in her head, CJANE ELLIOTT finally decided to put them on paper and hasn’t looked back since. A psychotherapist by training, CJane enjoys writing sexy, passionate stories that also explore the human psyche. CJane has traveled all over North America for work, and her characters are travelers too, traveling into their own depths to find what they need to get to the happy ending.

  CJane is an ardent supporter of LGBTQ equality and is particularly fond of coming-out stories. In her spare time, CJane can be found dancing, listening to music, or watching old movies. Her family supports her writing habit by staying out of the way when they see her hunched over, staring intently at her laptop.

  CJane is the author of the award-winning Serpentine Series, New Adult contemporary novels set at the University of Virginia. Serpentine Walls was a 2014 Rainbow Awards finalist, Aidan’s Journey was a 2015 EPIC Awards finalist, and Sex, Love, and Videogames won first place in the New Adult category in the 2016 Swirl Awards and first place in Contemporary Fiction in the 2017 EPIC eBook Awards. Her novella All the Way to Shore was a Rainbow Awards 2017 Runner Up for Best Bisexual Romance.