Dakota cranes his neck to see Evan grinning, smiling back at him as he trudges through the doors that lead to the second floor of the gay bar. The crowd is still sparse until he reaches the bottom of the stairs, the two twink dancers still moving rhythmically and collecting tips. He quickly looks away. The last thing he needs right now is for his boyfriend to observe him staring at guys who are undoubtedly more attractive than he is. Eventually Dakota spots Trent at the side of one of the bars, apparently waiting for another drink. He brushes through the dense mob, finally reaching Trent and resting his hand against his boyfriend's back. "Having any luck?" he asks as Trent looks over.
"Not really!" Trent slurs into his ear. " But have you seen some of the people in here? I can't even blame them!"
His mood had shifted again. Dakota knows he's drunk, assuming that Trent had done nothing but knock back cocktails since he'd been left alone downstairs.
"Come upstairs!" Dakota suggests, thinking about seeing Evan there again. "It's less crowded and there's no one at the bar up there!"
Trent picks up a cup right as one of the bartenders plants it on the counter, sipping it instantly. "Really? Ok, let's go up there!"
They struggle through the crowd, Trent the one who seems hypnotized when he glimpses the twinks, staring up lustfully as they gyrate. His gaze is fixated on the blond one in a thong, his mouth almost gaping open as the guy lowers his big bubble butt down to the bar and bounces his nearly bare cheeks against it.
"Come on!" Dakota urges, trying to drag his boyfriend away.
"I've seen that guy in porn!" Trent drunkenly volunteers.
Dakota has to bite his lip to stop himself from angrily shouting about the shameless hypocrisy his boyfriend had just admitted. He'd probably been jerking off to other guys ever since the horrible sex drought had started. Is that why he was so pissed every time he'd caught Dakota? Because he knew he was doing exactly the same thing? A plan starts forming in Dakota's mind in that instant. He knows Trent will be into Evan, another fit young blond, if he sees him. "Come on!" he repeats again, forcing Trent toward the stairway as his boyfriend leers at the almost naked boy dancing on the counter. When they reach the stairs, Trent starts intently downing his drink, finishing it before they reach the second floor. He looks delighted to see that there's barely anyone at the bar upstairs, immediately stumbling over.
Dakota spots Evan standing there with a cup in hand, their glances catching as the guy turns his head to check Trent out. Dakota points toward the balcony, a hopeful look on his face, Evan nodding slyly as he shifts his gaze back toward the bar.
"A hurricane!" Trent orders, cursorily peering back as Dakota walks up. "You need something too, babe?"
Hearing the word /babe/ was shocking. Dakota couldn't even remember the last time his boyfriend had called him that. "No, I'm good," he answers, trying not to dwell as his eyes are fixed on Evan stepping away and disappearing outside. Dakota knew he was seeing a fleeting mirage, not the real Trent, the resentful, controlling, jealous man he'd have to suffer driving home with after a couple more days.
Trent turns around with a fresh drink in hand, smiling for the first time since they'd walked in. "I fucking love these things!" he says as he takes a swallow. "You want some?" Trent holds the cup out.
Dakota grabs it and takes a couple sips, pushing it back into his boyfriend's hands. "That's so strong!"
"Really? I can't even taste the alcohol anymore!" Trent declares, pressing the cup back to his lips.
"You haven't seen the balcony yet," Dakota complains, moving his drunk boyfriend out into the humid air and standing with him against the railing. He observes Trent checking Evan out immediately, exactly as he'd expected.
Trent slurps more booze down as he scans the crowds of intoxicated revelers below. "Is this where you've been all night? This is nice!" He looks over at Evan again, staring way longer than he should.
"Why do you keep checking that guy out?" Dakota whispers.
Trent looks playfully into his boyfriend's eyes. "Sorry, babe, he's hot!" he tries to murmur.
Dakota winces hearing that word again, doubting himself for a moment, but he knows Trent is just drunk. His vocabulary will reset as soon as he's sober, that particular designation totally forgotten, and then he'll be back to treating Dakota like shit again.
"You think I'm hot?" Evan asks, peering over at the two boys with a smirk on his face as he steps closer.
"Well, you are!" Trent blurts out.
"He's a little drunk," Dakota says, trying to act like he has no idea who Evan is.
The guy laughs it off perfectly. "No worries, you guys are both hot too. Are you here together?"
"Yeah, he's my boyfriend," Dakota answers as Trent is shamelessly eye fucking Evan.
Evan glances down at the street, sipping his drink before he looks back over. "You guys come out tonight looking for a third?"
Trent's face desperately bolts toward Dakota's. "Have you ever wanted to do that?" he wonders excitedly.