Rules We Break 10 - Buying Lunch

Jeremy strummed his fingers along his guitar, stopping every few chords to write on an old pad with a worn pencil. He knew he shouldn't be trying to make original music for his first show. It had been years since he’d performed, after all. It would be smarter to brush off some old pieces, or even just do a few covers to get his feet wet again. It would let him focus on being in front of a crowd. Working on his voice, settling his nerves.

But those old songs were from a different time. He was a different person.

And the itch to create had never left him.

He turned chords around and found them in interludes. Plucked it all together with a few hums before jotting down notes. Finding the loops and rhythms that mattered, tossing the ones that didn't.

"We could go big," Micky had said. Pushing his long curly hair out of his eyes. "You keep this magic up, and we could really do it."

Jeremy didn't believe him then, and he didn't believe him now. The broken asphalt just outside his driveway told him that much. A trash bag blew in the wind. He slid down the strings and strummed. An elderly couple crossed the street, walking past white fences. Jeremy adjusted the chorus tempo.

And by the time he had a rhythm going.

By the time it all started to come together.

Jeremy wasn't in that quiet neighborhood anymore.

His eyes closed tight and followed the music. He could see faces watching him as he played. Their eyes lit up as they felt the music with him. Nothing else mattered in that moment. Nothing else existed.

Jeremy cut the music sharply as he jotted a few more notes.

"Fuckin’ A, you still have it," Ryan said.

Jeremy jumped in his folding chair and turned to find Ryan standing at the door leading into the house. He wore a baggy T-shirt and cotton gym shorts. His big beard and long brown hair made the gigantic man look like a wild Viking.

"Ryan!" Jeremy said with a laugh. "Didn't hear you come in."

"You practicing?"

"Uh… yeah, I'm… I'm actually thinking about doing a show soon." Jeremy took notes as he spoke.

"What?! No way!" Ryan barreled over to him and pulled up a folding chair resting on the side of the garage. "Where at?"

"Not sure yet, I still have to get the details from Tom. But probably something small. I might even just do a dive bar if I’m being honest."

"That’s great, man! And Sage actually went for it?" Ryan asked, plopping down into his chair with a grunt.

Jeremy smiled.

"Yeah, she did, actually. Told me to knock them dead."

Ryan clapped his hands excitedly. "That's what I like to hear! I knew she'd come around, man."

"Yeah, you were right, she really did. I don’t know why I thought she wouldn’t." Jeremy began to strum with a smile on his face. The chords came to him fast and without effort. Connecting to every emotion he felt with ease.

Ryan watched in reverence for a moment as he nodded slowly.

"I'm telling you, dude, you could really make it if you wanted to."

"Naah," Jeremy said absently, slowly putting his guitar away.

"You think Sage would let you tour?" Ryan asked.

Jeremy froze for a moment, then slowly locked the case.

"I… only said I'd do small shows," he said.

"Ok, but do you want to tour?"

Jeremy shrugged before nodding.

"Then you need to tell her, man!"

“I don’t even know if I will keep doing it after a few shows,” Jeremy said absently.

Ryan laughed warmly.

“As soon as you get back on that stage, you are not going to want to get off it. And that’s a GOOD thing. By the way.” He spoke with certainty.

Jeremy leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "She wouldn't go for touring, man…"

"Yes, she would," Ryan said firmly.

Jeremy looked at him in surprise.

"You think?"

Ryan almost seemed disappointed that Jeremy was asking the question.

"Look, Sage might be a little uptight, but do you really think she'd want to keep you from something that makes you so happy?"

Jeremy knew the answer before Ryan had finished his sentence.

"No, I guess not.”

Ryan leaned forward.

"No, Jeremy. Not guess. You KNOW she wouldn't want that.”

Jeremy nodded. “You’re right.”

“And think about it,” Ryan continued. “Would you really want to bottle it all up for her? You'd think she'd want you to put it all away for her sake?"

"No, she wouldn't," Jeremy said with certainty.

"Exactly. So tell her! If it means something to you, I promise she will have your back. Because that’s who Sage is.” Ryan paused for a moment. “Even if she is a little uptight.”

Jeremy laughed with him.

“Thanks, Ryan,” he said. Ryan slapped his shoulder.

“Hey, don’t mention it. Gotta keep you two on the path. You always have been prone to drama.”

“We have not,” Jeremy shot back.

“Oh yeah? What about freshman year when she stormed out of the Ambient Theatre?”

“That was different. It was a misunderstanding.”

“Yeah yeah.” Ryan waved him off.

Jeremy laughed. “How have you and Amy been?”

“We’re doing good, man. The kids are driving us nuts, though. It was really nice being able to get away for a while.”

“Who’s watching them?”

Ryan sighed as he slouched in the chair and placed his hands behind his head.

“Her parents. They love those little guys.” He paused and glanced at Ryan. “Did I tell you she wants a third?”

Jeremy’s eyes widened.

“What?!”

“Yeah…”

“Didn’t you want to try getting a job in the office though?”

Ryan chuckled. “Yeah.”

“So how’s that going to work?”

Ryan shrugged. “When you’re in love. You make it work.”

Before Jeremy could gather his thoughts, he looked over Ryan’s shoulder and saw David walking up their driveway. He squinted in confusion, which made Ryan glance back.

“Hey fellas,” David said awkwardly, giving Ryan a nod as he stood from his chair. “It's uh… Ryan, right?”

“Yup, that's me, and you're… shit, don’t tell me… David, right?” Ryan asked as he offered his hand.

“That I am…” David said with a tight smile, taking Ryan’s hand firmly. He cleared his throat and looked at Jeremy. “Heard the playing. It sounded pretty good.”

“Thanks,” Jeremy said, sizing him up as he slouched back in his chair. David wore a polo that showed off his broad shoulders and subtle gut. His cargo shorts, designer watch, and flip-flops gave him a done-up casual look that, honestly, wasn’t half bad. Though Jeremy was reluctant to admit it.

“Look uh… I don’t mean to interrupt, but I was hoping to chat with you for a minute, Jeremy.” David said.

“Oh yeah, what about?”

David glanced at Ryan. “It's about… the personal matter from before?”

Ryan looked at Jeremy with concern.

“Everything alright?” he asked.

Jeremy clenched his teeth as he glared at David.

“Oh yes, everything is fine. I was helping David with a family issue. That’s all.”

Ryan let out a surprised laugh.

"Damn, I didn’t know you guys were that close!”

A smile grew across David's stubbled face.

“Oh yeah… we’ve all gotten very friendly recently," he said.

Jeremy forced a smile of his own.

“No shit,” Ryan said, letting out a surprised laugh.

And Ryan, being his usual social self, did the very thing Jeremy prayed he wouldn't do.

“Well listen, we were actually planning to hit the golf course in a little bit if you wanted to join us.”

Jeremy closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

And when he opened them, he found David smiling like an idiot.

"Golfing, huh? Man, it’s been a minute. I wouldn’t want to intrude though…”

Ryan slapped him on the shoulder.

“Oh, come on! There’s no way you could do that! A friend of Jeremy’s is a friend of mine. You should join us.”

Jeremy and David stared at one another.

“Well, if you insist,” David said.

–

Jeremy lined up his driver and swung without much thought. His golf ball went wide into the brush as Ryan whistled.

"Jesus, Jeremy, it just isn't your day, huh?" He'd changed into khakis and a polo T, as had David. Jeremy, however, had stuck to shorts and a plain white T-shirt, which he was now second-guessing as several more golf carts of well-dressed groups passed.

"Yeah, well… you can't win them all," Jeremy said absently as the three walked down to the green.

"That's not the right mindset," David said coolly. Jeremy did his best to hide his annoyance, already knowing exactly what Ryan was going to say.

"Exactly! That is what I’m always telling him. You've got to have a winner's mindset."

"See? Ryan gets it," David said with a chuckle.

"That I do, you in project management also?" Ryan asked.

"Nope, sales," David said dully.

"Ahhh, well, that explains it then. Can’t really lose in that field, can you?" Ryan said.

"No, sir. Fits my personality, that’s for sure,” David said. His eyes turned to Jeremy as he continued. “I’ve always been a winner."

Jeremy ignored the comment and began looking for his ball in the bushes while Ryan eagerly walked over to the green. David stood in the middle of them, and when he saw Ryan a good distance off, he turned and walked over to Jeremy.

"You finding it alright?" he asked.

"Yeah… I'm good. Feel free to play on," Jeremy said absently, head deep in the bushes. David watched for a moment and chuckled. Jeremy looked up in annoyance. "Something funny?"

"Golf is clearly not your thing, huh?" David's words were almost friendly.

"No, it's Ryans. But he loves this course, so here we are." Jeremy stepped further into the bushes and grumbled. David watched him struggle for a moment before speaking.

"So listen, I wanted to ask you if it'd be alright if Sage came by later today."

Jeremy looked at him in confusion.

"Why?" he asked.

"I've got to return her dress,” David said.

"Her dress is ripped. I don't think she can do much with it."

"Yeah, well, I got her a new one."

The comment made Jeremy's blood boil.

“You don’t need to be doing that kind of stuff. I can get her a new one.”

“Yeah, well, I did.”

"Uh huh… well, you know the rules, once a month, remember? You can give it to her then."

"Come on, Jeremy. You and I both know how fun the other night was. You really want to wait a whole month?"

Jeremy examined David closely. He wasn't wrong. It was fun. Very fun, in fact. But they had written the rules for a reason, and Jeremy really didn't like the idea of giving David an inch.

"You talk to Sage about this?” he asked.

David raised his hands playfully. "Who do you think I am?"

Jeremy smirked.

"A random old guy from next door who has been begging to bang my wife, but didn't quite get the chance." Jeremy couldn't help himself. The look on David's face was too good. "I did, though. I get to every night."

They stared coldly at one another, then David's face broke into a smile as he gave a respectful nod. He began to laugh. And Jeremy, feeling the absurdity of the moment, joined him.

“You got a snap to you, huh?” David said.

“Better believe it.”

David chuckled and crossed his arms.

"Tell you what, hotshot. Let’s have a little bet. You take that ball of yours and put it right next to mine. If you beat me on the green, I'll wait till next month. But if I win… she comes over tonight."

Jeremy slouched his shoulders as he stared at David dully.

"Really? A bet?" he said.

"Call it friendly competition," David replied.

“And what if Sage says no?”

David chuckled. “She won’t.”

Those words stuck more than Jeremy wanted to admit. He scoffed and returned his attention to finding his golf ball.

"As if it were a competition," Jeremy shot back.

David shrugged.

"Well, if it isn't a competition, then there’s nothing to worry about, right?"

Jeremy found his ball and pulled it out of the muck beneath the tall grasses. He wiped it off and stared at it a moment before glancing at David.

"You do remember I'd have to be there, right? And it's not like we can both just disappear with Ryan and Amy around," Jeremy said.

David looked back at Ryan on the green.

"Huh… Well, could always film it for ya,” he said casually.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow.

"Film it?"

"Yeah, you know, we get a phone, push play, you can watch it later. Basically the same thing, right?"

Jeremy stared at him in disbelief.

"You really aren't going to let this one go, are you?"

David’s eyes lit up like lanterns.

"Like I said, I always win.”

Jeremy shook his head in annoyance.

"You always win…" he said mockingly, making his way out of the reeds.

"And here I was thinking you were the wild one,” David replied.

God, this asshole really knew how to get under Jeremy's skin.

"And you talked to Sage about this? She's good with it?"

"I said I'd ask you," David said calmly.

Jeremy could have said no. In fact, it probably would have been the smarter thing to do. It would put David in his place. It would keep him on a tight leash.

But Jeremy had been doing the smart thing for so long.

And he really wanted to show David who it was he was dealing with.

"Fine, you're on," Jeremy said, brushing him past him and to the green.

David followed behind him with a clap of his hands.

"Now we're talking!"

The two walked over to the green, and Jeremy placed his ball down near David's. Ryan was putting his club away when he saw them prepping for their shots.

"Ho hooo, what's this?" he asked, walking over to them.

"A little challenge," David said. "Lunch is riding on this putt."

Ryan laughed and stepped behind them.

"This I gotta see."

David looked over at Jeremy.

"You ready?"

"Just hit the damn ball,” Jeremy said.

David pulled out his club, then turned and went to swing. But as the club was about to come into contact with his ball, he stopped.

“You know what? Why don’t you go first?” he said.

“Really?” Jeremy said, unable to hide his annoyance.

“Please,” David stepped back and ushered Jeremy forward.

Ryan laughed as Jeremy brushed past David. He set himself up, looking at the flag off in the distance. Completely uncertain how the hell he was going to get his ball there.

“Square your shoulders,” David said.

“Please shut up,” Jeremy replied flatly.

Ryan and David chuckled. Jeremy squared himself and took a deep breath. Then, with a gentle putt, the ball flew forward.

Halfway across the green, and stopping to the left of the hole.

Jeremy closed his eyes in frustration, walked to the ball, and hit it again.

It rocketed forward and painfully overshot.

“Take your time! Don’t rush it!” David called out.

His confident voice grated like sand paper.

Jeremy tried to focus on the ball. He tried not to think of what David would do to Sage once they were alone. How his hands would find her. How much she might give him again.

The image of David’s cock between her tits flashed through his head as he hit his ball.

It flew past the hole once more.

And as he went to line himself once more in frustration, he stared blankly as a ball slowly rolled past him.

And sank into the hole.

Jeremy looked up, watching as David swung his club playfully while Ryan burst into laughter.

David caught Jeremy’s eye with a smile.

“Guess that means lunch is on you.”

--

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