Bullheaded

it took him completely by surprise.
    He went to the restroom and stood at a urinal, barely noticing when a man came and stood next to him. He did notice, however, when the man put a hand on his dick. He was shaking off when the man reached out to grab him. Shocked speechless, Cody darted a glance at the man’s face, but his admirer was staring at the wall straight ahead, as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. The only movement was one hand wrapped around his own dick and one hand sliding up and down Cody’s pole.
    Cody didn’t usually go for doing it out in the open like this, but the novel approach surprised him so much he was instantly hard. Five minutes later he was spent and sweating but put away, zipped up, and walking out of the bar. He didn’t even stick around to see if the guy shot. It was oddly hot but left him feeling empty. He’d get over that, though.
    Besides, Johnny only had himself to blame if Cody had to get his needs met somewhere else.

Chapter 9:
Riding with Vern

    B EING in Chicago in the ring without knowing Cody was back behind the scenes somewhere made for a surreal experience. It wasn’t as though they could talk during an event, seeing as they played opposite sides of the fence, but Johnny knew that, when Cody was there, they’d be meeting up at the hotel later, that he had someone to let down his hair with. Now he would have to watch his step.
    Close as he felt to Reese and Vern as teammates, they didn’t know him. Right now he had to work doubly hard to keep his focus on point so he didn’t fuck up and invite questions or a reprimand. Some of the joy had gone out of it for him.
    He tried to think back to before he’d hooked up with Cody. He used to enjoy himself just fine when he went to the show, whether as a rider or after he’d transitioned to fighting bulls. Now it was all so difficult. Cody had become so entwined with his experience of bullfighting that Johnny felt off-balance, but he’d get used to it. He’d have to, just like he’d have to get used to the celibate life.
    After the show and their usual postmortem analysis of their game, Vern didn’t look at him while he asked, “You got a way to Columbus?”
    “Taking the train,” Johnny said, also carefully not meeting Vern’s eyes as he packed his gear.
    “You could ride along with me if you want. There’s room in my truck.”
    “Or mine,” Reese said.
    “You could alternate, so as to keep us from getting our feelings hurt.” Vern chuckled dryly.
    “I’d be grateful,” Johnny said, strangely touched by both their offers. Maybe misery was wafting off him like some toxic aftershave and they’d picked up on it. “I could help pay for gas.”
    Vern shrugged. “I gotta get to the next venue myself anyway. It’s all tax deductible for me. But we’re not stopping along the way for a beer.”
    Johnny smothered a grin at Vern’s stern glare. “I’m not much of a drinker.”
    “Keep it that way.” Vern slapped him on the shoulder. “My truck’s parked out back. Whenever you’re ready.”
    Johnny nodded and watched Vern and Reese leave the changing room. His running off to meet Cody after shows had made it so he had no clue what his two work partners did afterward. He took one last look in his locker, but he was naturally tidy and had left nothing behind. It had been a while since he hadn’t gone to a hotel to meet Cody after the show, but it was his choice. Maybe Cody already had a new boyfriend. In his eyes, Cody was so desirable he could have gotten anyone he wanted. And he was a horndog, so he probably had at least hooked up by now. It had been three achingly long days for Johnny also, but he couldn’t even think of a hookup, anonymous or otherwise. But whatever Cody did it was none of his business, not anymore.
    He shouldered his bags and walked out to meet Vern at his truck.

    V ERN refused his offer to help drive. “I’m used to it. Hope you don’t mind roughing it. I usually pull into a truck stop along the interstate for forty winks to save on a motel room until I get to the next city.”
    Johnny nodded. “Okay by me.”
    “Thought it might be. You get fired from your other job?”
    “Quit.”
    “Uh-hunh.”
    Somehow, from the tone of his voice, Johnny didn’t think Vern was buying it.
    “Seems like a funny time to quit.”
    “He didn’t want to give me time off for working the summer in the touring division.”
    Johnny worried Vern might think he was hurting for money.