Story Excerpt
Forever Mates: Yuri & Jace

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"This is really stupid, Jace."

"It's just a bar, Liam. They can't keep us out."

"You think not?" Liam laughed nervously as he looked back toward the car, wishing he could convince his friends to get back in it and drive away. "We're in redneck hell, Jace. Not only can they keep us out, they can tar and feather us." Liam glanced behind him at his friend Bay. "That is what they do in these backwater towns, isn't it? Tar and feather people?"

He knew it was something that hurt.

Bay snorted. "Normal people, maybe. Queers like us?" Bay had a very serious expression on his face as he shook his head. "They string us up, and like, throw lawn darts at us or something."

Liam gulped. Lawn Darts?

"Oh please." Jace waved his manicured hand dismissively. "This is a public place. We have as much right to be here as anyone else."

"Honey, I hate to break this to you but we're not anyone else." A burst of laughter fell from Bay’s lips. "We're loud, flaming, flamboyant, queens.” Bay pointed. “Hell, the eyeliner on Rue's face alone could get our asses kicked."

Jace frowned.

Rue blushed.

Liam bit his lip to keep from laughing. He clutched his little sequined purse in his hand and tried to look like he wasn't shaking in his boots. He would be much more comfortable if they all just went home. This place gave him the skivvies and they hadn’t even gotten inside yet.

"Jace, honey, if someone looked up gay in the dictionary," Bay said, "they'd find a picture of us."

"We're not that bad," Jace insisted.

Yes, we are! Liam nodded.

"Jace, what color is my shirt?" Bay asked as he plucked at the silky material with his fingers.

Jace’s brows drew together. "Azure blue, why?"

"And Liam's?" Bay continued.

"Chartreuse."

Liam glanced down at his greenish yellow shirt. He liked it. He had to go to three different stores just to find the right color to match the outfit he had been planning at the time. It was a great shirt.

"Uh huh," Bay said, "and what type of piercing does Rue have?"

Jace glanced back at Rue, grinning. "Guiche."

"Honey, face it, we're gay!"

Liam laughed at the blush creeping up Rue's face again. Bay was probably right. Rue did wear a lot of eyeliner. Still, they had as much right as anyone else to be in this bar, even if they were clearly gay.

And, unless someone was blind and deaf, they were all clearly gay.

"Okay, so we're gay. So what? That doesn't mean we don't have as much right to be here as anyone else." Jace grabbed the door handle to the bar. "Besides, maybe we can teach those hicks a things or two about fashion and makeup."

Liam wasn’t sure the hicks cared. He didn’t think fashion and makeup were things hicks even thought about. But what did he know? He was city born and bred.

Jace was laughing as he opened the bar door and took a step inside then suddenly stopped. Bay, Liam, and Rue plowed into him from behind as Jace's laughter slowly died away. Liam buried his head in Bay's back. He was terrified of what he would see if he looked up. 

Bay moved.

Liam looked up.

Sure enough, they were fucked!

There was nothing but a sea of rough, muscle bound, jean clad, cowboy boot wearing, beer drinking rednecks. They were everywhere, as far as the eye could see. Most, if not all of them, had beers in their hands. A few men sat in booths around the room. Several were playing pool. There were even a few that seemed to be just hanging out at the bar counter. Loud country music could be heard…well, everywhere.

It was really loud.

The place basically looked like every backwoods bar that Liam had ever envisioned… pool tables, beer and peanuts, country music, and rednecks. And Liam couldn't see a gay man in the bunch.

"Come on in, boys." Jace laughed, but it was a nervous laugh. "There's eye candy as far as the mascara wearing eye can see."

They were going to die!