by Andy Gallo
“My boyfriend,” Ed said in his ear, and the word thrust another layer of intensity into the moment. It should be impossible that sex with Ed felt this good, this comfortable, this heated.
“Your boyfriend.”
“Only me,” Ed said again, and Jack’s orgasm pounded into him and he cried out, ass clenching with the force of it. Shot after shot burst out of him and into Ed’s cupped palm.
Ed plunged deep inside of him and stilled, cock pulsing as he filled the condom. “Please don’t go with anyone else.”
In the morning, Jack woke, searching the bed for Ed. He cracked one eye open and found his boyfriend staring down at him, smiling.
“Time to wake up, sleepyhead, checkout is at noon.”
Jack blinked the cheap motel room into focus, the one they’d taken in the heat of the moment last night. They’d been up most of the night, and their clothes were a testament to how hot they’d been together: a messy trail leading from the door to the bed. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. “What time is it?”
“Eleven thirty.”
Jack leaped out of bed. “Shit. I promised Marcus I’d go with him to pick up our tuxes for Saturday. Wait, shouldn’t you be at work?”
Ed winked at him. “I called in sick. Something I never do, so they didn’t blink twice.”
That took an edge off the panic. Jack took off the ring around his neck, handing it to Ed instead of leaving it on the sink. Ed smiled as he gripped it, and Jack jumped into the shower while the jets still sprayed cold water. He danced under an icy wake-up call, howling at the shock.
Ed followed him inside the small bathroom. “Just how late are you?”
Jack grinned at the leer. “Damn. Very late.” He grabbed the flowery soap and started scrubbing in the slowly warming water. “Hold that thought for the next time?”
“So you and Marcus are both getting a tux?”
Was that worry in Ed’s voice? Jack paused and swallowed, foamy soap sliding down his face. “Yes, but only because Marcus made me.” He turned his face into the water to get the soap out of his eyes, then pulled the curtain back and looked at Ed leaning back against the bathroom door. “I still have to go the formal.”
“Have to?” Doubt creased Ed’s forehead.
“I’m not going to slink away. When Harper asks, I’m going to tell him and everyone else the truth; I lost the bet rather than lose you. If I don’t go, no one will believe me.”
Ed’s smile turned into a smirk right before he crossed the small room and nicked a kiss. “Don’t want them to think you couldn’t get a date, eh?”
“Damn right.” Jack pulled the curtain closed and finished washing. “What’s the point in dating a totally hot guy if I can’t let people know how lucky I am?”
“Right, so lucky.”
Jack almost got out, but he needed to hurry up or they’d get charged for another day. He rinsed in record time. When he stepped out, he found Ed standing with a towel, or what passed for one in this place. Roughly drying himself, he watched Ed leave, only to come back with his clothes.
“Better hurry. Checkout is in ten minutes. If we’re late, not only are you paying for another night, you and Marcus are no doubt gonna end up with ill-fitting pale blue tuxes.”
“Not funny,” Jack said, amusement in his voice. “You have no idea how true that might be.”
Ed swiped his ass with the towel Jack had dropped. “Better get cracking, then.”
Jack grinned and practically jumped into his clothes, slipped on his sneakers, and stuffed his phone in his pocket. He took out his wallet and handed Ed five twenties to pay for the room.
Ed waved it off. “Don’t worry. I got it.”
“But it was my idea. Let me pay for half at least.”
Ed pointed toward the door. “You pay next time.”
“Hmm, okay, deal.” Jack put the bills in his pocket. He liked knowing there’d be a next time.
Jack landed the last parking spot right outside the fraternity. He leaned back against the driver’s seat and stared up and the old Victorian house. The roof shone brightly in the dazzling sun, and Jack grinned, imagining tying Harper’s bed up there. Like father, like son….
His grin faded. Wouldn’t be much longer and he’d have to say goodbye to this place.
The ghost of Ed’s kisses prickled his neck, and he closed his eyes on the memory of last night. Please don’t go with anyone else.
Ed hadn’t mentioned it again, and Jack wasn’t sure how much had been their heat talking, but… obviously that’s how Ed really felt.
Jack bumped his head back against the rest and his hand flew to his chest—
He patted around for his ring and then straightened. Fuck! Had he’d left it at the hotel? He closed his eyes and relived the frenzied rush to check out; he got up, took it off and….
Almost the same second as his realization, his phone vibrated. Jack pulled it out and answered Ed’s call. “I left my—”
“I have it,” Ed said.
A wave of relief flooded him, and he let out a laughing breath. “Good.” He started up his Jeep. “I’ll come right around and grab it.”
“Actually,” Ed said, “I’m out with my dad getting yard stuff. Can I get it back to you later? Shit, I have class tonight, and…. I could hand it to Mom and you could swing by there—”
“Um….” Jack would rather his dad’s ring didn’t pass to anyone else. Ed he trusted. He turned off the Jeep’s engine. “Can you hang on to it?”
Ed paused. “Sure. I finish work at three thirty tomorrow. I can swing by your house right after? Say four?”
“You’d… you’d come here again?” Jack watched as Darren and Harper left the house followed by Chem Ben. Ben balanced a stack of books so high his face was barely visible. Darren decided to ditch the dick and grabbed half the pile to help him. “What if someone sees you?” What if there was a repeat of the Chem Ben and company situation?
Ed’s breath crackled down the line. “I fucked up yesterday. I kinda want a repeat. But, that being said, yeah… I’m nervous.” A gentle chuckle made Jack smile. “But you know, start small, right? And dropping off your ring won’t take too long. We can go out for dinner after, if you like?”
“Sounds perfect,” Jack said, and got out of the car with a ridiculous smile stretching his face. “My place at four.”
“It’s a date.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Have fun last night?” Marcus pinched Jack’s face, moving it left and right. “He didn’t leave any marks. That’s a plus.”
Jack slapped Marcus’s hand away. “Stuff it, Marc. I let Kieran do that one time. Are you ever going to let it go?”
“After you get married, I’ll consider it.”
“That’s so wrong.” Jack tried to be mad, but not only was he still on a high, Marcus seemed in a good mood as well. Less tense. Hell, he didn’t bitch that Jack was ten minutes late and that would cut into his “browsing time.”
“Maybe, but in fairness to me, it was huge.”
“I know. I was there. I wore it for two weeks.”
“Almost three but who’s counting.” Marcus bumped their shoulders and reached for the door.
As his brother had suggested, two thirty on a Wednesday afternoon was a great time to get a tux. There were twice as many salespeople as customers. In fact, they were the only two.
He vaguely heard a salesman ask if they needed anything. Same went for Marcus telling him they needed to look around first. Seeing the racks of tuxedos brought it all home. This was it. Marcus had been right. His impulsiveness had ended up kicking him in the balls.
“I’m going to lose the bet.”
“What?” Marcus pulled his head out of the row of black jackets. “What’d you say?”
“I’m screwed, Marc. I won’t have a date on Saturday.”
“It’s not Saturday yet.” He returned to looking at sizes. “There’s still time.”
Jack shook his head, not that Marcus was paying
attention. “I mean I’d rather lose than give up Ed.”
“Who says you can’t have both?”
Jack stared a hole in Marcus’s back. Was he even listening? Both? That wasn’t an option. “It’s an either-or situation.”
“Look, it’ll work out in the end,” Marcus said tightly. “It has to. Now start looking. We don’t have a lot of time since you showed up late.”
Jack was screwed. Scanning the store, he wondered if the place would give away empty packing boxes.
“No,” Jack said to Marcus, spinning around as he reached the deserted living room. “I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Marcus’s voice was blunt, and his brow pinched. Jack shook his head as he planted himself at one end of the sofa. “We both know you can if you want to.”
“Just let it go. Please?” Jack glanced at the wooden clock mounted to the wall—still a couple of hours before Ed would be there. He sighed and looked back at his brother. “It’s hard enough doing this without you being upset.”
“I’m not upset,” Marcus said with a glare, “just confused. Why not?”
“He won’t like it.”
“So? You two aren’t married. Hell, you just started going out.”
Jack pinched the bridge of his nose and rested his head back, staring up at the ceiling. “Marcus… I know that, but I really like him.”
“Enough that you’d move out?” The sofa dipped as Marcus sat on other end. “Because I know that’s what you’ll do.”
Jack understood his brother’s frustration. “You don’t need to move out with me. You should stay.”
“Like I’d do that.”
“Why not? I lost, not you.”
“That’s just it, you haven’t lost yet.” Marcus bucked off the sofa and paced in front of Jack. “I’m not suggesting you date Brant, just bring him as your date. I’ve told him the whole thing. He knows this isn’t a date date. What’s the problem?”
“Ed won’t see it that way.”
“But it’s the truth.” Marcus screwed on his lawyer face. “You’re not going on a date, just bring Brant as your—”
“Date. That’s what it’s called, Marcus, a date.” Jack leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and linked his fingers. “Ed’s already made it clear how he’d feel if I bring someone else to the formal.”
“Why does he care?” Marcus flung his arms out, and Jack flinched at the frustration in his tone. “It’s not like he wants to come.”
“That’s just it. I think he does want to come, but it’s too much, too soon.”
“All the more reason he shouldn’t care if you go with someone just as a friend. Look—” Marcus sat next to him again. “—if he really cares—”
“Don’t, Marcus!”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t start with the if he really cares bit. He does care. A lot!” Jack knew it with every bit of himself. “This whole not being out is eating him up.”
“But why can’t he let you come with a friend?”
“Would Nessa be cool if you brought Michele Listerman?”
“What?”
“You heard me. If Nessa couldn’t make it, would she be cool if you brought another hot girl in her place?”
“No, but this is different.”
“What if you had made the bet? Would she be okay with you taking Michele?” He knew the answer, but he needed Marcus to see it too.
“I don’t know. Maybe. But this is different. If she couldn’t make it, then yes, she might be mad. Ed could come, but he won’t. Totally different.”
It didn’t feel that way to Jack. “Marcus, I really like him. I’ve told him everything. Everything. Not only didn’t he run away, he pulled closer.”
“Relationships come and go; this might not last.”
“Dad met Mom sophomore year.” He raised an eyebrow. “He told me he knew she was the one after just one date.”
“You think this is the one?” Marcus sounded skeptical.
“Yes, I do.” Jack’s heart fluttered, saying that aloud. God, the truth was practically bursting out of him. “I’d rather move out than hurt him. It’s just a room. I’ll still be friends with the guys, and nothing will break you and me apart.”
He bumped their shoulders but didn’t get the smile he wanted.
“Don’t fool yourself. It’s not just a room.”
The words cut Jack to the bone. Marcus’s hurt was palpable, and that yanked at Jack’s gut, making the fluttering disappear.
“We wanted this since we were thirteen,” he said. “Dad went here, our dad and yours, and they were the best of friends. Just like us. I want my kids to come here. You might not be thinking kids, but I am.”
“Low blow, bro. You know I’d like to have children someday.”
“Sorry. It’s just….” Marcus shook his head, and Jack saw his struggle. “Never mind.”
“Say it, Marc. Whatever it is, just say it.”
“I’ve never asked for anything before.” Marcus refused to look at Jack. “I know that sounds shitty, but it’s true. I don’t get why he would be mad if you went with someone just as a friend. It’s like he doesn’t want you to win. Maybe he wants you to lose so you have to move out. That way he can visit you off campus.”
Ouch. Was that what Marcus thought? He didn’t know Ed at all—
He really didn’t know Ed at all.
How could he when Ed never dropped by just to hang out?
Marcus slumped his shoulders, and Jack sidled closer to him and pressed their shoulders together. “Ed doesn’t know I’d have to move, Marcus.”
“What?”
“I didn’t tell him that.”
“Why not? Maybe if he knew….”
“I didn’t want him to feel pressured to come. It’s his life we’re talking about. Not some stupid formal or a room.”
Marcus’s voice cracked. “Stop saying it’s just a room.”
They were so quiet Jack heard the individual ticks of the clock.
Marcus looked at him, gaze pleading. “Please take someone as a friend.”
Jack breathed heavily through his nose. He couldn’t screw his brother, the person who’d always stood by him, who always would. He wanted to yell at Marcus, but his feelings were just as valid as Ed’s.
The choice was his, and he’d lose either way.
“I’ll meet Brant.” His gut twisted sharply. “But if I get any hint that he’s expecting anything from this, I’m bailing.”
Marcus nodded slowly, then leaned over and hugged him. “Okay. And he won’t expect anything. He’s got a boyfriend back in Massachusetts.”
Jack thought he heard someone walking outside the room, but when he looked through the door, he didn’t see anyone. “When am I supposed to meet him?”
“He’s sorta close to campus now.”
Jack frowned. “Close to campus?”
“At Nessa’s coffeehouse.”
“Shit, Marcus….”
Marcus threw up his hands. “Look, he knew Billy, and those guys wanted to catch up. I might have happened to mention I liked that coffeehouse. Brant said to head over there if you wanna meet him. So, um, I’ll grab my wallet and we can go?” Marcus practically flew out of the room and up the stairs. Quick, like he didn’t want Jack to change his mind.
Jack reluctantly followed. Leaving the living room, he smacked into one of Harper’s puppets loitering in the hall. Greg grunted some obscenity under his tongue and hoofed it up the stairs.
Jack slumped all the way to his room to wait on Marcus, and then all the way across campus to the coffeehouse and Brant.
This felt all kinds of wrong.
But Marcus was his bro, always had been, and always would be.
Brant and Billy sat in the corner of the room in front of a potted tree. Billy waved them over. “Jack, Marcus. Grab a seat.”
Jack slowed his step, wishing that the crop of dark hair on the guy sitting with his back to him were Ed’s.
Brant twis
ted in his seat and smiled. It was wide and welcoming, and his eerie amber eyes took him in appreciatively, but Jack felt cold. A month ago, Brant would have been just his type: tall, whipcord build, with confidence that leaked from him.
It did nothing for him now.
Marcus dragged over a wooden chair from a neighboring table, and Jack did the same, twisting and straddling it, keeping the back like a wall between him and Brant.
Marcus pointed to the guy. “Jack. Brant. Brant. Jack.”
Jack half stood up and reached over. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“Good, man. You?” Brant’s handshake passed muster. No surprise.
“All right, thanks.”
“I was just telling him what a great guy you are,” Billy said.
“Don’t believe everything he says.” Jack forced a smile. “He’s got a great poker face.”
“Good to know.” Brant looked as uncomfortable as Jack felt.
No one spoke for a few seconds. The sound of Marcus pushing his chair nearly startled him. “Billy, let’s go get some coffee.”
“But I have some?” He held up his cup.
“That’s code, man.” Brant flicked his fingers at Billy. “This is awkward enough without you sitting there.”
“Oh, right.” He stood and turned to go, then reached back for his coffee. “No sense actually buying anything if it’s just code.”
Billy and Marcus moved to the counter.
Jack shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder if I brought him up well enough to survive.”
“You raised him?”
“He was my pledge brother last fall. I feel responsible for him.”
Brant’s laugh rolled off his tongue. “Billy thinks a lot of you.”
“He’s loyal, that’s for sure.” Jack wished he’d thought to get something to drink. “So… I’ve never done this.”
“What? Never met someone to take to your formal as a friend?”
“Believe it or not, I did that once.” Jack gave him a rueful laugh. “Someone asked me to go as their friend last fall.”
