Gay story novel par 3 (last part)
All day on Monday I thought about him. Every waking second; I could barely get my work done.
And it didnât matter that he hadnât responded to my text from this morning, I knew he worked a labor intensive job. So I waitedâ and waited and waited.
After work, I hit the gym at my complex and continued to think about him. He had me in a trance; one I couldnât shake free of. Everything had my mind replaying the events in my head. His lips on mine, his tongue down my neck; the whispers in my ear. Iâd never had a sexual encounter quite like that.
And being in the gym didnât help, not with blood rushing through my veins; testosterone coursing through me.
I cut my workout short actually, needing to relieve myself badly. But as I walked the sidewalks out of the gym and around the leasing office, a voice called out to me.
âMax!â It was Emilyâs shrill of excitement that turned my head towards the pool, not just her; but the four of them. She said something else, but my eyes were locked with Denverâs; with the man who ravaged me the night before. âMax?â
I shook my head and met her gaze, now walking towards the gate to let me in, âWanna join us?â
My lips parted, did I? Did I need to? Could I handle being so close to him right now, handle keeping such a secret in the presence of him and his friends.
âSure.â I smiled, nervously walking through the gate and following her.
She wasnât in a bikini, none of them were. âThe pool is like,â she turned her head to me, red hair flowing in the breeze; âour spot. You can usually find us here.â I nodded.
She guided me to their spot in a shaded corner, covered by newly planted palms that certainly didnât grow here. Denver had resumed conversation with Roman, not paying me any mind. I wish I could do the same, but I couldnât help my wandering eyes.
He had his head propped with folded arms behind him, completely clothed; but I could undress him with ease. The stubble across his jaw and neck had grown, his skin had faded to a muted tan under the shade; I cursed myself for so closely analyzing the details of him.
But a slender hand atop my thigh broke my focus, âOh wow, youâre really sweaty.â Emily slid a finger across the slick hairs on my leg with a gleam of interest in her eyes.
âI just left the gym.â I cracked a friendly smile, wondering how she couldnât tell.
She met my eyes with hers, âTake a dip with me?â She flashed a pretty smile and if I hadnât known better, Iâd think she was flirting with me.
Regardless, a dip in the pool actually sounded nice; refreshing. I nodded and as my shoes and socks came off, I realized I didnât have a swimsuit; âWait, I donât have swimming trunks with me.â
âSo?â She stripped off her crop-top, revealing a clasped bra around her breasts; âDo you see anyone here?â She motioned a hand to the empty pool yard. She stood and shamelessly slid her flared shorts down her slender legs, leaving her only in a bra and panties.
I shared a look with Leah who just smiled, then the boys who both cut their conversation and stared at herâ Denver stared at her.
Was it⌠jealousy? That washed over me? A smashing feeling that had me standing up and tearing off my shirt too. â*Woop! Woop!*â Roman cheered from his seat playfully, all three of them watching as Emily and I prepared for a dip.
I knew I looked good, I knew heâd look if he wanted. So I bent over and peeled my thin shorts down my legs, stepping out of them in just my boxers.
âOkay, get it Max!â Leah cheered too, everyone but Denver who sat silentâ frozen.
Emily took my hand with a devilish smile and pulled me towards the deep end. She looked me up and down, pausing where youâd think and playfully bit her lip; âCount of three?â
I nodded, taken aback a bit by her forwardness, by her gaze.
She counted, âThreeâŚâ we walked to the edge, âtwoâŚâ she squeezed my hand and shot me a smile; âone.â And we jumped.
The water felt amazing, rippling up my sides and engulfing me whole. I pushed from the bottom and took a breath of air, shaking my hair and opening my eyes to meet her there with me.
We laughed, wiping at our eyes and face. âFuck it, Iâm in.â We turned our heads to Roman who was already stripping his clothes, freeing his bare skin and chest hair.
Leah followed him, dropping her shorts and flinging off her top; and they both ran at the ledge and jumped.
Everyone but Denver who stayed still, arms now crossed with a crooked smile on his lips. âCome on D!â Roman cheered as he emerged from under the water.
âHe wonât.â Emily shot him a glare, turning to me again and taking my hand under the water. âHeâs a pussy.â Wrong, so so wrong.
He stayed put for a moment, but when Emilyâs arm snaked around mine; basically clingingâ he huffed and stood. It was a foreign feeling, a girl's arm around mine, squeezing and pulling me close to her body.
But still I watched himâ Denver. He lifted his shirt from his body, his muscles flexing as he pulled it off. My breathing hitched, despite the pretty redhead around my arm; the world around me became a tunnel as I focused solely on him. His eyes met mine as he stripped his shorts, his bulge heavy in his boxers.
And he didnât hesitate in running to the edge and jumping right in front of us, splashing the water into our faces.
He emerged with a head shake, his hair spiking in all directions as he opened his eyes with a smile. âHappy?â He said it to everyone but looked directly at me, reminding me of the same words from last night.
âWhat a stud.â Roman teased, his arms wrapped around his girlfriend next to us.
Emilyâs grip tightened around my arm, her leg now sliding between mine. âA tool, you mean.â She teased too, though I couldnât help but think there was something else happening; something in this group I didnât understand.
Denver laughed, leaning his elbows up on the ledge, âA *hot* tool, I think you meant.â
Emily rolled her eyes and faced me, despite the reaction; a faint blush did run to her cheeks. âSo whatâre you doing tonight, Max?â
âI didnât have plans, really.â I answered honestly, feeling more and more uncomfortable as her limbs continued touching mine.
She flashed a pretty smile and cocked her head, âMovie night?â
Before I could answer, Denver interjected; âWhereâs my invite?â His grin was wide, something new swirling through his emerald eyes.
âWho says you get one?â She spoke to him, but kept her eyes on me; âSo?â
Something definitely was happening. I felt stuck in the middle of some unknowing conflict I had no business being in, âDepends on the movie.â I answered, not trying to dismiss her friendly gesture.
I heard him scoff, but she answered instead; âAnything but action.â
âHa!â Denver piped, âYouâre telling a man no action?â He smirked at us, her arms snaking around my neck now.
She shot him a glare, âWonât you mind your business?â And to that he only smirked more, then sunk his head under the water. She turned to me with bright eyes, still a twinge of red on her cheeks; âDonât mind him.â But that was impossible.
âUhm,â I looked down a second, her breasts now pressing into my pecs. âYeah, sure. Just us though?â
And just for a split second, a different type of look flashed across her face; one of confusion? Denial? âWell Leah will probably be home.â
I have no clue why the signs werenât clicking before this moment, but she was obviously flirting with me; but why? âI guess, sure.â
âYou guess?â She playfully smacked me on the chest, breaking away from me and smiling.
I didnât know what to say but I smiled back nervously, turning to Roman and Leah in their own world; to Denver backstroking away in the water. âNo, sure. I meantâ yes.â
An eerie smile crept to her lips as she tread the water, lifting her legs and sliding them up my legs; getting closeâ too close. âPerfect, eight sound good?â
I nodded, swimming back to rid my body of her touch. Youâd think I would tell her, admit to her that I didnât swing her way but⌠the dynamic between these friends; the feeling I got in this pool with themâ it brought me right back to my time in the closet.
My chest felt heavy, my cheeks burned in embarrassment though I did nothing wrong. I was sworn to a secret and I didnât intend on breaking it, but admitting my sexuality to them felt like it would do just thatâ break it.
Thank God for Roman in that moment, picking up his girlfriend and throwing her into the water; creating a much needed distraction and laughter amongst us all.
It was odd though, considering yesterday I spent so much time with Denverâ he basically ignored me now. We shared two, maybe three words with each other. This crushing weight of his secret kept us apart; and I hated it.
But soon enough, the sun was beginning its descent and the air was filled with a cool breeze. We all climbed out of the water, freezing and shivering with no towels. Roman clutched to his girl, Emily was furiously pulling her dry clothes on and Denver⌠he was enjoying the sight, seemingly unbothered by the chill.
I was pulling on my own clothes, making myself decent for the walk home; but couldnât help look. His boxers hung lower as they were soaked, clinging to the frame of that cock that drilled me. If I wasnât so cold Iâd probably be pitching a tent.
But we all said our goodbyes, needing to seek warmth at our apartments. âSee you in an hour?â Emilyâs warm touch took hold of my bicep with equally warm eyes of brown.
âYeah.â I smiled, hurrying out of the gate to go home.
I basically ran to my shower to bask in the steaming water, relaxing immediately and running through the events of earlier.
Emily was clearly flirting with me, basically inviting me over as a *date*. And I hate that I let every instinct in me to speak up, fail. All for a guy who demanded I keep a secret for him. I rubbed my temples, how do I get out of this one? If I go to her apartment⌠is that likeâ leading her on? I mean, Iâm flattered; donât get wrong. But what do I do if she tries more than what she did at the pool? I am not straight, I repeatâ not straight.
And Denver knows this. He let all that transpire in the pool, egged it on, teased it. Why? Isnât he the slightest bit concerned that Iâd break our little secret? The slightest bit concerned of the neighbor he just met. Well he didnât act like it.
But despite the annoyed thoughts running through my head, my heart fluttered at the notification on my phone. A text, from *Yes Sir.*
*Excited for your date?* It read.
I rolled my eyes but smiled, a blush I couldnât stop if I tried.
*Is that what it is?* I responded.
And was surprised by such an immediate response. *Well she thinks so, wouldnât ya say?*
My heart rate spiked. *This is your fault.*
*My fault? Enlighten me.* He responded, and I could just hear the smirk behind it.
I went to type a paragraph. I wanted to explain it all to him, about me feeling trapped; about me having to keep this secret. But I silently feared it would push him away; and I know I just met the guy but⌠I couldnât take thatâ not right now.
*Is this some scheme to make you jealous?* I texted what I was thinking.
*Probably.* Is all he said.
I paused. *Is it working?*
He didnât respond right away this time, in fact it took enough time for me to dry off and change before he replied.
*Have fun tonight ;)* He avoided my question.
I checked the time, just ten minutes til eight. *Fuck you.*
*In your dreams baby.* And he was right, but it stung.
I left our thread at that and got ready. Ready for what? My guessâ a really weird fucking night.
But I pushed the nerves aside and left in a comfortable outfit, ready for whatever was in store. When I approached her door, I almost turned away; I almost texted Emily and canceled. But this surge of pride came over me, like I had something to gain from just doing it. Would it gain me favor with Denver? His friends? I didnât know, but I knocked on her door all the same.
She opened the door with a wide smile, âHey hey!â She wrapped her arms around my waist, hugging me like I hadnât seen her just an hour ago.
âDid you pick out a movie?â I asked, walking to the couch and taking a seat.
She fled for the kitchen behind me but said, âYeah, something scary.â And returned with a bowl of popcorn; âIs that okay?â
âFine by me.â I shrugged as she plopped next to me, too close for comfort; her skinny thigh pressed tightly against mine.
She grabbed the remote and played with the tv, flipping to Maxâ *how original*, and starting *Cabin in the Woods.*
Before the movie really got started, she got up to dim the lights; setting the mood I guess. And for the first half I was actually quite interested, she didnât make any moves; I know I didnât. But as the gore sped up and the poor characters started dyingâ I realized what position I found us in.
Emily had a leg over mine, her head on my shoulder. I suppose I didnât realize because this was quite normal for me and a *girl friend*â see the difference? But I remembered her intentions, remembered why I was here and heat filled my body.
I think she noticed the change in temperature, maybe mistaking it for something other than anxiety. But she nestled her head further into my shoulder and draped a hand over my lapâ right on myâŚ
âI gotta use the bathroom.â I blurted and stood from my seat, the smile fading from her face.
She nodded, âOkay, down the hall.â And I tried not to bolt the way she motioned, but I had to get out of there.
When I shut the door to the bathroom, I took a breath; not realizing I was holding it. I looked in the mirror at my paled face, sifted my hand through my hair and sighed. I thought I could do this. I thought years of college and highschool couldâve prepared me to just⌠fake itâ for a night.
I drew my phone from my pocket and saw a message from him, sent twenty minutes ago.
*Having fun yet?* It read.
I shook my head. *Save me*.
And was relieved at the quick response, almost like he stalked his phone for my reply.
*Hahahaha*. I couldnât help the smile on my lips, regardless of his taunts.
I replied, growing a pair. *If you donât help me, I spill everything.*
*You wonât*. He texted.
I took a sharp breath, maybe heâs right; but itâs worth a shot. *Try me.*
A knock on the door made me jump, âYou okay, Max?â Emily asked from the other side.
I cleared my throat, âYeah! Yeah, Iâm fine. Just a second.â I responded, flushing the toilet without using it and washing my hands for added effect.
My phone buzzed. *You owe me.*
I let out a sigh of relief. Whatâs his plan? Not a clue, but I had to tend to the redhead outside the door. So I slipped my phone in my pocket and opened the door.
Luckily she wasnât waiting directly outside the door, but when she heard the door open she piped from the living room; âEverything okay?â
âAll good.â I smiled and joined her back on the couch, instantly resuming our position from before.
I let it happen this time, hopingâ no, praying that Denver would save the day. Hopefully I wouldnât have to do this for long, I donât know how much more I can handle.
And within a few minutes, a pounding at the door spooked both of us. âEmilyyy!â His voice rang from outside and I tried to keep the smile from appearing on my lips.
âAre you fucking kidding me?â Emily snapped from her seat, rushing to the door and peeking out of the peephole. âGo away Denver!â She yelled, but something told me there was a slight smirk in her voice.
Suddenly Leah and Roman emerged from the hallway, âWhatâs going on?â Leah asked. I had completely forgotten they were even here.
âDenver.â Emily whipped her head at us three, meeting my eyes for a second too long then reaching for the lock on the door, and opening it. âWhat the fuck do you want?â
And there he was, that smirk on his face; âSo mean, you gingers are.â He walked in, just a white top and gray sweatpants, a sizeable bulge hanging in them. âI was bored.â
âWeâre busy.â Emily deadpanned.
I was staring, you know where; and a blush crept to my face as I met his eyes. âWhat movie yaâ watching?â Ignoring her reply and walking into the living room.
I saw Emily share an annoyed expression with Leah, âNone of your business.â She retorted, but he only plopped on the couch, right in the middleâ next to me.
âMy favorite.â He smirked, giving me a look that only I could see.
Leah grabbed Romanâs arm, âOkay, weâre going to bed.â And pulled them down the hall, shooting a look at Emily that basically readâ *sorry, I donât know what to do.*
And left us three alone in the living room. âCabin in the Woods.â I answered the question he asked and nudged him in the side, silently thanking him.
He winked, â*Ooo, scary.*â He teased me, and out of sight from Emily, grabbed his crotch and adjusted; making sure I saw.
My jaw tightened, everything tightened. âDenver, why are you here?â Emily persisted as she rounded the couch and sat in a single chair, legs crossed and arms folded.
âAm I not allowed to miss my friends?â He shrugged with a smirk on his lips still, not hiding that he clearly had ulterior motives.
But the gears began turning for me. Of course heâd act that wayâ this way. Emily and Denver have an entirely different conversation happening, one that didnât involve me. Little did she know, he was here to help me; not to help her.
She shot him a knowing look, âWhatever.â And just as quickly, resumed the movie.
There were only forty-five minutes left, I guess I couldâve held out; but who knows what wouldâve progressed in that amount of time. I was glad he came, glad he saved me. Just like he said he would. And Emily sat silent in her single chair for the rest of it, not realizing the proximity of Denver to me.
Not realizing the silent communications we made with our eyes.
After the movie ended, Emily seemed bored and basically half asleep. Meanwhile Denver, well he had this look in his eye that I could only describe asâ *just wait til we leave*. Emily didnât seem to care anymore that I would be leaving, instead she only side-hugged me and glared at Denver as we said our final goodbyes.
Her front door shut behind us and almost immediately, his hands squeezed my ass. âYouâre welcome.â he smirked down at me.
I twisted to him, smacking his chest and smiling too; âYou *are* a tool. But thank you.â I met his heavy eyes, not thinking before my gaze drifted lower and lower and landed on his equally heavy bulge.
âMy eyes are up here.â He moved my chin with his hand, directing me to look at him. âA *hot* tool.â
I rolled my eyes and began my descent down the staircase. âWell I guess Iâll get home.â I muttered, actually quite tired; from the time and from faking it for so long.
âNo you wonât.â He said, causing me to turn on the stairs and look up at him questioningly. âYouâre coming to mine.â It sounded like an order as he breezed past me.
I didnât hesitate to follow.
By the time we made it outside, he spoke up again; âSoâŚâ he smirked at me, âwhat did the girl do?â
I laughed, following his lead to his building; âTouched me.â Is all I had to say to make him burst out laughing, not able to catch his breath until we entered his building.
âWell Iâll be damned.â He continued laughing up the stairs, âHere I thought she pulled your dick out and that was the final straw.â
I grimaced at the thought, âI donât think you get me very well.â I followed behind him and into his apartment. He was correct in noting yesterday that the girls had a better apartment, his was barely decorated at all.
He shut the door, locked it. âOn the contrary.â He pulled at my arm to spin me into him, âI think I know you *very* well.â I met his eyes and felt the heat rise to my cheeks, the blood rush to my⌠yeah.
His arms snaked around my waist, hips pulled into mineâ I felt it, all of it. âWhy am I here?â I asked like it wasnât obvious.
âYou *owe* me, *remember?*â His eyes filled with desire as his voice dripped in seduction.
He descended upon me, his lips crashing into mine.
It was a primal feeling this time, between the both of us. The way his hands explored my back, inched their way under my shorts. The way I tangled my fingers through his hair, wrapped my legs around his waist.
He carried me to his bedroom, a mess but I didnât care. I wanted himâ needed him. He dropped me in his bed, standing over me while tearing off his shirt. His breath fell rugged as he pulled at my legs, shifting me to the edge of the bed; my legs hanging off. He pulled off my shoes, kicked off his own; and put my calves over his shoulders.
He bent me in half, leaning into my ear; â*Do I get my good boy tonight?*â
â*Yes, sir.*â I breathed out, craving the touch of him.
His tongue flicked at my ear, breathing deeply through his nose; my neck craned, my body shivered. He let out a breathy chuckle, â*What would you have done without me tonight?*â I didnât answer, I could tell it was rhetorical. Another lick down my neck, circling at my throat. â*My good little boy needed meâŚ*â I shuddered as a hand gripped my hair, â*didnât he?*â
I opened my eyes to him staring at me, âYes, sir.â I answered.
He planted a tender kiss to my lips, then to my jaw, then my neck. â*On the fucking floor.*â
He leaned up and kept his hand in my hair, dragging my body off the bed so that I fell to my knees in front of him, my back against his bed. He craned my neck with a tug and spat in my face, slapped me right after.
â*God, I love owning you*.â He smiled down at me, I smiled up at him. It didnât matter what he wanted, Iâd do itâ he knew it.
He smashed his bulge into my face, rubbing it left and right. I breathed in his scent, a scent I would never forget.
â*You like that, hm?*â He cooed above me. I tried saying it, I did; but the sound was muffled against his sweats. â*You like this cock buried in your face, donât you?*â I tried again, just muffles escaped. He chuckled, satisfied. â*Put it in your mouth then.*â
He let go, allowing me to crane my neck and look at him; such a lustful look in his face. âYes, sir.â I smiled, curling my fingers around his waist band and pulling his sweats to his ankles; just his thin boxers between me and his length.
I went to pull at them too, eager to swallow him whole but he smacked away my hands; â*With your teeth*.â He ordered.
I licked my lips before repeating, âYes, sir.â and buried my face in his abdomen, gripping the band of his boxers between my teeth. I started pulling and felt a steady line of spit landing on my nose, I didnât need to look to know where it came from.
But it's not as easy as it sounds, pulling from one direction. I began revealing his pubes, his shaft; but his boxers were stuck on his backside. I yanked again.
â*Fuck that.*â He muttered before taking my throat in his hand and pinning me against his bed, using his other hand to slide his boxers down. He bent down to my face, looked me in the eyes with a wicked smile; â*Letâs play a game*.â
He let go of my throat and stood straight, his cock flopping right in my face. He smacked my cheek, â*Open up*.â His tip entered my eagerly opened mouth, his hand in my hair again; my eyes looking up at his sexy body. â*Itâs called Ten.*â My eyebrows knit together, Ten?
He chuckled deeply, tightened his grip and thrust in my throat. â*One.*â
I gagged as he pulled out, his other hand now around my jaw and thrusted again, â*One.. Two.*â And pulled out, letting the slime from my throat make a mess on my shirt.
I still didnât understand, but that spell of his worked its magic over me. His head tilted, his hair tousled; that fucking smirk on his lipsâ he trusted again, holding me there. â*One.*.â I gagged. â*Two.*.â My eyes squeezed shut, my throat burned. â*Three*.â And he pulled out.
I coughed and sputtered, but he only continued. Another thrust, more gags; another count. â.*.Four*.â And he let me free. I was panting, covered in saliva.
He kept going, and I understood the game.
â*One.*.â I gagged again, â*Two..*â slime oozed from my lips, â*Three*..â I coughed, heaved; the slime poured. â*Four.*.â My eyes stayed shut, I wanted to winâ needed to win. â*Five*..â I was running out of air, I couldnât breathe. â*Six*..â I tapped on his thighs furiously, squeezing for mercy. â*Seven*..â He didnât care. â*Eight*..â my abdomen was puffing, my face was beet red. â*Nine*..â I pushed him away from me.
I doubled over to the floor, gasping for air that burned my lungs. His hand found my hair and lifted my body upright, â*Tsk, Bad boy*.â He kneeled down to me, smearing the slime all around my face as I still tried to catch my breath. â*Looks like I do get to punish you.*â
He grabbed my throat, dragged me onto his bed; crawled on top of me and admired my failing body. Who couldâve ever won that game? Was it rigged that way? Did he want me to lose?
My heart still fluttered at the sight of his smirk, my dick still raged within my shorts. Why? Why was I like this? Why did I like this?
He was in my ear again, â*Youâll be a good boy this time?*â He whispered so delicatelyâ yet roughly.
âYes, sir.â I managed, agreeing to his orgasmic torture.
He breathed in my ear, bit at my lobe; â*Then turn the fuck around and let me have my way.*â
My straight neighbor PT 4
Make sure you're up to date. [Begin here](https://www.reddit.com/user/TheConfession_ist/comments/1c7csy7/my_straight_neighbor_all_parts/).
Itâs silly the way Iâd act around him⌠so vulnerable and submissive⌠but thatâs not meâ or is it?
â*Then turn the fuck around and let me have my way*.â His words sent chills down my spine, a feeling I could no longer fight. He had me, used meâ in any way he wanted.
I was kicked out by the time we were done, another excuse about not wanting to be found out. I understood but⌠there was a part of lurching during that walk of shame, a part of me begging it didnât have to be that way. Yet I walked home all the same, allowing him to control me all the same.
But my thoughts never won. My thoughts never spoke freely. It was always him, only him.
Days passed as my thoughts turnedâ spiraled. We had sex that first time on a Sunday, that second time on Monday. And our lives went on as normal; kind of. I found myself obsessing over it, over him; we had sex Thursday night after happy hour and Saturday night after drinking.
And now it was Sunday again, a whole week of me non-stop thinking of this man a few buildings over.
I couldnât help but think of my own regression that morning, sipping on freshly brewed coffee in my living room. I came back home out and proud. It took me years to come to terms with it, years to feel confident in it. But here I am, letting this man push me in a holeâ back in that damn closet.
I mean, I had a damn boyfriend for fucks sake. I had someone I loved, or at least I thought I did. But at least I was there in that placeâ in a place where *loving* another man was okay, where I was okay. And Iâm not trying to say I was in love with Denver, no. In love with our sex maybe, but thatâs only sex; and sometimes thatâs enoughâ and sometimes⌠itâs not.
See, I came back to Maryland fixedâ unbroken. My family knew, some old friends knew. But ultimately I needed a fresh beginning.
At first I thought these four people couldâve been just that. A new group of people for me to live a life with, get away from my parents and be an adult again. But instead, I was regressing; really regressing.
I know I donât know them that well, but Iâm already tired of lyingâ omitting or whatever I was doing. Did Denver ever ask me to not be myself? No. All he asked is that I kept a secret. But I realized now that this stupid fucking secret, was crushing meâ having itâs way with me in the same way Denver would.
When Roman asked me on Thursday, âSo Max, any hot babes to tell us about?â His eyebrows bobbed at me. The girls were already supplying us with a steady stream of drinks, the alcohol already working but I played it well.
My cheeks lit up, my eyes diverted to Denvers. âNo.â I said, cursing under my breath that I couldnât just speak freely.
âOh come on, stop holding out on us.â Denver patted my back, a wicked smirk on his face.
I glared at him out of sight from Roman, âNo one,â I spoke to both of them, âseriously.â
And thatâs how conversations like that normally go. Even the girls have asked me, but typically they do in private; giving me an easier out then when Denver intervenes and makes a fool out of me. Go ahead, remind me why I like him again?
But that still didnât stop me from having him over that same night, letting him ravish me; wanting to worship him. I was sick, I knew it.
And donât even get me started on the *Emily situation*. It comes and goes with the flirts from her, typically only when Denver is around. But I knew what was happening, I knew I was just a pawn in a game of chess they were playing. Iâd asked Denver about it, but he doesn't give straightforward answers. Iâve thought to ask Emily, but that would raise too many questions.
I felt lost. Stolen. Taken by the reins from a guy who didn't care.
Was it just sex? Meaningless, coldâ extraordinary sex? Or could it be more? I guess I wouldnât know unless I opened my damn mouth.
So I drew my phone that very morning, a surge of confident anger pulsing through me; and texted him.
I went and took a long shower, debating how Iâd put this to him; convincing myself I was willing to give this upâ give him up.
With a towel around my waist I saw his response. *Craving more already?*
I fought the tug of a smile, *Can you meet me?* I skipped to the point, over the games.
*I can be over in twenty.* He replied.
And I kept it at that, not wanting to fall under his spell of flirting; his magic that so easily swayed my opinion. This time, Iâd speak my mindâ I had to.
Around twenty minutes passed before a knock on my door sent a blood curdling ripple through me. It was now, it was time. I opened the door to greet his presence.
He smirked at me, âA little early, donât you think?â I still hadnât learned the art of fighting the blush that ran so immediately to my cheeks, but turned and allowed him in; locking the door.
âWe need to talk.â I said.
He pulled out a stool from my kitchen island, taking a seat and looking at me with tired eyes. âYou mentioned.â
I swallowed thickly, that confidence draining under his gaze. I went to speak what I wanted, I just couldnât. Instead I said, âDo you want some coffee? You look tired.â
He chuckled, âSure.â So I rounded the island and began pouring him a cup from the already half full pot.
My back was turned to him, I couldnât look at those eyes; âCream and sugar?â I asked with a hefty inhale. But as I reached for my sugar jar, I felt it, those hands wrapping around my waist.
My body stiffened in place, my hands frozen in place. His breath lingered in my ear, âNo sugar, *only cream*.â The whisper tingled down my neck.
I took a deep breath, setting down the mug; I can do this.
I turned to face him, our hips now together, his hands still on them. And I watched as his smirk disappeared, the lust leaving his eyes as I said; âI canât keep this secret anymore.â
âWhat?â He backed away, a grimace on his face.
I sighed, âI meanâ I canât do the lying anymore, the secrecy.â His eyes fell heavy, brows furrowed. âI⌠Iâm gay Denver, if you havenât noticed. But all your friendsâ *my friends*, they think otherwise.â
âI never asked you to lie to them.â he retorted, leaning his back against the island in front of me, arms folded.
My eyes rolled involuntarily, my heart cracked a tiny bit; âNo. You didnât.â I ran a hand through my hair, âBut if they know Iâm gay, you wouldnât come over anymore. Things would be different between us. You know that.â
âWho says?â He shook his head.
I laughed an unfriendly laugh, âDonât act dumb Denver.â I shook my head too, âYou donât think it would raise questions? All the time we spend together? Us disappearing?â
His jaw tightened, âSo what are you saying?â
âIm saying,â I sighed again, averting my gaze to the floor; âI wanna be myself again. I wanna be me again. And right now, these games you play with me areââ
He cut me off, âWho the fuck said you couldnât be you?â My eyes snapped to him, he was angryâ I could tell. âMe? I said that?â He scoffed, bouncing off the island and pacing away; âSo Iâm to blame for you not feeling yourself? Thatâs it?â
âIâm not blaming you.â
He laughed, âBut you are.â He turned, âThese games *Iâm* playing?â
His rage drifted to me, his words playing meâ again. âYeah. The games *youâre* playing.â I walked up to him, âI want my friends to know who I am. I want my friends to know who Iâm fucking. But they canât. And thatâs your fault.â I seethed through my teeth.
âGet the fuck outta my face.â he pushed at my shoulder dismissively, throwing his hands up to the air in a shrug; âThen go fuck someone else.â
He was on his way to the door, âFine.â And he turned back to me with his hand on the doorknob, a look in those emerald eyes that I hadnât seen before.
â*Fine.*â And he was gone.
I stared blankly at the door for a moment, only hurt and rage consuming me. But it didnât take long before I regretted everything, my anger turning inwardsâ blaming myself.
âFuck!â I yelled and kicked at my bar stool, knocking it to the ground with a thud. I threw my head in my hands, yanked at my hair in frustration. âFuck.â
That Sunday was hard hitting to say the least. Yeah, Iâve known the guy for a week; but if you know anything about gay cultureâ youâd know what I mean when I say⌠I fucking fell for him.
The pool for us has always been small, smaller here than in Arizona. Iâd never found someone who I could so easily be comfortable around, could so easily submit to; someone I could so easily fall for. And I fell hard.
He was on my mind the rest of the day, at the gym, at the grocery storeâ everywhere. But I knew I had to be strong, knew if I wanted some normalcy; Iâd have to be me. Be Max.
And I had no clue what he may have said to the others, if he said anything at all. But I didnât let that bother me, I couldnâtâ not right now. So I stayed to myself for the day, ignoring texts and an invite from Emily to go out. I wanted to, theyâd become my friends; all of them. Leah and I especially had gotten close over the week. If the girls werenât working the same shift, Leah took the morning and Emily took the night; which left Roman, Leah, Denver and I often.
For the first time in the week, I went to bed⌠satisfied. Not in the fulfilled way of being taken by him, railed by himâ but in a way that felt healing. A way that felt me.
It was the following Tuesday before I saw any of them again.
I wrapped up work and hit the gym as usual, surprised when I didnât see the four congregated at the pool. So I went home, showered; and finally took the step of communication.
*Whatâre y'all up to tonight?* I texted Leah, knowing her and Emily had off Tuesdays.
I didnât have to wait long. *Omg Max has returned! Weâre actually getting ready to go out, wanna join?*
*Okay. Meet us here in like thirty, weâre going to Fed Hill.* She responded.
I smiled, I havenât been there in forever. *Sounds good.*
My outfit for the night wasnât particularly special, just some ripped dark jeans and a fitted white top; white shoes and a tan jacket. In the mirror I looked great, but inside my belly swarmed. What would I do when I see them? When I see him? Will I be acting natural, spilling the beans? I guess the night will only tell.
I walked over to the girls apartment around eight thirty, knocked on the door and was greeted by Emily. âOkay, Max!â She looked me up and down, âYou sure clean up well.â
I laughed, walking in and hugging her; âIâm not *always* in shorts.â I teased my own style, even though shorts are the most comfortable; itâs just not the vibe for clubbing. Their living room was empty, âWhere is everyone?â I asked.
âBoys will be here soon, come here.â She guided me towards her room where Leah was finishing her make-up at a vanity set. Still her arm clasped around me, a common ground for us at this point. âWeâre about to be ready.â
âHey Max!â Leah chirped, mascara in her hand; making that funny face girls make when applying it. I waved, taking a seat on Emilyâs bed.
Emily already looked ready, but I guess she had accessories to add as she began pulling on rings and necklaces. âThere better be cute boys out tonight.â She insisted while checking herself out in the mirror, then shooting me a flirtatious smile.
A flutter went through me, not from her obvious flirt; but from what I wanted to say. Back in Arizona, Iâd agree; Iâd join in that conversation. But here, now⌠my throat went dry.
âStop acting like you arenât gonna try screwing Denver.â Leah laughed, but clammed up after a menacing look that Emily shot her. âShit.â She looked at me, then back to her friend. My eyes widened, eyebrows up. So the truth comes outâ finally.
Emily sighed in defeat, âOkay, Iâm sure Denverâs told you anyways. You guys share secrets just like we do.â Little did she know, âBut yes, Denver and I have a⌠long and complicated history.â
I intervened, âIâve heard.â
âI fucking knew it.â She whipped to me, rolling her eyes; âThat boy canât keep anything to himself.â Well wasnât that the biggest lie. I laughed nervously, Leah and I sharing looks; âBut whatever, Iâm pretty sure heâs screwing someone else anyways.â
She turned back to the mirror, but I had to ask. âWhy do you say that?â My heart rate spiked.
She groaned, turning to Leah then back to me, then back to the mirror. Another huff, âWell,â she started, âI donât know, we were hooking up pretty often after we broke up.â Then she turned to me again with a pointed finger. âYou keep this to yourself Max.â I nodded and she continued, âBut recently heâs shown like zero interest so⌠there must be someone else. Right?â
âDefinitely.â Leah agreed with her, âDenverâs a walking horndog, everybody knows that.â
Emily threw her hands up, âThatâs what Iâm saying.â She huffed again, fixing her hair; âSo whoever this bitch is needs to get off my man.â Her words stung, hit me like a ton of bricks.
I stood from the bed, âIâm gonna opt out of this one.â They laughed, agreeing I was probably uncomfortable with the guy talk. And they werenât completely wrong. So I walked down the hall to the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a sigh.
I am that âbitchâ she so called it. Me. Max. My stomach lurched at the thought of her laying awake at night trying to figure out whatâs wrong, trying to understand why Denver lost interest. And the answer was in front of her face, across the fucking streetâ in her fucking apartment.
But there was a loud knock on the door. âMax, can you get that?â Emily piped from her room.
âYeah!â I answered back, walking sluggishly to the door to open it. I readied myself, took a deep breath. I can do this. And I opened the door.
There they wereâ there he was.
âOh shit!â Roman grabbed my shoulder and squeezed, âI didnât know you were coming Max.â And he walked past and down the hall.
Then there was us. Me and him. I hadnât seen him since our talkâ our argument. I swallowed my nerves as I met his eyes. âHey.â
âHey.â he walked past me, not afraid of bumping my shoulder on his way in. Damn. I took another deep breath, closing the door and turning to where he followed after Roman. âDenver.â I spoke up and he stopped, turned on a heel and looked at me with nothing in those eyes. I shook my head, waited for Roman to be out of sight before whispering, âIs me being here a problem?â
He cracked a smile, an unfriendly one; âDo what you want.â He shrugged.
I tensed my jaw with a step forward, âI donât wanna go out with someone that hates me.â The words left a bitter taste in my mouthâ hate. Is that what he felt?
âI donât hate you.â He rolled his eyes, âYouâre being overdramatic.â I took another step forward.
I parted my lips, but nothing came out. I didnât know what to say. âIâŚâ I sighed, âEmily told me about you two. Told me that she thinks youâre screwing someone else.â
He silently laughed with a cracked smirk, âDuh.â
My face fell flat, âAnother girl?â I donât know what I was asking. Maybe just trying to free myself of the guilt.
His eyes rolled again, âWouldnât you like to know.â I took another step, closing the far gap between us.
âDenver I feel responsible forâŚâ I lowered my whisper even further, peered down the hallway; âTell me that Iâm not the reason.â I looked into those green eyes.
He smirked, â*You want me to lie now, hm?*â The color in my face drained. The guilt, the shameâ it was too much. âYou know damn well itâs because of you. Whoâs acting dumb now?â
My heartbeat quickened, I could feel my eyes begin to sting. No, I would not let that happen, not here. âYouâre such a fucking dick.â I spat at him.
He scoffed, checking the coast behind him before leaning again into my ear; âIâve had some time to think.â He took a breath, âAnd for a second I felt bad for you.â He leaned back, looking me in the eyes. âNot anymore.â And he turned to walk down the hallway.
I thought about leaving, just bailing on the whole night. But I wasnât going to let him ruin me, ruin what I wantedâ what I needed. Fuck that. Maybe I overstepped, maybe I shouldnât have asked such a stupid question. But he was acting like an adult baby. He didnât get what he wanted and now Iâm punished for it. Excluded for it.
So eventually I joined them all in Emilyâs room and kept the status quo, just avoiding any and all conversation with him. And soon, it was time to head out.
Leah claimed that sheâd be DD, said she had to work the following morning and she shouldnât drink that much. So us five piled in her car and I made sure that Emily sat in between Denver and I in the back.
It didnât take long to get to the city and before I knew it, we were walking the streets and entering a club with neon lights. âDrinks!â Emily cheered, guiding my way to the bar like she knew the place like the back of her hand, and she mightâve.
I opened a tab for myself, I donât think I could get through the night without some type of inebriation. I left the bar top with my gin and tonic in hand, observing the crowd of young adults dancing and talking. Hip hop blared through speakers, everyone was trying to talk over it. âGonna find a date?â Leah yelled in my ear.
I turned to her, leaned in her ear and yelled; âI donât know.â Still trying to act normal. Though I wasnât going to force myself to talk to a girl again, not for Denver; not for anybody. If I found a date tonightâ it would be a man.
âWhatâs your type? Iâll help you search!â She yelled back to me, already trying to buzz herself before she had to sober up and take us home.
At that moment, I was done lying. Done pretending.
I smirked, happy with myself; âTall and handsome.â She reared back to meet my eyes, eyebrows knit together. I shrugged.
âWaitâŚâ she didnât need to yell, I could read it off her lips; âAre you gay?â I nodded my head, searching the crowd for a potential suitor. âThatâs fucking awesome!â She yelled into my ear, grabbed my hand and pulled us towards a back door where people congregate to smoke.
The air was chilling, âWhat?â I asked her.
She shook her head in disbelief, âAre you like, fucking with me?â Her eyes wide. I shook my head no as she looked even more confused, âBut you never said anything?â
âYou never asked.â It was a half-lie. There were many times theyâd asked questions that couldâve solicited the truth, just never *the* question.
She smiled, âI guess youâre right.â And she hugged me, squeezing tight. âAm I the first youâre telling?â She backed away, âCause I donât think Emily knows this.â
I laughed too, âOut of you four, yes.â Another half-lie, âIt takes me a little to be comfortable enough to say it. You can understand that, right?â
She nodded, smiling ear to ear. âThis is the best news Iâve gotten all week. I knew we liked you for a reason.â She grabbed my hand to drag me back inside but I stopped her.
âWait.â she turned back to me, âRoman and DenverâŚâ I paused, âHow will they feel?â But really I was just asking about Roman.
She laughed again, âWait you donât know?â I furrowed my brows, âRomanâs brother is gay,â she shook her head in assurance; âand Denver. I donât think Roman would consider him his best friend if he wasnât cool with it.â
I smiled this time, a true real smile. âOkay.â
âOkay!â She held out her beer glass, to which I clinked my rocks glass to; âTo Max!â
âTo me.â We smiled and gulped at our drinks.
After returning inside, a boost of confidence fell over me. Leah knew, and she was cool with itâ more than cool with it. I had no doubt Emily would feel the same, Roman had a gay brother and Denver⌠well I knew he didnât care. I figured Leah would spread the news for me and I didnât care if she did. Thatâs just less work I have to do.
But still, as I said; our pool is small. And it's hard to point a gay man out in a room filled with people. Well, if theyâre anything like me. Now donât get me wrong, I hold no hatred for the flamboyance; itâs just not for me.
So as I got drink after drink, alcohol coursing through my veins; the potential list of suitors just grew and grew. Likely none of them were gay, but all of them were hot. And I learned in college how to handle rejection. I had no problem with asking.
There was a man surrounded by a group of girls, bouncing and dancing and not staring at any of them. Possibly a friend? Possibly gay. I wouldnât know unless I asked. I put on a brave face and shimmied my way over, making direct eye contact a few times. He was built, taller than me; darker than me.
I finally got next to him, âHi.â I smiled at him.
âHi.â he smiled back, our eyes doing more of the talking.
I leaned into his ear. âI like your shirt, fits you well.â He laughed, mouthing a thank you before leaning into my ear.
âIâd have to say the same.â Well this was going well, except I noticed how his eyes darted across the room every so often, meeting mine and smiling again. Maybe I was too drunk to care, or too drunk to notice at first but eventually I followed where he looked.
A brooding Denver posted in the distance, leaning against the bar with a blonde girl around his arm. âDo you know him?â He asked me after I looked.
I rolled my eyes, âSorta.â
âWell, he hasnât stopped looking at you. And heâs fine as hell.â I found it weird that heâd be offering another guy in the distance to me over himself, but I just rolled my eyes again.
âHeâs straight.â I lied, âHeâs probably looking at one of your friends.â I motioned to the girls around us. He nodded his head, but didnât stop looking over my shoulder here and there. And I got to say, even though Denver royally pissed me offâ really hurt my feelings. I took pride in thinking he really might be looking at meâ might be jealous.
So I slung an arm around the shoulder of this random man, âWhatâs your name by the way?â I asked him.
âCorey. You?â Our lips were inches apart, his free hand now around my waist.
I smirked, âMax.â And I licked my lips, relishing in the burning desire within my pants. Was it for this guy? For Corey? Or was it for Denver? I didnât care.
I pressed my lips to his, letting the warmth of him seep into me; letting me be meâ finally.
He broke away, âDo you have plans later?â I shook my head. âI live like ten minutes from here, did you wanna come over?â
I smiled, âSure.â And he excused himself to close his tab at a different bar top. And I remembered I should probably do the same.
The liquor mustâve taken its toll the past few minutes, shit I couldnât even remember how many drinks I had; or where my friends were. But I made it to the bar top, leaning my elbows on the table and waited for the bartender. âMaxxx!â Emily and Leah appeared from out of the blue.
I smiled at them, wonky and clearly drunk and dazed. âEmily, have you found a man yet?â Iâm unsure why that was the first thing from my lips. They both laughed but Leah grabbed my arm.
âWe saw you over there with that guyâŚâ theyâre smiles grew with mine and I knew Leah had told Emily; âHeâs cute.â
I locked eyes with Leah, âVery.â But I could see the color drain from her face a little, her smile fade.
âHow many drinks have you had?â She asked me, questioning me like a mother.
I shrugged, âWho cares?â I turned to the bartender who was passing, âTab please!â
âOh heâs drunk drunk.â I heard her speak to Emily as if I werenât there.
I turned to them with a look of irritation, âSo what?â So what if I was drunk? So what if I was finally having a good time? I was freeâ I was me.
âMaybe we should get home?â Emily patted my arm in concern.
I pulled it away from her, âI wish you'd stop touching me.â And her face fell too. âIâm going to Coreyâs place tonight.â I returned my gaze to the bartender who sat my card and receipt on the table. Eight fucking drinks, Jesus Christ.
âOkay absolutely not.â Leah piped up, âFirst off, donât speak to her like that and second off, you arenât going home with anyone but us in this condition.â She was mothering me again.
I scoffed, signing my bill and shoving my card in my pocket. âMax does what Max wants.â My words were crazy slurring as I spun towards them, looks of angry concern on their faces.
âIâll get Roman, stay here.â Leah whispered, but I heard it.
I rolled my eyes again, I wasnât a child. âLeah, just let me have some fun, will yaâ?â I snarled.
âIâm Emily.â Her eyes widened as she gripped my arm stronger, âAnd weâre friends. Friends donât let friends act like this.â
I laughed, âDenver gets to act however he wants.â I spat.
She shook her head, âWhere is this coming from?â But Leah and Roman returned before I could answerâ before I said something really stupid.
âOh buddy.â Roman laughed and put an arm around my shoulder. âWhoâs the special guy?â
I smiled, finally someone who gets it; âHeâs over there somewhere.â I pointed to nowhere in particular.
âCorey right?â I perked up to his name. I nodded, âI know Corey, good guy. Heâs waiting outside for you, come on.â And he led me to the front doors.
âThank you man.â I slurred again, âThe girls just donât get it.â I admitted, feeling grateful in the moment for Romanâs understanding.
âAll good brother.â He cooed in my ear as we exited the building, stepping into the fresh air. âDenver, handle this please. Iâm taking the girls home.â
Suddenly my eyes popped, my senses rushed back. Denver was standing in front of me, arms crossed.
âWhat the fuck?â I stepped back but he grabbed me, âWhat the fuck are you doing?â
Denver smirked down to me, hands tight against my wrists. âHandling you.â
I shook my head, grimacing at him. âAbsolutely not. Let go of me.â
âWhy?â He tilted his head, âSo you can make a fool of yourself? So you can follow some stranger home?â His voice was dangerously close.
I pushed at him, âWhy do you care? Why do any of you care?â I felt trapped again, not me again.
âBecause the girls are worried. Romanâs worried.â I kept shaking my head, kept trying to get away from him. âIâm worried.â
And I stopped the struggle, went rigid in my skin and looked at him; the world spinning around him.
âYou donât care about me.â I spoke what I thought was the truth. I didnât care if it made me look stupid, didnât care if it hurt his feelings. It was true.
He gripped tighter, âNot true.â
And my eyes started to burn, my legs began to melt. âPlease,â I looked down, done fighting. âJust let me go.â
âBut the uberâs already on its way.â I groaned at his words, at his voice. That voice that struck a chord in me that he had no business striking. âAnd youâll be paying me back for it too.â
I flung my head up, looking into those emerald eyes. The fight may have fled but my hurt, my angerâ that was still there. âMore payment?â I spat at him. He smirked at me, he had control over me. âCorey said you were staring at me. Is that true?â
He laughed, âWill you calm the fuck down?â I settled my nerves, laxed my shoulders and nodded. âYes, itâs true.â
Now he rolled his eyes, âSo many questions tonight.â
âAnswer me.â I demanded again.
He sighed, easing the grip he held me with, those eyes of his swirling to something else. âBecause I didnât like that you were talking to that guy.â He admitted, really admitted in a whisper.
But I still scoffed, âThatâs just brilliant.â my words were menacing, âYou? Jealous? Of me?â
He gripped me tighter again, â*Is that so hard to believe?*â He used that tone again, his head tilted with a smirk on his lips.
I swallowed, taking a shaky breath; âJealous of your secret? What sense does that make?â I spat at him, I didnât care what I said at that point. Iâd speak my mindâ all of it.
âMaybe none. Maybe all of it.â He cocked his head to the other side, âI didnât realize I needed permission to be jealous.â He breathed.
I sucked at my lips, tensed my jaw; âI told you how I felt, and you didnât care.â My voice came out small, tiny. âYouâre not allowed to care now.â His smirk faded, his eyes dropped. âI just wanted to be me again, Max fucking Harrison. And you took it from me. You didnât let me have that. You stole it, you twisted it.â His eyes swirled with sorrow, I could tell he started to feel bad. I didnât care. âI donât know what the fuck you are Denver. Gay or bi or whatever the fuck. But I know what I am. And you tried to control it.â
The world fell silent around us, the night air; the streetlightsâ it didnât exist right now. It was just me and him, my eyes and his.
He took a shaky breath, âIâm sorry.â
I wanted to keep going, I wanted to be mad. But those words came and I didnât expect them. Since when did Denver apologize?
He gripped tighter, shaking me slightly; âIâm sorry, okay.â His heat radiated through me, âIâm sorry. I didnât realize.â
Three times. He said it three times. *Iâm sorry*.
âJust take me home.â I breathed out, done with this conversation.
I could feel the way he wasnât done though, the way he craved to explain more. Maybe he was sorry, maybe he did mean it. But he said what he said, did what he did.
âOkay.â He let me go, staring at me as I decided if I should run or not. But I didnât, I couldnât.
We stood in silence as we waited for the uber. Sat in silence inside the uber. And when we arrived at our complex, we got out and stared silent even more.
I breathed heavily, the intoxication well subsided. I meanâ I was still drunk, but not to the extent of earlier. âOkay, goodnight.â And I brushed past him.
âNo, thank you?â He questioned from behind me. I kept walking, flicking him off as I went. âNo, I accept your apology?â
I turned at my lobby door, realizing heâd followed me there. â*Thank you*.â And I walked inside, he still followed me. I walked the stairs, he was right behind me. I fumbled for my keys, he was still behind me.
âLooking for these?â He dangled my keys in front of his face. I went to snatch them but he held them above his head. âNow I wanna talk.â My eyes met his.
âAbout what?â I seethed.
âAbout us.â He cooed, and Iâd be lying if I said the rage hadnât faded, if insteadâ my heart melted. Us?
I rolled my eyes, âFine.â And he unlocked my door for me, us both entering my quiet apartment. When the door shut and we were truly alone, I asked; âWhat?â
âIs sorry not enough for you?â He shook his head. I just continued to roll my eyes, it seems Iâve been doing that a lot around him. âWhat do you want from me?â
I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him, âI want some fucking space.â
âNot gonna happen.â He was deadpanned, serious in all aspects.
I knit my brows together, looked him up and down; âYou realize youâre in my apartment, right?â
He nodded, âAnd you realize I wonât be leaving until we resolve this, right?â He retorted.
We were both stubborn, both wanting the same thing but both equally irritated with each other. If I wanted space, why couldnât he accept that? Why bug me? Why annoy me?
âDenver,â I was exhausted with fighting, exhausted with defending; âIâm going to put the truth out there. Right now.â
He nodded, his hands in the air; âPlease do.â
I took a heavy breath, âI like you. So there. Is that you fucking wanted? I like you Denver. But youâll never like me, not like thatâ not the way I want. And now everyone knows Iâm gay. Theyâre cool with it, awesome. But what about you? Are you gonna hang around a faggot now? Go over to his apartment late at night? I highly fucking doubt it.â My breathing was uncontrollable.
He looked confused, hurt evenâ before saying; âBut Iâm here right now.â
I shook my head, âYou know what I mean.â
âAre you gonna let me speak?â He asked, âI let you.â So I nodded and he continued. âAnd youâre wrong.â He shook his head, âI *do* like you, isnât that obvious? Is it the way you want? Well I donât know what you fucking want. So what the hell?â he threw his hands in the air. âAm I out? No. Am I ready? No. But I *do* like you. So stop saying I donât.â
The room fell quiet, we just stared.
I finally said, âOkay.â
âOkay?â He knit his brows.
I breathed out, âI accept your apology.â I admitted. If thatâs the truth, if heâs telling the truth. Did I expect him to come out overnight? Love me overnight?
He swallowed, concern in his eyes. âWhy do I get the feeling you don't?â
âI do.â I said, walked up to him; just a foot away. âIf everything you just said is true. I do.â
A small smirk threatened his lips, âIâve only told the truth with you.â And to that I smiled too.
I was surprised with the hug he wrapped me in, the tender; caring hug I melted into. He was warm, he was itâ all I ever wanted. Why did this seem too good to be true?
He pulled away and lifted my chin with his hand, âDo I get to kiss you now?â I smiled, noddedâ and he planted his lips firmly into mine, his hips grazing over mine. I felt it all.
I wrapped my hands around his neck, he pulled me close. It was happening all over again, a repeat from nights before but I didnât care. This time I knew what I was dealing with, this time I knew who he wasâ and who I was. This is what I wanted.
He is who I wantedâ *Denver.*