Page 70 of Whistle

“Bodhi?” Wes asked, concerned.

“Maybe I hit my head,” I said even though I felt no evidence of it.

“Your face is bleeding,” Ryan needlessly pointed out.

“So is his,” I snapped. I didn’t need them to protect me!

He half smiled. “He deserved it.”

“Now, gentlemen,” the RA intoned from the hall.

“Dude acts like he’s fifty, and he’s like, what, two years older than us?” Jamie muttered. “Stodgy.”

We all traipsed to the end of the hall to a closet-sized office that Ronnie was already inside.

“Sit,” the RA ordered me, pointing to a row of chairs outside the door. “The rest of you can go.”

Ryan shook his head. “You know Elite doesn’t work that way.”

The RA sighed and went into his office with Ronnie. Wes sat down and gestured to the chair beside him. Resigned, I sat. Jamie took the chair to my left, and I was suddenly a Wes-and-Jamie sandwich. And I had thongs still fisted in my hand.

Grimacing, I shoved them deep into the pocket of my jeans.

“He really was going through your shit?” Ryan asked.

I nodded. “He doesn’t like homos,” I replied. Then, “His words, not mine.”

Wes shifted uncomfortably.

Ryan went over and ruffled his hair. “He’ll be gone by tomorrow.” Then he turned to me. “This guy been giving you a hard time since you moved in?”

I shrugged. What did they care?

“Guess that explains your lack of attendance at practice.” Ryan went on.

“I was worried it was because we tossed you in the pool,” Jamie put in.

It wasn’t either of those, but I said nothing.

“Just so you know, we don’t care,” Wes said, turning to face me.

I met his eyes, then looked away. “Whatever.”

“I’m serious,” he said, laying a hand on my shoulder. When I looked at where he touched me, he pulled away. “Elite is cool with all orientations. I came out last year. Lars and Prism are also out.”

“Good for you,” I said.

“We support each other in Elite,” Ryan explained. “We’re loyal. We just ask for the same.”

“I don’t plan on staying,” I told them.

Ryan was silent a beat. “Shame. I think Rush will be disappointed.”

I laughed. “Rush? Yeah right. He doesn’t want me here.”

“Then you haven’t been paying attention,” Jamie countered.

Before I could say anything else, a long, drawn-out whistle filled the air.

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