Page 33 of Totally Opposed

I text Alan while walking up to Gordon’s front door. It’s poker night, and the last time I had an invitation, it was because I had a small crush on Harry. Okay, a big crush. But it didn’t help that he was so flirty with everyone. I got over it. It was, after all, a crush. Nothing like what this is with Alan. Not that we’ve even talked about what this is.

ALAN: I still think we need to test the theory out a few more times to be sure. We both could have just been really on.

RYAN: We could be testing the theory out tonight.

ALAN: We don’t play tomorrow.

Shit. He’s right. We don’t play again for a week. I don’t want to wait a week.

RYAN: What if we miss a day and it like…jinxes it.

ALAN: You can’t be serious. You want to do it every day. Are you twenty?

I’m not. Not really. I mean, sure as far as superstitions go it could be bad luck to stop now that we’re on a roll, but it’s justas likely that hooking up the day before each game is also good luck, or that it had zero effect and the OG were just having a bad week. Nope. Not that one. I refuse to believe we didn’t beat them at their best.

RYAN: Are you willing to take the risk?

ALAN: How soon do you think we can leave?

I press the doorbell.

RYAN: Considering I just got here, probably no time soon.

I hit send just as Harrison opens the door.

“How many Funky Monkeys did you invite to this thing?” he calls behind him.

“Yes, backup. Get in here, Ryan,” Duckie’s voice sounds from somewhere down the hall, and I walk past Harrison into the house. Gordon’s place is huge. The hallway has nine-foot ceilings with track lights that illuminate the space in a warm blue glow down each side. Through the end, I spot the table set up for the game. Large enough for twelve, it seats the ten of us just fine, and I slide into the seat beside Duckie.

“Thank fuck you’re here. These dicks keep ganging up on me,” Duckie says, nudging my side.

Harry laughs, takes his seat opposite us, and wraps his arm around his boyfriend, Arlo. Arlo leans into him a little but then adjusts himself when he notices Harry peeking down at his cards.

“No cheating,” he warns, and Harry laughs.

Other than Arlo, Duckie, and I, the table is surrounded by Animal Control. Benny, Phillip, Gordon, Harry, Stevie, Arthur and Alan.

“So, when do you fly out?” Arlo asks, and Duckie shakes his head.

“Nope, can we please not go there tonight?” he asks.

“Why?” I ask with a smirk. Duckie hates flying, and while the thought of it doesn’t always turn his stomach, it has been known to happen.

“I’ve been going to those simulator things to try to get over the whole air sick…thing.”

“Ohh, is that where you went today?” I ask.

“Yep…but I don’t think it’s working. Actually, I think those things might be worse, because at least when I get off a real plane the feeling stops, but my stomach hasn’t stopped flipping since I sat down in the thing today.”

“You don’t think maybe the three drinks and a whole pizza you devoured when you got here might be playing more of a part in your churning stomach right now?” Gordon asks with a laugh. “Awww, little Duckie looks a bit green.”

Harrison throws a pretzel at him as Duckie makes another gagging noise beside me.

“Fuck off, Gordon. Last time I wore it,” Harrison says, pushing back in his chair. Gordon stands.

“Not on the table,” he yells suddenly, taking Duckie’s condition seriously and pointing towards the back doors, which are folded open so that his living room is completely open to the yard with a glistening pool.

Duckie gets up and heads outside.

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