Page 49 of Romance Languages

“Ethan, you need to calm down. This is just a friendly game,” she said.

“And games have rules, no matter how friendly they are.”

“Babe, I love you, but you’re being a sore loser.” Greg rubbed his husband’s shoulder, which did the trick of calming him down. “I know you love to win. I think it’s sexy. But losing gracefully is also sexy.”

“Fine. I will admit defeat. Though don’t be surprised if I write a letter to Shock and Awe corporate to get an official ruling for future games.” Ethan took a picture of the cards being played for evidence. This was my first game night with Greg and Ethan, and I had a feeling it would be my last.

Greg looked at me from across the circle, and his eyes crinkled with an apology. It took me a second to realize what was going on. I was somewhere else.

“You good?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Yeah. What?”

“Seamus, are you even paying attention? It’s your turn,” Ashley said.

“It’s—what? My turn? Right.” I shook my head, getting myself back in the present. Greg suppressed a laugh.

Ethan held out the stack of fill-in-the-blank cards. I blinked at them.

“Pick one,” he said impatiently.

“Right. Sorry.” I took a card from the middle of the stack and tossed it into the center of the circle. Everyone reacted and guffawed, as it was an especially raunchy fill in the blank.Oh, I almost forgot. I need to put my ______ in _________.

I gulped back a hard lump when I read the card out aloud. The other players combed through their response cards to find the funniest, dirtiest, and according to Ethan, still narratively logical answers. I would have to pick the best choice, but the only response I could think of wasOh, I almost forgot. I need to put my dick in my gay, virginal friend.

Was it hot in here? These old houses had poor ventilation.

“You okay?” Greg asked. Was he watching me all the time?

“You seem very deep in thought considering nobody’s turned in their answers,” Ashley said.

“That’s because he’s taking the game seriously,” Ethan huffed.

“Ethan!” Ashley and the other players threw their hands up.

Usually, Ethan was a fun, sweet guy. His competitive spirit truly took over his body like that demon who made the girl’s head spin inThe Exorcist.

As people contemplated and submitted their response cards, I kept thinking about my own answer.

Oh, I almost forgot. I need to put my dick in my gay, virginal friend.

Something I did exactly twenty-four hours ago. I was still riding a confusing high. Good Lord, for being a newbie at blow jobs, Julian was preternaturally talented. This was the American dream, right? Having somebody come over in the middle of the night, suck you off no strings attached, and then leave? That was why Washington crossed the Delaware and all those dudes signed the Declaration of Independence.

Ethan snapped his fingers in front of my face, pulling me out of my post-blow job high.

“What just happened?” I asked, shaking my head.

Everyone in the circle chuckled. Well, everyone except Ethan.

“Seamus, are you on drugs?” he asked.

“If you are, then you gotta share. It’s only right.” Greg had an ear-to-ear grin, getting a kick out of this whole scene.

I managed through my round, ultimately picking Greg’s response card since it got the biggest laugh. We broke for a bathroom and drink break right after. I hustled to the kitchen and grabbed another beer from the fridge.

Greg clapped his hand on my shoulder. “Have you been in their backyard? It’s so nice. Let’s go check it out.”

“Isn’t the game starting back up?”

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