Page 5 of Home in Nevada

She grimaces and gags. "Ew, no. Not interested. Like, at all. Keep that disgusting thing in your pants."

"Wow, disgusting, huh?" I tease.

"Yeah, fucking gross, Jeff. I bet you never once thought it was gross when you made out with Jamie. I bet you never thought it was disgusting."

I drop the shirt I’m trying to put on, my hands suddenly feeling useless. "What the heck, Lucy?!" I bend down to pick it up again. "Stop bringing that up!"

Lucy’s smirking, far too pleased with herself. "I’m just saying... I bet you didn’t think it was gross."

I sigh, sitting down on the bed next to her. "So, if one day you meet a guy who, for some reason, really connects with you—both physically and psychologically, and you’re just drawn to him like crazy—but you still think all other guys are gross... What does that mean?"

Lucy rolls her eyes. "I see where this is going."

"No, seriously," I insist. "I’m asking what you would do in that situation. What does that mean?"

She gets more serious, locking eyes with me. "That would probably mean I’m bi, dude. Just because you’re bi doesn’t mean you’re attracted toeveryone, Jeff. You probably just have different standards for guys or something. I mean, God, you’re kind of a manwhore with women. It’s ridiculous."

I fall silent. Her words gnaw at me, making me feel sick.

"You okay?" Lucy’s voice softens. "Jeff?"

I bury my face in my hands, and she moves closer, rubbing my back. "Aw, my poor baby, it’s okay," she coos.

"Cut it out," I say, shoving her away. She laughs softly.

"You’re fine, Jeff. Chill. I know this kind of sucks right now," she says, squeezing my hand. "You’ll be okay. It’s really not a big deal."

"Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal." My chest aches, a mix of denial, anger, and shame swirling inside me. Mostly shame.What would people think of me?

"It is a big deal right now. Later, it won’t matter as much."

She starts setting up my old PS3. I haven’t touched that thing in over four years. I’m surprised it even still works. Wow, I haven’t seen that TV light up like this in ages.

"It’s weird how everyone makes such a big deal about who you like to fuck," she says suddenly, smirking at me.

I laugh, feeling a bit lighter. I toss a pillow at her. She blocks it effortlessly and laughs, flipping me off.

I roll my eyes. "Thanks," I say, and I mean it. "Seriously. But I don’t want to talk about this anymore."

I grab the second controller.

"Yeah, yeah..." She waves her hand dismissively as she plugs hers in. I laugh again.

"Anyway," she continues, "you should be pretty stoked. Didn’t you say Tiffany was different?"

I blush. "Yeah... I might ask her to move in with me. I’m moving out of the dorms next month, and it seems like perfect timing."

"Aw, look at you, all grown up..." she teases.

"I’m about to kick your ass at Street Fighter. Just you wait."

"Wow..." She scowls playfully. "Fuck you."

After an hour, it’s clear she’s won most of our games. She jumps up and does this ridiculous dance, even rubbing her butt in my face at one point before I flip her off and head to brush my teeth.

I set up the floor with extra sheets while she takes the bed. I’m such a fucking gentleman.

When I’m sure Lucy’s asleep, I quietly pull out my phone. She gasps once, and I almost drop it.What the hell...?She snores?

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