Page 43 of Poolside

Chuck needed everything between them to be fine.

As the ground shifted under his feet while he changed his depression medication, he needed Tommy by his side. He needed Tommy with him as he worked in therapy to change his outlook on himself—on the world, even—to prepare himself for arealrelationship. He needed Tommy,hisTommy, bringing fresh cookies to his house, or making his sweet potato fries. He needed him leaning against the doorjamb in the sweats he kept tucked away in the guest room, smiling at Chuck like he was someone important.

Chuck didn’t think he could do it without him.

“Morning,” he said when he reached the gate.

“Hey,” replied Tommy. Chuck glanced sideways at him, finding nothing but the usual comfortable smile on his friend’s face.Good, he thought. They were going to be okay. “How was your Sunday?”

“Good,” Chuck answered. He figured he’d be better off if he didn’t tell Tommy about how his advances had tormented him, or that he’d tossed and turned in bed trying not to think about all of the things he and Tommy might have done together if he had said yes.

He knew “yes” wasn’t an option, not if he wanted to move forward in an honest and open relationship with a man who was certain in who he was—and what he wanted.

Chuck shucked off his sweats, the morning air still mild from the heat of the day before. Grabbing his cap and goggles from his bag, he turned around and?—

“What are you wearing?”

Tommy stood up, a wide smile on his face as he put his hands on his hips. “You like?”

Chuck didn’t know how to answer, not when his friend was wearing a vibrant red Speedo that left nothing to the imagination. No, even a quick glance clearly showed the head of his cock pressing against the shiny fabric.

Heat pooled in his gut.Good fucking God.

“It’s…” Chuck began, looking away as he busied himself adjusting his goggles. “As long as you’re comfortable, wear whatever you want.”

“It’s comfy.” Tommy moved up beside him at the edge of the pool. “I saw how hot you looked in a Speedo and figured I should get one for myself.”

Chuck’s mouth dropped open and he turned to respond, but Tommy was already submerged, the splash from his jump wetting the tops of Chuck’s feet.

Was Tommy fuckingflirtingwith him?

He took a steadying breath before following him, willing the cold water to subdue whatever hot, delusional thoughts were distracting him.

They warmed up—splitting the lane rather than circling so that Chuck could go at his normal pace—and then moved on to distance drills.

Tommy’s stroke was getting better, although he still tired quickly and needed to pause to catch his breath. The man was so muscle-bound that it didn’t surprise Chuck.

They’d started a 300 meter kick when Tommy broke the comfortable silence.

“So, I’ve been doing some research.”

Chuck tilted his head to look at him. “Okay,” he said, his focus on the force of each kick of his legs.

“Yeah,” Tommy went on. “And I think I’m bisexual.”

That got Chuck’s attention. For a moment he just stared, taking in the tan swells of Tommy’s broad shoulders as he gripped the kick board in front of him.Why did he have to look like that?“That’s good, T,” he said, hoping his friend could hear the support in his voice. “How do you feel?”

“About being bi?”

Chuck nodded.

Tommy let out a low laugh. “Good. Fine. I mean, I guess it’s nice to have a label, you know, when it comes to telling other people, but it doesn’t change how I feel.”

“And how do you feel?”

“Like women are beautiful, but I also get hard thinking about your dick.”

The sound Chuck made was something between an incredulous laugh and a scoff, and resulted in a fit of coughing that made his eyes burn.

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