Page 4 of Sass in the Grass

Poutingonhisleathersofa, Jovian complained in a long stream to his best, and surely, only friend, Ciana. “He says I can’t go back to the club, or any club! Ci, how can I deal with this?”

“What’s this camp like? I went to a camp when I was little, and it was fabulous. It was near Taho, gorgeous boys were everywhere. I had a good time and had my very first kiss there.”

“I’ve had my first kiss, thanks.”

Ciana was like him. She’d been raised in a pleasant house with parents that could afford to give her a good life without stress. There was nothing wrong with that, but he was hated for it by all the jealous queers at all the clubs. They all thought they were better than him because they’d struggled. He struggled too, just not in the same ways. With so many jealous of him, he’d had ahard time making friends all his life. Ciana was the only one who truly understood him.

She was beautiful too, with long chestnut hair, large eyes that were the perfect shade of cornflower blue. She’d had them professionally colorized, so she’d know what shade of blue to wear to the important days of her life, like prom.

“Jovian, please, just do it. It might be fun. I’m headed to Italy for the summer, and you were going to be here alone. This way, I’m not worried about you.”

Jovian would be lonely, he knew. And without the club to even get sex, he would be miserable. “It’s expensive.”

“Ask your mom. She’s fine with helping you.”

“I know. I’d rather save up my asks for things I’d actually enjoy, though! I mean, camp? Oh, big fucking deal, there are cabins. Cabins! One very tiny step up from sleeping in the dirt. I don’t think I can do it, Ci, I just don’t! Bugs, and other people in the same room? People I won’t be fucking?”

“How do you know? Maybe you’ll find a bunch of men on fire, and out there in the woods, doing nasty stuff.”

He’d never had a wilderness adventure, but then he thought of the bugs and dirt and blanched. “Ew. Dirty up my ass does not sound like Insta story material.”

“Could be a fun TikTok series, though. A clip of each place you have dirt while you’re at camp getting plowed by tanned, muscled beach bodies.”

“It’s a lake, Ci. They’re not beach bodies, they’re dad bods, sipping cheap beer and sitting by their fishing poles.”

As she rolled her eyes, she slammed the rest of her wine and grabbed her bag. “I’m out. You’re boring me right now.”

“Traitor.”

“Go to camp! Get laid. Do something,” she said as she opened the door. “I’ll see you when I get back, and I promise, I’ll bring you something grand.”

“Bring me itch cream for all the bug bites I’m going to have,” he yelled as she disappeared out of his apartment on her way to her ride share.

Pouting was his thing. It had always worked for him. One look at his pouting face and his parents had caved to all his demands. So, it didn’t work as well away from home, but he refused to stop trying. One guy would adore his pouty face and drown him in fabulousness. He was sure of it.

Picking up his phone, he stared at it while considering calling his mom. “I could have asked for a trip to Italy with Ci, butnooo, instead I have to go to a camp.”

After getting his mom’s line ringing, Jovian stared across the room into the big mirror he placed behind the two fake plants his mother had gotten him after his real ones died from neglect. He was wearing his purple robe, the one that brought out the pink on his cheeks.

“Jovian? Hi, baby! How are you?”

“I’m upset, Mom.”

“Oh, honey, what happened?”

As much as he wanted to whine to his mother about it, she didn’t need to hear about Chaps. Her little baby into kink and hunting for a daddy wouldn’t exactly win him any points. “Just…jealous people. Like usual.”

“Baby, I’ve told you for years, as handsome as you are that’s going to happen. Let Mama help. Would you like a new duvet? I saw a pretty one online today.”

He’d actually love one, but what that cost could get him to the camp three times over. His mom only shopped at the best stores. “Mom, that would be really great, but I have another favor to ask. Um…it’s kind of expensive…”

“Oh, stop that. What is it, honey?”

Preening for the mirror, Jovian pursed his lips and let the robe slip from his bent leg, revealing his thin but shapely thigh. The long pause was mostly for dramatic effect, and it always worked.

“Jov? Honey, are you okay? Do you need me to come get you?”

He’d love that too, but it wasn’t necessary. “Mom, there’s this…camp. It’s called…” he snatched the brochure from the glass and oak coffee table and looked at the cover. “Pride Camp.”

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