Page 216 of Worthy

Fuck, I need to sleep. Forget the food, I’ll just eat tomorrow.

I walk a few paces down the hall with him following behind me and I stop in front of our doors. Our rooms are across from each other. I turn back to him and reach up to rub the back of my neck.

“So I’m just going to…” I trail off, pulling out my key and unlocking my door, pushing it open a tad. “Have a good night.” He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me in confusion. Well, okay then. It’s definitely not just me. This is the strangest interaction we’ve ever had. “Right,” I mutter, walking into my room. I almost have the door shut when his hand shoots out, stopping it.

“Wait.” Pete shoulders his way inside and closes the door, leaning back against it.

I’m stunned for a second and I take a step back. “Um, Pete, what are you doing?”

“Owen, you’re my friend,” he starts, looking at me with his big, blue eyes, and I can see the terror hidden there.

What the hell is happening right now?

“I am.” Of course I am. We’re brothers. We pledged together.

“I just… I’m struggling and I need help.” A lone tear runs down his cheek and he angrily bats it away.

I take a step in his direction, wanting to comfort him somehow, even though this isn’t my typical MO because feelings are gross. “Hey, it’s okay. I know you’ve had a rough week with the exam and your girlfriend.”

He barks out a laugh, shaking his head quickly. “I couldn’t give a fuck less about Savannah.”

Okay, now I’m really confused. “What do you mean? I thought you guys broke up? I thought that’s why you’ve been upset the last week.”

“I guess it’d make sense for everyone to think that.” His eyes are laser-focused on the floor, his voice a whisper, and I take another step towards him. I don’t know what he’s dealing with, but it’s obvious it’s something big. Bigger than I think I even realize.

“So what’s going on? The exam? It’s okay. You can fail an exam and still pass, you had a great year besides that.”

“It’s not the exam,” he mumbles before finally looking up at me. “I— Can I try something?”

Try something? “Sure?” It comes out like a question as my eyes ping back and forth between his. I blame the drinks, usually I wouldn’t be so quick to jump into something… Especially not knowing what it is.

“Okay.” He closes his eyes, then takes a few breaths, as if he’s trying to work up the nerve to do whatever it is he’s wanting to do. When he opens them again, there’s a determined look on his face. “Okay. Don’t hit me, please?” He closes the gap between us but my foggy brain doesn’t register the movement in time because I’m too stuck on his words.

“Hit you? Why would I—” But I’m cut off by the press of his lips against mine. It’s only a quick peck before he’s pulling away.

He takes a small step back, his cheeks flushed. “I think I’m gay,” he says in newfound wonder.

Hethinkshe’s gay? “You don’t know?” Is that a thing? Can you not know you’re gay? And why the fuck am I not freaking out?

“I wasn’t sure.” His shoulder lifts. “I’ve been questioning things for a while.”

I’m so taken aback by this revelation that I don’t say anything for several seconds. “But you had a girlfriend,” I blurt out, and immediately feel stupid. I reach up, dragging a hand down my face. Maybe he’s bi. I know that’s a thing.

“And that ended so well…” He gives me a sad smile at the reminder.

“Shit, sorry. I just...”A fucking guy just kissed me and I don’t know what to make of that. “So you haven’t kissed anyone before?”

He shakes his head. “Not a guy, no.”

“Why me?” There’s no malice in my tone, I’m genuinely curious why out of all the guys to kiss first, he chose me.

“You’re friend’s with Sterling and he’s bi. I figured if you were cool with him, you wouldn’t be a dick to me.”

That’s true, despite my father’s bigoted beliefs, I’m an ally. Love whoever the hell you want. “That’s true. I don’t care if you’re gay.”

“Thanks,” he huffs. “I don’t know, I guess I need to experiment more.”

I purse my lips, his words are confusing. “Experiment more? Did you not like the kiss?” I don’t know why I care, but I do. I take pride in the fact that I’m a good kisser.

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