Page 32 of Perfect Matcha
Camden couldn’t imagine sharing a shower with Theo in a way that wasn’t overtly intimate. He’d want to touch Theo. To look at him. Kiss him again.
But he didn’t have that right. He was Theo’s sex-toy wilderness guide. He assumed there would be no sex toys in the shower and losing that shield would wreck him. This hadn’t meant anything to Theo, and it meanteverythingto Camden.
Everything.
“No thanks.” Camden had to clear the lump out of his throat. “I think I’m clean enough.”
Theo stared at him, his eyes wide and kind of hurt. He grabbed a towel off a rack and held it not so subtly in front of himself like armor. “Are you going to leave?”
Fuck, Camden was screwing this up. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Theo. “No. I’ll be here when you get out.”
“You promise?”
Theo was standing so close, and he smelled like sex, and Camden’s arms reached for him without verifying with his head—or heart—that it was okay.
He managed to keep it from being sensual. Or even romantic.Mostly. He wrapped one arm over Theo’s shoulder, dragged him close, and smacked a kiss on the side of his head.
“I promise.”
While Theo rinsed off, Camden got dressed and sat on the bed. A bed that was rumpled from their extra-curriculars. He jumped up, uncomfortable in Theo’s room without him, and spotted the sex toys they’d used. The least he could do was clean the stretchy silicone cock ring. He left the ring and prostate massager combo for Theo to deal with.
He washed the cock ring in Theo’s guest bathroom, then waited for him on the couch.
The stillness of the apartment got to him, so he pulled his phone out to fiddle with it. He was contemplating texting Cassie to ask for advice, when the phone vibrated in his hand. On instinct, he answered, realizing one second too late that it was Freddie. And that it was a video call.
“Shit.” Camden glanced toward the bedroom. He could hear the shower running. “Hi, Freddie.”
Freddie’s face filled the screen, his cream-colored sweater bright against his light brown skin. “Hey, groomsman. What’re you up to? You seem all flushed and weird.”
“I’m hanging out with Theo.”
Freddie seemed taken aback by that. He blinked several times. “Why did you answer, then?”
That was a good fucking question.
“He’s in the shower.”
A confused silence followed those words. Was it weird for Theo to shower while they were hanging out? It wasn’t the first time Camden had been here while Theo showered, but typically it happened because Theo lost track of time and wasn’t ready when Camden arrived.
“Are you going out somewhere?”
“Yeah,” Camden lied, because that was easier than telling the truth.
“Cool. Speaking of Theo … He hasn’t RSVPed for the wedding. Do you think he’ll come? I’m not sure if inviting him was the right call, but we grew up together. I—I suppose I’m being nostalgic.”
“He’s planning to be there. Put him down for a plus-one also.”
“Oh really?” Freddie grinned. “That’s exciting. You didn’t tell me he was dating anyone.”
“I don’t gossip about either of you to each other.” That was a rule Camden had set very early, and one Theo had respected. Freddie was naturally nosier.
“Because you’re no fun. What about you? Are you bringing a date?”
“No. Of course not.”
Freddie shook his head. “I worry about you.”
“You sound like my sister.”
