Page 26 of Alex
“Nota bit.” Ev glances at the number scribbled on my arm. “Where is your latestvictim?”
Probablyin his room, though I doubt he’s feeling victimized. “She left this morning,” Ilie. “What time is it?”
Ithrow on a sweatshirt, apply deodorant, and run a brush through my hair. Itjust touches my collar and I really hope I get to keep it. “Almost ten. Kylegets out of school at three, and Mason and I are going out of town. Can youpick him up?”
“Uh,yeah, sure. Where are you going?”
Evmakes my bed while I pull on a pair of socks. “The shelter in Tennessee needssome help. The manager quit and someone needs to get things organized. We’ll begone for a week or so.”
Perfect.I won’t have to worry about them popping in this week. “Well, be careful.”
“Alwaysam. I’ve got to run. I left you some doughnuts in the kitchen. You might wantto get moving before Alex eats them all.” She smiles at me, then wraps me in ahug. “He’s so much better, Ian. Thank you for taking care of him, getting himthrough the worst of it.”
Trustme, he’s repaying the favor. “You’re welcome, pup.” I hug her and kiss hercheek. “Text me when you get there safe.”
“Iwill,” she promises, flashing me a smile on her way out the door. I loveEverly. She’s been my best friend since we were kids and she started followingme around the group home like a lost puppy. Hence the nickname, pup. I hatelying to her and part of me wants to tell her, just so she can tell me it’ll beokay. But I can’t do that to her. She has enough to worry about.
Ihave my own shit to deal with today and he’s waiting in the kitchen. How do Iplay this? What do you say when your gay friend gives you an amazing hand job?Last night, we just kept drinking and laughing like nothing happened, but Iknow Alex and he’ll want to talk about it. That’s the last thing I want to do.
ChapterFour
Alex
“Ijust think we should talk about it so you’ll quit acting weird,” I tell Ian,climbing into the passenger seat of his car.
“I’mnot acting weird. It’s a three hour drive. Are you going to keep hounding methe whole way?”
“Probably.Or we could just get it over with now.”
Hesighs, but the corner of his mouth twitches up. “Fine. Thanks for the hand job.I really appreciate it.”
“Veryfunny, and you’re welcome.”
“I’venever done anything with a guy before,” he mumbles, keeping his eyes frozen onthe road.
“Ifigured. Do you feel like I took advantage?” I kind of did, though that wasn’tmy intention at all. But when his cock got hard right there by my hand, Icouldn’t resist. I expected him to stop me, maybe even get pissed. His reactionwas more than I ever could’ve hoped for. The way his lips parted when he came,his dark eyes squeezed shut in fierce concentration. I’ll never forget it.
“No.It’s not like you held me down. I just…I’m not gay, you know that, right?”
Straightguys don’t tend to be that cool about a hand job from a buddy, but now isn’tthe time to argue it. He has to come to grips with his sexual needs in his owntime. “I know.”
“Canwe just let it go and act like it didn’t happen?”
“It’snot like I’d tell anyone, Ian. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay, notfreaking out or anything.”
“I’mgood.”
“Good,I won’t bring it up again.” I grin at him. “Pun intended.”
“Shutthe fuck up,” he laughs. We spend the rest of the drive talking and joking likenothing out of the ordinary took place.
Kyleis sitting on the steps of the main building, surrounded by other kids when wearrive. Two different girls stand to hug him before he hefts his bag over hisshoulder and hops into the car. “Looks like you had a good week,” Ian teases aswe trade seats, so I can drive.
“Itwas great! The art classes are fun and the teachers really know their stuff,”he replies, excited.
“Iwas talking about the girls.”
Kylelaughs and turns to Ian. “Yeah, did you get a good look at them both? What doyou think? The blonde or the redhead? I can’t choose.”
