Page 5 of Filthy Sweet

That’s when Phillipe started laughing. Not nice laughter, but a mean, taunting snicker, like he’d just seen the most depraved thing in the world.

I’ll never forget the disdainful look on his face as he stared down at me.Fuck. You’re nasty, Owen. That’s disgusting.

I shudder as his words come back. Absolutely mortifying. And if I needed more confirmation that licking my own cum was not appropriate date behavior, Phillipe’s hasty exit drove the point home.

“Maybe I’m not ready to date yet. Maybe I should get another PhD instead.”

Robin clicks her tongue against her teeth. “Hush, Owen. You’re too sweet to end up lonely.”

The front door clicks, and I quickly say goodbye to Robin as my brother walks in, home from work. He’s a wall of meat and muscle, six inches taller than me, but with the same sandy blonde hair and a scruffy beard. We’re opposites in a lot of ways, but even as kids, we got along. Then, when I was nineteen, Mom died, and through the overwhelming grief, our bond grew even tighter.

Tighter, although at times a little annoying, too. Reggie still sees me as a kid he needs to take care of, and with my brother’s big personality and outgoing nature, I often feel like I’m disappearing next to him.

“Owen. What’s up, man?”

“Hey Reggie.” I sit up straight. “How’s the gym?”

“Busy.” My brother is dressed in a pair of athletic shorts and a tank top, and he’s wearing a baseball cap with the name of his gym on it,Rock Solid. “I spent the morning with rehab clients, then got stuck in the office for the afternoon. How you doing?”

Reggie got a degree in sports medicine and somehow managed to parlay that into opening his own gym, which caters to professional athletes. It’s pretty damn impressive, although he’s always been a golden boy, loved by all and seemingly capable of achieving anything he sets his mind to.

Anything except for cleaning his apartment, I think, glancing at the mess of junk mail that spills across his kitchen table.

“I’m good,” I answer. “I’ve been filling out paperwork for my job all day.”

“Cool.” Reggie squirts some water into his mouth from his bottle, then joins me on the couch. “Hey, you said you wanted to talk about something tonight?”

“Right.” I pull my legs under my body and face him across the couch. “It’s no hurry. We can wait until after dinner or something…”

Reggie grunts, his wide mouth turning down. “Owen, it’s like pulling teeth, trying to get you to open up.” He drops his voice low, rumbling it as this made-up character he calls Big Reggie, a childhood joke that never seems to end. “Aren’t you gonna tell Big Reggie what’s up?”

I cover my glasses with my hand. “Can I please have this conversation with regular Reggie?”

“Let me see if he’s available,” Reggie slowly intones as Big Reggie, then laughs and switches to his normal voice. “Sorry, man, what’s up?”

I squirm. It’s not like Reggie is the first person I’ve come out to. I’ve already shared this part of myself with Robin, and also with Phillipe, although I’d rather not count him.

But now is not the time to give in to my insecurities. I’ve already indulged them enough today and, frankly, enough for this lifetime. I’ve moved to a new city, secured a dream job at the museum, and now it is well past time for me to take charge of my personal life, too, and tell my annoyingly encouraging brother that I like guys.

I clear my throat, gathering the last of my courage. “I wanted to let you know that I’m, uh, gay.” I lick my lips, my heart pounding. “Or something.”

Reggie stares at me, his hazel eyes slowly growing wider and his frown inching up into a smile. “Ho. Lee. Shit,” he says, then chuckles. “Owen, that’s fucking great, man!”

“It is?”

“Fuck yeah!” Reggie laughs again, then pulls me into a bear hug and slaps my back. “Congratulations! That’s awesome!”

“Um, thanks,” I mutter as he rocks me side to side.

“Even Big Reggie thinks so,” he bellows.

“Okay,” I say with a reluctant laugh. “Thanks, Big Reggie.”

My brother pulls back, grinning. “What a relief.”

I blink. “A relief? What does that mean?”

“I thought that you weren’t interested in dating or something.” He holds his palms up quickly. “Which is fine! I get it that some people don’t date. Fox explained that to me. But I gotta admit, I didn’t love the idea of you being alone.”

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