Lucas POV
Walking into the café with Ethan, my initial focus was on finding his cousin, Isaac. We planned to surprise him with the guest invites to the Halloween party. But now, we would both get a surprise. Isaac would be bringing his new boyfriend, Mason.
My eyes landed on a familiar face. Every time I see him, it surprises me how similar he and Ethan are. From their looks to their personalities. Even their ages, only a few months separate them. They were both only children, and their dads are brothers, so they grew up together. More like brothers themselves than cousins. They work out together, regularly, so Isaac has the same built physique. I’ve wondered many times if they were hung the same way too. My money is, they are. It has to be a family thing.
And yes, seeing the twink next to him made me a bit jealous. Mason was obviously younger, maybe about 25. Very cute, I won’t deny it. He has a confidence that surrounds him. You can see it. I bet those two have the kind of sex I just dream about. Isaac doesn’t hold back with this one.
The way he eyed Ethan up and down when he and Isaac hugged hello. I know exactly what went through his head. Because I’ve thought about it myself on multiple occasions. How do I get both of these guys at the same time?
Isaac hugged me too, as he always does. Which made me smile a bit when Mason got only a handshake from Ethan. I know, I shouldn’t be an ass to him. If Isaac is dating him, he’s a good guy. So I need to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The boys took their usual 10 minutes or so to catch up, seemingly in their own world. I made my way to the counter to get our drinks. The barista, flashing a friendly smile, recognized me. “The usual?” he asked, reaching for the cups.
“Yeah, that would be great. Thanks Nico,” I said. “Has it been a busy morning?”
“You know how it is, it goes in waves. You missed the chaos about an hour ago,” he replied with a laugh, his hands moving skillfully as he prepared our order. “But it keeps things interesting.”
Nico has a way of keeping eye contact when engaging in small talk. Breaking contact just enough to make sure he didn’t make a mistake. Flirting? Maybe. I’ve watched him do it with others, so I really don’t know how to read it.
“I can imagine,” I responded, enjoying our light exchange.
“Who’s that?” He asked, with a slight nod in Ethan’s direction. “I haven’t seen them before.”
“Ethan’s cousin Isaac and his boyfriend Mason.”
“Cute couple. I see the family resemblance.” He smiled. “Looks like Mason is enjoying it too.”
I turned to look at them. Mason changed seats, taking the one next to Ethan where I previously sat. They were admiring Ethan’s new titanium watch. Mason, a bit closer than Isaac. It’s a nice one, he got it from work. The added benefit is, I got his old one, a nice silver one. Which was 100 times better than the one I usually wore. What I noticed most was the way Mason seemed to keep eyeing Ethan.
“Ethan got a new watch,” I explained, hoping to explain away the situation and alleviate any suspicion. Mason was evidently the flirtatious type.
“Enjoy,” he said, handing me the two cups of dark roast, our fingers coming in contact as he did it. Our eyes met, and he smiled. Flirting, harmless or not, I’ll take it. It’s nice to know when someone’s interested.
“Thanks,” I replied, feeling a small spark of warmth from the interaction.
Mason, to his credit, returned to his seat next to Isaac when I approached, with no hesitation, allowing me to sit back down next to Ethan. I had a contingency plan, had he not moved. Flirt with my boyfriend, fine, I’ll flirt with yours. Ethan isn’t the jealous type. So it coulda have been fun.
“So, what’s up?” Isaac asked as I sat back down.
“You know the Big Halloween party I went to last year.” Ethan began.
“Yeah?”
“Well, we have 2 extra tickets this year and wanted to know if you would like to go?”
“Wow. Thanks for the offer, but…” He replied. “We already have tickets.”
“How?” I asked. Legitimately surprised.
“Mason.” He answered like it clarified everything.
“I can’t wait.” Mason chimed in. “It’s my first time going.”
“Mason got an invite, and I’ll be going as his guest.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, his eyes scanning Mason again, seemingly sizing him up. I think I knew what was going through his head. Ethan was entering protective cousin mode, looking out for his cousin, who’s more like a brother to him. And, we all know Liam and Josh aren’t exactly exclusive. So, the unspoken question was, how well does Mason know Liam? Or, Josh, for that matter? Former fuck buddies? Newer fuck buddies? I’d given up long ago, trying to figure out what Liam’s type is, but he could easily be Josh’s type.
“Don’t worry Ethan,” Isaac replied, stepping in to protect his younger boyfriend from his now overprotective cousin. “It’s not what you think.”
Mason let out a hearty laugh, breaking the tension in the room. "Oh God, No. It's nothing like that, really. My cousin would cut my balls off if that happened. It’s a family connection.”
“So your family?” Ethan asked.
“Nope. Not directly.” He answered, looking at Ethan. “You obviously know Liam pretty well, which means you know the people who surround him.”
“Yes.” He answered.
“I’ll give you one guess.” He laughed. “Just take a good long look at me, and add a few years.”
Ethan was eyeing him up and down, taking the measure of him. His eyes went wide open with some realization. “It was you?”
Mason just nodded, acknowledging something.
Ethan started laughing. Like uncontrollably. “Oh man, this is awesome.” He looked at his cousin with a nod of approval. “Isaac, man. Good job. You have no idea what you just stepped into.” He then turned to Mason and said with absolute Joy. “Mason, you do realize, payback is a dish best served cold. He is going to extract every ounce of pleasure out of this.”
“Yes.” He said, “And I am begging you, not to warn him. Don’t give him any time to plan.”
Ethan, who was still laughing, nodded. “Oh, that would spoil the fun. He is going to push every button he can. Isaac, man, you’re fucked.“
Isaac and I just looked at each other, completely lost. I sort of injected myself into their conversation. “Um, guys, explanation please.”
Ethan tried his best to stop laughing and explain. Mason, for his part, just sat back with a knowing smile. The look of a man who knew he was in trouble, but was going to face it bravely.
“So,” Ethan began. “Chris, and Calvin.”
“Umm, Ethan,” Mason interrupted. “You’re right, he is going to extract every ounce of revenge he can muster. However, if my cousin had grown some balls earlier on. It never would have happened. It’s probably best we don’t tell everyone the story and rub it in Chris’s face even more.”
He turned his attention to me. “It was completely innocent. Devoid of any malice, as Chris would accuse. A series of unlikely events. Which would not have been possible had my cousin been honest with himself from the beginning. I love him dearly, but the boy was being stupid. If you want to know the story, you need to hear it from Chris or, better yet, Calvin; he at least will give you the unbiased version.”
I turned to Ethan. “Babe?”
“He’s right. It’s not my story to tell, but he speaks the truth. I heard the story from Calvin. Ask them at the Party.” He smiled again. “It will just get Chris’s cackles up even more.”
“I’m not going to do anything to cause a scene,” I replied. The last thing I wanted was to upset Chris, and through him, the others.
“No.” He said, fighting back another round of laughter. “It won’t be bad.”
“Except for you.” He said, looking at Mason. “And you.” Looking at Isaac. “Though, I promise you, man, you’re going to love all the attention.”
I was a bit frustrated, not getting to hear the story. BUT, I get it. If Ethan wasn’t worried about him. Then I won’t be either.
“Well,” Ethan said to me. “It looks like our plans have been thwarted.” He chuckled. “Any other suggestions?”
I paused, my mind drifting to the potential guests for the upcoming Halloween party. Then, a sudden idea dawned on me. "What about my sister?" I suggested. “Sarah’s bisexual, not that it's a prerequisite, but she and her girlfriend Nina would likely be enthusiastic about joining the party."
Ethan raised a valid point, countering with, "She can be quite unreliable at times. I'd hate to give her the tickets only for them to go to waste." He was spot-on, describing my sister to a tee.
I pulled out my phone and started flipping through recent text messages, pathetic, I know, but it’s the method I used. One by one, I considered each name and then dismissed it just as quickly for a variety of reasons.
"Reiley?" I mumbled, my attention still focused on my phone. “No. He’s likely already got one.” I said to myself.
“Aiden and Kai?” I asked. Ethan laughed. “Nope. Best friends with Cael. And he’s close to Noah and Talon, not to mention Liam himself. Guaranteed, Aiden has tickets. Especially since Liam wants in both their pants.”
I saw Ethan’s dad’s name on the list of names as I scrolled through my phone. He would love the tickets; he loves Halloween. But I don’t want to risk any form of drama. I get the feeling he doesn’t like me very much. Which is strange, I felt like we got along great when we first met. But the more I got to know him. The more I feel like there’s tension on his part. It’s slightly infuriating.
I think he’s great. He is every bit Ethan’s dad, in looks and personality. Only he is more outgoing and a bit rougher around the edges. The obvious source of Ethan’s good looks and drive for physical fitness. Sexy Daddy, that is the only way to describe him. But if he doesn’t like me, I would rather avoid any possible drama at the party. So, I scrolled right past it.
“And now I’m back to Emily. What if we just like. Super emphasizes that if she ditches out on these. We… “ I let it hang out there.
“If she ditches out on them. We’ll tell your mother. No better yet. We give them the ticket in front of your mother.” Ethan offered. And he was right. If anyone would make sure my sister didn’t flake on it, she would. Especially if she knew how difficult it is to get tickets.
"Works for me," I replied before shifting my focus back to Mason. "So, Mason, considering you're likely the closest one here to Liam, what can you tell us about the event?"
Mason chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh no, I'm afraid I can't help you there. First of all, I don't have any inside information on the event. While there is a family connection, I'm not that intimately connected to the group.”
“Bullshit.” Ethan coughed.
“And secondly,” he continued, brushing off Ethan’s interruption. “Even if I did know, there's no way I would spill the beans on that one. Liam is not someone I want to get on the bad side of."
“What are you guys going as?” Ethan asked. “Vampire ghosts for us.”
“Cool idea, I see the connection to the theme. Demons for us,” Answered Mason.
Ethan was at the gym, engaging in his bi-weekly martial arts sparring session with TJ. It’s like a ritual, or more like an obsession. We work out together all the time, and Isaac joins us a lot. So I had plenty of time to pay Reiley a visit to ensure he didn't already have tickets before giving them to my sister. Plus, it was a good excuse to catch up . Reiley was hosting an open house for a new listing he signed, so I knew where he would be.
As I pulled up to the house, I noticed two cars parked outside, one of them belonging to Reiley. The front door was standing wide open, inviting potential buyers inside. It’s not my first time here. I photograph all of Reiley’s houses for his marketing material.
I found them in the backyard. Reiley was standing on the patio showing it to a potential buyer. The guy was hot. Muscular, big build, wearing a 3-piece suit with a fantastic waistline. Which is hot just on its own. It’s a total power look. So I was not surprised to see Reiley was not-so-subtly flirting with him.
It was best to not interrupt. So I chose instead to watch from the sanctity of the kitchen. If it looked like Reiley was going to succeed once again in seducing a client. I could quietly exit and close the door on my way out. I was legitimately curious and secretly hoping for his success. And I’m not ashamed to admit, a tad bit jealous at the possibility.
Reiley and I have been friends for many years. We’ve seen each other through the best and the worst times. And yes, we’ve hooked up on a rare occasion. Before Ethan. That’s how I know his track record of hooking up with clients. It’s a thrill for him. And honestly, seeing this guy. I get it.
I was disappointed when the guy’s phone rang. I imagined Reiley cursing whoever was on the other end of that phone call for being an unintentional cock block. He left the guy outside and came in to greet me with a hug. “Lucas, how are you?”
“Great,” I replied while taking a seat in one of the barstools nearby. “You were so close, that guy was more interested in your ass than the pool or spa.”
“I know.” He replied. “That’s ok. I’ll be seeing him again soon. So will you. In the first week of November, we need to photograph his house.”
“So he’s a seller?” I observed. “And a buyer. Don’t you usually try and avoid doing that? To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest?”
“It’s only a conflict of interest if he buys one of my houses.” He replied. I looked around, as we were most definitely in one of Reiley’s listings.
“He insisted. And for him, I’ll make an exception.” I saw that look in his eyes. Hunger and determination.
“So you’ll have another chance then. Good Luck?”
“Luck. You think I need Luck?” He teased while leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. “He’s already fucked me.”
“Tramp.” I joked.
“Jealous?”
“Honestly, with a stud like that. Yes.” I confessed while looking at him through the window. It was like he could feel me checking him out. For he turned in my direction right at that moment and just waved. He dropped the phone into his pocket and started walking towards us.
“Reiley, Sorry about that.” He said while moving to kiss Riley on the cheek. “I need to go. As for the house. It’s nice, but it’s just not what I’m looking for.” He left his hand on Reiley’s shoulder as he spoke. At the same time, I saw and even felt him give me the once-over.
“Declan, this is my friend Lucas, the photographer I was telling you about.”
He extended his hand. I reached out and shook it. He had a firm grip, but the softest hands. Far softer than I was expecting. “Nice to meet you. Sooner than expected.”
“I needed to talk to Reiley, so I thought I would drop in.”
“Perfect timing then.” He turned his attention back to Reiley. “I would love to stay and talk business, but I have other pressing matters to attend to.”
“No problem, we will be in touch soon.”
Before heading out, he looked at me. “After I find a house, I may have some work for you too. We’ll talk later.”
Then he kissed Reiley on the cheek, and to my surprise, did the same to me. Both his hands pressed briefly on my shoulders as he leaned in. It left me a little flushed, if I’m being honest.
“He likes you,” Reiley said with a mischievous smile.
“What’s not to like?”
“Seriously, Lucas, the way he was checking you out. He likes you.”
“I have a boyfriend.”
“And I have a husband, what’s your point?” he countered, and then challenged me. “Tell me you weren’t tempted.”
“Temped. Absolutely.” I confirmed, there’s no harm in that.
“He has a nice cock. You would love it. I mean, not as nice as Ethan’s, but still very nice.”
I sent him a picture once. We were drunk and talking about my sex life. Before Ethan, we hooked up a few times, so he didn’t understand how I had trouble taking Ethan’s really thick cock. I mean, it’s long too, but I can handle that. It’s the girth. So, I showed him a picture to prove my point. He loves to remind me of it.
Hence was born his routine of asking for a night with Ethan, at least once a month. Usually, when we’re drinking. Honestly, I’ve considered saying yes a few times. But not in a way that ide set it up for them. That would be weird. More like… Not objecting.
I made the mistake of admitting to him once before that I’ve considered it. We were drunk, talking about our sex lives, as does come up quite a bit when we drink, and I told him my thoughts on it. That the idea of Ethan fucking someone else doesn’t threaten me. Especially someone like Reiley, who I know would keep emotion out of it, and wouldn’t try to break us up.
As fucked up as it sounds. If they had a boyfriend or were married, it would bother me even less. Because I’d know they had their own relationship to consider. And it really would be about sex, and only sex then. I said I would probably have the same rule he has with his husband, Trace. No overnight.
But I think I’d wanna know about it. Like, I get why Trace doesn’t want to know. To avoid the mental gymnastics one must go through if you ever encounter the person. Ignorance can be bliss. But, in my case, I think I’d at least want to know. Maybe to be able to watch for signs. I’m indecisive about it.
He then asked, what if he just sorta happened? I called him out on it. That with him, nothing just sorta happens. He went on to pose the scenario of someone else, a random hookup from a night at the bar. I went on to reply that it would depend on how he acted afterwards. Did he brush off any advances I might make. Like, I’m too tired, not tonight. That would feel like rejection. And I hate rejection, It make me question myself more than it should.
Yes, I was that drunk, strange logic.
But, people fuck up, I know that. We’re all human, and we have crazy sex drives; some more than others. And maybe my acceptance of the scenario is that I would hope he would extend the same courtesy to me if I fuck up. I certainly think about it. Like Declan. Damn, had that man put the moves on me. I’m not sure I could resist. So is it guilt, or wishful thinking, that has me open to the idea? Is it envy because I see and hear all about Reiley’s adventures?
“I still swear you only showed me to make me jealous.”
I wanted to tell him he had nothing to be jealous about. Even though Ethan has a huge cock, he is too timid when using it. But he’s heard it before. So, instead, I just went along with the fun. “It worked, didn’t it?”
Reiley stepped up to me, standing between my legs. “One day.” He teased.
“Maybe one day, but we aren’t there yet,” I replied, patting him on his ass.
He laughed, “I’m wearing you down. You know what that means.”
“That one day it will be a yes? Keep wishing.”
“It’s harmless fun. You riding Declan, Me riding Ethan. It wouldn’t even be cheating by your definition if it was in the same room.” I laughed in a pathetic attempt to hide my legitimate interest in his idea.
By my definition, he loved throwing that one at me. He doesn’t consider his extracurricular activities to be cheating, since it falls within the rules of his relationship. So, he’s right about that. Trace travels, alot. And if he’s not in town, Reiley is allowed to play. It’s sort of a don’t ask, don’t tell type of thing with them. And likewise, Trace is allowed to play while he’s away.
“You so sure Declan would go for it?” I asked, before realizing the message it sent Reiley.
“See, you’re interested.”
“Speaking of open relationships, how’s Trace?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
“On another trip.” He answered. “Nice deflection by the way. It’s a good thing he isn’t a monogamous snob, we never would have lasted otherwise. He’s gone too much.” He spoke again, but it seemed more like he was talking to himself than to me. “I can’t blame him or hold it against him. It’s his job, and he had it when we met. “
“Sounds like you’re still a little miffed over it.”
“Maybe,” he replied, taking a seat next to me. “I mean, I love that he is fine with our arrangmement. We have our rules.” I knew instantly where his frustrations came from. He’s told me many times. Another rule was, no sleepovers and Reiley is the cuddle after sex type. He wants to Curl up and fall asleep next to the person. And then hopefully wake up and do it again. But that rule, he wont break. He knows it would cut deeper than the others for Trace.
“I’m sorry baby,” I said in my best patronizing tone while patting him on the knee. “When does he get back?”
“Two more days. Anyways, what brings you by?”
“I wanted to confirm you had tickets to Liam’s party, We have two guest passes.”
“And you thought about me? Thank you.” He replied, “But yes, I already have tickets.”
“Honestly, you were my second option. Ethan’s cousin Isaac had first dibs. But he already had tickets too. Nevertheless, after family, you’re my first pick. And you’re higher on the list than my sister. How is it, tickets to a coveted invite-only party would be so hard to give away?”
“Lucas, I know it’s frustrating but, let me explain something to you,” He said. “That’s a good thing. First, it means you’re being incredibly selective about who you consider giving them to. You’re not handing them out indiscriminately. You recognize the value of it. Thats not something he does lightly. And Second. The fact that the people you’re considering already have tickets, means you’re surround by the right people.”
“I thought everyone gets to bring a guest,” I asked. Confused by his comment.
“Yeah, like me. I get to bring one person, Trace. I didn’t get two extra passes to give to someone else entirely. I don’t get to bring a friend and their date along. It’s not the same. You guys got two extra. You get to pick who they go to.”
I pulled the tickets out of my bag to verify. Guest of Ethan Westfield. “You mean Ethan got two extra passes,” I said, looking at the invites and wondering about the reason for the special treatment. I passed him the envilopes for him to see.
“No. That is not what I mean. You’re looking too deep.” He was quick to correct me.
“Even I know Ethan well enough to say he wouldn’t give those passes out without consulting you first. Liam knows that as well as I do. This was a gift to you both regardless of what’s on this envilope.” He paused for a moment before handing them back to me. Looking me right in the eyes, he spoke. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
He returned to his previous explanation. “Alex taught Liam to keep his friends close and to take care of those they care about. He also taught him to always be on the lookout for talented and influential people. To expand their sphere of influence. This party isn’t just a way for Liam to blow off steam and have fun. It’s a dance of personal relationships and politics. In many ways, it’s a test as well.”
“A test? How?”
“The games.” He said as if it should be obvious. “Last year’s game wasn’t just about trading cards. It was about understanding how people think. How they value certain things. Are they strategic? Do they see connections where others don’t? Mark my words, this year’s game will tell them something about us. Those who participate anyways.”
He continued, his voice as serious as ever. “No one in that family ever does something without a reason.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. I mean, it makes sense, and it fits with what I know of Liam’s personality. “So you know it’s a test, and you’ll still play the game?”
“Absolutely.” His answer came without hesitation, full of conviction. “What do I have to lose? What do I have to hide? Those aren’t the questions. What do I have to gain? That’s the question. Do you know how many clients I’ve met through them? And thus, your clients as well. You’re the only photographer I use. One of the ways they take care of their friends is through business contacts. Business Opportunities. Networking. Introductions.”
I hadn’t thought about that, but I’m kind of grateful now. My photography business has been doing great, especially with all the work Reiley and his other realtor friends have been sending me. It’s easy work too. They take care of staging the place, and I bring my equipment. And a few hours’ worth of post-processing.
“Call it nepotism, favoritism, or whatever you want.” He explained. “They use it to help their friends. They gain people’s loyalty through actions, not bribery or fear. The way it should be. They aren’t giving me money. They gave me the opportunity. So yes, I’ll play their games. Not just at the party either.”
Something occurred to me about the tickets themselves. “Is Liam giving us the two extra tickets as a test?”
“Most Likely.” He answered. “With Liam, it’s likely. He is every bit as calculating, strategic, and mysterious as Alex. And, you know the rumors, they don’t look at the world the same way as the rest of us. But that’s not a bad thing. If it is a test, it’s to see who you invite. What kind of people do you surround yourself with? You’re sister may be flaky at times, but she’s a good person.”
“So what is it they look for in someone? How you can help them?”
“Yes and no. It’s your character first and foremost. They will always be on the lookout for influential and talented people to bring into the circle. But they will test their character first. You could have nothing to offer them but good character, and they are just as likely to accept you. Because they’ll find a way for you to be beneficial.”
“They’ll see what you’re good at and push you to sharpen it. They’ll open doors, put you in situations where your skills grow, and by doing that, they make you more valuable. To them, yes, but also to yourself. It’s selfish in the best possible way. They build you up so that everyone benefits.”
“So they test for things like Loyalty and Trust?” I asked.
“Yes, but not how you think.”
“Explain.”
“Ok. Here’s an easy one. You know the rules of my relationship.” I nodded. “ You also know I occasionally break our rules.”
I laughed. “Probably more than you should. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to cover for you.”
“And I love you for it. But, what does that say about me, with regard to loyalty and trust?” He asked. “Here’s a hint. Don’t go for the immediate answer.”
Ok. So, it’s a trick question. Which means I need to break it down. To avoid the immediate answer, I need to know it. The immediate answer is that he isn’t loyal or trustworthy, given his extracurricular activities and tendency to break rules. But that’s wrong. I wouldn’t say that about him. He’s never given me a reason not to trust him. That’s just Reiley being Reiley.
But, even if he had. I know he’d never do anything I wouldn’t eventually forgive him for. I mean, I may be pissed off for a few days, depending on what he did, but I couldn’t imagine my life without him. So, we both know, I’d forgive him, eventually. And if I’m being honest, I’d enjoy the extra effort he’d go through to make sure I knew he was sorry.
So the answer is in the details. You have to really break down what loyalty and trust are. Neither is black and white. Loyalty, in its simplest form, is about priorities. In this case, how you prioritize the people around you. I know, if I really needed him in the middle of the night, Reiley would be there for me, and he’d kick my ass if I didn’t call him. I know he’d jump on a plane and fly halfway around the world if Trace needed him to, without question or complaint. So yes, I would still say he’s loyal. In an untraditional way.
So, what about his rule-breaking? It still fits. Trace knows what Reiley is like. He knew when he married him, and he still went through with it. You don’t marry someone you don’t trust. So in a strange way. He trusts Reily to be Reiley. To have his fun and occasionally break the rules. But he trusts him to know how far is too far. To ultimately not do something unforgivable. Like for example, keeping the emotions out of his extra fun. Trace trusts him to not get emotionally entangled with someone, and put the relationship in jeopardy. And I would agree with that, there’s no way Reiley would continue to hook up with someone if he knew they were getting attached, or he was to them.
And trust, in its simplest form, isn’t about honesty or loyalty. It’s about predictability. Can you rely on a person to behave a specific way? If I told him a secret, could I trust that he wouldn’t tell anyone? Said another way, could I rely on him not to tell anyone? Yes, I could. Just as Trace can rely on him to keep emotions out of his fun.
So, back to the original question, what does it say about his loyalty and trustability? And I have my answer. I sat up and did my best to mimic Liam when he gets into his computer geek mode. “In true Liam style, the question is incomplete.”
“You nailed it.” Reiley laughed. “Both the form and the answer. My breaking the rules of my relationship says nothing about my loyalty or my trustability. Because there is so much more to it. Both of them depend on context. Variables, as Liam would say. Loyalty and Trust are general terms that can’t be applied globally. I can be trustworthy in one area, and not in another. I can be fiercely loyal to my partner, and still get crazy drunk one night and fuck his best friend.”
I laughed. “I still can’t believe you did that. You were so freaked out that he would find out.”
“He did find out. The next day.”
“And he let you stew on it for two weeks before finally confronting you about it.”
“And I learned my lesson. Don’t get drunk and hook up with the loudmouth. Choose the shy, quiet one instead.”
“Reiley, I don’t think that’s the lesson you were supposed to learn.”
“I think it was,” he replied, brushing it off as if it were nothing.
The reality of it was, Trace was enjoying every damn minute of Reily going above and beyond to take care of his every need. Making his favorite meals for Dinner. Letting him choose what movie they watched or the restaurant they went to. He made sure Trace was well and truly fucked, in the good way. Hell, when he finally got confronted about it. He even offered my ass up to Trace as compensation. And I would have been all for it, had I not already been seeing Ethan. Reiley said Trace was all for it. Which was incredibly flattering.
If you enjoyed this story, consider supporting the author on Substack.
To get in touch with the author, send them an email.
