Rescue Me
The next night the sky was already heavy when I got to the track. Clouds had been stacking up since dinner, thick and low, pressing the air down until it felt like the whole world was holding its breath. Josh was already there waiting, and we had started wrestling in the middle of the field when headlights swept the lot above. A single car. The door opened and someone stepped out. As the figure jogged down the steep embankment, gym bag slung over one shoulder, I recognized the wiry build and the way he moved. It was Landon, still in his full security uniform.
He spotted us in the field and gave a big, sheepish wave.
“Hey, hey, remember me? Just finished my shift and thought I’d check if you guys were still wrestling around here. Mind if I join in? I really enjoyed the last one!”
Josh flashed that easy, dreamy smile. “Yeah, get down here, man!”
Landon grinned back. “I’m Landon, by the way — didn’t catch your names properly last time.”
Josh nodded, still smiling. “Josh. Nice to see you again, man.”
I nodded, trying to act casual, like I hadn’t spent half the afternoon staring at his picture in my old yearbook. “Kyle.”
Landon dropped his bag by the edge of the grass and rolled his shoulders, still grinning. “Couldn’t stop thinking about last night. You guys still up for a round?”
Josh’s eyes lit up. “Hell yeah. Mind if we finish the round we were doing first?”
Landon laughed. “Oh yeah, no problem, bro — that’ll give me time to warm up.” He quickly changed out of his uniform shirt and pants into black shorts and a plain grey t-shirt right there at the edge of the field, then started a slightly awkward warm-up routine: long stretches, a few lunges, some push-ups, more stretching.
Josh watched him for a second and couldn’t resist. “Landon, bro, we’re not doing the UFC here. It’s just a friendly wrestle.”
Landon grinned mid-lunge. “I know, I know. Last time was pretty intense when you caught me in that triangle — just making sure I’m loose.”
While they talked, I noticed Landon’s eyes flicking over to us as Josh and I finished our round. He was watching the way we rolled and laughed and grabbed at each other — the horseplay, the easy contact. It was like he was trying to figure out exactly what kind of game we were playing.
We finally tapped out and stood up, breathing hard. Josh reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pack of gummies.
“These loosen things up nice,” he said, holding them out. “One each? Makes everything feel better.”
Landon shrugged and took one immediately. I hesitated. I knew what they were. I knew what they would do. But I took one.
“All right, Landon,” Josh said, popping his own gummy, “you’re all loosened up, ready to roll — let’s see what you got!”
They started light, just feeling each other out. But Josh was in one of his moods. I could tell almost immediately — the way he let Landon slip behind him, the way he didn’t fight as hard as I knew he could. Landon got an arm under Josh’s chin and locked in a loose rear-naked choke, his scrawny legs wrapping around Josh's waist.
“Gotcha,” Landon laughed, voice bright and teasing. “You tapping already? Come on, bro… nighty-night time. You want me to tuck you into beddy-bye?”
Josh held out for a few more seconds, then tapped with a dramatic groan. Landon released with a laugh, but he wasn’t done. He immediately went for another takedown, ending up on top again. This time he clamped his knees on either side of Josh’s head in a tight schoolboy pin, squeezing just enough to make Josh’s face go red.
“Still not tapping?” Landon teased, leaning in closer.
Josh’s face was flushed, but he was still grinning. He had to wiggle and struggle a bit to get his head free enough to speak, voice half-laughing, half-breathless.
“Help me, Kyle,” he called out. “Save me, bro! He’s really got me now.”
Something hot and possessive flared in my chest. Before I could think, I was moving. I lunged in, grabbed Landon’s shoulder and broke the pin, pulling Josh free. The three of us tumbled together in a messy pile of limbs and laughter, grass and rain already starting to slick the ground.
For a minute it was pure chaos — all of us rolling, shoving, trying to get the upper hand. Then Landon spun and caught me. Suddenly I was face first in the grass with his legs snaking around my head, locking me into a tight headscissors.
The pressure was firm, warm, familiar in the worst and best way. My cheek pressed against his inner thigh, the same dizzy rush I got with Josh flooding through me. In that moment I flashed back to the yearbook picture — Landon in the third row, skinny arms, shy half-smile, holding that little trophy. The same guy who was now squeezing my head between his legs. It turned me on more than I wanted to admit.
Landon laughed, a little breathless. “How’s that feel, Kyle? You tapping or what?”
“No,” I managed, voice strained. “I’m not tapping.”
“Tap or I’ll put you to sleep too, bro. Nighty-night time for you too.”
I didn’t tap right away. I let it stretch, knowing Josh was watching. Part of me wanted him to feel it — that sharp little twist of jealousy I’d been carrying since last night.
Then it happened. Landon gave me a nice little smack to the butt. I was lying face down, neck twisted so I was staring at his feet, and he had a clear angle. The sudden sting of his palm sent a jolt straight through me — surprised, aroused, and embarrassingly turned on all at once.
“Come on, Kyle, say it,” he teased.
Josh’s voice cut through the dark, sharper than usual. “Hey. That’s mine!”
He moved fast. One second Landon had me, the next Josh was on top of both of us, breaking the hold with a playful shove and rolling Landon off. The three of us tangled again, but this time Josh was clearly done playing nice. He was more aggressive now, more focused, the dreamy grin still there but edged with something hotter, something possessive.
They rolled once more and Josh suddenly spun, dropping low. He caught Landon’s legs, crossed them into a quick figure-four shape, and tucked the top foot under his own armpit. “This one’s called the Josh Special,” he announced in that light, dreamy voice, almost proud of himself. He dropped to his knees so the hold stayed close and friendly, then reached down and lightly dragged one fingertip across the sole of Landon’s sneaker, right where the sock showed at the heel.
Landon let out a surprised bark of laughter and started squirming. “Hey—hey, no fair—quit it!”
Josh only grinned wider and gave the socked foot one more feather-light tickle. “Submit?”
Landon slapped the grass twice, still laughing. “Okay, okay, I give! You win, you crazy bastard.”
Josh released immediately, rolling off with a soft, satisfied chuckle. He patted Landon’s shoulder once, gentle. “Good round, bro. You almost had me.”
Landon sat up, flushed and grinning, shaking his head. “You’re something else, man.” He glanced up as the first fat drops of rain began to fall, cold and sudden. “Shit, it’s really coming down. I should head out before I get soaked on the way home.”
Josh nodded, easy as ever. “Drive safe. See you out here again sometime?”
“Count on it.” Landon gave us both a quick fist bump, grabbed his bag, and jogged up the embankment toward his car, still laughing to himself.
The rain picked up, but Josh and I stayed on the track, the clay turning dark and slick beneath our shoes. For a minute we just stood there, breathing hard, water running down our faces.
Josh wiped his eyes with the hem of his wet shirt. “That Landon kid… he’s cute, right? Really nice guy.”
I felt a small twist in my chest. “Yeah. I noticed.”
Josh’s grin turned sideways, playful. “You really seemed to be having a good time in his headscissors, bro.”
Heat flooded my face. I shoved his shoulder lightly. “Shut up.”
He laughed, that soft, dreamy sound I was starting to live for. “Hey, no shame. I liked watching.” He bumped my arm with his. “You okay?”
I nodded. The rain felt good, cooling everything down.
Josh tilted his head toward the lights of the subdivision. “My place is five minutes away. Basement’s dry. Parents are asleep. You wanna come over for a little more… just us?”
I didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
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