and noise. And sometimes it was lovable, and sometimes it was overwhelming.” It turned out that granola bar was pretty tasty, and the chocolate chips in it fortified me enough to tackle the topic Sam had been alluding to earlier. “So what were you saying a few minutes ago, about filming?”
“Oh, right.” Sam stretched an arm out over the bench behind me and twisted his back one way and then the other. “I was wondering how you’d feel about moving on to something different.” He chuckled. “Fuck, I don’t know why I’m suddenly nervous. Anyway, maybe tackling some of those other requests we’ve been getting in the comments. Like for um”—his chin dipped low as he met my gaze sidelong—“penetration?”
“Who did you have in mind for the recipient?” There’d been requests going both ways. I swallowed hard, and it felt like one of those cartoon-style swallows where you could literally see the blob going down the character’s throat. I couldn’t help it, though. It was like I’d opened the door and found the Publishers Clearinghouse prize patrol on my doorstep, except instead of a big fat check, it was a big fat cock up for grabs, and it remained to be seen whether I’d use my winnings wisely or end up broke and cooking meth in a trailer park.
I needed another granola bar.
Sam considered for a moment. “Oh. Well, whoever, I guess. Shit, I’ve never even asked you if you’re a top or a bottom or…”
“I’m a whatever-gets-the-job-done but with a preference for bottom. I can’t imagine that’s surprising.”
“I didn’t want to assume,” he said, and then came a prompting arch of his brows. “So what do you think? Is that too far for you?”
I burst into laughter. I was so relieved he wasn’t telling me he wanted to stop filming, and so ecstatic and simultaneously nervous as hell about riding the monster in his pants, that I probably sounded a little hysterical. I pulled myself together and cleared my throat. “Yes. I think we’re ready to graduate to the next level.”
“Good.” Sam’s grin beamed as bright as if I’d told him he’d just been awarded my Rotel dip for life, and then he glanced down at his phone and stood. “I’m about to be late for class, but we can discuss how we want to do it tonight?”
Naked and immediately, preferably.
I nodded, and he started to turn away, then spun back around. “Shit, I know you said you were feeling better, but are you sure? I can bail on this class if you want me to walk back to the house with you.”
He was ridiculous. And adorable. And… Simmer down, Jesse. “I’m perfectly fine now. You’re right, that granola bar did the trick. I’ll see you tonight.”
He gave me another assessing up and down and then, apparently satisfied, nudged the toe of his shoe against my calf in what I guessed was a goodbye? Affection? Friendship? All three? And loped across the grass, leaving me light-headed for real.
I tossed the granola wrapper in the trash and headed toward the house, walking on air. I was so high on Sam’s BDE that when I passed by Reid standing in a cluster of people chatting and he waved, I waved back.
Wrong move.
Reid detached from his group and trotted over toward me. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I returned cautiously, waiting to see what he wanted.
“What class do you have next?”
“None. Just heading home.”
“Ah.” Silence stretched, and from the corner of my eye I could see him drumming restlessly on his backpack straps as we walked. “So is any of your family coming for Homecoming?”
“Nah, not this year.” They had freshman year, but it’d kinda lost its luster after that, and it was hard for my parents to get away from work.
“You coming to the game?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure yet.”
“You should. Last Homecoming ever? Come on.” Reid nudged me with a smile, and since he didn’t seem to want anything from me aside from small talk, I returned it and then listened to him chatter about senior year, football, and his hopes for the draft all the way until I had to divert to get to my street.
As we said goodbye, I decided maybe I didn’t hate him as much as I used to. So either the prospect of what I was pretty sure was going to be great sex with Sam had some restorative properties, or Reid’s apology in the cafeteria had provided a more powerful sense of closure than I’d expected.
Maybe it was a