It was only Kit’s third day of work and school, and he was already exhausted. He dragged his feet into his room and looked at Noah as his roommate peeked up at him from a sea of textbooks.

“How was work?”

Kit shook his head. “Terrible. Busy. I wanted to try and start this paper for my introduction to psychology course, but people wouldn’t stop coming in. And the bus ride back here… oh my god. Crowded and funky.”

Noah smiled. “I was going to try and apply for the cafeteria, but you’ve just scared me off from getting a part-time gig. Thanks.”

“You’re so welcome.” Kit kicked his shoes off and took a seat on the bed. “What’re you up to?”

“I was talking to Benny, but he got annoyed with me. Jonah wants to come over and play Call of Duty after he and his girlfriend do what he and his girlfriend do. I was trying to finish up my math work before he comes, but if you’re too tired to be bothered we can reschedule.”

“Oh, no. It’s cool. I’m just going to shower and sleep. I’ve got late classes tomorrow, so I’ll do what I need to in the morning…” Kit trailed off, looking across to his roommate. “How is Bentley, anyway?”

Noah arched an eyebrow. “Haven’t you two talked?”

Kit pulled off his shirt and shook his head. “He messages me good morning and goodnight, but I think he’s too busy with BMX stuff to talk-talk. And I’ve been working the past couple nights, too. So, yeah.”

Noah went back to his math text book. “Yeah, I understand. He’s doing as decent as he can. The guy’s a bit of a worrier nowadays, and I understand why. I’m surprised you haven’t spoken to him, though…”

Kit shrugged a little. He wanted to start a conversation more than once, but he didn’t really know what to say. After the other night – the things they talked about and the way Bentley stayed in bed with him all night – Kit wasn’t sure how to go back to casual, light conversation. Come to think of it, he and Bentley hadn’t really been at light and casual conversation since the moment they first met at Donny’s bike shop. “I’ll hit him up before bed.”  

“Well, you don’t have to.” Noah smiled. “I was just curious. I imagined you both would be texting 24/7 with how close you were, but it’s no biggie.”

“He wouldn’t even give me his number…”

Noah laughed. “Okay. Like I said, I was just wondering…”

Kit got up and went to get his pajamas. “I’m going to shower.”

“In case I go and get food, do you want something from Chick-fil-A?”

“Large waffle fries.”

“You got it.”

??

Bentley played with Kit’s beaded-bracelet around his wrist as he read the comments on his Ride BMX video. People really did seem to like him, minus a few who said he’d probably flop like his father did. Bentley tried to ignore those, and focused on the supportive comments instead. Tomorrow was his preliminary competition, and he could use all the positive energy coming his way.

A notification popped up the Facebook tab. Bentley expected it to be Olivia again – she’d been messaging him asking if he wanted to hang out or to come over the past couple days, and Bentley kept saying he was too busy. Which, he was, but he also didn’t want to mess around with his ex’s good friend. That seemed low, even for him.

When another two notifications came through, he sighed and switched tabs. He was shocked to see that he had three new messages from Kit. Kit hadn’t reached out to him since he left; Bentley had been the one to initiate a message. Even if it was just ‘Goodnight,??.’

New Message: Kit Edwards

Hi, Stranger.

New Message: Kit Edwards

Remember how you didn’t want to give me your number until I learned about BMX?

New Message: Kit Edwards

Guess who knows a lot about bikes and freestyle motocross?

Bentley smirked down at the messages. 

Bentley: Who?

Kit: Me. Ask me something.

Bentley: How will I know you’re not googling it?

Kit: Because I’m nothing if not honest. Go ahead. Ask me.

Bentley rubbed at his chin. He couldn’t deny that he’d missed talking to Kit. He missed talking to him a lot. They both had a lot going on, and he knew Kit didn’t have the time to chat all day, but, he wasn’t against having a quick phone call before bed if that’s what Kit wanted to do right now. He thought of a question and began to type.

Bentley: Tell me 3 brands of BMX bikes.

Kit: WeThePeople, Odyssey, Jet BMX.

Bentley quirked an eyebrow. He was right. Not that he wasn’t expecting him to be, but he wasn’t expecting an answer within a few seconds of the question. He asked another.

Bentley: Ok… can you tell me what the ramps at the skate parks are called?

Kit: The ones you do the tricks on? Verts??

Bentley: Name a BMX street rider that isn’t me.

Kit: Aaron Ross. Anything else, or can I call you now?

Bentley rubbed tiredly at his chin. So, either Kit was cheating, or he had actually gone out of his way to learn about the sport because he wanted Bentley’s phone number. He didn’t know which of these were the truth, but it seemed like Kit put the effort in either way. A deal was a deal.

Plus, Bentley really wanted to hear his voice.

Bentley: 310-555-1100

Bentley got comfortable on his air mattress after searching around for his phone. He switched back to the Ride BMX page and pretended that his heart wasn’t racing at the thought of having a conversation with Kit again. The phone began to ring – a number with a 440 area code flashing across the screen – and Bentley let it ring three times before answering.

You know. Not to seem desperate.

“Hello?”

“Finally.” Kit’s voice sounded sleepy, and sated, and a little sexy. “I  can’t believe you made me wait so long.”

“You were the one who took so long to study,” Bentley teased. He looked down at his shirtless chest before fixing the blanket over his body. “And now, all of the sudden, you’re a pro on BMX street knowledge. Seems a little fishy.”

“Well, maybe I wanted to talk to you,” Kit told him. “And Noah mentioned that you asked about me, so, you know.”

“Well, you’ve been on my mind.”

“Really? What about me?”

“Everything,” Bentley said. He didn’t want to say anything more than that, but when Kit was quiet, he continued. “I can’t wait to hang out with you again. The weekend is taking too long to come.”

“It really is. I’m already getting some time-consuming assignments, and with my shifts at The Authority after class, it feels like time is moving as slow as molasses. I’m just happy to be in bed right now.”

Bentley nodded. “I’m happy to be in bed, too. Your father made me do housework. I had to call my mom afterwards and just say thank you for everything.”

Kit laughed. “So he’s treating you well?”

“He’s a great guy. We have really good talks.” Bentley took a deep breath. “How’re you, though? Are you enjoying the college life?”

“I am. The people are nice. I made a few friends already – one’s in the Fashion group I’m in. She’s a sweetheart. And then there’s this dude in my English class who wants to go out for brunch tomorrow before class. I have a lot to do though, so I think I’ll pass.”

Bentley looked up at the ceiling. “Hm. Is he cute?”

Kit laughed. “He’s okay, I guess. I’m not interested, but he seems like a really nice guy.”

“That’s what they all say. And then you’ll find yourself looking for a home together.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, buddy. I don’t know what he wants, but I know I’m only interested in a friendship.”

Bentley smiled. “Alright.”

“So. Ready for Preliminaries tomorrow?”

“I think so.” He sighed. “I’ve been looking at the BMX blog that posted my video. People are hyped up for my performance. I don’t want to disappoint them, you know?”

“What I do know is that you’re going to be incredible, Bentley.” He yawned, then continued. “I watched the video on the blog when it came out yesterday. I imagine your dad’s smiling right now.”

Bentley smiled. He hoped so. “You sound so fucking sleepy, Kitten. Go to bed.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Noah went to get Jonah and they’re bringing me back food. I’m not going to sleep before I get my waffle fries.”

Bentley laughed. “I see. I miss you guys.”

“And we miss you. You better place at the competition tomorrow so that we can spend time together this weekend, otherwise, I don’t know what to tell you.”

“I could come in last and you’d still spend time with me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You would.”

“Maybe for like… an hour.”

Bentley laughed. “The whole weekend. So, if Noah left, that means you’re alone right now, right?”

Kit sounded as if he were smiling as he answered. “I’m all alone, Benny. Why do you ask?”

Bentley bit his lip. “What are you wearing?”

Kit laughed, and Bentley couldn’t help but do the same.

“I’m wearing a tank top and some pajama pants.”

“Those white pants? The thin ones?”

“Those are the ones…”

“I love those.”

“I can’t with you.”

“I know.” Bentley smiled, closing his laptop and pushing it away. “I’m just messing with you.”

“Are you? I kinda like it.”

“Do you?”

“What are you wearing?”

Bentley licked his lips. He couldn’t believe they were seriously having this conversation. “I have on a pair of boxer-briefs. They’re black Calvin Klein’s. And I’m wearing one sock. I put them on after my shower, but I hate wearing socks under the covers. Was in the process of taking them off when I got tired.”

Kit laughed. “Sounds like you. No shirt?”

“No shirt…”

“OK.”

“Are you picturing me right now?”

After a little hesitation, Kit answered in that sated voice of his. “I am. It’s a nice image.”

Bentley made himself stop biting his lip. He then lowered the blankets and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m picturing you, too.”

Kit took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m going to be the one to suggest a topic change because I’m only human.”

Bentley laughed, ignoring the fact that he seriously wanted the conversation to continue. But, Kit was right. He did the right thing. “Yeah. We probably should. …I decided that I’m going to tell my mom about everything tomorrow before the competition. Like you said, it’s better she find out from me.”

“I’m proud of you, Benny.”

“Thanks.” He rubbed tiredly at his forehead. “I appreciate it.”

“I was joking about not spending time with you if you don’t place. I just want you to know that despite what happens, I’m proud of you. We all are. And, I think you’re amazing, even if you’re a crazy man who breaks into buildings.”

Bentley laughed. “Casual reminder that so are you.”

“Whatever.” There was some noise as Kit did what Bentley assumed was roll over in bed. “I was peer pressured by a mildly attractive boy with pretty eyes.”

“That’ll hold up in court.”

Kit laughed.

“Now that you mentioned waffle fries, I’m starving. Let’s say I borrowed your father’s truck and drove to the pizzeria –”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” Kit said. “He’d shoot you.”

Bentley laughed. “Damn. They don’t deliver, though. And I could really go for some pineapple and ham pizza.”

“That still sounds disgusting.”

“You sound disgusting.”

“Pineapples don’t belong on –”

“Now you need not to finish that sentence, Edwards.”

Kit sighed. “You’re insane.”

“I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you taste this fucking pizza, Kit. It’ll be orgasmic. You just may cum your pants. And it’ll be okay, because the pineapple will make your cum taste amazing.”

“My cum already tastes amazing.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Bentley smirked at the way Kit snorted. “Ew.”

“I can’t believe you made me fucking snort. And I also can’t believe you just said that.”

Bentley smiled. “Just putting it out there. I eat a lot of pineapple pizza. I eat a lot of fruit. Just saying.”

“What are you saying?”

“That I taste amazing, Kitten.”

“Have you tasted your own cum?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“Oh, goodness.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never gotten curious,” Bentley said. “Because you’re a liar if you tell me that.”

“I’ve never tasted my own cum.”

Bentley hummed. “So you’ve tasted Porky’s?”

“Unfortunately. He didn’t deserve it. Swallowing – that’s a privilege.”

“I agree.” Bentley laughed. “Didn’t you tell me the other night that he made you fuck him in the same position every time? Did you at least enjoy it?”

“I’d gone from being a virgin, to banging the high school quarterback. I think that alone made me enjoy it. But honestly, everything we did was for him. He wasn’t yet comfortable with a lot of things. He loved bottoming, but didn’t want to see me while we were doing it, hence doggy style position. He loved getting head, but he told me he wasn’t good at going down so he didn’t have to give. He’d choked on it once, and that was his excuse to never blow me again.”

Bentley rolled his eyes. “He sounds like he was in it for himself. Gagging happens every now and again. It’s not something to be ashamed of…”

“I told him that,” Kit replied. “And I mean, I’m huge. It would’ve happened a lot.”

“Send me a pic.”

“It all won’t fit on your screen, babe.”

Bentley burst out laughing.

“But to be honest, it was okay with Paulie. I know just what I want with my first real relationship, though. I want to bottom. I want to try a lot of foreplay. And I want to switch up the positions every once in a while.”

Bentley closed his eyes. “I bet you’d be really good at riding.”

Kit laughed. “I know I’d be.”

Bentley smiled. “Fucking tease.”

“It’s your own fault. You’re thinking about me in my thin, white pants instead of going to sleep and preparing for tomorrow.”

Bentley laughed. “You’re really evil, Edwards.”

“Just a little.”

“I know this is random, but have you ever gone to a gay bar?”

Kit laughed. “No. I wasn’t brave or rebellious enough for that.”

“Let’s go to one after the pizzeria!”

“Are you fucking stupid, Bentley? They’ll eat you alive in a gay bar. Have you seen you lately?”

Bentley shook his head. “I don’t care. I’ll say I’m there with you. Or that I’m not interested.”

Kit laughed. “Oh. So naïve.”

“They’ll be all over you anyway. Have you seen you lately? You look like a super model.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“We’ll stop by one this weekend. Just for a while. Jonah can make you a fake.”

Kit sighed. “Benny… I don’t know about this.”

Bentley laughed. “Fine. I’ll let you sleep on it.”

“Fine. I’ll sleep on it.”

Bentley was about to speak when Kit beat him to the punch.

“Alright. The guys are back now. I’ll talk to you later if that’s cool?”

“Yeah. And thanks for calling me, Kitten. It was good hearing your voice.”

“You might be a little bit homo, Bentley.”

“I’m serious. Thank you for calling.”

“Well, you’re very welcome. I’ve missed you, too. Talk to you soon, okay?”

Bentley nodded. “Goodnight.”

He ended the call and smiled to himself. Suddenly, he felt a little bit better about his chances tomorrow. He’d do well. He rolled over to turn off the lamp in his makeshift room, and settled comfortably into bed.

??

Kit wasted no time rifling through the bag for extra ketchup. He grinned when Jonah placed a large lemonade on his desk. “Oh, yes. Thank you. You two are the best.”

Jonah smiled and walked over to his brother’s side of the small room. He took a seat on the bed; Noah turning on the XBOX and picking out a game as Kit took a long gulp from his beverage.

“So, who was that on the phone?”

Kit swallowed. “Oh, I was just talking to Bentley. Hadn’t spoken to him since he left, really.”

He thought the answer would be acknowledged, and then they’d move on, but that wasn’t the case at all. It wasn’t hard to tell that he was being stared at. Kit tried to ignore it at first, thinking maybe the Fishers were just being their normal, ironically weird, selves. But, as he dipped a fry into his ketchup packet, Kit couldn’t ignore the blatant staring any longer.

“Ok. Spit it out, Jonah. What is it?”

Noah glanced back and smirked before resuming what he was doing.

“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.” Jonah smiled. He unwrapped his sandwich and shrugged. “It’s just that I heard about Bentley spending the night with you… in your bed… and the dry humping.”

Kit started choking as soon as he registered the humping part of that sentence. Noah laughed, almost crossing over to pat his back.

“Jeez. You okay?”

“Why are you telling people Bentley and I dry-humped?!”

“I didn’t tell him that.”

“I inserted that part myself,” Jonah said, trying not to laugh. “I didn’t think you’d react that way. Regardless, you two did cuddle all night in bed, and that’s still a big deal, Kit.”

Kit stared at Noah. Jonah didn’t seem like the keep-a-secret type. “As I explained to your loose-lipped little brother, it wasn’t a big deal. We were talking in bed before we both fell asleep.”

Maybe it was a big deal, but they didn’t need to know that. The Fishers obviously couldn’t be trusted with the truth. Knowing them, they’d stretch the truth so far it became something entirely different, and Kit didn’t want that. He wanted simple.

Noah wasn’t on the same page, it seemed. “Okay, Kit. My bad. Nothing happened. You two just spent the night talking in bed until you fell asleep in each other’s arms.”

Kit didn’t want to respond to that. Simple was quickly going down the toilet. “You know what? I think I’m losing my appetite.”

After Jonah swallowed, he looked up from his sandwich and at Kit. “Maybe you’d be able to eat if you were honest with yourself, man. It’s okay to admit you like him.”

Noah chimed in, “And that he likes you…”

“I don’t, and he doesn’t. He’s into girls and I’m perfectly fine with that.”

“Excuse me for this completely rhetorical question,” Jonah began. “But can’t a guy be into girls and also be into guys?”

“I think that’s quite possible,” Noah said.

Kit rolled his eyes at them. They wouldn’t understand.

“How many straight dudes do you know that would spend the night in bed with you like that?” Noah asked. He stopped whatever he was doing on the video game and adjusted himself in bed so that he’d be able to look at Kit. Kit listened to him as he continued. “As great as I think you are, we probably won’t be cuddling anytime soon.”

Kit nodded. “And I’m fine with that. Contrary to popular belief, us gay guys aren’t dying to cuddle with all of you.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” Noah stole some of Jonah’s fries as he resumed. “All I told my bro here is that our friend that we’ve known since we were practically toddlers spent the night in bed with my boy roommate. I also told him about Bentley’s behavior since then, and that maybe you two should talk about it. That’s all.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

Jonah smirked. “Okay, man.”

“Okay!” Kit turned away and looked back down at his food. This wasn’t what he wanted to think about right now. Kit’s relationship with Bentley thus far had been a lot of fun. Sure, they’d cuddled, and they do have flirty conversations on the phone at night, apparently, but this wasn’t a thing. Noah and Jonah were making this more than it was.

The room fell awkwardly quiet. Kit didn’t care. He continued to shovel food into his mouth and pretend that he wasn’t in the predicament he was in. Maybe, his friends would forget he was there and start playing their game. Kit didn’t think he’d have a problem falling asleep if he tried.

“Can you pass the ketchup?” Jonah asked, trying to snatch it away from Noah. “Greedy hog.”

Kit let out a lengthy sigh before facing them. “Fine!” He pushed his food away. “You want my honesty? I’ll give it to you.”

Noah arched an eyebrow before facing him. “Um. Sure?”

“I think Bentley is great, okay? He’s not only good looking, but I genuinely enjoy being around him.”

Jonah’s grin made Kit want to roll his eyes. “I’m positive he feels the same way about you. What’s the problem?”

“Would you pursue a girl who’d only ever dated girls, Jonah? For fun? Probably. But I don’t think you’d take it serious.”

Noah looked between the two of them.

“The problem is, I was involved with this guy towards the end of my senior year.” Kit cleared his throat before continuing. “He was athletic, and popular, and charming when he wanted to be. He was also so far deep into the closet he’d need a map to find his way out.”

Noah and Jonah’s face grew a bit more serious as they listened.

Kit reached for one of his pillows as continued the story. “For some stupid reason, I didn’t realize I was being used, but eventually, I realized I was using him too, in a way. I guess I wanted to believe that we’d stop messing around whenever he had the house to himself, and that maybe we’d go out on a date. Or that he’d tell people he liked me. But he didn’t, and I don’t know if he even had feelings for me. It was just… experimenting with gay sex… or being gay for him. The pain I felt when he told people that I’d been ‘taking his kindness for weakness’ and coming onto him was hard to get past. I don’t want to feel that way again, which is why I’m not putting up with anymore straight boys just to end up discarded, and the butt of a joke. I’m not interested.” He moved back on the bed, shrugging to himself. “Bentley isn’t, either. And even if he were, I wouldn’t go through with it.”

Jonah shook his head. “Everyone in this room knows that Bentley would never –”

“None of us know anything,” Kit said. “Unless you guys have seen him dating a member of the same sex publicly, you don’t know his behavior.”

“Maybe we don’t,” Noah agreed. “But, I do know the sooner you’re honest with yourself, the easier this will be. I told Bentley the same thing when I spoke to him, and you shouldn’t be so quick to think you know how he feels.”

Kit looked over at the siblings. Were Bentley and Noah having similar discussions to the one they were currently having with him?

Jonah’s phone chirped from a new message, and he lazily pulled it out of his short pockets. “Oh. Benny’s asking me to make you a fake.”

Noah hummed. “Where are you two headed?”

Kit licked his lips, reaching for his lemonade. “He wanted to go out this weekend.”

Jonah smirked. “I bet.”

“Whatever.” Kit took a drink and sighed deeply. “You guys won’t understand where I’m coming from.”

“Maybe not,” Noah replied. “But, I hope in the end, you do what makes you happy. Don’t let fear control your next move.”

Jonah nodded. “What the little bro said.”

Kit nodded. “Yeah.”