15. Rocket in Your Pocket
15
Rocket in Your Pocket
My doorbell rang five minutes before six, and I checked my reflection in the mirror one last time as I snatched my coat from the rack. Deciding I was as prepared as I could be, I slipped my coat on before opening the front door.
Ben stood on my porch, dressed to the nines in a charcoal suit, ocean-blue shirt that matched his eyes exactly, and a black tie knotted at his throat. His borderline-shaggy locks curled around his ears and neck in tamed waves. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he scanned me from head to toe.
“Holy shit, you clean up nice.” I cringed at my less than romantic compliment, but Ben beamed.
“Right back at you.” He narrowed his eyes and dragged a finger down one of my suspenders. “I like these.”
I shimmied. “I thought they were dashing.”
He snapped the strap against my chest playfully. “Always one to make a statement.”
I shut the door and locked it before nudging his shoulder with mine. “Says the boy who kissed me in the middle of the cafeteria in front of everyone.”
With pink cheeks, he slid his arm around my waist to anchor me against him. “You look amazing.”
“You’re just saying that because I didn’t wear my pajamas,” I whispered as he leaned in and brushed the tips of our noses together.
“No, I’m saying it because you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
We both flushed red at his admission, but he didn’t give me a chance to deny the compliment. His lips smothered mine, and I melted into him as his tongue slipped into my mouth. He gripped the back of my neck to angle my head where he wanted and proceeded to kiss the shit out of me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and crushed us together as I took everything he offered, giving it back tenfold.
When we finally parted, our breath fogged the cold air between our mouths, and something hard pressed against my hip.
“Is that a rocket in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?” I asked, more than a little breathless.
He grinned wickedly. “Nope, that’s my penis.”
Barking a laugh, I raked a hand through his hair as he nuzzled my cheek, his lips teasing my tragus surface piercing. “Keep this up, and I’m dragging you inside to show you my underwear right now.”
Laughing, he pulled away and twined our fingers, leading me down the porch steps to his car. He opened my door for me, waiting until I was settled before shutting it again with a soft click .
As he drove us to the restaurant, I took his phone and controlled the music. We sang boisterously along with Eye of the Tiger , and I teased him mercilessly for finally being bad at something.
“I’m bad a lot of things,” he said as we idled at a red light. “Singing is only one of them.”
“Psh, you’re good at practically everything. I’m glad the universe finally decided to offer some balance in your talent.”
The music hiccupped as a text came through Ben’s phone. My thumb hovered over the message as I paused in swiping it to the side.
Patrick: Well, if you want, you can call me after the…
It read before the rest of the message was cut off from view.
A terrible part of me instructed my thumb to open the text completely to read it, but I refused. I didn’t want to invade his privacy that way, even if he was texting a guy I’d never heard of. If Patrick was important, I had to believe Ben would tell me. It was probably just a friend from the swim team.
Forcing myself to be good, I slid the message alert away and refocused on what Ben was saying—something about a swim meet against Central, our rival school. I nodded, agreeing to something I hadn’t heard, and he smiled widely, pleased with my answer.
Shit, what had he said?
We pulled into the restaurant parking lot, some hoity-toity joint my hick-self didn’t belong in. I gripped Ben’s hand and angled my body behind his as we entered. A hostess with perfect makeup was all teeth and giggles as she led us into the dining area to a table where Kim, Harris, Caroline, and her date already sat.
Caroline introduced her date, and we shook his hand before taking our seats. I hung my coat on the back of my chair, flushing when Ben batted my hands away and pulled out my chair like a gentleman so I could sit.
Jordan showed up soon after with his date, a junior named Amber from theater, and Julian and Iris appeared moments later. Ronnie and Esther were the last of our group to arrive. When she allowed Ronnie to take her coat, revealing the strappy purple dress under a black cardigan, I waltzed over and hugged her in greeting.
“You look beautiful,” I whispered in her ear.
She surprised me with a chaste peck to my cheek. “Thanks. Love the suspenders.”
After our meal, we split into our separate vehicles again and headed to the school. Light snow drifted from the black sky as we parked in the already full lot. Overall, I didn’t love Indiana winters or snow, but a white Christmas was always better than dreary rain—the usual alternative.
“I miss the warmth of California.” Ben stared into the sky as the snow dusted his hair like powdered sugar. “But the snow here is beautiful.”
“Yeah, it is,” I agreed as I gazed at his gorgeous self, the snow melting in his curls until they glistened. He caught me staring and blushed.
Without preamble, I snagged his tie and tugged him down to my height, kissing him soundly. He returned the affection, his thumb grazing my jaw.
Something flashed behind my closed lids, and I pulled back to investigate. Headlights from passing cars illuminated us periodically, and I ducked my head, hoping no one was staring.
I wasn’t ashamed, but I felt protective of this. I’d spent nearly four years having these people stick their noses into my business or try to shame me for who I was. I didn’t want them invading this. Ben was too important, and they had no place here. This was mine—ours.
“Enough softcore porn!” Ronnie bellowed from across the lot, ruining our next snowy kiss, and Ben grimaced.
“He’s your friend,” I said, and he rolled his eyes, disentangling us and hauling me toward the school where a bass rhythm pumped through the open doors.
The cafeteria had been decorated as a winter wonderland, sparkling paper snowflakes twirling from the ceiling as glittery gauze draped over the columns storing the room partitions. It looked nice, all things considered.
Music pulsed through the room, and in the center of the linoleum, swarmed a sea of dancing bodies. A table stood to the side holding various hors d’oeuvres. Our principal hovered over the punch, eyes sharp as a hawk. I pitied the fool who even contemplated spiking the drinks.
Two round tables had been claimed by our party, and Ben and I joined the chattering group, taking the two seats between Esther and Julian. Sipping at punch, we talked and laughed with the group, playing a game of musical chairs as we moved around to mingle. Eventually, Caroline and Kim dragged their dates onto the dance floor, and Jordan followed, yanking a somewhat begrudging Amber behind him.
I grimaced at the mass of gyrating bodies, and before Ben could ask me to join them, I decided to take a pee break. The men’s restroom wasn’t overly full, and I used the stall quickly, ignoring the shuffling of too many feet coming from the one next door. Someone giggled and dress fabric peeked from underneath the partition as a girl knelt on the dirty floor.
Gross!
I escaped the bathroom quickly, gagging as two younger boys hovered near the occupied stall to listen to some nameless girl giving head. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t against blowjobs, but doing it in a messy bathroom with numerous people creeping around was not my idea of a good time.
Exiting the restroom, I hesitated at the sight at the end of the hall opposite the cafeteria. The familiar meathead from Boyt’s posse, Thing One—or was it Shawn?—towed a tall, lanky girl down the corridor. She wasn’t resisting him, but the pressure he had on her arm appeared too tight. And she was shaking her head.
It wasn’t my business, yet I couldn’t walk away. I stood rooted to the spot as the girl dug in her heels. “Shawn, not here,” the girl was saying, her tone more annoyed than frightened. “You’re hurting me.”
“Come on, baby, don’t be like that. You’ve been teasing me all night, and you look so fucking hot in that dress.” He leered at her, leaning for a kiss which she dodged.
“I want to dance. Can’t we go back?”
This time, she tugged out of his grip, and his face darkened. “Erin, I swear to God.”
He grabbed at her again, and her cry of protest thawed my frozen feet. “Shawn, no.”
“Stop being a prude.”
“Hey!” I barked, and the duo stilled, rubbernecking in my direction. “Dude, she said no.”
Erin flushed in embarrassment, and she stepped closer to Shawn as she eyed me distrustfully. Shawn, on the other hand, glared. Cementing her to his side with an arm around her waist, he squared his broad shoulders.
“Mind your own fucking business,” he snarled, and Erin’s eyes jumped between us, indecisive.
My fists clenched, and I took a hesitant step forward, unable to truly separate myself from the girl across the hall. Ben had stepped in for me that night, and maybe I could pay it forward. I didn’t know this girl, but it didn’t matter. If she needed someone to back her up, I would do it.
“No means no, asshole. If she doesn’t want to go with you, then let her go.”
Her expression was conflicted, and I met her eyes briefly, cocking my head in question. She just needed to push him away. All she had to do was come with me. But her eyes dropped submissively, and she snuggled into Shawn’s chest.
“Yeah, faggot, mind your own business,” she muttered with little heat in the insult.
Shawn grinned victoriously, and my stomach dropped. “That clear enough for you? Now get lost before I rearrange your face.”
Without awaiting a response, Shawn led Erin around the corner and out of sight. I wanted to follow and force her to come back with me, but I couldn’t. She had the right to choose, even if she chose wrong.
Maybe I’d misread the situation. For her sake, I hoped so.
When I returned to our table, Ben and Esther were gone, lost to the sea of dancers. Ronnie and Jordan were talking about Fortnite as Amber ignored them, doing something on her phone.
Face red and sweaty, Harris collapsed in the chair next to me and chugged his punch as he shook his head. “I just can’t keep up with her.”
We both turned to the dance floor watching as Kim and Caroline squished Caroline’s date—whose name I’d already forgotten—between them as they danced. “Well, that’s Kim for you,” I said. “Think you can handle it?”
“I like her,” he said like it was an answer.
“That’s cool, man.” I slapped him on the shoulder. “I think she likes you too.”
I watched as Ben danced with Esther, eventually joining Kim, Caroline, and What’s-His-Name in a dance circle.
“All right.” Ronnie grabbed my arm and practically dragged me to standing. “Let’s go.”
“Let’s go where?” I jerked out of his hold with a scowl.
“Our dates have danced with each other long enough.” He jerked his thumb toward the sea of dancers. “It’s our turn.”
It was immature to feel challenged, but I didn’t want to back down. Especially because Kim had sidled up next to Ben and was practically grinding on him. What the hell?
“Fine,” I said as I followed Ronnie.
As Ronnie commandeered Esther, Ben circled Kim’s waist and swayed with her, completely oblivious to me, standing right here! The audacity.
Kim saw me first, and she grinned mischievously as she pushed her ass into Ben’s groin and undulated. My jaw dropped, and she winked.
Not to be outdone, I invaded their space and trapped Kim between us, smirking as Ben finally noticed me, his eyes going wide with alarm. Kim, being Kim, merely spread her lips in a sultry smile and accepted me into the sandwich.
“Every yaoi lover’s dream,” she cooed, closing her eyes and losing herself to the music.
Glaring daggers at Ben, I swayed to the rhythm, hands on Kim’s thighs where her short, white dress met skin.
“It’s on like Donkey Kong, bitch,” I yelled over the music, and Ben roared with laughter.
The three of us danced, tangled in a mass of sweaty limbs as I did my best to piss Ben off. I ignored him completely, focusing solely on Kim. Of course, Ben didn’t care. He just kept laughing like an asshole.
Like she could sense my mounting irritation, Kim wiggled out from between us and made her escape as I gave her the stink-eye.
“Don’t be such a drama queen,” Ben said, hand finding my waist and encouraging me closer.
I turned my glower to him, but he kept smiling, drawing me in until we were almost chest-to-chest.
“Dance with me.” He kissed the spot beneath my ear, and I felt myself thawing.
“I don’t dance,” I said, trying to resist his charms.
“Kim says you dance very well.”
“Only when I’m drunk,” I said.
“Well, I guess you’ll have to follow my lead then.”
Turning me around, he framed my back and circled an arm around my waist to hold me close. The music changed in tempo, slowing to a seductive beat, and we swayed as his hips cradled my ass.
As I looped my arms around his neck, I slouched into his hold, and we danced. We dipped and swayed, gyrating to the pulse of the bass until sweat collected on my skin. Falling victim to the music, I lost myself, clinging to Ben as I tried to remember why I hated dancing so much.
In this moment, I couldn’t recall. Perhaps Drunk Silas was right about some things. Or maybe Sober Silas was simply a damn traitor.