Chapter 15AsherTheo
Asher
I woke up alone, and I kind of hated that.
We must have separated in the night, as I predicted would happen.
It didn’t matter, though, because it could never happen again.
Theo was my friend. My best friend. Cuddling in bed together was crossing the line, and I needed to keep my feelings under control.
None of this midnight lusting like last night, dude. Get your head together.
I couldn’t let some kind of awkward interaction - like him waking up with me cradled in his arms - drive a wedge between us.
Control it, Asher. You’ve got to.
As I made my way downstairs, I could hear the entire family yelling. I crept through the living room, stopping just outside the kitchen, and peered in. They all sat around the kitchen table having breakfast.
Is this what real families do? Eat meals together?
I could count on one hand the number of times my mom sat down to eat with me. Once I was six, my meal partner was an iPad that Grandma had bought us.
The chatter among the Morettis was cacophonous, bouncing off the walls and filling the home. They were all screaming at each other. I was taken aback for a moment, thinking something was wrong.
Are they fighting?
Soon, I realized that was just how they talked.
They were all so loud. I’d only spent a handful of times with Theo’s entire family.
Everyone was speaking at once, gestures animated, big smiles on their faces.
The twins playfully argued with Theo, while Anthony and Maria chatted about their construction business, upcoming dinner dates with friends, and whatever came to mind.
Maria would hand something to one of her kids, then plant a kiss on their forehead.
Anthony would beam at her as she strutted around the kitchen, the queen in her domain.
That empty feeling began to consume me.
I don’t belong here. They’re a family. A happy family, and I’m just intruding.
I turned to go back upstairs, tempted to pack up my stuff and call Coach Hughes, when I heard my name being screamed from the kitchen.
“Asher, baby! Come in here and get some breakfast.”
My body froze, and I turned around to see them all smiling at me. “I feel bad,” I said. “I can’t keep eating your food.”
For a moment, I thought Maria’s head might explode. “Don’t be ridiculous! You’re a growing boy and a hockey player, to boot. You need protein. Eggs. Now!”
“Don’t argue with her, Asher,” Anthony called from the kitchen. “If you don’t sit and eat, she’ll chase you down until you do.”
I couldn’t hide the discomfort as I said, “Okay.” I made my way to an empty chair, but my whole body wanted to run away.
It wasn’t right. I shouldn’t be eating their food and intruding on their morning.
My mind started racing with all of the ways I was putting these wonderful people out, chastising myself for getting them involved in my crap.
Maria walked over and put eggs on my plate. Then, she kissed my forehead. I looked at her, eyes wide, and she gave me a wink. I didn’t know how to react, so I just smiled. My cheeks were on fire.
The conversation between Theo and the twins continued without skipping a beat—like my presence was totally normal.
“I told you it was the Saturn!” Reggie screamed at Theo.
Theo shook his head, “Nah. Really? I could have sworn it was the old Chevy.”
“No, we skidded off the road during an ice storm in the Chevy. We were in the Saturn when we broke down on the highway going to Ocean City,” Roxy added.
Maria walked over to set a plate of toast in the center of the table. “I swear, it’s amazing we’re alive with the clunkers you bought back then, Anthony.”
“You kids don’t know how lucky you have it! Back in the 80s, your uncle had a Ford Escort that wouldn’t start unless you gave it a push from behind.” Anthony pushed his hands forward to demonstrate.
“No way,” Theo said.
“It’s true,” Maria added. “Our first date, Uncle Sal and the girl he was dating at the time—”
“Linda,” Anthony added.
“That’s right, Linda. They were in front of that godforsaken car. I’m in the back all dolled up, nervous as hell because I’d been trying to get a date with old lunkhead over here for months.”
“I had no idea she was into me,” Anthony added.
“None! So, I’m in the car. Your dad gets out to push, but he leaves the back door open.”
“Oh, Jesus, I forgot this one,” Anthony said while shaking his head.
“So your dad is pushing from behind, and the car starts going, and the freaking back door is open. Why, you might ask? Because he had to run and jump into the moving car! They had to let it run for a while once it got started, or it would stall again.”
Everyone at the table was cracking up. I couldn’t keep a straight face, either.
Maria continued, “So he’s running alongside the car like a maniac and finally catches up. He goes to leap into the backseat, and he smacks his head off the car! He falls backwards onto the road. I nearly had a heart attack!”
By that point, everyone was in hysterics. I don’t think I ever laughed that hard. There were literal tears in my eyes. “Were you hurt?” I asked.
Maria waved her hand dismissively. “It was a lump on the head, a hole in the backside of his pants, and a very bruised ego.” She looked at my place setting and said, “You don’t have juice.”
“I can do it,” I said, while rising from my chair. “You should sit and eat.”
“Sit, sit, sit! Anywho, that old car was a deathtrap, but it made me fall in love with your father.”
“How?” Reggie asked. “You got a thing for dudes with lame cars?”
Maria rolled her eyes. “No. I’ve got a thing for dudes who make me laugh.”
“It is a pretty funny story,” I added.
“And, I’ve been Maria’s clown ever since,” Anthony said, winking at Maria.
I looked at Theo and saw him staring at me with an unreadable expression on his face. I cocked my head in a questioning manner, and he snapped out of it, clearing his throat.
“How did you boys sleep?” Maria asked.
Theo and I both said, “Great,” with a little too much gusto. We looked at each other, then quickly looked away.
Does he know I was snuggling up to him like a kitten?
“I can still sleep on the sofa,” I said.
“No! I mean…” Theo cleared his throat again. Is he coming down with something? “No, it’s cool. I didn’t notice you at all.”
“Okay, good.”
Theo looked at his food for a bit before his eyes slowly trailed back up to meet mine. “Did you notice me?” he asked.
“Not at all,” I said, shaking my head. Theo looked visibly relieved by that.
“See? It’s a big bed. You boys are fine.” Anthony did his little “meeting adjourned” table knocking thing before adding, “Well. I’m off to work. See you all this evening.”
Everyone said their goodbyes to Anthony.
Maria served more eggs to everyone, and soon the twins left too.
It was just Theo and me at the table, shooting the shit.
Soon, Maria came and sat next to us and joined the conversation.
She was genuinely interested in everything we had to say. It felt so foreign.
It felt wonderful.
The laughter, the affection - it was all just effortless.
They all radiated warmth. I’d only arrived the night prior and was already feeling their love seep into my bones.
That sick feeling in my stomach started to dissipate.
There was no tension in my shoulders like there was at home.
Everything at the Morettis’ house was lovely.
I just hope they don’t get tired of me.
Theo
It was Saturday night, and I had just picked up Asher from his shift at the restaurant. He was taking a shower while I fiddled with my phone on the bed. It was already late, and Asher was tired. I figured we could just chill for a bit and go to bed.
To be honest, I was tired too. Between the fight at Asher’s and the panic attack from waking up with my dick in his ass, my nerves were fried.
What even was that?
I started thinking about stuff, which I absolutely fucking hated doing. Especially emotional shit. It was a total boner kill. But since my dilemma involved my boner, I guess some deep thinking was necessary.
Abigail seemed positive Asher was gay, and I wasn’t so sure I was a hundred percent straight, myself.
I didn’t think about dudes sexually in the slightest. Not even Asher.
Well…
I mean, he was a pretty boy, but everyone thought that. I was allowed to think a dude was good-looking, right? Plus, if I were into dudes, I’d know by now.
Nah, I wasn’t into Asher. I was just very protective of him. I’d always been protective of him. Even when we first met when we were sixteen, I’d go nuts on the ice if someone hurt him.
Did I get like that with the other forwards? Not really, but Asher was the center.
He’s critical to the team.
That’s it. I figured it out. He was my best friend, and I was really fucking protective of him because we needed him to be in top form on the ice. Plain and simple.
The moment my existential crisis subsided, Asher walked in with a towel wrapped around his waist.
His red hair, usually messy and pushed forward, was wet and slicked back. I could see the entirety of his face. He had such a nice face. Soft and sweet. Freckles covering his cheeks. He had awesome cheekbones, too.
Damn. He is fucking pretty.
Droplets of water reflected the light, illuminating the curves of his muscular form. His upper body was built like a V, with wide shoulders tapering down to a slender waist. The towel wrapped around his lower half hugged his ass perfectly.
Jesus Fucking Christ.
He had his back to me, so I had a perfect view of the freckles on his shoulders and arms. I wanted to walk over and bite his shoulder. I wanted to grab his waist while I thrust my hips into his—
Holy fuck!
I leapt out of bed, gasping for air. It couldn’t be true. Theo Moretti isn’t gay. I love tits! Nothing gets me going like a hot honey who’s got it down bad for a hockey bro.
But, as I turned to look at Asher shimmying into a pair of boxer briefs under his towel, the very real possibility of me being attracted to my friend started becoming increasingly likely, because all I wanted in the world was for that towel to fall.
And then it did.
The globes of his muscular ass were on full display, and my traitorous boner came back for round two of “Time to Ruin Theo’s Life.”
Asher hurried to pull up his briefs, “Sorry! My bad.”
“Don’t worry, dude. Just like the locker room,” I said. Just like the locker room? What am I even saying? My heart was pounding, and my boner was growing harder the longer Asher took to get clothed.
Jesus Christ, get dressed, Asher!
But I also didn’t want him to get dressed. I really, really, really didn’t want him to get dressed.
That sweet little ass is about to be in my bed.
My God! Where did that come from? Nurse! I need a defibrillator!
I had to get out of there.
“Forgot my water!” I picked up the full glass of water on the nightstand, praying he didn’t see it, and ran downstairs.
I didn’t know what to think anymore. I was gay for Asher. I wanted Asher.
And he’s in my bedroom!
I made my way to the kitchen, trying to figure out what on God’s green Earth I was going to do about this when I heard, “What’s wrong?”
“Ah!” I literally screamed, and Reggie looked at me wide-eyed. “Why would you do that? Why would you sneak up like that? What the hell’s the matter with you?”
She sat at the table holding a book, blinking at me. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay? You look…agitated.”
Agitated? Yeah, I was fucking agitated! My best friend was upstairs naked, and all I could think about was shoving my tongue in his ass. I am very agitated! “What? No, I’m not agitated. I just need water.”
Reggie’s eyes fell onto the glass that was nearly overflowing with water. I actually think I spilled some on the floor when she startled me. “Put more in there and it might overflow,” she said.
“I need a fresh glass of water,” I replied pointedly.
I didn’t pour the water into the sink. I threw it in like the shit owed me money, then refilled it with water from the Brita.
As I took a sip, Reggie asked, “How’s Asher?” I choked on the water like I had with Abigail. Apparently, my throat stopped working when someone uttered his name. I coughed and coughed until Reggie rose to her feet to pat my back. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.
I finally got it under control and replied, “I’m fine. I gotta go to bed.”
I left the kitchen and ran back upstairs to my room. When I walked in, the lights were out, and Asher was in bed.
My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and I could see the faint outline of his face.
It was true. I was crushing. I was crushing hard.
That’s where it all came from. Nobody was allowed to hurt Asher because he was mine. He’s my friend. He’s my guy. He’s my…
I leaned against the door and closed my eyes.
What am I going to do?
There wasn’t anything I could do at that moment, so I decided to just get in bed and go to sleep.
Did I sleep? Nah. Not really. I was too busy trying to put as much distance as possible between Asher and me while also wanting to roll over and scoop him up in my arms.
I didn’t know what any of it meant. It made my stomach hurt.
What does this mean? Why is it hitting me now? How did I not see it before?
To top it off, we were at my parents’ house. It wasn’t even like we were at school.
And, if Abigail was right, then he might be gay too. And then…
Could we?
Not in my parents’ house!
I rubbed the heels of my hands into my eyes. It was all too much.
What am I going to do?