Chapter 25
Landon
I’ve just dropped a basket of clean clothes on my bed when my mom’s ringtone blares through the room.
Fuck. I’ve been putting her off for weeks, and apart from sending her texts letting her know that I’m busy with classes and football, she hasn’t gotten much else out of me. She’s expecting me for Thanksgiving, though, and I really need to let her know I won’t be coming this year.
I reach for my phone, swiping to answer, and put it to my ear. “Hey, Mom.”
“Landon, hi. How are you?”
Putting her on speaker, I lay my phone on the mattress. “I’m okay. Just folding some clothes.”
She hums. “I’ve told you before, I don’t mind doing them for you.”
“I know, but it’s almost an hour’s drive. Just easier to do it myself.”
She’s quiet. Too quiet, really. “I have some bad news,” I say, needing to fill the silence. “I won’t be coming home for Thanksgiving this year.”
“Oh.” She swallows hard. “Well, that’s fine. I can just volunteer that day. Spread holiday cheer.”
She took that way better than I thought she would. Maybe I should want to spend time with her, especially since I don’t know how much time I’m going to get. My stomach flips wildly.
“How have you been?” I ask.
“Good, really. I’ve been volunteering at the church a lot.
They’re having a toy drive for Christmas.
Oh, Landon, we’ve gotten so many donations.
It’s been hard to keep up. It makes me really happy, though, you know?
Being able to give back that way. That first year I was sick, I didn’t think I’d be able to afford Christmas for you. ”
My throat goes tight. “I wouldn’t have cared, Mom. I was just happy to spend time with you.”
She laughs lightly. “I know. You always were the sweetest boy. But still, a six-year-old deserves Christmas. I always swore if I got better, I’d pay it back somehow, and now I feel like I’m doing that.”
“That’s amazing, Mom.” I start going through the basket, folding the clothes and setting them off to the side.
“If you manage to make it here for Christmas, we could go to the service together. I know they’d love to meet you.”
My heart climbs into my throat, and I have to clear it to break it free. “Maybe.”
My phone buzzes, so I glance down at it, and there’s a message from Ben flashing across the top. “Hey, Mom,” I say, cutting her off in the middle of her sentence.
“Yes?”
“I’ve gotta go, alright, but I’ll call you soon.”
I have to, even if I don’t want to. I need to talk to her about Ben and Parker. I can’t keep hiding such a vital part of myself and my life. They deserve to be loved out loud, and I deserve to live my life freely and in the open. No matter the cost.
“Okay, Lan. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
I hang up, then open my text thread.
Ben
I have to study. No ifs, ands, or buts. I have a test in a couple of days, and I’ve been neglecting it.
Parker
Turns out you’re not so good at multitasking, huh?
Ben
I did just fine until the alternative was you and Lan. Plus my brain is fried. I can barely focus as it is.
Parker
Loser. But I get it. So does this mean I’m all alone tonight?
Ben
Unfortunately, Cotton Candy. Unless you can sweet talk Landon into keeping you company.
Parker’s typing, so I wait to respond until I see what they’re going to say, and when they send a selfie, blue eyes pleading and bottom lip stuck out in a pout, I know I’m going to fold immediately.
Me
my lovebug needs company?
Parker
So much. You two have ruined me, and now I don’t know how to starfish in the bed anymore.
Parker
Feels wrong.
Parker
This is your fault. Send help.
Parker
Preferably in the form of a 6 ft 3 football player.
I laugh out loud.
Me
i’ll see if i can find one for you. wouldn’t want you to be all alone tonight.
Ben
I think they mean you, Cutie.
Well, duh.
Ben
Never mind. I see the joke for what it is. I told you my brain was fried.
Parker
LOL. Okay, you’re coming, Lan?
Ben
Mmm he better be. *wink emoji* In case you were wondering, this is permission.
I’m smiling at my phone like a damn idiot. I can’t help it. When I’m talking to them, everything else falls to the wayside, including my worries about my mom.
Me
give me a few to get some clothes together and i’ll be on my way.
Parker
You guys should start keeping some stuff here. Couple changes of clothes. Whatever.
Ben
Oh is that so? I’d love to. Let me just move right in.
Parker
Don’t push it.
I laugh, then toss my phone to the side. The laundry can wait. I pack a bag with clothes for tomorrow, plus a few extras, before heading out.
When Parker opens the door, they nearly bowl me over with a blinding smile. “Hey.”
“Hey to you too.”
This is the first time we’ve hung out without Ben in any real capacity. Sure, we’ve spent time alone, but never for more than a few minutes, and never without the knowledge that Ben was gonna be coming soon. Even when we danced together at the bar, Ben was nearby, watching us.
“Is this a little awkward for you?” I ask, chuckling lightly.
Parker shrugs. “Maybe a little, but only because I’m dying to kiss you and I’m not actually sure if I’m allowed to.”
My stomach swoops. “You want to kiss me?”
“Yes. Duh.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re allowed. I mean, we’ve done it before.”
They nod. “Yeah, but only with Ben around. Or like, on his way,” they say, mirroring my own thoughts.
“Yeah,” I breathe, dying for that kiss now too.
Parker grins, raising themself up on their tiptoes. I hesitate. I’m not even sure why. “Well, are you gonna make me do all the work myself?”
It would be easy to dismiss the flippant line as Parker being playful.
Except it’s not. I can hear the vulnerability underneath.
The worry that maybe I’m not in this. Or that I’m only interested if Ben is part of the equation.
And sure, I have feelings for Ben. But I also have feelings for Parker.
Very real, very terrifying feelings that have nothing to do with Ben and nothing to do with our perfect little trio, so I close my eyes and tip my head forward, finding Parker’s mouth with my own.
Parker’s smile interrupts our kiss, and I find myself smiling as well. Dropping back onto their feet, they grin up at me. “Okay, so what do you wanna do tonight? Cozy night on the couch?”
“Sure.”
Taking my hand, they lead me to the couch. I drop my phone on the table, and we sit down beside one another. For a second, something awkward settles over us.
Parker sighs, peeking at me. “Or we could—” They pause, biting at their lower lip.
“Or we could?” I prompt.
“We could text Ben?” It comes out like a question.
“About what?”
I watch as Parker’s throat bobs. “About this…” They hook a leg over mine, straddling me and pressing themself closer. My hands grip their hips on instinct. My eyes widen when I realize they’re hard.
We stare at each other in silence for a second before I scramble for my phone, tightening my grip on Parker’s waist with one arm so I don’t have to let them go for even a second.
When I have our text thread open, I glance at Parker. “Are you sure?”
They nod, blond hair bouncing around like a halo. “Yeah, if you are.”
Taking a deep breath, I type out a message.
Me
park and i might want to have some fun tonight
Ben
Sex you mean?
I raise my eyes to Parker’s, but they’re looking at my phone. “Tell him yes.”
Me
yes. if that’s okay with you.
Ben
Fuuuuuccckkkk. I already gave you two permission, but what is it about you checking in that’s so hot?
Parker laughs out loud, and I find myself grinning too. “Tell him I said weird shit turns him on.”
Me
park said to tell you that weird shit turns you on.
Ben
What can I say? The more important question is why are you still texting me when you could be kissing Parker?
“You know,” Parker says, pulling my attention from my phone and back to them. “That is a good question.”
Tossing my phone to the side, I pull Parker in closer. Their lips hover over mine, our breaths mingling together.
“Are you gonna kiss me, Lan?”
“Are you gonna kiss me, Lovebug?”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, they’re closing the small space between us, slotting their lips over mine. Almost instantly, they tangle their fingers in my hair, pressing closer until there isn’t a spare bit of space between us.
My eyes nearly roll back when they suck on my tongue, drawing it into their mouth and moaning around it. It’s by far my favorite thing they do, and it nearly makes me lose it every single time.
At first, it’s just kissing. The wet slide of their tongue over mine, fingers tugging lightly where they’re knotted in my hair, but it quickly turns into more. Parker groans against my mouth as they rock forward, grinding their hard cock against my stomach.
We’ve never done this before. It seems like in every sexual situation we have, Parker’s leading and I’m following, which, for the record, I’m okay with.
But this time, there’s an almost… hesitance to their movements.
No, it’s not that. It’s more like we’re on equal ground.
Parker’s not leading, and I’m not following.
We’re just existing together with tongues and whimpers and the occasional clacking of teeth.
I sigh against their lips, some of my worry about doing things wrong fading into the background. I slide my hands down their waist to their thighs, then slip them under their skirt.
My fingers meet flesh, and I sit back, breaking the kiss. “Nothing under this?”
Parker’s pupils are blown wide, their cheeks flushed. But it doesn’t stop them from smirking at me like the menace they are. “No. Do you like that?”
I knead the flesh of their ass in my hands, then grip each cheek and pull them closer, thrusting up against them. “So much.”
“I like the way you’re touching me,” they whisper, then slam their mouth down on mine again.
“Fuck,” I breathe against their lips. “This feels good.”
Parker hums, grinding harder against me. Their skin under my fingers is so soft and warm, and I use my grip to drag them back and forth over my cock. They slump, body going pliant in my hold as I rut against them.
Breaking away from my lips, Parker rests their head on my shoulder, panting against my throat. I flex my fingers, a sheen of sweat breaking out over my body as I work them harder and faster over me. It’s unreal. The pressure. The feeling of their skin. The way their chest is heaving against mine.
My cock is throbbing, desperate for more.
Parker whimpers, clutching at my hair and trembling. “If you keep doing that, I’m gonna come.”
“Oh? Do you want me to stop?”
Another whimper. A shake of their head. “Please don’t.”
I tighten my grip, those words all the permission I need, and pick up the pace, holding Parker tightly against my body. They’re almost completely lax in my arms, basically letting me do whatever I want. And what I want is to make them come so hard they forget their name.
I grind up, rocking my cock against theirs, mind blown by the heat and the friction even through our clothes.
“Close,” Parker whines.
I moan. “Do that thing again where you suck on my tongue.”
Parker gasps, attacking my mouth so quickly it makes my head spin, and when they close their lips around my tongue, sucking and moaning, I explode. I thrust hard against them, warm, sticky cum spilling from my cock and soaking my boxers.
Groaning into our sloppy kiss, Parker rocks against me one last time before a shiver races through their body and their dick jerks against mine, hot cum seeping through their skirt and over my shirt.
They giggle, and my heart nearly explodes. “That was fun.”
“It was.” I grip their chin, tilting their head down so I can press a soft kiss to their forehead.
“I’m so glad I got to come here tonight.
And not because of this. Although, it is a nice bonus.
I just… God, I really enjoy spending time with you.
I’m not even sure how I’d sleep in my own bed at this point. ”
Parker smiles, cheeks flushed and eyes bright. “I already told you I don’t know how to sleep alone anymore. Thank you for coming.”
I press another kiss to their forehead, then their lips. “Thank you, Lovebug.”