Chapter 12 #2
He couldn’t help the rush of excitement that coursed through him. It would mean more years of studying, but he was prepared for that, especially if it meant he got to do something he really wanted.
“You look happier.” Ben came into his room and handed him a mug of coffee. “I figured you needed a break. You’ve been working since you got back from your last class.”
Tommy took the coffee with a grateful smile. “Yeah, well, workin’ keeps my mind off stuff.” He’d spent the last three evenings with his nose buried in his books.
Ben’s expression was sympathetic. “I s’pose. You’ve not had a great time of it lately, what with your parents being such assholes.”
A hot flush of guilt crept up his neck and stole over his cheeks.
While it was true he still couldn’t believe his family could act like that, it wasn’t what was at the forefront of his mind.
That position was reserved for Mike. He tried not to keep looking at his phone, willing it to ring, but it was tough.
He wanted to know what Mike was thinking. If he was thinking.
“I take it Mike hasn’t called yet.” Ben was watching him, leaning against the wall, coffee mug in hand.
“Not yet, no.” He hadn’t wanted to tell Ben what he’d asked of Mike, but it seemed mean considering all the trouble Caroline, Bethany, and Ben had gone to. And besides, he might need Ben’s help if Mike….
His phone rang. Tommy peered at the screen and caught his breath. Mike.
“Well, answer it,” Ben said with a smirk.
Tommy glanced up at him. “Can… can I have some privacy, please?”
Ben’s eyes widened. “It’s him, isn’t it?” When Tommy nodded, Ben grinned. “I’ll be in my room. Come find me when you’re done. I wanna hear all about it.” And with that he hurriedly left the room, closing the door behind him.
Tommy clicked on Answer. “Hey.”
“I was beginning to think you didn’t want to talk to me.” Mike sounded amused.
“No, no, I was talkin’ to Ben,” Tommy explained rapidly. “How’re you?” He groaned inwardly at his attempts at conversation, but his nerves had got the better of him.
“I’m fine, thank you for asking.” Mike sounded pleased. “Okay, I’m sure you want to know what my decision is.”
Oh shit. “Okay,” he said slowly, drawing out the syllables.
“Saturday evening. My house. Dinner.”
There was a husky quality to Mike’s voice that went straight to Tommy’s dick.
“I’ll text you the address. Arrive six-ish. That sound good?”
“Yeah.” The word came out as a croak.
“Good. Then I’ll see you Saturday.” There was a pause. “Oh, and Tommy? Plan on staying the night.” Then the call disconnected.
Tommy’s room was suddenly very quiet.
He stared at the phone. Did he just say what I think he said? Okay, so Mike hadn’t come right out and said it, but Tommy’d have to be an idiot to not get the message.
Oh. My. Lord. Butterflies had invaded his stomach and were tramping all over it with little tiny boots. His heart was clearly trying to see just how hard it could pound before it burst inside his chest. His skin tingled everywhere, and as for his dick? No wonder he felt light-headed.
Tommy got up from his seat at the desk, exited his room, and went next door into Ben’s.
His roommate was lying on his bed, eyes closed, earphones plugged into his iPhone.
Judging from the way his hips were moving, the music had a good rhythm to it.
Not that Tommy had expected to find Ben studying.
He’d heard Ben’s daddy talking about Ben’s grades.
Tommy touched Ben lightly on the arm. Ben gave a start and opened his eyes. He pulled the earphones free and sat up in a hurry.
“Well?”
Tommy sat down on the bed next to him, hands clasped together between his knees, leaning forward. “I’m invited to dinner on Saturday. An’ he wants me to stay the night.”
Ben let out a loud whoop. “Hoo boy. Tommy’s gonna finally lose his cherry.” His face was contorted with glee.
Tommy whacked him on the arm. “Will you just hush?” There were two other bedrooms in their suite in the dorm, and he didn’t really want their occupants knowing his private business.
Ben calmed pretty quick. “Okay, we need to talk.” He pulled open a drawer beside his bed, rummaged around in it, and then threw something at Tommy, which landed at his feet with a thump.
Tommy glanced down, and immediately his face grew hot. “Just how many condoms do you think I’m gonna need?” Six or seven foil packets lay on the rug in front of him, along with a bottle of…. He picked it up and examined it, his ears hotter than ever.
“That hasn’t been opened,” Ben said. “And believe me, you’re gonna need it. My advice to anyone having sex for the first time is always, ‘Lube, lube, and more lube.’” He cackled. “A gay boy’s best friend. And as for how many condoms you’ll need, I’m just telling you to be prepared, is all.”
Tommy stuffed the condoms into his jeans pocket. The lube was another story.
“And there’s something else we need to talk about,” Ben added, his expression more serious. “You need to go to the drugstore and buy yourself an enema kit.”
“Say what?”
He became very still. Ben nodded, and Tommy swallowed.
“I really need one?”
“What if Mike wants to stick his tongue up your ass?”
Tommy gaped. “Why in hell would he wanna do that?”
Ben sighed. “I keep forgetting, you don’t watch porn.”
Tommy snorted. “Well, if that’s what happens in porn, I don’t wanna watch, no, sir!”
There was suddenly a knowing look on Ben’s face. “Give it time,” he said with a smile.
This was getting a little too real. “Seriously, Ben?”
Ben gave him a sympathetic glance. “Yeah, seriously.” He hesitated. “You want me to come with you to the drugstore?”
Tommy thought about it. “No,” he said after a moment. “If I’m old enough to have sex, then I guess I’m old enough to suck it up an’ go get it myself.”
Ben nodded in approval. “The important thing is to make sure you’re squeaky clean—inside and out.”
Tommy swallowed again, hard, and Ben patted his knee.
“It’s gonna be fine. There’s always a first time.
Besides, you may not even need the condoms, but like I said, it pays to be prepared.
Never assume your date is gonna have them—you have to take responsibility for your body.
And if he does want to fuck, you make sure one—or both—of you is wearing one. You got that?”
Tommy had to smile at that. “It’s okay. I had the ‘putting the condom on the banana’ class in high school too.” Human Development classes had really gotten interesting at that point.
“One final piece of advice?” Ben smiled. “Enjoy it. Remember, it’s supposed to be fun.”
“Was your first time fun?” Tommy wanted to know.
Ben chuckled. “We were both virgins, we didn’t have a clue, and yeah, it was fucking hilarious. At least Mike knows what he’s doing. Well, he should, given his age.” He winked. “You might like to find that out, once and for all, this weekend. Consider it homework.”
Tommy had the impression he’d have far more important things on his mind.