6
Dune greeted them at the front door. He had a grin plastered onto his face and hugged Will as he tried to step inside the house. Dune’s large frame engulfed him and pushed Will back outside.
“Hi Dune.” Will caught himself before they tumbled down the steps. Jack’s hand splayed out on Will’s back to help him. His fingers pressed against the notches of his spine and warm shivers raced over Will’s skin.
Amanda and Birch were to the side of the door. Amanda raised her eyebrows at Dune, and Birch looked uncomfortable.
“You’re late.” Dune swayed as he pulled back from the hug.
Will scanned his eyes. Dune was drunk. He hugged a lot after a few drinks, but he rarely lost the run of himself.
“It’s only ten,” Will pointed out. “Are there many people here?”
“The team. A few people from out of town.” Dune looked to his left, and his gaze flicked over Birch, who introduced himself nervously.
“I’m Birch.”
Dune looked him up and down.
Jack nudged Will’s back.
“He goes to our school,” Will said. “He’s my plus one.”
Dune blew air out of his cheeks. “I’m Dune.” He nodded to Birch, before his attention moved back to Will, putting his arm over his shoulders. “He’s cute.”
“Yeah,” Will agreed dryly. “Let’s go inside.”
Inside the front door were a lot of soccer players. Most of them greeted Will cheerfully while merely acknowledging Jack and Amanda. They got to the living room where all the furniture was pushed back against the walls. Most of the people were bunched close together talking. Several girls were dancing, and some of the boys were busy setting up cups on the floor.
“What are you in the mood for?” Dune asked him.
Will had to crane his neck to look behind him. Amanda and Jack were both studying the surrounding people. Birch looked very uncomfortable with his hands buried in his pockets. Their eyes met, and Birch’s shoulders scrunched up even more.
Will raised his hand to catch Jack’s attention. “Do you guys want drinks?”
Amanda held up her drink, a bottle of West Coast Cooler, and Jack nodded.
“Drinks first then.” Dune led the way to the kitchen.
Against the counter was Eileen. She had her arms crossed and was smirking at the boy standing close to her. Gale had his hand on the counter beside her and was leaning in close with a matching smile on his lips.
Will hesitated.
“Eileen,” Amanda greeted. “Hi.”
“You’re finally here!” Eileen sprang away from Gale and rushed across the room to hug Amanda. Eileen was on the volleyball team even though she went to the all-Irish school the next town over.
Will got plastic cups out of the cupboard. There was always a stash kept on standby given how often Dune had people over.
Dune nudged him. “You’re being quiet.”
“I just got here,” Will pointed out. “Give me a few minutes, won’t you?”
“If you want a quiet night, we can go upstairs?” Dune suggested.
Will checked behind him. Everyone was focused on Birch, who still looked uncomfortable. Jack was staring at Birch’s lips. They hadn’t heard Dune. Will studied Dune’s eyes once more. “Did you take something?”
“No.” Dune inflated his cheeks and exhaled with a weary sigh. “You want to hang out with…”
“Birch.”
“He is cute.” Dune narrowed his eyes at Birch. “He can come too?”
Will chuckled. “I think he might have a few objections about that.”
“ Will ,” Eileen called.
“Yeah?” Will went over with the cups.
“Are you staying the night?” Eileen asked.
“I am,” Will answered. “Why?”
“My lift said they can come get me now or never. I want to tell them never,” Eileen reported. “Can I sleep with you?”
Gale cut an annoyed glance in his direction. Amanda and Jack didn’t take much notice of her request, but Birch was looking around at everyone’s reaction.
“No?” Dune answered for Will.
“I wasn’t asking you,” Eileen said.
“It’s my bed,” Dune pointed out.
“Oh,” Eileen groaned. “You’ve already been spoken for.”
Will gave Dune a look, and his annoyance must have shown because Dune raised his hands in surrender. Will had done some experimenting with Dune a few nights after some parties, but it was never anything official. They were both out, and the whole school knew, or thought they knew, the ins and outs of their relationship. Will realized that Jack must have heard about it, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to save face. He didn’t want Jack to think he was someone who would try things out with someone he wasn’t dating, even though there had been a few experimental encounters with Dune in the past.
Dune looked away. “Sorry, I’m uh…”
“Sure thing, Eileen,” Will said. He laid out the plastic cups and then stepped back. “I’m running out to the car for my drinks.” He decided he’d rather escape for five minutes than try to get Amanda and Birch alone together.
“I left mine in the car too.” Birch separated from the group.
As they made their way to the car Will twirled his keys around his finger and counted. He got to four before Birch broke the silence.
“Are you and Dune boyfriends?” Birch asked tentatively.
“No,” Will answered. “He’s just had a bit to drink.”
“Oh. So, you and Eileen…?”
“I’m gay.” Will opened the back of the car and got his six-pack out. He picked up the two bottles of Orchard Thieves on the floor and gave them to Birch.
Birch was gnawing on his lower lip. “But you’re still a guy. You two sleeping together suggests something.”
“Eileen and I have known each other for a while. We’re like siblings.” Will shrugged. That wasn’t true. They’d known each other since Will started volleyball, and she’d flirted with Will until he’d explained that he liked guys. Even then, she still flirted. “If you’re looking for something to talk about, ask Eileen about horse riding. Her dad has a few Connemara ponies, and she spends a lot of time backing them.”
“Oh, thanks.” Birch made no move toward the house.
Will wasn’t a fan of his curiosity, but there didn’t seem to be any ill will behind it. “Dune and I are the only gay kids in a small community,” Will explained. “That doesn’t mean we have to date.”
Birch’s lips formed into an ‘O’. There were a few seconds of silence. They could go back inside, or Will could keep Birch away from Jack for a little while longer. Jack often wasn’t able to follow group conversations, so if he wanted to hang out with Birch, that would mean Birch would get his full attention. “Where are you from?” Will asked. He vaguely recalled Birch not being there for all six years of school, but that was about all he knew about him. Other than what Jack had told him.
“Donegal,” Birch said. “My parents are from the Philippines, so I don’t look Irish at all.”
“You do, actually.” Will studied him again. “And you have an Irish accent. Mind you, it’s not strong enough to be a Donegal one.”
“I always get told that,” Birch said with a soft smile. “What about you?”
“Irish through and through.” Will shrugged. “Mom’s from Dublin, and Dad was born only a few miles from here. Did you move from the city or countryside?”
“I moved from the city. I’ve been trapped at home since I moved here.” Birch chuckled. “I used to walk everywhere, but doing that here…I can go out for two hours, and maybe I’ll find a pub. Nothing else.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s all there is around here.”
“ Will ,” Eileen shouted, “get in here. We’re doing party games.”
Will and Birch both glanced at the house. Eileen was leaning out the window with an irritated Gale holding on right behind her to make sure she didn’t go falling out face first.
“I have to ask her about horses,” Birch said quietly.
“You don’t have to.”
Birch flashed him a smile. “I’ll be saving it for later when I get stuck.”
Will followed behind Birch as they went into the house. He reassured himself that just because someone new was joining their friend group, and he seemed like a nice guy, didn’t mean that things had to change between Will and his friends.