Chapter 7
WHAT THE FUCK JUST happened?
Riley grabbed another beer from the fridge and used the door to hide so he could adjust the semi in his jeans.
He had gotten hard.
For Josh.
How did that happen?
He could admit that Josh was a good kisser, which wasn’t a surprise because he was good at most physical things. But this… this was something they’d never explored. Never even thought about.
Josh was his best friend, and he was straight. They both were.
Right?
He hoped the alcohol would calm his racing mind.
“Hey, you okay?”
Riley startled and spun to find Elena next to him, beer now streaming down his hand from jumping.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m good,” he said, rushing to grab some paper towels to clean the mess he made.
Thankfully, Elena didn’t continue to prod, but offered a lifeline instead, speaking slower than usual as if trying not to spook him.
“I’m making dinner tonight, and Cole is supposed to help, but he gets in the way. Do you want to help me?”
Riley glanced into the living room and noticed Cole pulling out a deck of cards, offering him a sympathetic smile as he distracted everyone with poker.
As interfering as his friends could be, they handled everyone’s freakouts with ease.
Not that he was freaking out. Because he wasn’t.
He was simply reassessing everything about his life and himself, that was all. No big deal.
Making a meal with Elena would be way easier to think about at the moment. The silver lining was at least this distracted him from CJ Rollins’ stalker-ish emails.
“Yes, I can help. What are we making?”
She smiled and gave him a pat on the shoulder, then opened the fridge to take out ingredients.
“We’re making my abuela’s ceviche de camaron, or shrimp ceviche, along with tortilla soup since it’s freezing out.”
“Unnngggh, that sounds amazing,” he replied. “Tell me what to do, boss.”
Elena put him to work, slicing tortilla strips, cutting avocado and boiling tomatoes. He almost squealed in delight when she pulled out ingredients for margaritas and put him in charge of those while she finished preparing the meal.
Avery came over to help set the table, and eventually they were seated for dinner, ready to indulge in all things Mexican. Elena even put on some Mexican music and taught them all a bit about the types of music from the country.
Riley had fun piling tostadas with the shrimp ceviche and topping his soup with tortilla strips and avocado. The margaritas were also a big hit, since they tasted so fresh. He couldn’t help smiling when he saw Josh dancing in his seat as he enjoyed the meal.
Everyone was in good spirits as they got drunk on the liquor and the warmth of the group.
“I think we should take these margaritas outside into the hot tub,” Cole suggested. “We won’t even have to worry about the ice melting in the pitcher since it’s like twenty degrees out. Although, it might melt from being so close to my hotness.”
Riley inspected his ice-filled glass. “So weird, your hotness doesn’t seem to be affecting the ice at all. We should be safe.”
“Fine, maybe not mine, but you—Ow! What was that for?” Cole grimaced in pain as his arm flew under the table, as if someone kicked him.
“Let’s clean up and then head outside, okay?” Elena prodded, glaring at Cole from her seat next to him.
"Good idea,” Cole said, chagrined. “Cleaning assembly line!”
They all worked together to clear the table and fill the dishwasher, cleaning the pots and pans that wouldn’t fit with everything else. Afterward, everybody retreated upstairs to change into their bathing suits.
When Riley walked into their room, it took him a moment to realize he’d be changing in front of Josh. It had never made him pause before, but they'd just shared that heated kiss and now, for the first time ever, he was nervous about being alone with his best friend.
He walked over to his bag and kept his back to the rest of the room.
He heard Josh enter and walk over to his own bag.
He wasn’t sure if he was relieved that Josh wasn’t saying anything either.
Maybe he felt awkward about the kiss, or maybe Riley was totally overthinking it.
Maybe they only got hard from friction. That was a thing, right?
Quickly slipping off his pants and pulling on his board shorts, he continued to rummage around in his bag to kill time.
He didn’t want to turn around and catch Josh changing.
It wasn’t something he’d ever thought of, but now he hesitated.
It would kill him if things ever changed between them, because Josh had been the most important part of his life for so long.
He slowly rummaged through his bag, reorganizing the few clothes in there, when there was a touch to his shoulder. The unexpected feeling had him jumping, but since he was squatting in front of his bag, he jerked at the wrong angle and almost went right into the wall.
Josh caught Riley before he could fall headfirst into the wall, holding him against his chest. Josh quickly dropped his arm and Riley spun, realizing a moment too late that the move put them chest to chest.
They both stood still for a moment, until Josh cleared his throat and took a step away.
“Hey, I wanted to say sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier with that kiss. I was just trying to win the game for us. And there are worse things than having to kiss you,” he said, chuckling awkwardly.
Nope, no way. Riley wouldn’t have Josh feeling uncomfortable over anything, even him. He stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug, giving him a friendly pat on the back.
“No need to apologize. We got the win, didn’t we?”
Worry eased from Josh’s face and was replaced with his bright smile. There he was. Josh unhappy looked… wrong.
“Now, let’s go see what game we’re gonna win next,” Josh said, and Riley’s nerves returned. Oh man, what else would this trip have in store for them?
————————
“Truth or dare!” Cole shouted from his spot in the hot tub, and Riley tried to keep the smile on his face despite his inner turmoil.
Everything would be fine. This was his family, and he was safe with them. They wouldn’t make anyone do anything they’d regret. But they would push them to that limit. Damn it.
He tried to ignore his racing heart and take in the ambiance of the night. Snowy mountains and trees surrounded them. The only noise he could hear was from his friends and the occasional hoot of an owl.
No matter what happened the rest of this trip, he’d try to enjoy it. He could save his worries for when they got home.
A couple of them cheered while others groaned at the idea of truth or dare.
Hailey seemed to be on his side as her gaze bounced around the group.
She was the “girl next door” type and was so wholesome it was adorable.
Avery was similar, so they usually avoided things like excessive public displays of affection.
From context clues, he could tell the pair had a healthy sex life, but they preferred to keep it private.
At least he wasn’t the only one worried about this game.
It was the night before New Year’s Eve, so there was plenty of time for shenanigans.
“I’ve never played this game,” Emilio said from his corner.
Abby, perched on Emilio’s lap, rolled her eyes. “Fine, we’ll play so Emilio can see what it’s like.”
They’d all had a good time introducing Emilio to new things as he assimilated into his new normal.
“Okay, let’s start with Josh,” Cole said. “Truth or dare?”
Josh’s head rested against the edge of the tub, his eyes shut as the jets underneath him worked their magic, his margarita held safely above the water. Without moving or opening his eyes, he mumbled, “Truth.”
“If you could make out with anyone in this hot tub, who would it be?”
“Riley,” he said without any hesitation, his eyes still closed. “I’d get my ass kicked if I tried to hook up with anyone else here. Plus, Riley’s lips are super soft.”
Riley’s face heated as he ignored everyone’s knowing looks and tried to hide his shock by taking a sip of his frozen margarita. Maybe this would be harder than he thought.
Cole smiled and turned to his girlfriend. “Elena, same question.”
Elena lifted her head and took a considerate look around the hot tub.
“Hailey,” she said, and Hailey’s jaw dropped. “I have a feeling she’s one of those ‘lady in the streets and freak in the sheets’ girls.”
Avery choked on his margarita as Hailey did her best impression of a deer in headlights. Everyone else laughed, and Riley was relieved as he began to feel the much-needed buzz from the tequila.
“Emilio, truth or dare?” Elena said.
“Dare,” he chose, an excited look on his face as he clutched a blissful-looking Abby closer to him.
“I dare you to play with Abby under the water.”
A couple gasps were heard around the circle, Josh’s head popping up as he shouted, “That escalated quickly!” but Emilio just laughed.
“What if I am already doing that? Does that mean I win the game?”
Abby couldn’t hold back her laughter, and suddenly that blissful look on her face made more sense.
“Holy shit, Abby!” Hailey said, her hand held against her chest in shock. A bit of intrigue hid behind her eyes.
“Elena, truth or dare,” Abby said.
“Dare.”
“I dare you to have a twerk contest with Josh. I think it’s time we finally find out who’s best.”
Oh fuck. Not again.
Josh’s smile lit up the dark mountains surrounding them. He loved twerking and he’d tried to challenge Elena in the past, but she never went for it.
She sighed, but steeled herself, standing from her spot along with Josh.
“Wait!” Josh shouted. “Your twerks are gonna look so much better in a bikini bottom compared to my shorts. You should put on Riley’s bathing suit so we’re even.”
Riley’s eyes widened, but Abby saved him.
“Don’t worry Josh,” she said as she shifted on Emilio’s lap, her hand returning to the surface holding her own bright yellow bikini bottoms. “You can wear mine.”
“Oh, fuck yes,” Emilio muttered from under her.
“Yes!” Josh shouted, reaching for the bottoms and dipping below the water to change. “Umm, doesn’t fit my junk too well. What do you think, Riley?”
Josh stood so only Riley could see his front, the suit leaving absolutely nothing to his imagination, and Riley gaped at him.
“Dude, face the wall where you were sitting,” he said, chuckling, his face getting hotter. He was thinking of Christmas, when Josh put on a private twerk show for him, leaving him confused and horny. And confused about being horny.
“Oh, right. Hey, someone put on some music for us.”
Avery searched for a dance playlist and the air filled with a quick beat.
Elena and Josh stood next to each other, Elena using the wall for leverage so her ass hovered above the water, while Josh bent over slightly. As they started to dance, Riley’s mouth went dry.
“Damn, you two. It’s like I’m at a bakery with all this cake on display,” Cole said, admiring both Elena and Josh, or what Abby’s bathing suit barely covered on Josh. Riley had to stifle a growl at Cole, not totally comfortable with Cole's eyes on his bestie, but not wanting to think about why.
Josh and Elena let the music move them, their asses bouncing and shaking with the beat, and Riley couldn’t help but be completely mesmerized by the movement of Josh's body, not even noticing Elena.
How does he move like that?
Riley had always been an ass man, but he’d never expected to be so enthralled with Josh’s. His margarita must have been getting to him faster than he thought.
After the song, everyone voted and it was a tie. The downside of having an equal number of people.
“Bullshit,” Elena grumbled as she sat next to Cole.
Josh slipped under the water to take off Abby’s bathing suit and put on his own, and Riley did his best to keep his eyes turned away.
“Hailey, truth or dare?” Cole said.
She looked at Avery, his dirty blond hair matted to his forehead, and he gave her a nod, offering her some much-needed confidence.
“Um, okay, d-dare,” she said nervously, fidgeting in her seat.
“I dare you to make out with Elena.”
Hailey’s jaw dropped and she looked at Avery again. They were a team, like Riley and Josh. Wait, no, not like him and Josh because they weren’t a real couple.
His mind raced, and he lost track of everything. The next time he returned his focus to the game, Hailey and Elena were kissing, Hailey’s hand trembling as she started to caress Elena’s shoulder, Elena’s hands sure as she moved them across Hailey’s back.
Riley managed to avoid getting hard over his friends, until he heard a small whimper come from Josh.
That sound had his brain crashing. He had to get out of here before he did something he’d regret.
Everyone was distracted and didn’t notice him climbing out of the hot tub, but he heard a splash of water and footsteps closing in behind him.
He made it all the way to their room before Josh caught up.
“Ri, what’s going on?” Josh said, panting from running after him, both of them dripping everywhere since they hadn’t even bothered to grab a towel. “Are you okay?”
With each heaving breath, Josh’s abs flexed and Riley cursed himself for noticing. He shouldn’t be getting turned on by his best friend. It wasn’t right.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” he said, his voice breaking. “It was getting a little too intense for me. I think I’m gonna crash. Alcohol is starting to hit me hard.”
Josh nodded supportively and brightened. It was the look he got every time he had a fun idea.
“I think it’s a good night for a pillow party!” he shouted.
That was exactly why he couldn’t lose Josh as his best friend. They were practically brothers.
When they were kids, they invented this game to play every time one of them was feeling off.
They’d get in bed and pull the blankets over the headboard, making a little fort.
Then, they’d settle on their pillows and spend the rest of the night brainstorming ways to ruin movie, television show or book titles by replacing the last word with poop.
Yes, it was immature. Yes, it was stupid. But it always got them out of their heads and laughing, making them nostalgic for when they had way less worries as kids.
Once they were dried off and in their pajamas, which were T-shirts and their underwear, they settled on their pillows under their tiny fort and took turns spouting ridiculous titles.
“Monty Python and the Holy Poop,” Riley said.
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Poop,” Josh joked.
“A Midsummer Night’s Poop.”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Poop.”
“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Poops.”
It wasn’t long before sleep chased away all their worries.