Chapter 5 Cole
COLE
“Fucking hell, Oak. Do you ever put your shoes away?” I yell, hopping on my foot, wincing as I stare at the black Converse shoes that are currently my new enemy.
I swear, I love Oak to death, but fuck! The guy is a mess.
Shoes here, clothes there, it’s a never-ending pigsty.
If he had his way, our entire apartment would be a mess.
There are some nights when I swear he comes into my bed at night because it’s cleaner than his.
Though I can’t prove it, I guarantee that’s the reason.
It’s been so long since I saw the man put his sheets in the washer that I can barely remember it.
The idea of what might be on his bed makes me shudder.
Good thing my bed is bigger, and we always seem to find our way there.
“What?” Oak comes barreling down the hallway naked as the day he was born. “Where’s the fire?” His head swivels left and right, his cheeks bright red, a sheen of sweat shining on his hair-covered chest.
“Fire? There’s no fire. I was yelling because, once again, I tripped over your shoes at the front door.” I gesture toward the doorway, pursing my lips.
Oak rolls his eyes, then looks over at the shoes.
Most people would probably tell their roommate to hurry and put clothes on, but if you know Oak, you would know this is him all the time.
Most times, he just goes commando, but sometimes he’ll walk around naked.
Usually not when he knows I’m going to be home.
He tries to make sure when he’s strutting around naked that he’s all alone, which means. ..
“Oh my god, you were jerking off, weren’t you?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. I know Oak’s ‘I almost orgasmed’ face just as much as I’ve seen his ‘I just orgasmed’ face. His cheeks always get flushed, making his green eyes pop out more.
Oak smirks, his eyes darting to the side as his finger flicks his nipple. “Maybe. You’re the one who said you would be gone until noon. It’s only eleven. You’re lucky I even came out here. I thought you were in trouble.”
“You’re about to be in trouble,” I mutter, tossing each item I’m holding onto the ground. I interlock my fingers, turning them inside out and cracking the knuckles.
“Cole Simon Turner, don’t you dare,” Oak tells me, taking a step back.
“Oakley Michael Albury,” I taunt, tossing his full name back at him. I take a step forward as he takes another step back, each of us doing a sidestep, trying to figure out where the other is going to move next. He already knows what’s going to happen; he just needs to realize he’s already lost.
As soon as his left foot takes one more step, I rush forward, shrieking as he takes off down the hallway, his perky ass jiggling as he runs.
He jets into his bedroom, trying to slam the door in my face.
But I’m quicker, reaching out to shove the door back open as he backs away, his eyes darting around the room wildly, trying to find an escape.
“You can't escape these,” I smile, showing him my magic fingers as though I’m the choreographer from Bring It On.
Oak places his hands on his hips, rolling his eyes. “You’d have to catch me first, but I think you’re too slow.”
I eye him up and down, pausing briefly to snicker at the fact that he’s still completely naked before I pounce.
Rushing toward him, I jump up onto his chest, his arms easily catching me as we topple down onto his mattress.
Once we’ve caught our balance, I attack.
My hands first find his armpits, tickling him like crazy while he howls and jerks his body left and right.
After giving his armpits some attention, I drag one hand to his stomach and start tickling him there.
His body flails as he hollers, kicking his legs and wiggling his arms all around.
“Uncle, uncle!” Oak yells, giving up way too quickly.
My body sags as I fall on top of him. “Damn, I think that had to have been the quickest you’ve ever given up.”
Oak chuckles, his arms falling down to his sides. “My dick started getting hard from all the movement, and I didn’t want you to be shocked if it touched you.”
“Oh god,” I laugh loudly, rolling off his body and staring at the ceiling. “You act like I haven’t accidentally touched your dick before.”
“I know. But all the moving around is making me hard,” he laughs, sitting up on his bed. “Let me get dressed, and then you can kick my ass about my shoes.”
Standing up, I shake my head, knowing his shoes will still be in the same place tomorrow. “Don’t bother worrying about your shoes. It’s not like you’re going to listen anyway.”
“Yeah, huh? I always listen to everything you say. When you yell at me to put the toilet seat down, or when you tell me to replace the toilet paper and not leave the cardboard roll on the thingy, or when you get mad and tell me I need to drink more water. I’m always listening.”
Realizing I’m still lying on his nasty sheets, I jump up quickly, following him. “Listening and following through are two completely different things. Sometimes it’s like talking to a brick wall.” Oak sticks out his tongue as he bounces on one leg, putting on his briefs. “Or a four-year-old.”
“You love me.”
“I do. Still annoyed as hell at the shoes though.”
“As long as you still love me,” Oak tells me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and placing a kiss on the top of my head. “But for you, I’ll go pick up my shoes. Don’t get used to it, though.”
“Ugh,” I moan, throwing myself onto the stool in the dressing room. “Why does makeup look like shit on my face?”
“Oh, hush,” Bash scolds, standing up and tapping my knee playfully. “Come here and let me see what I can do.”
I slowly get up, following him. “You don’t have to help me. I’m sure I can figure it out.”
“Don’t even start, Cole. I love doing makeup. Hell, I’ve thought about going to cosmetology school, so consider this a small way to help me work toward that goal.”
Out of all the guys here at Peaches, I’m the closest to Bash for sure.
He’s the one person here with whom I can be myself completely.
I never feel as though I have to act a certain way or watch what I say.
I think it’s because Bash is so much himself that it rubs off on me.
And the fact that he cares for everyone around him.
He’s always making sure that people are having fun, and when someone seems to be in their head or upset, he’s right next to them, cheering them up and putting a smile on their face.
“Okay, let’s try this brownish-pink eyeshadow and see how that works against your eyes.
Oh! We’ll definitely add a highlighter to your cheeks, too.
Your cheekbones are fucking spectacular, and you need to show those off more.
” His hands move all around the table, picking up different containers of makeup.
I have no idea what he’s grabbing, but I trust him to know what he’s doing.
“Highlighter?” I ask, bewildered. It’s as though he’s speaking an unfamiliar language to me. “I know what eyeshadow is, but I’ve never heard of a highlighter.”
“It’s like contouring, kind of. But it goes on your cheeks and will make them all pretty and shiny, and it’ll make the sweat look sexy instead of well, sweaty.
” He gestures to his face, then mine which has a sheen of sweat.
“Just trust me, Cole. I know what I’m doing.
” Bash hums along as his body sways to the beat of the music playing in the room.
It’s just the two of us in here, so I let him have his way, and I wait patiently to see what he comes up with.
“Have you ever thought about plucking your eyebrows? Not to shape them, just make them neater.”
I open one eye, raising my eyebrow. “No. And don’t get any ideas.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll leave them alone.” It’s a few more minutes of Bash humming while his gentle fingers trace over my face, putting way more makeup on my face than I’m used to. “Can I ask you a question? And you can completely tell me to shut up if you want,” he finally says, breaking the silence.
“You can ask me anything,” I answer honestly. I’m not really the type of person to hide things. If there’s something he wants to know, I’ll more than likely answer him.
“I know you’ve said you and Oak aren’t dating, but have you ever gotten together?”
“What?” I sputter, staring at Bash in the mirror. “No, why?”
“I don’t know. You both just seem to be very close. Just wondered if you had ever gotten together or anything.”
“Nope,” I tell him, sweat prickling the back of my neck. “Not once. He’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember.”
“He’s hot as fuck.”
We both laugh, Bash changing the subject as Tristan walks into the room.
Tristan and Bash talk about some goat yoga class they’re taking in the morning, and I close my eyes, taking a deep breath.
I’ll never understand people’s obsession with my friendship with Oak.
It doesn’t matter where we go or who we’re around; everyone either seems to think we’re together or they’re shocked when we say we’re just best friends.
Sometimes I feel as though I upset them when I say we’re not dating, which is crazy as hell, right? But it is what it is.
“Earth to Cole?” Tristan’s hand appears in front of my face before he leans forward, his face getting way too close. “Your makeup looks fucking amazing. Gah, I love when Bash does my makeup. No one is as good as he is. But anyway, I’m getting off topic. Do you want to come with us tomorrow?”
“For goat yoga?”
“Hell yeah, goat yoga. It’s amazing and relaxing and a little bit disgusting, but that’s okay because we’ll be doing it together.”
I’m nodding my head before the words leave my mouth. “Okay, let’s do it. I’ll try something new at least once.”
“Hell yeah, that’s my boy.”
“Who’s your boy?” Declan asks, walking into the room with Caleb behind him.
Fuck, I love seeing Declan in his corsets.
He’s the only one at Peaches who wears them, and holy shit, there’s a reason no one else ever tries to copy him.
Between that and the bright blue hair he’s always sporting, he’s truly one of a kind.
“Cole,” Tristan says, smiling at both of them. “I convinced Cole to try goat yoga with me tomorrow.”
“Ew.” Declan wrinkles his nose, looking over at Caleb. “That sounds like something you would do.”
“What about me screams ‘goat yoga’?” Caleb questions, his hand coming up to rub his forehead. I get it; if I were constantly around Declan’s antics, I might be getting headaches, too.
“Holy shit, Cole, you’re gorgeous,” Declan gushes when he looks straight at me.
Caleb whips around quickly, his eyes darting between Declan and me before adding, “The makeup is a pleasant touch. You look good, Cole.”
“Thanks,” I preen, smiling at them both. “Let’s hope it’ll earn me some more tips tonight.”
“I was coming in to give everyone the new schedule for next week,” Caleb drops the schedule, escaping the room as quickly as he appeared.
Bash’s eyes follow Caleb as he leaves the room. “Why does it seem like we are always chasing him out?”
“He just doesn’t know how to handle being in a room with this many sexy men. Especially when I’m in the room. I make all the men weak in the knees.”
“Not me.”
“Or me.”
“Me, either.”
Bash, Tristian, and I all echo.
Declan rolls his eyes, sticking his tongue out. “Rude.”