Chapter Eight #2
That was new. Ryder and I exchanged a glance. He asked, “Is that something you believe? If it is, why the hell are we here? Doing all this? Spending all this money?”
“Doesn’t matter in real life, only the optics. She’s been reaching out to brands for sponsorships, and trad content is so hot right now. Can’t be a trad wife without a trad husband.” He laughed like that wasn’t the most deranged thing he’d ever said in his life.
Ryder sat back with a “Got it,” and took out his phone.
A few moments later, Miles chatted with me about inane bullshit, and I indulged him.
I had heard of “trad” stuff before and knew Bree came from a traditional family, but that content stuff was new.
Miles didn’t talk about Bree all that much to me, not that I asked, but I knew she was a content creator with her eyes on being an influencer.
I just didn’t know what kind of content or influence she wanted to peddle.
I spent little time with that shit. It was a turn-off for reasons I did and didn’t fully understand, but Miles summed it up well.
It’s all fake as fuck. It didn’t sound like it mattered, and Miles definitely didn’t believe in that shit, but so long as the optics were immaculate, then they were good to go. That was fucking gross.
Miles was telling me, again, that he was sure his favorite MMA fighter would go three and zero when Jason and Tyler came trudging out of the pool, dripping all over me.
Jason said, “You guys wanna jump in? It’s actually nice. Pretty warm.”
“Yeah.” Ryder stripped his shirt off, causing me to blush and look away. Before he left, he turned to me and said, “Coming?”
I didn’t hesitate. It felt like we had just been relieved from our Miles babysitting shift. Which I guess we were. I also didn’t want to ask the guys about their phone behavior, only to find out they'd posted a bunch of shit and have Miles freak out again.
Connor was still in the water and swam up to us when we got in. “Yoooooo.” He was pretty buzzed already. “This place is amazing, right?”
“Yeah, it’s cool.” Ryder sounded like he stopped short of saying something else. “How are you still going, man?” He laughed.
“Woke up drunk and cracked a can. You guys want a drink? It’s not really a swim-up bar with stools and shit like on the islands that cruises go to, but they bring it right to you, if you’re a VIP,” Connor said.
Ryder shook his head. “Nah, I’m good.”
But I said, “Yeah, it’s about that time. We gotta pay for the booze anyway, right? Isn’t that how VIP works?”
Something Ryder had said stuck with me. Why were we down there spending all that money? We should at least enjoy ourselves. And after our stint babysitting, the shot had warmed my belly. I could stand a beer.
I was talking to Ryder, but Connor said, “You’re the number one male, shouldn’t you know?”
Ryder’s brow lifted, and his lips creased in a small smirk. “It’s different here. Five hundred dollars for six hours of well drinks and beer. Shots and cocktails are extra.” He searched my face. “You know what? I’ll have one too.”
We waded over to where a server in a bikini was giving out drinks and taking orders.
Ryder and I got beers, and Connor got a rum and Coke.
Just hearing it made my stomach gurgle. Another bikini-clad server handed us pool noodles while we waited.
Our drinks came in bottles with a straw, on these little foam floaty things.
They were fun and prevented my beer from tasting like pool water for a good fifteen minutes.
“So,” Connor said, once we had drifted away from the bar to a part of the pool with fewer people, “You guys get any?”
We used the noodles as makeshift seats, floating around each other in a small circle. The water was up to my nipples, but I still almost choked on my beer and drowned.
Ryder was smoother. “What about you? Making Jason’s life miserable?”
“Nothing yet, so the old man’s safe—”
“He and I are the same age.” Ryder’s brow was a straight line.
“Oh, shit, that’s right!” Connor laughed in that good-natured, drunk way. “You’re an old man too!”
Ryder rolled his eyes and laughed. “I’m four years older than you assholes.”
Connor continued, “But, no, not yet. I have a good feeling about this place. So many ladies keep giving me looks. Guys too. Last night, best night, am I right, boys?” He smiled like an idiot, his eyes bobbing more than we were.
“But for real, you two holding out on me?” I couldn’t tell if he was nodding and smirking or just floating in the water.
“Bet you got up to all kinds of filthy shit in the three-oh-five.”
My head tilted. “The three-oh-five?”
“Miami’s area code,” Ryder said. Then to Connor, “No, man. The places we’ve gone don’t have the kind of people I’m into.”
Connor’s face contorted. “What’re your kind of people?”
“I’m gay, dude.” Ryder’s eyes tensed, then he smiled. “You, like, one hundred percent knew that.”
Connor looked even more confused until his face broke. He laughed and splashed Ryder. “I thought you meant Latinos!”
“No fucker, I meant guys.” Ryder laughed too and splashed him back.
Connor lifted both his arms in a dramatic flourish, splashing me. “So what? This is Miami! Everything’s hotter down here. I’m sure there’s dudes who are down everywhere you go. For sure.”
Ryder looked uncomfortable. I wanted to sink under the water and never come back up.
“Maybe,” Ryder said, “But that’s not my style. Besides, I doubt hooking up with a random guy would’ve been the best look at my little brother’s bachelor party.”
“Who the fuck cares, man? Miles wouldn’t. He’s always been a… whatever you call it when a straight guy is cool with the LGBTQ’s. I am too, just saying.”
“Ally,” I said.
“Yeah, ally. Why would he give a shit?”
Ryder looked at me, then away. “Guess you’re right.”
“That’s it! Let’s gooo!” Connor draped an arm over Ryder’s shoulder and mock-whispered, “You know what? I’ve had more than my fair share of devil’s three ways, and lemme tell you, I don’t hate it.”
“What’s a devil’s three way?” I asked.
Connor shot me a look like I was an idiot. “Two guys, one girl.”
Ryder laughed. “Nice man. Never done anything like that, but that’s cool.” He floated away from him.
“What do you mean you don’t hate it?” I was curious what a guy like Connor could get out of something like that.
He looked at me, then at Ryder. “Now I gotta be clear, I never done any fully bi shit, but there were times I let the other dude, like, put it in her with his hands. Or jerk me off a bit.” His tongue flicked out to lick his lips.
“This one time, it was like a cuck thing, and she told him to suck me clean. Had to pretend to hate it, but I didn’t hate it. ”
I’d never seen Ryder so scandalized. Nor had I ever been more interested in something Connor had said. “Is that a thing? Do guys do that?”
“It’s a thing for me. I’ve heard it called heteroflexible.
And that pretty much describes me. I don’t get grossed out by dudes, but not turned on by them, either.
Hook up with one alone, or do shit to him?
No way, not my thing. But with a fine ass female there, getting off to it?
” He bit his bottom lip and squeezed his eyes shut. “Fuck yeah.”
Ryder looked about ready to take my place at the bottom of the pool. I said, “I think I’m like that too.”
“No shit?!” Connor splashed backward. “For real!? You ever done anything like that? Always thought you were a prude.”
“No, uh… no, I haven’t.” The impact of what I just said hit me in slow motion, and I was afraid I might black out and drown. “Just the way you described it makes sense, is all.”
“No fucking shit.” Connor slapped my back. “Okay. Okay. I see you, bro. The next time I need a third, I’ll keep you in mind.” He must have seen my face and laughed, slapping my back again. “No worries, dude. I’m not gonna tell anyone. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thanks, man. Don’t think it’s a secret, just like…” I was running out of steam and hoping the building next to us would collapse on our heads. I hadn’t looked at Ryder and refused to.
“No, I get it. You’re not grossed out by dudes but not into them. Right there with you, man. Seriously. And if you meet a lady, or I do, and she’s down, and you’re down, or shit, you too, Ry, let me know. For real. Last night, best night.”
“Uh-huh,” I said, ready to meet my maker.
Ryder saved me. “Count me out. Not my thing, but thanks for thinking of me.”
“No worries at all.” His arms spread wide. “We all got our quirks. Shit, I like my balls stepped on…” Connor’s face fell as a moment of sobriety broke through. “Appreciate it if you keep this between us. Miles already gives me enough shit.”
“Our lips are sealed,” Ryder said with wide eyes and a growing smirk.
“Thanks, man,” Connor said, as whatever bit of his rational brain took back more control. “Gonna take a piss and check on the groom. Need anything?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks,” Ryder said.
Once Connor swam away, Ryder turned to me, his brow so high it was at his hairline, eyes wide, and lips pursed into a whistle. “Holy fucking shit. What the fuck was that?”
“I… I have…” I said before being overtaken by giggles. “Hooooly shit.” My giggles turned into hysterics.
Ryder laughed with me. “I think we just witnessed the innermost part of Connor’s mind, then watched it implode,” Ryder said, a deep belly laugh building. “I one hundred percent thought he was hitting on me at first, and yeah, he’s hot as fuck, but noooo thank you.”
I laughed so hard my beer got waterlogged. “Jesus Christ. He’s always been wild, but goddamn.”
“I should warn Jason about it being the last night, best night.”
“Maybe tell him to get another room.”
The laughter died down, and we stared at each other, bobbing up and down in the water. With Connor’s absurdity fading, what I had said hung between us.
“I… uh…” I started and stopped. “About what I said…”
Ryder smiled at me like everything in the world would be okay. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, or anyone, Finn. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll listen. If you’re never ready, that’s cool, too. You don’t owe me, or anyone else, anything, and never will.”
My chest felt warm, and my stomach was tight. “Thanks, Ry.”