Chapter 28 - Spencer
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SPENCER
As the summer comes to an end, Shane and Toby finally move back to Crescent Bay to get situated in their new apartment before the semester starts.
Earlier this week, Jake and I brought over the boxes of belongings they were storing in our attic, and we had a quick catch-up. Man, I’ve missed those guys.
Now it’s Friday night, and they’re already hosting a housewarming party in a fully decorated home. It’s impressive, but not unexpected.
“This looks and smells absolutely amazing, thanks for having us over,” Tate says to Shane before giving Toby an air kiss and a wink.
The rich and savory scents of pan-seared strip steak and rosemary-garlic potatoes fill the air. My stomach grumbles and my mouth waters as Shane sets the giant serving platters in the middle of the table.
We each devoured a wedge salad with blue cheese dressing and bacon crumbles, but you’d think I hadn’t eaten all day with the way my stomach just reacted to the sights and smells of Shane’s cooking.
“Yeah, man. I’ve missed your food,” Jake concurs. “This is fuckin’ nice.”
“Thanks,” Shane mumbles, always uncomfortable with compliments. “This was one of our most popular dishes in New York. I could make it with my eyes closed.”
“Babe. You’re too humble,” Toby says, smiling up at Shane while he serves slices of steak to everyone.
“Shane won two awards while we were in New York and has a long-standing job offer to return after graduation. Shane’s boss and I kept trying to convince him to audition for one of those cooking competition shows he’s always watching.
There were plenty of opportunities right in the city. ”
“That would have been television gold,” Tate agrees. “Can you imagine Shane with Gordon Ramsay?” he adds, laughing loudly.
Shane gives Tate the side-eye. “Not funny.”
Everyone chuckles, passing the potatoes and asparagus around until our plates are full.
I hold my glass of wine up, proposing a toast before we eat. “Let’s toast to the whole gang being back together again after a summer apart. Welcome back, Shane and Toby!”
“Welcome back!” everyone echoes, digging into the delicious food.
“Mmm. This is scrumptious,” Tate mumbles while chewing a mouthful of steak and potatoes.
“Mhm,” Jake agrees, chomping down an asparagus spear in less than three seconds like a goddamn jackrabbit.
“The inside of the potatoes seriously melts in your mouth,” Daija adds.
Shane is an incredibly talented chef, and he’s become even better after a summer in New York City.
“Glad to have you back, and not solely because you feed us,” I laugh, cutting into another bite of tender steak.
Toward the end of dinner, Tate double-taps my foot with his. It’s the signal that he’s going to make the announcement. He’s going to tell our friends that we’re boyfriends.
After we became official, we decided to keep it to ourselves until we were all together again.
“Hey, so, I’ve got something to tell you guys,” he says loudly.
The table quiets, and all eyes turn to Tate, who looks at me for reassurance.
I place a comforting arm around his shoulders, rubbing his bicep in a soothing motion.
I scan our friends’ faces and watch as their eyes clock the intimate action, some of them putting two and two together on their own. While some of them are not.
Daija squeals before either of us even says a word. “I knew it! I freaking knew it!”
“What? What’d I miss?” Jake asks like a moron, and I shake my head at him.
“You’re . . .” Toby trails off with a hopeful look in his doe eyes.
“Boyfriends,” Tate and I say at the exact same time, making us chuckle.
“Jinx,” he mutters under his breath.
“Oh my gosh!” Toby gasps, glancing between the two of us gleefully. “I have so many questions!”
I know Tate kept him in the dark about our arrangement, as well as a lot of the drama that went down this summer, as I did with Shane. Neither of us wanted to distract our friends from their well-earned opportunities and experiences.
“I’m so excited! I mean, I definitely had my suspicions a few times before we left, but I’m so happy this is happening!” Toby gushes with a giant smile and deep dimples.
Shane stares at me from across the table like a threatening older brother. “When did this happen?” he asks, a thousand other questions layered beneath.
I glance to the side, and Tate is fully engulfed in conversation with Toby and Daija, while Jake continues to scarf down his food until nothing’s left.
“All summer,” I tell Shane truthfully.
We’ve never been the type of friends to discuss our dating or sex lives with each other, and besides, he’s been in New York for the past three months.
Neither of us breaks eye contact, while the table continues to chatter around us.
Shane finally blinks, giving me an approving nod. “Just don’t hurt him,” he grumbles.
“I would never,” I vow solemnly.
I’m not offended. Shane doesn’t know what we’ve been through this summer or what Tate’s past is like. He’s protective of his friends, and we’re all lucky to have him.
“About damn time, if you ask me,” Jake adds, pushing his plate away and rubbing his belly. “I always thought your bro arrangement would lead to something more serious. You’d have to be an idiot to think otherwise.”
The table goes silent as Jake’s words settle in.
“What? What’d I say?” he asks, completely bewildered.
“You just outed other people’s business, honey,” Daija whispers quietly, but we all hear.
“I thought we all knew!” he shouts in his defense.
“A bro arrangement?” Toby asks with a scrunched brow. “What does that mean?”
Tate lets out a long, resigned sigh. “Listen, baby boy,” he coos reassuringly.
“I didn’t want to bother or distract you from your internship.
Violin is too important to you, and you’re too important to me, so I didn’t tell you.
Spence and I had a friends-with-benefits sort of arrangement this summer, but now we’re official. ”
That’s a pretty mild way of recapping the summer, and he may have left out some key events, but it does the job. And it’s truthful.
Toby shakes his golden-brown curls. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a downer after you shared your special news. I get why you didn’t tell us. It’s okay, Tate. Really. I’m happy for you guys. Like a lot.”
Shane wraps a protective arm around his boyfriend. “Same goes for me. Just treat each other right.”
“Of course,” I say, squeezing Tate’s thigh under the table.
“Well, now that that’s all out in the open,” Jake says obnoxiously. “What’s for dessert?”
Tate scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Such a jackass.”
“Hey. You know you’re thinking about it too.”
“I’m actually too stuffed to eat another bite. Unlike you, I am not a human garbage disposal,” Tate retorts before turning his attention to Shane. “Dinner was delicious, by the way. Thank you so much, Shane. I think Spence and I are gonna head home now.”
Sultry blue eyes flash to me, and I’m immediately ready to get out of here, too. And so is my dick.
“I actually did make dessert if you want to take some with you,” Shane offers.
“Yesss! Wishes do come true!” Jake shouts, making Daija giggle.
“That would be perfect. I’m stuffed right now, so I’ll enjoy it even more when I’m hungry for a snack,” Tate says, cradling his full stomach.
Shane disappears into the kitchen and comes back with two to-go containers that he hands to me.
“Thanks, man,” I say with a smile. “Glad you guys are home.”
“It’s been real,” Shane says, slapping me on the back.
“It was nice catching up,” Toby adds. “I hate that I missed so much.”
Daija wraps him in a mama-bear hug. “You’re back, and you rocked New York, babe. That’s all that matters.”
Tate joins in on the group hug. “She’s right. We are so proud of you, and really, what did you need to hear about how many times a week Spencer was plowing me, or how big his c—”
“Okay! That’s enough!” I interrupt, cutting him off and making him cackle with laughter.
“If you really want the details, call me later, babe,” Tate whisper-shouts with a wink. “I’ll catch you up.”
With that, everyone’s laughing except Shane and me.
“Goodnight, Tate,” Shane grumbles, completely deadpan.
I think he’s ready for us to go.
“Nighty night, everybody,” Tate says with a flutter of his fingers.
“We’ll see you guys later,” I add, holding the dessert with one hand while wrapping my other arm around Tate’s shoulders and steering him toward the front door. “Are you tipsy from the wine or something?” I murmur under my breath as we slip our shoes on. “Little troublemaker.”
“Oh, shush,” he says, slapping my arm playfully. “Just a smidge.”
I kiss his temple, lingering for a moment too long and inhaling his addictive scent. “Good thing I’m driving.”
“Babe. I want you,” Tate pants, leaning into me and exposing his neck.
Heavy footsteps thump down the hallway, and I step away on instinct, even though we just told everyone we’re together.
“Thanks again for cooking, man,” I say as I open the front door.
Shane just nods. “Bet. See you two later.”
We head to the Jeep, where I help Tate get in before climbing into the driver’s side.
“When I said I was too full for dessert, that was only half true,” Tate confesses with a giggle from the passenger seat. “I just wanted you all to myself.”
Heat pulses in my groin. I felt the same. “Oh yeah? What did you have in mind?”
“You. Me. The beach. Blow jobs. And whatever culinary masterpiece is in that container,” Tate says with a mischievous smirk and suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.
I grip the steering wheel tightly as my cock thickens in my pants. “I’m in.”
After messy blow jobs in the front seat of the Jeep, we walk to the beach to eat our desserts by the sea.
I lay out one of the oversized beach blankets, keeping the other one folded and dropping it on top.
We sit down side by side, and I turn on my phone’s flashlight for some light during an otherwise cloudy, dark night.