14. Will
WILL
I’ve never been happier to walk into the locker room than I am right now.
I need to burn off some of the pent-up energy coursing through me.
I’ve been incredibly horny lately, and I’m sure it’s because I still haven’t hooked up with anyone since Harmony.
Porter was right the other day when we went to the deli for lunch.
I really don’t have a lot of time between school, lacrosse, and trying to spend time with my friends, which admittedly has been mostly him lately.
Nothing seems to help either.
The more I get myself off, the hornier I am. The other day after my lunch with Porter, we had the day off from lacrosse, and I managed to come three times. It’s not an insane amount or anything, but last semester on a normal day I probably would’ve just done it once.
Which is why I’m really hoping we’ll have a tough practice today and that it’ll help calm me down.
Some of the guys are already here changing, and I walk right over to my locker by Nathan. Decker is sitting on the bench in his compression shorts narrating a story to Cam and Bryce that makes them wheeze-laugh.
“Hey, man,” Nathan greets me. “Where were you last night? I wanted to order pizza.”
“Oh, my bad, dude. I decided to study at the coffee shop, so I could eat with Porter on his break.” I feel kind of bad. I’ve been blowing off my roommates maybe a little more than I’ve realized since I’ve been spending so much time with Porter.
“Who’s Porter?” Bryce asks, joining our conversation.
“My friend.”
“That blond in the crop top he danced with at the bar a couple weeks ago,” Cam adds in explanation. I don’t know why, but my stomach does a little flip, and I catch myself smiling softly at the thought of him mentioning Porter so casually.
“She sounds hot,” Riley, another teammate who wasn’t there, pipes up.
“Well, she’s a he, so,” I correct. “And yeah, he’s really cool.”
The locker room is quiet for a moment, and I don’t get why everyone is being so weird about me making a new friend.
“You hooked up with anyone lately? Feels like it’s been a while since we’ve heard any stories from you,” Riley asks randomly.
“Nah, getting a second drink thrown in my face felt like as good of a reason as any to chill out a little,” I explain as justification, even if it didn’t bother me that much.
It’s an easier excuse than saying no one has been holding my attention.
“Well, if everyone is done being jealous of the fact I made a new friend, we should get our asses out there.”
Cam perks up at that. “I’m not jealous, you dick. I can share perfectly fine. Unlike you, Casey, you’re so possessive,” he teases, turning his attention to Decker.
Decker’s mouth falls open. “I am not!”
I roll my eyes and grab my shorts from my locker. “You guys are exhausting.”
Decker turns his attention back to me. “Didn’t you leave with that blond guy that night?”
“Porter, and yes. He was drunk,” I confirm, unashamed. “It was his twenty-first birthday. I wasn’t gonna let him get scooped up by some random dude when he couldn’t even walk in a straight line.”
“Ohhh,” Bryce, another one of our teammates, responds, dragging it out. “So protective.”
“I’m responsible,” I correct.
Riley laughs from across the room. “Since when?”
“Since always,” I feign offense, playing into the ribbing. “You guys just don’t notice because you’re idiots.”
“Nah, we notice, Captain. We just love to give you a hard time,” Decker corrects.
“Right.”
“What Decks said,” a few of our teammates echo.
“Alright, alright, get ready for practice so we don’t show up late and earn extra running,” Ren, one of our senior captains, pipes up.
I finish getting ready then head out to the field to start throwing the ball around with Nathan while we wait for practice to start.
“You good, man?” I ask, realizing that he’s been quieter than usual and didn’t interject in the locker room conversation at all.
We’ve been friends since freshman year, Cam and I lived a few doors down from him, and his roommate wasn’t on the team so we spent most of our time together.
He’s one of my best friends, and I’d like to think I know him pretty well, but lately he’s seemed a little distant. I’m not sure what to do about it.
“Yeah,” he insists firmly, so I drop it.
After we pass the ball back and forth for a few minutes, Coach blows his whistle and practice starts.
It’s a decent distraction for me, but for some reason, Porter is still in the back of my mind.
I just saw him yesterday, and I don’t want to be overbearing, but maybe he’d want to just hang out tonight.
I’m not sure what excuse I could come up with…
or if I’d need one. Maybe I can just ask.
I could see if he wants to get dinner with me and the guys after practice.
Or just me. The last thing I want is for them to tease him the way we’re all used to doing with each other and make him feel like he’s being ganged up on.
I’m not easily intimidated, but even I think I’d feel a bit overwhelmed being around a group of guys who know each other well.
It’d be like throwing him to the wolves, and I’m not about that.
Besides, I think hanging out with him alone would be more fun.
I hope he’s free tonight.
“Carter,” Coach barks. “You wanna wake up?”
“I’m awake,” I respond automatically, but shit, I definitely was not paying attention. I need to stop thinking about Porter. It’s strange how I can’t seem to get him off my mind.
Practice drags, Coach is definitely pushing us, and it’s exhausting me just like I’d hoped.
Instead of letting us leave when we finish our half-field scrimmage like we normally would, he puts us on the line to run sprints.
By the time we’re done, my practice jersey is sticking to me, and my mind is blank with exhaustion as I work to catch my breath.
Fuck, that was exactly what I needed even though it sucked big time.
We head back toward the locker room, and the guys are already yelling about food.
“Wings?” Bryce asks. “I’m starving.”
“Always down,” Decker agrees.
Cam slings an arm around my shoulders. “You coming?”
“Yeah,” I respond automatically. Shit. I’m so exhausted, I forgot I’d wanted to make plans with Porter. I reach into my bag and grab my phone to send him a text. Who knows, maybe he has plans anyway.
Will
Are you busy tonight?
I start taking off my gear, tuning the guys out and waiting for my phone to buzz.
Porter
Depends. Are you inviting me to something and if so, what’s the thing? Then I’ll let you know.
I break out into a laugh at his bluntness, not caring what my teammates might be thinking. If they were in my position they’d be laughing too.
“Oh my god,” Cam says, and I can just tell it’s pointed at me. “Look at you.”
“What?” I snap, but it comes out riddled with amusement.
Decker’s voice carries over Cam’s laughter. “Is that the blond crop top friend?”
“You know his name is Porter.”
“Ooooh,” Bryce says, dragging the sound out like he’s in middle school. “Are you sure he’s just a friend?”
I flip them off. “I’m beginning to think you’re the ones who are interested in him.
Want me to introduce you?” I joke, but I immediately hate the idea and wish I could take the words back.
None of these guys are good enough to date him.
Even though, as far as I know, I don’t think anyone on the team is queer.
Still. Not going to let that happen.
There are a few grumbles in the room, but I’m not paying attention to them as I text back.
Will
I told the guys I’d get wings with them. They’re kind of obsessed with you actually. Won’t stop asking about you. Wanna come?
Porter
A bunch of hot (maybe? Are they hot?) lacrosse players obsessed with me? Sounds too good to be true.
Will
The twist is they’re all assholes.
Will
Jk, I love them, but it’s probably too soon to throw you to the wolves.
Will
Maybe I could come over after and we could hang out?
Porter
So now you’re inviting yourself over after denying me attention from your teammates?
Shit, I did just kind of do that.
Oh well. I can almost picture him smirking at his phone while he typed that.
Besides, I want to see him, and I want that to be known.
Porter
You can come over. We can watch something, is it football season?
Porter
Nvm, I take that back immediately, that’s too far. No football.
I laugh once again. His sense of humor always makes me happier.
Will
Promise I won’t make you watch football. It’s not even on, we can watch a movie.
Porter
See you tonight
Will
I’ll text when I’m heading over.