33. Camden #2
“Don’t worry. We didn’t start without you. Well, the movie anyway,” Orion said.
“We ordered Chinese, but got hungry and ate already. There’s some for y’all, warmin’ in the oven.”
“Thanks, Colton,” I said, messing up his hair as we walked past.
“We also got some pints of ice cream for dessert,” Alex added.
We settled on Jurassic Park. Orion had never seen it. His defense of not being alive when it came out was enough for us to stop our harassment.
It was cute to watch him jump, especially during the kitchen scene with the raptors.
“It’s unfair. You have each other to cuddle with,” he said, pointing to me and Luke.
“You can come over here, cutie.”
“I don’t think Austin would like that, Colton. Or you calling me ‘cutie’.”
“What? You’re tied down already.”
“Look who’s talking. What about Zephyrus?”
Colton mock-gasped in offense. “Friends can cuddle too, Cam. You of all people should know that.”
“What’s that mean?” Luke asked.
I sighed, knowing Colton would probably put it indelicately, and explained. “Colton and I used to snuggle. Platonically,” I added, feeling Luke tense up next to me. “It wasn’t sexual-”
“Speak for yourself, stud.”
“Not helping, Colton,” I murmured. “For me, it wasn’t. Sometimes it was just nice to be touching someone.”
“It’s fine.”
“Totally what someone says when they’re actually fine,” I teased him.
“I mean, obviously, I don’t like the idea of him touching you, but I didn’t have a claim on you then, and if you wanted to cuddle now, I’m not gonna be an asshole about it.”
“Really?” I asked.
“I trust you. If anyone needs a cuddle, have at it.”
Colton didn’t waste any time. He slid over and filled my other side with his fluffy hair and muscular frame.
“Well, I guess Austin isn’t here. And we’re not official official, so as long as you guys don’t tell him about this,” Orion said, before walking over to Luke’s other side. He mirrored Colton’s position.
All of us couldn’t help but glance over at Alex, as Dr. Satler and Muldoon crossed through the compound to reset the power.
He must’ve felt our eyes on him.
“I’ll admit, you guys look cozy. And I’m comfortable enough to accept physical affection from a guy and not freak out. Move over, Colton. It’s not like cuddling can make someone gay, anyway.”
“That’s what did it for me,” Colton deadpanned.
“Have you had the team water?” I asked. “Because cuddling might activate the ingredients within the water. It happened in Brisbane.”
“Grant isn’t gay though, so I’m like him. The token straight.”
“And Ty’s technically bi, so not all of that team was gay,” Luke said.
Colton wrapped one of his long arms around Alex’s neck and pulled him closer. Alex was a few inches shorter than Colton, the team giant, so he fit next to him in a very little spoon-like manner.
A few minutes later, just before Dr. Satler was about to find Samuel L. Jackson’s appendage, I heard Alex give a loud sigh.
“This is kind of nice, actually.”
Colton laughed. “You’re like a hog in mud, aren’t ya?”
“I know that means I’m happy, which is true, but should I be offended you called me a hog?”
“Probably not, since I called myself mud.”
“True.”
“Ahhh!” Orion screamed. I felt the couch jolt. I turned to see Orion clinging tightly to Luke’s right side, his face buried under Luke’s armpit.
Luke leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Good thing I remembered deodorant today.”
“I heard that,” Orion said into the slightly hairy cavern in which his face was still firmly planted.
We had said our goodnights to each other after the movie ended. The pints of ice cream had all been eaten. I felt stuffed and happy, and Luke was getting ready for bed in the next room.
The Olympics were always a chaotic affair. Every minute of every day was planned. I hadn’t really enjoyed the post-competition days in Brisbane. We didn’t even think about the gala last time because Luke’s parents had dragged him out of the village.
It was no surprise that it was more enjoyable with them absent.
I was somewhere exotic, hanging out with my boyfriend and my teammates.
It was the quieter moments when I could sit back and appreciate it all.
Being an Olympian, I didn’t have many of those.
Coming out with an impromptu public display of affection made it slightly worse, but that was my decision.
Luke came back in from the bathroom. Naked.
“Worth it.”
“What did you say?”
I deflected. “Nothing.” Then I tried to make my way around him to brush my teeth.
Luke grabbed my waist and pulled me close to him, his other hand slipping through my waistband to cup my buttcheek. He squeezed, then asked, “What did you say?”
I kept my mouth shut, but felt my resolve slip away the moment his tongue met my ear.
I shivered, feeling my sweatshorts start to tent, then relented. “I said you’re worth it.”
“Oh.”
For a second, I thought he’d give me snark.
“Well, that’s nice of you. I think you’re pretty amazing, Camden.”
Camden?
“Am I in trouble? You used my full name.”
“I was being serious. I want you to know I mean it.”
“I know.” I leaned in to give him a kiss.
“I’ll be waiting in bed. Cum or cuddle. Up to you.”
“Are those the only two options?” I teased. “Sounds like a sexy party game.”
Luke raised his eyebrows. “Maybe we’ll have to break it out the first time we have people over.”
My face must’ve shown my confusion.
“At our place, handsome. The cottage.”
Fuck, that sounds good.
“Our place. I like that.”