Mark-Me by Shawn Bailey

Author:Shawn Bailey [SBS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Eli walked around in a daze the next week, avoiding his parents and trying to practice for the recital. Swimming practice had ended, which left him free time to spend with Dimitri. They’d sneak up to Dimitri’s apartment for a quickie during lunch. Greer and Jose would look at him with humor as he stumbled downstairs to leave with swollen lips and with Dimitri practically clinging to him. Dimitri would give him one quick kiss, slap him on his bottom and send him away.

Justin called and invited him to an impromptu barbecue over at his parents’ home. Eli didn’t want to accept because he still had so much to do, but he hadn’t seen his friends in a while. He drove over even though Justin lived down the street.

The entire gang was there, including Trey, who he really didn’t want to see. Holly had cut her hair. It looked pretty. And Henry had shed his dreadlocks for twists.

“Where you been?” Henry asked as they tossed a football in the backyard.

“Busy,” Eli replied.

“When are you moving into your apartment?”

“In a couple of days,” Eli lied, catching the football and tossing it back to Henry. He’d moved in yesterday but didn’t want to tell him.

“Do you need any help?”

“No, I’m cool. The furniture has arrived and I’ve moved most of the heavy stuff already.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Eli said. He hadn’t told them where his apartment was located. He’d planned to. Now he didn’t think it was such a good idea since Dimitri had promised to come over for sleepovers when he could.

Trey and Justin joined them and before long they were all hot and sweaty from the game. Eli removed his shirt to cool off.

“Ooh, what is that?” Henry asked, pointing to Eli’s chest. “It looks like a passion mark.”

That got Trey and Justin’s attention. They walked their nosey butts over to examine him.

“No wonder we haven’t seen him in awhile,” Trey said. “He’s been humping some chick.”

Holly walked over with a can of soda. “What are you three staring at?”

Eli tried to get his shirt on.

“Eli’s sporting a big purple passion mark,” Trey told her.

“What? Where?” Holly asked.

“On his chest,” Justin said.

“You guys are ridiculous,” Eli said, pulling his shirt down. “It’s nothing.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Holly asked.

“No,” Eli said. He’d just blown any chance to be with Holly now.

“A boyfriend?” Trey teased.

Eli glared at him but didn’t answer.

Mr. Marshall called them over for burgers, ending the conversation.

Trey smirked at him.

Eli just rolled his eyes and followed his other friends over to the picnic table. His cell phone rang about two hours later after they had eaten and were lounging around the pool. It was Dimitri. “Hello?”

“Hello, gorgeous. What are you doing?”

“I’m visiting a friend,” Eli replied. “His parents invited me over to a barbecue.”

“His?” Dimitri asked.

“My friend Justin.”

“Oh, the one with the skull and crossbones tattoo.”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to be there long?”

“No,” Eli said, realizing that his friends were eavesdropping on his conversation.

“Is the bed set up at your new place?”

“Yes.

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