Pants Optional by Sam LaRose

Author:Sam LaRose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBT, Gay Fiction, Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Publisher: Ink Stained Fingers Press
Published: 2020-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

“That didn’t last very long,” Dylan’s voice filled the newspaper office.

Another week had nearly passed. Jack felt off. He’d spent Sunday with Kyle. Markus had to work. It been strange to be one-on-one with Kyle, but they’d sat on the couch and watched a movie. They hadn’t held hands, they hadn’t kissed. Kyle had been perfectly friendly.

“The newspaper office is closed to non-staff,” Jack monotoned. “Unless you’re submitting something for the next issue, you’ll have to leave.”

Dylan shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweater. “Really?”

“Really. I’m on a deadline,” Jack replied. As usual, he was alone in the after-school hours. “Besides, don’t you have a class to teach?”

“It’s snowing pretty badly outside so I cancelled it.”

Jack looked up, out the window. Snow was drifting down in thick heavy sheets. He’d been so wrapped up in work, he hadn’t paid any attention to the weather. He was not prepared for another dumping of the white stuff.

“Thanks for telling me.” His computer mouse clicked several times. His computer screen turned black. He pushed back his chair. “I better get home.”

“If you’d like, I can give you a ride,” Dylan offered. “We could talk?”

“Dylan,” he started, pulling on his jacket, “I don’t want to talk to you about anything. Not about being friends. Not about Heath or Tyler. I don’t. I can’t.”

“Is this still about the portrait?”

“No.” He hefted his backpack onto his shoulders. “Could you move please? I need to lock up behind us.”

“If you don’t want to talk to me, that’s fine. Can you at least listen to me for a minute?” He asked.

“You have until I reach the front doors.” Jack jiggled the handle to check the lock on the door. He started walking and Dylan followed at an almost jog to keep up.

“Heath is pretty messed up. More than I expected him to be. He really cares about you.” Jack didn’t answer, except to increase his pace. “You should call him. Give him another shot.”

“What?” Jack swung around. “You don’t even know what happened.”

“No, I don’t,” Dylan admitted. “Care to enlighten me?”

“He wants to be my boyfriend. He wants a relationship. Where we go on actual dates in public and do more than sleep together. I don’t. And I’m not cruel enough to string him along while he waits for me.”

“That’s a twist. Isn’t that what you wanted from me?”

Jack scoffed. “This is nothing like our situation. Yes, I wanted a relationship with you. But we did date. We never got to the sex part because of your hang ups. One in particular, named Tyler Norse. I’m glad that’s all working out for you, by the way.”

“I admit that I’m a shit person. Everyone knows it. You’re the only one who continues to be surprised about it.”

“I get so sick of you ripping on yourself,” Jack snapped. “I’m not going to stand around plying you with compliments to make you feel better.”

His phone pinged and he turned away to pull it out of his pocket. Saved by the bell, it seemed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.