Straight Boy Summer by Jace Hadley

Author:Jace Hadley [Hadley, Jace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-06T18:30:00+00:00

14

EDDIE

I tell myself sex with Hatch will only happen once. That’s how I trick myself into anything. Just once. You’ll only make the bad decision once. Then you gotta go back to being safe, responsible. Of course it doesn’t work out that way.

It becomes a thing. We hang out, we fuck, we have spectacular orgasms—that part, I’m not complaining about. I pretend it’s nothing more, and Hatch pretends…well, I dunno what he tells himself. Tough to say you’re straight when you regularly stick your dick in another man, but that’s not a problem for some people.

I don’t think he’s that type of guy, but I’m too much of a coward to ask.

The sex is amazing, but I can tell something else is eating at him. His hang-dog look from the first day is temporarily dispelled—sex gives him a sweet, dopey expression and a smile. The trouble comes between orgasms, when real life rushes back in. Hatch’s emotions are written on his face. And I’m worried in spite of myself.

What would I even do about it? I’m not even equipped to offer support and advice to the friends I already have. This thing between us is nebulous—I’ve never suggested a fuckbuddy stay the night or hang out and shoot the shit—but it’s in no way what a well-adjusted human would call a relationship.

But when I catch sight of that uncharacteristic curl of a frown on his lips sometimes, I remember what he said with a stab of guilt.

You’re the only person I’ve talked to in a meaningful way.

If my own conscience isn’t bad enough, Andrea’s judgmental face whenever I bring Hatch up in conversation is unrivalled. She doesn’t have to say anything—the face speaks for itself.

Jay, on the other hand, is convinced we’re weeks away from eloping.

“How’s he fitting in with the club?” he asks one afternoon.

A handful of us are arranged across the Pride clubhouse—a tiny deprecated classroom we just barely snatched for ourselves before someone claimed it as an office. Jay and I are pretending to fill out grant application forms and gossiping while Hatch and Sean actually do work.

I play dumb. “Who?”

Jay rolls his eyes and jerks his chin at Hatch, where he’s huddled with Sean at the far end of the room. They’re thick as thieves since Sean roped Hatch into helping organize Gay Prom for the camp. I tell myself I don’t need to be involved—I’ve got a lot of paperwork this time of year. It’s good for me to catch up on it instead of being so hands-on with the activities. I can’t help missing it, though.

“Your boy,” Jay clarifies.

“First of all, he’s not my boy. Second of all, he volunteers once a week for the camp—he’s not looking to get voted onto the Committee. He’s fitting in just fine for a temp.”

“He seems to really like it,” Jay points out. “Maybe he’ll be interested in joining up more permanently.”

I tap my pen rapidly on the clipboard. “He’s a student. Pretty soon he’ll graduate and get on with his life.

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.