I’m going to pretend to be sick.
Or maybe I’ll just actually be sick because I think I might faint.
Coach Mackenzie is going to kill Desmond and then he’s going to fire him and it’s going to be my fault because I let him buy me Subway.
Nate
Oops, forgot who I was talking to for a second.
You don’t have to succumb to the vapors, Micky Mouse, you’re allowed to eat a damn sandwich with the coaching staff.
Even if it was a date, that’s not illegal it’s just frowned upon, and yes, Big Mack would call out a hit on him. But it’s not a date so you’re fine. Go play frisbee and enjoy some free food.
Jack
Big Mack?
Nate
Isn’t that great? My friend Luke called Coach Mackenzie that the other day and I died. Hilarious.
Jack
Luke??
Nate
Marcos and Max are besties and Max is practically married to Luke.
Jack
Oh, right. So you think it’s fine that I hang out with Desmond?
Nate
I don’t see why not, unless you’re planning on fornicating in the park.
Jack
Why would you say that to me when you know I’m going to be picturing that now? It’s like you WANT me to act embarrassing.
“You right, Jacko?” Desmond asks, tossing a smile at me over his shoulder. He lookssogood out here in the open, like the sun is specifically choosing to bless him.
“I’m good. Yeah. Fine,” I stutter, face likely turning a dozen shades of red. The more I try not to think of park fornicating, the easier it is to picture what Desmond might look like naked. I don’t even want to fornicate with him. I just want to, well…look.
He’s wearing shorts and I can see his calves, sculpted and lean just the way I imagine the rest of him is. Not heavily muscled, and probably not very hairy judging by his legs and arms. I bet he’s got layers and layers of tan lines. I bet it would be fun to search them out. Clearing my throat roughly, I tear my eyes away from Desmond’s calves. I blame Nate for this, that motherfucker.
“Hey, there’s a table open,” Parker says, pointing toward the other end of the park. “I’ll go save it.”
“Carefully,” Desmond instructs, and sighs when Parker goes sprinting off across the grass. “Or, just run as fast as you can.”
I laugh, carefully moving up to walk beside him and making sure to leave enough room between us that we won’t accidentally brush. Desmond tosses the frisbee Parker abandoned into the air and catches it, other hand holding the bag with their food in it. Instead of staring at him, I watch Parker.He’s reached the table and is perched on top like he’s staking his claim.
“I can pay you for the food,” I tell him.
“Nah, Bluey, we’re good. We’re the ones who hijacked your afternoon, the least I can do is make sure you eat.”
“Well…thank you. And you didn’t hijack anything. I was going to go home and read.”
