Preston lived on the top floor of a big, blue house, complete with balcony, and Ethan liked to imagine he’d charmed his way into such a find.
He texted that he was downstairs, and his heart stopped when Preston opened the door. He looked so freaking cute in his button-down shirt tucked into jeans. So clean-cut. Ethan couldn’t wait to enter the party with him.
“You look good. I like the T-shirt,” Preston said, and the moon twinkled in his eyes. Ethan could’ve died right then and there.
“Thanks.” Luckily, the night hid some of Ethan’s blushing. “Am I underdressed?”
“Not at all. I’m probably overdressed.”
Ethan shook his head no. Now was the time to say how amazing Preston looked, but the words wouldn’t budge. It was like being stuffed up, yet unable to blow your nose.
Preston shut the door behind him. “Let’s go. The party should be in full swing by the time we get there.”
Φ
It still amazed Ethan that college life didn’t get started until at least ten-thirty. Even club meetings during the week were called for nine or even ten o’clock. He’d always gone to bed by ten when he was in high school, but now one in the morning was early for him.
On the way over, Preston did most of the talking. He mentioned who would be at the party and who were some of the social heavy-hitters within the LGBT sphere. Preston knew them all. He knew everyone. Ethan couldn’t wait to be introduced around, and Preston was excited to bring Ethan to his first LGBT party. This was a match made in heaven.
Ethan could hear the bass thumping and the cacophony of conversation as they walked up to the house. Every nook and cranny was crammed with kids. Ethan recognized a bunch, but there were still so many who were completely new to him. It reminded him how big and small Browerton could feel at the same time. They got eyed by nearly every guy in there as they meandered through the path to the kitchen.
“Drinks first,” Preston said. Ethan didn’t argue with that. He could use some liquid courage, despite Jessica’s protestations.
It was easier to hear in the kitchen, and Ethan picked up bits of conversation as he waited for his drink. Preston filled up two Solo cups with jungle juice.
“What’s in it?” Ethan asked him.
Preston smiled. “All the good stuff.” They toasted cups.
That was answer enough for Ethan. He downed a sip. It was basically lots of different fruit juices and something alcohol. The sweetness helped make the whole thing go down smoothly. That, and drinking the same drink as Preston.
Preston greeted and hugged a guy in a rainbow flag T-shirt. “This is Ethan,” he told the guy, his hand on Ethan’s back for a second. “This is his first LGBT party.”
Ethan blushed. A part of him was embarrassed that this was his first LGBT event, that it had taken him so long, considering he wasn’t some preacher’s son shaking in the closet. But mostly, Preston introduced him to someone! He hadn’t needed to touch Ethan’s back when he did it, either. He was with Preston—at the party, at least.
He needed a plan for the rest of the night, possibly one that involved getting drunk. They didn’t call it liquid courage for nothing.Sorry, Jessica.
“Whoa. Go, Ethan!” Preston said as Ethan downed the last sip of jungle juice. He went to the cooler to refill his cup.
“When in Rome.” Ethan clinked his cup to Preston’s. Did that count as flirting? Either way, Ethan had said something semi-cool that Preston had liked and reacted to positively. In the simplest terms, woohoo!
“Let’s go in the other room,” Preston said.
“Into the belly of the beast!” Maybe that was too much.
They squeezed their way into the main living/dining room area. Clusters of kids hung by the walls and couches, leaving the center of the room almost empty, like the eye of the storm. People were wallflowers at heart. Or at least he was.
“Thanks for inviting me here. This is a lot of fun,” Ethan said. They staked out a position next to the beer pong table. Perfect. He could talk whenever he thought of something cool, and then they could watch the game during lulls.
Another pair of guys came by to say hi to Preston—and Ethan by extension. Then a girl rubbed Preston’s shoulders. It shouldn’t have surprised Ethan that Preston was well-liked in these parts. He was adorable and charismatic in the regular world; in a house of gay men and women, he was the prized possession. And he was standing with Ethan, ready to talk. Ethan needed to step it up. The time was now.
“So how do you know all these people?” Ethan asked.
Preston shrugged. “Around. I don’t know. I’ve been involved with LGBT stuff, gotten to know people. Everyone’s very friendly.”
“Yeah. They seem it.”
“I’m glad you’re having fun.”
