“Really?” Greg asked.
“It’s not my thing. And she reamed me out pretty good for that night, for letting myself succumb to college peer pressure so easily. She still brings it up from time to time.”
“That doesn’t sound like much of a friend.”
“I don’t have much to compare it to.” Ethan shut his eyes, wishing he could take back that statement. Not that it wasn’t true, but he didn’t need his friend with an arrangement knowing how uncool he was. Ethan tried to make a joke out of it. “As you can probably guess, I wasn’t very popular in high school.”
“I never guessed that,” Greg said matter-of-factly, which made Ethan feel slightly better.
“That’s a story for a different time,” Ethan said. “Or not.”
How did he always find himself chatting so much with Greg? The guy was too easy to talk to. Just another way he was dangerous for Ethan.
“Your turn,” Ethan said. He picked at the grass. “Tell me a story.” But he didn’t sound as cool and convincing as Greg.
“About me getting drunk? Where to begin?”
The words charged out of Ethan. “Have you ever been with a guy before? Before me, I mean.”
Greg looked down at the grass. “Yes.”
Yes?The answer shocked him more than he realized, but he tried to play it cool. “And how long ago was this?”
Greg seemed to freeze up and close off. His clenched jaw returned, the ceremonial closing of the gates.
“You ask too many questions, Folly.”
“Well, you don’t give enough answers.”
“It’s better that way.” Greg gulped down the last of his drink. “What’s up, buddy?” He jumped up and stepped over Ethan.
Sahil sauntered up to them. “Dude, what are you doing up so early?”
“Chillin.’” They did some slap/fistbump/handshake. Sahil’s eyes darted from Greg to Ethan. Did things look a little too chummy?
“We were just talking about that dipshit law professor,” Greg said, waving away their conversation as totally school-related, completely benign.
“I’m so glad I never majored in pre-law,” Sahil said.
“You’re smart.” Greg nodded at Ethan, but he seemed distant now. Their conversation could’ve been a dream, that’s how far away it felt. “See you around, Ethan.”
Ethan waved goodbye. They were friends with an arrangement, just not actual friends.
CHAPTER fourteen
Ethan and Greg met up several times over the next few weeks, and their arrangement became easier to arrange. After Con Law was a given. On Thursday, they absconded to an empty classroom in Carver Hall, the education building. Ethan wondered if Greg had scoped out the joint beforehand since he seemed to know which classroom and corridor would be empty. Carver’s new architecture and sleek design were a sharp contrast to the hundred-year-old halls where Ethan had most of his classes. Connected TVs and tablet stations dotted the building.
“Whoa, this classroom has a smartboard!” Ethan noted mid-hand job.
“Yeah, all the classrooms in here do,” Greg pointed out in between stifled moans. His body began to shake in tiny quivers that Ethan knew signaled he was on the precipice of coming.
“I’m surprised the education department has such souped-up facilities considering how little teachers make overall.” Ethan got on his knees and took Greg’s thick length in his mouth and knew exactly how to swirl his tongue to send Greg over the edge.
“Well, it’s because—hold on…oh shit…” He panted wildly, and Ethan felt his whole body spasm before climaxing. Greg slumped forward, his nuts wrung dry.
“Shit,” Greg heaved. “It’s like your mouth just can’t get enough.”
Ethan admired his flushed cheeks and glistening forehead and beamed with pride. He loved that he had that power over Greg, over anybody.
