Ezra’s eyes narrow. “Not real? You’re not real!” As his hand balls into a fist at his side, he focuses on the television, staring at Sylvia Crowne as he mumbles, “Barbara says you’re trash, and that you’ve been trash in every lifetime you’ve ever lived.”
“Who the hell is Barbara?”
“A real jerk,” Johnny says, folding his arms across his chest. “She’s always gossiping about everyone into Ezra’s ear. Pretending she knows our life stories, but all she knows is how to bake scones and wash her hands.” Ezra and Jaden share a confused glance with one another.
“I think you mean she likes to throw stones and hide her hands,” I say, trying to guide him back on course, but the door swings open before he can respond.
“Honey, I’m home,” my ex-wife Faith says as she steps in. She’s carrying four large suitcases in her hands, looking like an absolute vision, same as always. Her long hair is pulled into a high pony, showcasing her modelesque cheekbones. She’s wearing a tight, baby-pink dress with oversized, black polka dots peppering the fabric. Around herwaist, there’s a black belt with a pink bow, accentuating her gorgeous hourglass figure.
“You look nice,” she says to me, and there’s the old, familiar kindness in her eyes, like before the bottom fell out of our marriage. “Minnesota suits you.” She wraps her arms around me and gives me a hug. “It’s good to see you again, Bubba.” When she backs away, she gives me a familiar peck on the lips like it’s second nature. Thank fuck for my beard, because I’m pretty sure my cheeks are probably blushing like crazy. Fuck. Ezzy’s going to be so jealous.
“Minnesota doesn’t suit anyone,” Ezra mumbles, sounding just as bitter as I expected. “It’s a shithole.”
Footsteps echo in from the kitchen, and Dallas calls out, “What the fuck is all the racket?” When he turns the corner, he’s fully nude, his half-hard cock still wet with his stepson’s saliva, and there’s a long string of cum dangling from the tip of his cock. As soon as he spots Faith, his eyes bulge. “Ah, fuck. Sorry, Momma Faith.” He grabs a book off the bookshelf and places it in front of his dick. It’s one of those slutty books Ezra is always reading. Something about fucking, marrying, and killing someone’s Daddy. I’m guessing it’s a tawdry whodunit novel.
At least Dallas has enough common sense to cover himself in front of a lady. Austin couldn’t care less, because he walks into the living room, bare-ass naked, cock still hard, Dallas’ seed still painting his face.
“Oh, my,” both Faith and my son breathe, eyes glued to Austin’s glutes as he passes them and plops down on Ezra’s lap, resting his head on his best friend’s shoulder.
“I just came real hard,” he tells Ezra. “Cuddle me and praise me for achieving my daily goal.”
“That’s a good boy, Aussie,” Ezra praises. “I’m so proud of you for seeing what you wanted, and having the mental wherewithal to seek it out.”
“Is this ... Is this normal here? Penises and butts displayed openly?” Faith asks, her voice shaking, her desire clear. Her eyes find Dallas again, and a blush spreads across her cheeks. It’s a look I know all too well. She’s staring at the men around her like they’re a smorgasbord of cock, ripe for the taking.
Ezra’s eyes narrow. “We have no barriers here, so if you’re staying the night, you’ll have to cope.”
Dallas sighs. “Don’t mind Ezra. He’s a human chihuahua, always yapping about this and that. It’s part of his charm. That’s what my stepson says, at least. I’m not sure I agree.” Ezra opens his mouth to object, but Johnny’s watching him closely, so he’s able to interrupt him before he says anything too godawful.
“Yeah, Faith,” Johnny says. “We basically do everything together. Sometimes we sit around in our underwear. Other days, we just rock out with our junk out. If someone needs to piss while another person’s showering, we just go for it. It’s a safe space.” He stares daggers at Ezra. “A safe space that ain’t very safe, considering sometimes people yank back the shower curtain and piss on your ass while you’re scrubbing your face.”
“That was one time, you bastard,” Ezra bites back. “You had just been stung by a jellyfish. I was being a good samaritan. For God’s sake, I was doing a good deed. I’m not going to apologize for caring!”
“Jellyfish don’t live in the damn lake, Ez. I kept telling you over and over, but you wouldn’t stop pissing.”
Faith blinks at me. “Bubba, who is this strange little man?”
I’m not sure how to answer that. Ezra is my friend. My boy. One of the men I love. We ain’t boyfriends, though. Even though we shareda cum-drenched three-way kiss, we ain’t anything more than what we already were, because nothing has been discussed. Ezra would freak the fuck out if I introduced him as my boyfriend, and then he’d run, and Johnny and me would have to hunt down our boy.
I look at Ezra, seeking some sort of assurance that it’s okay to admit what we share, but he’s too busy studying my wife and son to notice. Johnny’s looking at me, though, and he seems just as unsure as I feel. With the shrug of a shoulder, he lets out a heavy breath and stares down at the floor, leaving me to figure this out on my own. That’s okay. I don’t mind taking care of the hard stuff, because that’s what a daddy does. He takes care of his boys.
“He’s my friend,” I finally state, and if I thought Ezra would approve, I’m sorely mistaken. He jerks his head in my direction, giving me a look that screams I made the wrong choice. I don’t know how to define us. Is he my boyfriend? My boy? The man I love? Yes to all those labels, but is he ready for me to assign any of them in front of my ex-wife?
Ezra stands and walks over to me. “I’m going to shower the stench of semen off my body.” He looks over his shoulder. “Johnny, come with me. I’ll need your help toweling off.”
“Why would you need—” Johnny’s eyes widen as Ezra’s cock stiffens, and he swallows what I can only assume is a lump in his throat.
“Because I’m a princess, and princesses deserve to be doted on. Just shut up and dote on me.”
A faint blush spreads across Johnny’s cheeks. “Okay. Yeah, I can dry you off when you’re done.”
“When I’m through,” Ezra says to me, “I’m hiding in the bedroom. There’s already enough people living here, I don’t feel like having to get to know even more.”
“I don’t want to get to know you either,” Jaden huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “Prick.”
“Here a prick, there a prick, shut your mouth or I’ll suck your dick.” Ezra’s eyes bulge when he realizes what he’s said. “No. Absolutely not. Strike that ridiculous rhyme from your memory. It’s not the message I wanted to convey at all.”
“Did you just threaten to suck my cock?”
