“I don’t want a girl.”
“You need one so we can go on double dates. As much as I like Emma, I get bored talking about girl stuff all the time when we go out.”
“Val and Sofia can join you.”
“I think they’re not so good these days.”
“He hasn’t said anything.”
“You know how he is.” Kaj shrugged, still lying on the bed, looking at his phone screen.
Indeed. Val was kind and fun, probably the smartest of them all, but he was also quite reserved. Though, that wasn’t the important thing now.
“Delete that,” Noah said, throwing a sweaty sock at him after taking his jeans off.
“No way! My phone, my photo, my rules.”
“Delete it!”
Noah jumped on him, and they wrestled, laughing and calling each other names. Boys’ banter was the best source of dopamine. It never failed to set the record straight, even after a fight. But they were on the bed, and maybe the sugar high was fogging their minds, preventing them from thinking this through before they hit the floor.
“Oh, fuck!” Kaj groaned.
“Guys, is everything okay?” Trine asked from the other side of the house.
“Yeah, Mom. Don’t worry. Kaj’s just being stupid.”
“Be careful!”
“You’re stupid,” Kaj retorted, rolling their bodies over and straddling Noah’s hips. “You might be as tall as me now, but I’m still stronger, asshat.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Noah rolled his eyes, then locked them with his.
For a second, the world stilled, and it was just the two of them, panting with their mouths a few centimeters apart. Kaj’s hands were tight around Noah’s wrists as their pelvises pressed together. Heat coiled inside of him, and it was then that Noah noticed the growing bulges in their boxers.Both of them.
Then, Noah did the unthinkable. He lifted his head and kissed him.
It barely lasted two seconds, but it was enough for him to understand why he felt so different from his friends some days. Why he never felt attracted to girls. Why he felt so possessive of his friend.
Uncomfortable, Kaj cleared his throat and sat on the floor beside him. “T-that, hmm…”
“Oh, shit. I’m so sorry.” Noah stood up, covering his face with both hands as he strode toward the door. He needed to leave. Needed some fresh air. This was too embarrassing. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Oh, no, no, no.” Kaj reached for him, wrapping his hand around his arm. “Ehm, it’s just... I don’t—” He let go of him. “I mean... I’m not into guys.”
“I know. I know,” Noah said, too ashamed to look him in the eye.
“That caught me off guard, but I’m not mad.”
“You aren’t?” He peered at him.
“Not at all. Look”—Kaj rubbed a hand over the back of his neck—“you know I care about you, right? You’re my best friend.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Good.” Kaj offered him an understanding smile.
“Thanks.”
