The following Sunday, he got his answer—a negative one. Mads said he was busy with his own classes and some issues at home, and didn’t want to commit when he wasn’t sure if he’d have the time. He also mentioned something about not wanting to betray people, which Noah didn’t understand—Mads wasan enigma, seriously. But he still made some suggestions that enhanced the drums section and introduced him to another guy because he knew he’d be happy to help.
Noah had no idea why social interactions were so awkward with Mads, feeling so hot and cold at the same time. They were both adults with similar interests, at least regarding music. It should be easier to relate. In another life they would probably be friends.
It remained a conundrum, until a key player made his appearance on New Year’s Eve.
Sixteen
Another Saturday night, anotherparty.
Although he always had a good time, Noah was unsure why he accepted invitations to go out when some days all he wanted to do was binge-watch a series and eat junk food. But most of all, he wondered how he was still alive. The amount of beer and whiskey he’d been drinking lately was probably morphing his blood into alcohol.
Guess you’re only young once.
“Jesus, is it me or is it hot in here?” Noah asked as he pressed his cold glass to his forehead, interrupting his friend’s conversation.
“I’m fine.” Val shrugged.
“It has to be the stupid leather,” he insisted, leaning his elbows over his knees to get away from the back of the couch they’d monopolized since they stopped dancing like maniacs an hour ago.
“Just drink.” Val grabbed the hand holding his glass and brought it to his lips. “It’ll cool you down.”
“So, anyway, as I was saying,” Theo started again, taking a swig of his rum and cola. “You see those two over there?” He tipped his chin, pointing at the girls grinding against each other under the dance floor’s flashing pink and green lights. They went to the same school as them.
“Nina and Stephanie? What about them?” he asked, bobbing his head in time with the beats of “The Beautiful People” by Marilyn Manson blasting through the massive speakers.
Noah was lightheaded as his eyes roamed over the space before them, and his heart was beating a mile a minute, but everything around him was so pretty he couldn’t even worry about that. The laughter. The smiles on everyone’s faces. His friends. The two best fucking humans walking on Earth.And they were here with him.
“We’re probably gonna bring them home tonight.”
“We?” Noah froze, turning to look at Val, who smirked. “You know it’soneroom and not a house, right?”
“Technicalities.” Theo waved a hand. “You know what I mean.”
“And why don’t you go to their room instead?”
“Their third roommate is being a pain in the ass about it and doesn’t wanna move somewhere else.”
“And I’m supposed to?” Noah quirked an eyebrow.
It didn’t happen every weekend, but it wouldn’t be the first time they brought someone to spend the night and screw them with the others in the room, these girls included—they’d been fooling around with them for a few weeks. He had the theory they actually liked being heard and seen while at it. Because, even though they tried to keep it low and weren’t too obvious about it, like fucking them doggie style or against the wall, they never held back, either. So, he didn’t understand why they were telling him this now.
“Yes?” Val said.
“And why would I do that?”
“Unless you wanna watch, film it, or join the party, I don’t think you want to be there.” Theo shrugged. “But if you stay, as much as I love you, keep your hands away from me, please. You’re not my type at all.” He laughed.
Okay, not a theory anymore. They were into exhibitionism, maybe sharing, too. Noah wasn’t about to judge them. He had kinks, too, but being kicked out of his own room so they could do whatever they wanted? That wasn’t fun.
“What the fuck? Are you for real now?”
“It’s not like you’ll spend the night in the street. I bet Zach would be more than happy to take you in.” Val grinned mischievously.
“Mads is over at his grandma’s, so you’d have a free bed to sleep in... unless you want to share his,” Theo added.
Noah snorted as a wave of heat traveled straight into his dick.
He wanted to attribute his horniness to the disinhibition caused by the drugs, but if he had to be honest, his attraction to that man had increased exponentially during the last couple of weeks. It could be the lack of physical contact over the past two years, or the fact that Zach’s sex appeal was so fucking loud it was hard to ignore.
