“It can be. But, to be fair, I’m more of a silent partner. I mostly help out with baking the treats, but Michael’s really the one running the show. I help out when I can…or when I feel like it.”
“I know you said you’re just friends. Did you guys ever—”
I burst out laughing. “No. Absolutely not. That would be like hooking up with your brother. I love Michael but never like that. And it’s really something my last ex struggled with. He thought Michael was in love with me, and thinks I left him to finally be with Michael.”
“How long were you together?”
“Seemed like an eternity but wasn’t. He was just that awful.”
Colin smirks. “I think we’ve all had one or two of those over the years.”
***
The sun went down quite a while ago, as did a third bottle of wine. When the check is dropped at the table, Colin swipes it from my grasp and immediately hands it to the waiter.
“At least let me split it,” I say, swirling the last of the wine in my glass.
“It’s my fault we even had that much to drink, which now I need to figure out how to get home. And what to do with my car.”
The waiter returns with the receipts. Colin quickly signs the slip.
“You could come back to my place for a bit, sober up before heading home. Or Uber, or whatever. It’s not a far walk from here.”
Colin stands and stretches, his shirt riding up to show the hint of a few abs. “Lead the way.”
9
I collapse on the bed, my body slick with sweat. Colin’s breathing heavily, a hand resting across his face.
“Holy shit,” I say, leaning back into my pillow. “That was amazing.”
“Your ex was insane to let you go. That thing you did with your tongue…fuck.” Colin sits up a bit, looking down at his torso. I do the same, admiring the ridges of his abs and the size of his chest. His dick, now limp on his thigh. “You have a towel or something? I need to, umm…clean up.”
“Bathroom’s right through that door. Feel free to jump in the shower, if you want.”
Colin disappears from the room, and soon enough the sound of running water comes from the bathroom. Part of me wants to go in and join him, give it another go, but I’m fucking exhausted.
I roll out of bed, stripping the sheets and grab a fresh set from the closet. By the time Colin’s back in the room the bedding’s been reset, and I slip past him to also clean myself up.
When I return to the bedroom Colin has reclaimed his spot in the bed, but this time with his boxer briefs back on. I slide in next to him, the sides of our thighs touching.
“Do you want to watch something? Not to overstay my welcome but I think I might be good to drive home in a little bit.”
“Sure,” I say, handing him the remote to flip through Netflix. Colin ultimately lands on one of the Fast and the Furious movies. I lean into him, feeling the drowsiness of day drinking settling in. The last thing I remember is Vin Diesel on the screen…
***
“Hey,” Colin says, his arm shaking my shoulder. I look up and see the movie paused, about an hour in. Shit, did I pass out?
“Sorry about that,” I say, sitting up.
“It’s fine, but someone’s knocking on the door downstairs.” And, like summoned, I hear the knocking start up again.
“Michael must have forgot his keys this morning and locked himself out. Not the first time it’s happened. Be right back.”
I pad down the stairs, reaching the door. It’s then I notice the flashing lights flooding the living room through the front window. I swing the door open to find two police officers standing there, grim expressions on their faces.
10
