Blossoming wasn’t the right word because Sky grew pricklier and more cynical about Roseview with each passing semester. He had never really fit in because Sky had always beenmorethan everyone else. Mason couldn’t put it into words, how Sky’s brain operated on a vastly different wavelength than the other residents of Roseview. They worried about the basic, inconsequential details of their lives and gossiped about their neighbors while Sky read everything he could get his hands on and railed about things like social inequality and the evils of capitalism. He was always too much, too focused and fixated, and way over everyone’s head, and Mason was glad when Sky went to college and found more of his kind.
And he and Sarina wererelievedwhen Sky ignored their mother’s protests and got himself evaluated, confirming that he was on the autism spectrum.
He had also grown two more inches and gained some muscle weight. Sky was no longer the pale, slouching, gangly-limbed kid Mason had taught to drive. He was into boxing and running, apparently, and had gottenseveraltattoos since starting school at Columbia. Mason wasn’t ready to admit it outloud, but Sky washot.
Not that that was a major revelation for Mason. He figured that out when he was eighteen and couldn’t look atanythingbut Sky if he was in the room. Those funny flutters in his tummy and the odd twitch in his shorts whenever Sky smiled were Mason’s final confirmation thathewas…different. He’d kissed a few girls, peeked at pictures of women in lingerie, and had watched some naked sexy parts of R-rated movies without feeling even a tickle of interest or arousal. He told himself he was just a late bloomer but everything suddenlyworkedwhen Mason imagined kissing Sky.
Mason stared at the beautiful wreck on the sofa, wanting desperately to comfort Sky, but he was too much of a chicken. The older and hotter Sky got, the harder it was to deny how badly Mason wanted to touch and know the man he was becoming. He had his mother’s dark hair, bright blue eyes, and her icy, cutting demeanor, but Sky wasn’t shallow or selfish like Adele.
Instead, he was wounded, dark, and mysterious. Being rejected by your father, treated like a freak, and shunned by your entire hometown would do that to a man.
Getting drunk while his emotions were already stretched to their limits was a bad idea. Especially with Mason’s propensity to tell Sarinaeverythingwhen he was tipsy. The last thing she needed to hear was that her closeted best friend was having extremely wrong thoughts about her little brother.
“Do me a favor, Mase, and take Sky to bed.”
“What?”Mason croaked, yanking at the collar of his shirt. “You know I would never—” he started but she wasn’t listening and cut Mason off.
“Look at him, the poor thing! I can’t tell if he’s about to pass out or throw up but he shouldn’t be here. It’s too much.”
“Oh! Right!” Mason nodded quickly. “I’ll get him upstairsand make sure he’s okay.” He tapped his brow obediently, then made his way through the bodies filling the Suttons' living room. He reached the sofa and ducked so he could find Sky’s eyes. “Hey, Sky! Let’s get you out of here. You look like you’ve had enough.”
“Yeah,” he said hoarsely, attempting to lift his head. “I don’t wanna be here anymore, Mase.”
“Come on. Let’s go.” Mason set the bottle on the side table and scooped Sky up and onto his feet by his armpits, then slid an arm around his waist. “This way.” He smiled gratefully as a path was cleared for them.
They made it to the foyer and up the stairs without either of them falling and Mason said a silent “thank you” when they reached Sky’s room. Sky didn’t look like he was going to be sick and was able to trudge to the window and open it without assistance.
“Air! It’s the best thing, right?” He closed his eyes and rested his face against the glass. His dark lashes fanned across his cheeks and they were wet, breaking Mason’s heart.
“It’s the best,” Mason agreed softly and gently swept the hair away from Sky’s face and cautiously traced his cheek and jaw, momentarily distracted by the rough stubble. He wondered what it would feel like against his lips, then gave his head a shake. “Come on, let’s get you into bed. You’ll feel better after you’ve slept this off.”
“Okay.” Sky sniffled softly as he allowed Mason to tow him away from the window.
“Up,” Mason said and Sky’s arms went up so his black sweater could be removed. It received a quick fold before Mason tossed it on the dresser and helped Sky out of his undershirt.
“Your turn.” Sky reached for the buttons on Mason’s shirt.
Mason started to help but laughed and caught Sky’s hands. “Stop it! That’s not what Sina meant when she sent me to take care of you.”
“Probably not,” he agreed with a heavy sigh. “But a boy can dream.”
“Not about me,” Mason chuckled as he guided Sky back and ordered him to sit on the bed. “Shoes off,” he said and lowered to unlace Sky’s black Chucks and eased them off.
“Don’t tell my sister but I’ve had some wild fantasies about you, Mase.”
Mason’s head snapped up. “Me? Why…? Why would you?” he asked weakly, then wished he hadn’t and for a way to mentally plug his ears when Sky made a dreamy sound and gripped a large bulge in the front of his black trousers.
“I don’t want to sound dramatic but I think you might be why I’m gay,” Sky said and hummed fondly. “The first time I got a real hard-on was while I was sitting behind you in my sister’s car, right after you got out of hockey practice. Your hair was still wet from the shower and you smelled like clean boy… I was thinking about you the first time I got myself off,” he whispered.
“Sky!” Mason whispered back, scandalized and suddenly hard as he imagined it. “How much have you had to drink?”
“A lot!Uncle Lance gave me a soda after the funeral and dumped half of his flask in it while no one was looking. After that, it was all a blur. Everyone’s been sneaking me drinks.” Sky shrugged and yawned. “They all feel sorry for me and think they’re helping, but now I just wanna get laid and pass out.”
“Oh. Um…” Mason swallowed hard and looked over his shoulder at the door. How did it get closed? “I didn’t realize you were so… Have you been doing a lot of…that at school?” It felt wrong even knowing that and asking for more details but thiswas notthe snarky, sulking boy that Mason knew as a teenager.
There was a silky, purr-like chuckle as Sky got his elbows beneath him and grinned down at Mason, his eyes heavy with drunken lust and mischief. “I’m not a kid anymore, Mase. I’ve learned some things that would probably shock you.” He curled a finger, summoning Mason. “Wanna see?”
He rose without thinking and groaned as he was pulled onto the bed and on top of Sky. They rolled and Sky’s lips covered Mason’s and their tongues tangled and thrust. Mason had never kissed a man before but this was so muchbetterthan the awkward kisses he had shared with the few girls he had dated. A wild rush of excitement and hunger burst within Mason and he was shaking as Sky sucked on the corner of his neck and loosened his belt.
