Page 83 of Tumbling Hearts

“Ray!” Gene laughs, wrapping his free arm around Ray’s middle as Ray leans backwards onto the armrest. His cheeks burn as his heart flutters, taking in the scent of alcohol from Ray’s breath. “What are you doing?”

“There’s not enough room for three people on this couch. Where else am I supposed to sit?” Ray says with a devilish grin, putting his own free arm behind Gene’s neck. Did he already start drinking while he was still in his room?

“Well, you could’ve always pulled up a chair…”

“What chairs? I think they’re all occupied. Look.” Ray motions his drink-clad hand toward the rest of the lobby, littered with people loitering around.

“Oh, I… I guess you’re right.” Somehow, like it’s an instinct, he reaches up to pet Ray’s shoulder blade. His body is so warm, heating up not just Gene’s hand but his lap under Ray’s legs, making him sweat through his jeans.

“You two…” Maurice cracks up, shaking his head.

Gene pouts at his friend next to him. “What?”

“You guys keep surprising me with how you show affection.”

“Yeah, yeah, shut the fuck up,” Gene chuckles as he traces circles on Ray’s back. “Just don’t take any photos of us like this.”

“I won’t.” Maurice smiles.

“Say Gene,” Ray tilts his head, “how much have you drank already? That your first glass?”

“I should be asking you that. But I have no idea, honestly. Could be feeling it more.”

“Then, here.” Ray tips the edge of his glass to Gene’s mouth, and Gene has no choice but to gulp whatever concoction Ray is feeding him. It’s quite sweet really, and he can’t put his finger on what’s in it. But he trusts Ray, he knows he’d never steer him wrong with a drink like that. He relaxes his shoulders, leaning his head forward, eagerly catching the liquor for himself.

“Mmm, that’s pretty good,” he says after Ray pulls the drink away.

Ray takes a sip for himself. “Want some more? I can always go back to the table and get another glass.”

“I mean, if you’re offering…” Gene smiles and Ray takes the hint, putting the glass back to Gene’s mouth again and letting him take in more of the sweet red drink, jolting his mind in a spin.

The couch rustles underneath them all as Maurice stands up. “Hmm, looks like you two need some—” he clears his throat, “privacy.”

“Hey, we’re just hanging out.” Gene takes a sip from his own drink this time, finishing it off. “But you do whatever, if you wanna head elsewhere.”

“I’ll take your glass, if you’re done with it,” Maurice offers.

“Sure.” He hands it to him.

Ray finishes off his own. “Mine too, if you don’t mind.”

“Fine, fine.” Maurice gathers their cups and leaves the two Brooms alone together. Or, more alone than they were before, as the other people of the party are still gathered all around.

“Well, now that I don’t have to hold that anymore…” Ray raises his hand to caress Gene’s cheek, stroking his fingers gently over his stubble.

Gene giggles in response. “Ray, c’mon. There are other people around.”

“We can just excuse it as being really drunk. Maurice can back that up.”

“But Carol, she’s still here, right?” He looks toward where he saw her last—and she’s gone. So is Tim Price. Gene turns his head, looking all around, not finding either of them.

“She was leaving with Tim just as I was grabbing my drink,” Ray says. “She gave me a cold stare as she did so, though.”

“I bet,” Gene chuckles. “Did you drink before you came here, Ray? You seem more… daring than usual.”

“Yeah. I had some vodka in my room while I was getting ready,” he admits. “I don’t think sitting on your lap is all that weird. I feel like it’s something you would do to me.”

Gene can’t argue with that, laughing again. The warmth of Ray on top of him, so scandalous with everyone around, builds a pressure in Gene’s abdomen. It stirs around with the alcohol in his system, moving lower—the pressure rising between his legs. But it collides with something uncomfortable, not mentally, but physically. “You sitting on me like this… I’m sorry, but I need to get up. I need to use the bathroom,” Gene says.