Page 14

Chapter Fourteen

Storm

Things at the house with Gabe have been awkward and a little tense, like those first few days when I moved in. Weird how comfortable we’d gotten together without noticing. I haven’t noticed how much it all changed.

The only thing I can think of that’s caused this shift is me walking into his bedroom that morning. Sure, I could have knocked, but I knocked once and the door was partly open. Besides, it’s not like I saw anything. Other than the anaconda trying to escape his pants, that is. The guy is fucking packing.

It’s not the first time I saw him walking around with an erection. At least, that’s what I thought. Now I’m not so sure. Maybe that bulge I thought was a stiffy was just his junk this whole time, because that’s how big it is. He’d make a killing in my field with that weapon.

I’m on my way out the door, packages to be mailed under my arm. There is a drop-off box on the way to Mom that I’ll put them in, since the labels are already paid. I spent my morning packing orders to ship out. Usually I visit Mom in the morning, but I needed to get this stuff done. Plus, maybe I’m avoiding Gabe. He’s due back from work shortly, so the longer I’m out, the longer I’ll go without seeing him. Not sure if this awkwardness will go away a second time. Maybe I should apologize for going into his room? That might make him feel better. Won’t know until I try, I guess.

A package falls from my grip as I hurry down the steps. I stop and turn to get it from where it landed on the second to top step. That’s when I hear the car pull into the driveway. Well, so much for avoiding him. Lifting my hand to wave, I say, “Hey, how was work?” as he’s getting out of the car.

Shifting his bag up his shoulder, he responds, “It was fine. You need a hand?”

Could’ve used one while I was making all these orders.

“Nah, I’m good.” I move down the walkway toward the road.

“Oh, you’re leaving?” he says, surprised. Which throws me, because I thought we weren’t talking? I thought he was upset with me.

“Yeah, gonna drop this off and visit Mom.”

“Let me give you a ride.”

“Uh… no, that’s okay. You just got home from work.”

“It’s no trouble.”

He looks almost desperate, which isn’t normal. Does he feel how weird things are too? Is he trying to fix it? I should let him. I don’t want the guy uncomfortable in his own house, but I also really don’t want him knowing about my mom. I’m not ready for all the questions, or having to talk about it. I can hardly wrap my head around it myself, and I’ve had this information for six months. Relenting, I get into the car, dropping all the packages to the floor before putting on my seatbelt.

“So, what’s with all the packages?” he asks as he backs down the driveway.

“Just work stuff.”

“I thought you were a content creator?”

“I am,” I say carefully.

Stop asking questions. Stop asking questions!

“So, what are you sending?”

“Oh, uh… you know. Merch.”

“Merch?” he questions. “What’s that?”

“Merchandise. Personalized with my brand.”

Now that is gold. I hold in my laugh, because if there is a way to brand something more than cumming on it, I’d like to know.

“Like T-shirts?”

“Yeah, sure. Totally got t-shirts in these packages.”

Kind of a lie, kind of not. There is one with a t-shirt. The others are boxer briefs.

“How come you don’t wear them?”

I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of me, and the odd look I’m getting from Gabe only makes it worse. We stop at the mailbox, and I drop everything inside, which gives me a minute to compose myself.

“Sorry,” I say as I get back in the car.

He nods firmly, jaw tense. I pissed him off again. Great.

“Where does your mom live?”

Shit. I forgot about that.

“Uh, just a few houses down. The yellow one that’s set way in the back.” I ramble off the one house that I can remember. I always notice it when I’m walking because it’s set way back in the yard. Further back than even Gabe’s house.

“The one with the long, curving driveway?”

“That’s the one.”

“Your mother lives there?”

“Yes,” I answer confidently, and I’m impressed with how convincing I sound.

There isn’t another word spoken as we drive the couple blocks. He pulls up in front of the house, idling the car on the side of the road.

“This the one?” he asks, bending forward to look past me and at the house.

“Sure is. Thanks for the ride, Gabe.”

I get out before he can say anything, and I start up the driveway. Hope to hell he doesn’t stay there and watch me go all the way up. This could get really weird.

He does, though. Of course he does. Because why would this be easy? I’m nearly at the house when he finally drives off. The front door opens and an old man in a red plaid robe glares at me. His grey hair is a wild mess and there’s a few days’ worth of white stubble on his face.

“I ain’t buying nothing!”

“Not selling anything, sir. Is this where Stephanie lives?”

It’s the only thing I could think of to say…

“Who?” he barks.

“Stephanie?”

“You got the wrong house!”

I apologize then hurry down the driveway, looking both ways to make sure Gabe isn’t hanging around to see where I am. How ridiculous am I? It would be so much easier to tell him where my mother lives and say I don’t want to talk about it. Maybe he’d let that slide. Maybe he wouldn’t. Who the hell knows? I move quickly as I make my way to the living facility and hurry inside.

“Storm, it’s nice to see you,” Cindy, the nurse at the front desk, says.

“Nice to see you, too.”

She writes me a pass with my name and my mother’s room number on it. I slap it to my chest before taking off to visit Mom.

Since I didn’t visit Mom at the usual time, I stayed until visiting hours were over. It’s dark as I walk home, and the house is just as dark when I reach it. The front porch light is on, and so is the light above the stove. I’m starving, since I stayed with Mom during dinner, but didn’t eat anything. The nurses offered to order something for me, but I declined.

I go right into the kitchen after locking up and tear open the fridge doors to find something to eat. There’s a plate covered in plastic wrap with a sticky note attached.

I made you dinner. Warm it up for three minutes. Be sure to unwrap it and use the splatter guard.

Sighing, I pull it from the fridge and do as it says.

I should apologize to the guy. He does so much for me and he doesn’t even have to. Gabe did not have to make me dinner, but he did. Even though I wasn’t here and even though I’m lying to him. That’s pretty shitty, and the guilt has me annoyed with myself.

The microwave beeps, and I pull out the food and go to the table. It’s a little too hot to eat, so I get a bottle of water and drink half while I wait. By the time I’m done, the plate of chicken Alfredo is the perfect temperature.

Gabe’s door is closed when I get upstairs. It’s always closed, which is why it was so strange when it wasn’t the other day. I get out of my shoes and my shirt and head into the bathroom for a quick shower. I’ll make a video tonight before I go to bed, but I need to be up early in the morning so I can talk to Gabe and apologize for overstepping.

I’m not ready to come clean about the lies yet. Though the stuff with my mom isn’t all that big of a lie, I’m pretty sure if he finds out I let people watch me jerk off for a living, he’d have a heart attack. Maybe even kick me out. He made a comment about convincing me to keep my clothes on in my room. If he knew what I was doing, not only in my room but in the bathroom too, he’d lose it.

I like living here and don’t want to leave. He isn’t a bad guy, just a little weird. Seems like he needs a friend. He says he has one, but maybe he needs another. Also, his only friend is a female and not that it matters, but maybe all he needs is a guy friend. Imagine if someone moved in here and they were a complete asshole? They’d probably be so mean to him, and that just pisses me off. Gabe needs to be protected.

Everything in the shower is done on auto-pilot. I’m suddenly exhausted when I step out, and I’m surprised to see Gabe standing in his bedroom doorway when I get out of the bathroom.

“Just wanted to make sure it was you,” he says softly.

He’s adorable in his pajama set and messy bed hair. I like him with his glasses, but he’s hot when he doesn’t wear them too.

“Do burglars break in and take showers around here?”

He smirks, looking so damn handsome. “Fair point.”

I hold his gaze for a minute, until he says, “Well, good night.”

“Night.”

I hold the towel tighter around my waist, my dirty clothes tucked under my other arm, and head back to my room. Dropping to the bed, I stare at the ceiling for a long time before I find the energy to get up and make a video. It’s not my best work. I’ve been losing subs the last few weeks and I know it’s because my content hasn’t been great. I used to have all sorts of stuff on here. Me jerking off in public places, cameos with other creators, and anything else I could come up with. I’ve been so busy the last few months that I’ve been slacking. I can’t blame people for leaving. If it’s not worth the money anymore, then what’s the point of giving me money? This isn’t charity. If I want their money, I need to put in the work for it. I need to earn it, and I haven’t done that lately.

What I need is something hot and fresh. Something like… something like Gabe. He’s shy, nerdy, with the perfect amount of innocence. People would eat him up. Especially with that massive cock of his. A nerd with a big cock? Fuck, if that’s not a money maker right there. But there is no way he would ever do something like that. In fact, the guy doesn’t jerk off at all. Or if he does, he’s really good at hiding it and making it seem like he doesn’t. Won’t lie, I’ve listened in on him a few times. Both in the shower and in his room. He’s as quiet as a mouse.

Why I’m so worried about what he does on his own time, I don’t know. Just curious, I guess. He’s an odd one, and I’d like to get to know him better. Not only because he’d make us both a lot of money, but because he’s not like anyone I’ve ever met before. Not that I need the money right now, but if my subs keep dropping, I won’t have money for long. So the key is to stop my subs from unsubscribing. I need new content. Gabe needs money. It’s perfect.

So the question is: how do I convince my roommate to make porn with me?