Page 24 of Center of Gravity

Alex and Jill closed in alongside us, and Emma shouted at Jill over my shoulder.

“Doesn’t he look like Fassy?”

I caught Jill’s scrutiny out of one corner of my eye, though my focus was hovering in a different place altogether, along my back where Alex’s shoulders gently grazed mine. His ass brushed against me as Jill leaned into him to answer.

“He kind of totally does, oh my God!”

They giggled together and I canted my head back. Alex had turned and the length of his arm pressed against my spine. He smiled a lazy, private smile that went straight to my cock because of how it seemed like something that would be more at home pressed against a pillow. Preferably mine.

The DJ took a break, the house music came on, and we all lumbered back to the table. Tom consulted with another table full of people behind him and, when he turned around again, he said, “Party’s moving down to the beach after we close our tabs.”

“That’s my cue to head home.” I polished off my beer and checked my watch. I was well past my prime of pre-gaming until midnight and then partying ‘til dawn.

“Aww, come on.” Alex gave me a thumbs down and the girls chimed in as well.

“It’s a rule isn’t it, always give a hard time to the first person leaving?”

“It is.” Alex frowned with mock solemnity. “Come on, you’ve had what, three beers tonight? Another one won’t hurt you. The beach at night is worth it.”

“I know. I spent plenty of summers in my twenties enjoying it. At least, what I can remember of it.”

“So old,” Alex teased.

“Practically a silver fox.” Jill leaned closer to inspect me, running a light touch of her finger over my temple. I watched Alex’s eyes dart to follow the motion. “I don’t see any silver, though.”

“It’s coming. The longer I hang out with you all.”

“We need a chaperone.” Alex flashed me an impish grin.

It wasn’t just that he was hard to resist. It was the night, the carelessness and haphazardness of it that brought me back to those summers when I came home from college and spent days interning in the city or baking on the beach, nights soaked in booze and dusted in sand; kisses in the dark, fumbling, hurried hands. Ididwant to stay, and why the hell shouldn’t I? I was an adult, after all. Of course, that was also the reason I should go home.

“One more beer.” I could do one more beer.

Tom socked me sloppily in the arm. “Awrigggggght.”

I shot him a glare and he gave me a sheepish smile, muttering an apology.

We walked the quiet streets in loose formation and with varying degrees of grace. Alex seemed all right. Emma bordered on unsteady. Alex had both Jill and Emma’s arms tucked in his, escorting them as if he were an old-world gentleman. Tom had his arm around Marie’s waist. And me, I shoved my hands into my pockets.

“So when did you know you liked dick?” Tom asked the question out of nowhere, head tipping over his shoulder so his words came straight at us.

It wasn’t loud now, just the muted crush of waves in the distance, the sound of our footsteps scuffing over the pavement. But everything got quieter. For a second, I thought that the question might have been meant for Alex, because it was so blatant and random, but Alex lashed out quickly with his leg, landing a solid kick to Tom’s ass. Tom lurched forward and caught himself with a “Hey!”

“The fuck kind of question is that?” I’d never heard Alex’s voice so sharp.

“It’s an icebreaker. I asked you!” Tom threw his hands up, as if he wasn’t sure what the issue was.

“Yeah, but this isn’t fucking 1990 and plus I know you! Are you really that much of an ass?”

The girls laughed uncomfortably, but I shrugged and lifted my hand to stall the argument. “It’s fine. It’s an easy question. I knew I liked dick when I put my mouth on one and enjoyed every fucking second of it.”

Of course there was more to it than that. Years more. But I felt like my answer was coarse and to the point enough as the question demanded.

Tom scowled at Alex, as if to say,See, it’s fine!but Alex only glowered back.

“I’ve kissed a girl before,” Jill said ambitiously, giving me a wide grin.

“Who hasn’t?” Marie sounded bored and flapped her hand.