Page 26 of Pride High 3: Yellow

“Not if it was an honest mistake.”

“It really was.”

“Good. The next time you go somewhere, I want a phone number, young man. I should be able to reach you no matter where you are.”

“You could get me a pager,” he said, thinking of the one Diego used.

“You can have mine,” Ami said with an eyeroll. “Enough. Go upstairs and straight to bed. I mean it.”

He kissed her on the cheek before taking the stairs two at a time. As soon as he was in his room, the exchange was mostly forgotten. Instead he got into bed and let himself dream of everything that the night had been, and everything that was yet to come.

CHAPTER 5

February 15th, 1993

Omar skated to the end of the block where he often met Anthony before school, except not usually this early in the year. He saw his best friend across the street, glided over to him, and popped his board to grab it after hopping off. Which felt pretty damn great, because getting to skate again meant spring wasn’t far away.

“Your brother is a dick,” Omar grumbled while bumping elbows with him in greeting. “The dude should give us a ride. There’s plenty of room in his truck. We ride four in the front all the time with Silvia.”

“I know,” Anthony said, rubbing his hands together to warm them as they walked toward the school. “Blame his new girlfriend. She says being around us is a turn-off.”

“Yeah well, I know a girl who doesn’t agree with her,” Omar said smugly. “Guess what I did on Valentine’s Day?” He couldn’t wait for a response. He was dying to say it. “I had sex!”

Instead of congratulating him, Anthony looked like he’d just announced a terminal disease. “You did?”

Omar grinned. “Yeah!”

Anthony grimaced. “Likeallthe way?”

He studied his friend instead of answering. Why would he make that face unless… Oh right. Omar imagined being only friends with Silvia, despite wanting way more, and then finding out that she’d hooked up with someone else. “Nah, not all the way,” he said dismissively, even though it had been one of the happiest moments of his life. “But now I’ve gone as far as you have.”

The concern on Anthony’s face eased. “Oh. That’s great! As your best friend, I want all the details.” His forehead crinkled. “Although, also as your best friend, I also have to remind you of what happened the last time we spoke about such things.”

“It’s all good,” Omar assured him. “I asked her about that already. Silvia is cool with me telling you.” He hesitated, not wanting to hurt his friend. “Do you really want to know?”

“Yes,” Anthony said instantly. “Paint me a picture.”

“Heh.” Omar nudged him. “I bet you’d like that.”

“Shut up. And yes, I would. I want a great big painting of your dick in my bedroom.”

“You do have a birthday coming up,” Omar joked. Then he described what had happened. Not the physical details so much, but just how amazing the entire day had been. Including how good that particular moment had felt.

“I have to ask,” Anthony said with a mischievous expression. “Who was better? Silvia or Ricky?”

Omar exhaled. “Ricky definitely has more experience. And one of his own, so it’s an unfair advantage. So technically, he was better. But I liked it more with her, you know?”

“Yes,” Anthony said with an exasperated sigh. “You really are hopelessly straight, aren’t you?”

“If I wasn’t, we’d already be an item,” Omar promised him. And he meant it too, because he loved Anthony more than just about anyone in the whole world. But at least he didn’t have to worry about him being alone. “Hey, how wasyourValentine’s Day?”

“I also had sex,” Anthony said, triggering another elbow bump. “Although I was the one giving instead of receiving."

"You guys don’t take turns?”

“Usually, but I wanted it to feel more like a present to him.”

“It’s the perfect gift for any occasion,” Omar said with a grin. “Hey! Do you think you were giving Cameron a blowjob while I was getting one? Like at the exact same time?”