Page 13 of Punchline

“Yeah, yeah, you saw—wait, what did Carson see?” I glanced at the living room before facing Marek again. “Tell me!”

He shrugged with mock innocence. “Don’t know. You’ll have to ask?—”

“Tell me, or I swear to God, I’ll have the equipment managers put glitter in your jock.”

His eyes widened.

“I think we have an understanding.”

He hmphed. As he dragged a piece of pizza onto his plate, he said, “Carson said it looked like you two… got along.”

“Mmhmm. Like we got along? Or wegot along?” I lowered my voice. “Is Jake, um… Is he even into men?”

Marek froze, his humor vanishing as something like panic crossed his face.

“You don’t have to out him or anything,” I said quickly. “But like… I don’t want to bark up a homophobic straight guy tree, you know?”

“A homophobic straight guy.” Marek snorted. “Who’s hanging out with two very obviously gay dudes at their house?”

“Oh. You make a valid point.”

“Uh-huh. Trust me, he’s not homophobic.” He paused, eyes flicking toward the living room. “Honestly, I thought he was at first. When he realized Carson was queer, he got… I don’t know. Weird about it. But he and Carson have worked things out, so… ” He shrugged. “Whatever it was, it’s obviously not an issue now.”

“That’s good. And he… might be into me?”

“Guess we’ll find out.” He nudged my arm. “Get your pizza. Game’s about to start.”

“That’s not a no!”

“It’s not a yes, either!” he singsonged over his shoulder.

“You dick,” I mumbled, and busied myself getting a couple slices of pizza.

As I walked back into the living room, I glanced at Jake in the same moment he glanced at me.

Did… Did his breath stutter? For real?

Because mine sure did. Jesus.

Hoping I appeared more graceful than I felt, I took my seat beside him again, my thigh pressing against his just like before.

“I’m not crowding you, am I?” he asked, pulling his leg away.

“No, no, you’re good!”Put it back. Please?I cleared my throat. “These idiots just bought a couch made for hobbits.”

Jake laughed, letting his leg relax against mine again.

“It’s plenty big enough for us,” Marek said. “Though, we’re not usuallynextto each other, so… ”

“Oh my God.” Jake wrinkled his nose. “It’s bad enough walking into your office knowing what you two have done in there. Am I… ” He acted like he was going to get up. “Am I sitting in cum? Oh God, I am, aren’t I?”

“Pfft.” Carson elbowed him. “It doesn’t get on the upholstery. Jesus—we’re not animals.”

“Sure sounded like it last time he was in your office,” Jake muttered before taking a pull of his beer.

Marek and Carson both blushed at that.

I barked a laugh and picked up one of my pizza slices. Well, Marek was right about one thing—Jake wasn’t homophobic. Whatever issues he might’ve had before, he was done with them now.