“No.”

“Yes you are.”

“I gotta go. It’s late. I have to work in the morning.”

“How much do you work?”

“A lot. I have double shifts this week because of the engagement party.”

“Well, that sucks.” There’s some rustling in the background and the sound of a door closing. “Where are you staying while you’re in Chicago?”

“At Alex’s.”

“You think you can get a night away from the Waters family while you’re here?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Why?”

“’Cause I was thinking maybe we could do dinner or something.”

“Uh… um…” That sounds a lot like a date. Or maybe it’s Randy’s way of enticing me into getting naked: dinner first, then sexing.

“Unless you’re all booked up. I know it’s gonna be a busy weekend. It was just a thought.”

“Can I get back to you on that?”

“Sure. No worries if you can’t.”

He’s so easy about it. I can’t decide if that’s good or bad until he speaks again.

“One way or another I’ll get you alone this weekend, even if I have to lock you in a bathroom.”

The naked part is implied.

Chapter 7

Xbox Lectures

RANDY

Miller’s distracted state is allowing me to kick his ass at Xbox. Also, I’m better at the game than he is. Not that he’ll admit that. Either way, the lack of competition is unsatisfying. His phone rings in the middle of a level, and he pauses the game to take the call.

“Hey, sweets! How was the flight? That’s good. I can’t wait to see you. You think you’ll be at your brother’s in an hour? Cool. I’ll meet you there. Yeah. Yeah. I’m with him now. Oh, yeah?” He gives me a sidelong glance. “Is that right? Okay. I love you, too, Sunny Sunshine.”

I shut the game off without saving it and make blow job gestures at him.

“I was beating that level!” He points to the blank screen.

“I smoked you six times in a row,” I remind him. “It’s not even fun anymore. Besides, I hear you’re leaving soon.” I don’t ask about Lily, though I know she flew in with Sunny. She hasn’t gotten back to me about getting together. I haven’t pushed either. I don’t need to chase girls. If she’s not interested, I’ll leave her alone. I’ll know better tomorrow—unless I get an invite to Waters’ place tonight. I’m not banking on that, though.

“I think we need to talk about tomorrow night.” Miller settles back against the couch and stretches out an arm.

I pick up my beer. “The Lily situation is under control. I’ve talked to her since the exhibition game. We’re good.”

“That’s what I’m worried about. What does good mean?”

“It means we’ve talked. We’ll be fine with each other.” I haven’t been totally up front with Miller about Lily, but then, there isn’t anything I need to share. We’re just talking, and hopefully this weekend we’ll be fucking.

“Sunny says you’ve been sending her messages all week.”

“Well, yeah. I’m gonna see her, so I figured it’d be a good idea to make sure we’re cool. And we are. So problem solved. She isn’t going to try to beat me with a hockey stick or ruin any more of my clothes. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” I forgot that girls talk. Of course Lily’s going to say things to Sunny, and she’s going to tell Miller.

“Randy, man, we talked about this; you can’t screw her around.”

“I’m not screwing her around. We’re just having fun. She lives in Canada, for Christ’s sake. How often can I see her?”

He gives me a look. Sunny lives in Canada, too.

“Yeah, but you guys have a plan. Sunny’s gonna move here, and you’re all serious and shit. That’s not gonna happen with Lily. I’m a rebound. If I think it’s going in a direction it shouldn’t, I’ll back off, okay?”

Miller scratches the back of his neck. “Just don’t get too comfortable with her if you’re gonna pull the usual routine.”

“I never get too comfortable.”

“Yeah.” He looks like he has more to say, but he slaps his thighs instead and stands. “I should get going. I gotta pick up a few things from my place before I head to Waters’. Thanks for the hospitality, Balls.”

“Anytime you want an ass kicking, you come see me and my Xbox.”

As soon as he’s gone, I check my phone for messages. Nothing from Lily.

I message Lance to see what he’s up to. Turns out he’s at a bar, which isn’t unusual. I don’t have anything better to do, so I call a cab and join him.

***

I end up staying over at Lance’s place, thanks to the drinks we consume. He doesn’t bring home bunnies. It’s the first time that’s ever happened that I can recall, although I’ve only known him a few months.

Lance and I hit the gym in the afternoon in an effort to sweat out the residual booze. I don’t hear from Lily all day, other than one quick text telling me she’s in Chicago and she’ll see me later. Miller keeps sending me pictures of Waters’ mom. She has the most fucked-up hair I’ve ever seen. It’s insane. In the grainy background of a couple shots I can see Lily and Sunny. They’re out of focus, but obviously having fun. If I’d gotten an early invite, Lily and I could’ve found a private place to say hi—naked, with orgasms.