Page 6 of Not Dating Material

Madden cracks up laughing. “Fine. Relax. You didn’t sleep with him. I almost want to tell you that you should since you’re suddenly so interested in it. I gotta tell you, it’s gonna be a whole lot harder to find an older guy with one of those if that’s suddenly what you’re interested in, but I’m up for the challenge.”

“I don’t want someone with a piercing. I was curious. Like, doesn’t it hurt? How does it not get ripped out? Can you even do anal with them? How doesn’t it hurt … someone?”

A cool chuckle comes from the back porch, and I glance up to see one of our other roommates there. Xander is adorable, with blue hair and freckles and super-pale skin. Out of all my new roommates, he’s been the easiest to get to know because Xander doesn’t have a filter.

He jogs down the stairs and wriggles into the gap between me and Madden before pulling Madden’s arm around his shoulders. “I’ve asked Seven all about it if you want to know.”

Aaand of course he heard all that.

“It wasn’t … I didn’t mean Seven. I was just … curious …”

Xander snorts. “I was curious too, which is why I used to perve on him changing when we lived with our fosters.”

I blink at him, waiting for him to drop the part where he’s joking.

Xander smiles back innocently.

“You used to spy on him?”

“If I asked him to show me, he would have. I just didn’t want to make things awkward. Besides, he only had the one piercing back then. He has two more now.”

“And you’ve seen them?”

“Not the new ones.” He leans closer, cherry-scented lip gloss invading my nose. “You wanna know what it’s like?”

Him talking about Seven having sex? I want to say no, but I’m strangely intrigued by this. I’ve heard about the piercings before, but I’ve never known anyone to have them outside of porn. And come to think of it, I don’t think any of the porn stars I watch are pierced either. Xander’s studying me so closely I can’t even lie.

I groan and cover my heating face. “Yes, tell me. I wanna know.”

Xander laughs. “Seven said he’s gotta be more careful when it comes to anal, but apparently, it makes everything a lot more sensitive for him, and for the guys he’s with, it’s like a ribbed condom—extreme edition.”

“Ah, right.” I peek up at him, trying to read if it’s weird for him to talk about. I know Xander and Seven are close—I’ve seen Xander mid-freak-out and the way Seven takes care of him, and I can’t stop myself from wondering if there’s something there. Normally I’m not a nosy person, but turns out finding my roommate tied up naked to a bed gets me curious about the guy.

“Is that weird for you?” I ask.

“Why?”

“Aren’t you … are you—”

“Into him?” Xander guesses.

I nod, hoping my nosiness isn’t about to make him pissy with me. Xander’s like a cute puppy you don’t want to make upset.

“Not like that.”

Not like that? How do I interpret that answer?

“Well, that’s enough curiosity for one morning,” I say. “I need to get ready for work.”

And by “get ready,” I mean shower, change, and pull up at the desk I’ve set up in one of the bedrooms. Big-Boned Bertha, as they call the house, has ten bedrooms. There’s six of us roommates, and then one room is used for Rush’s atelier, one for Xander’s art studio, a junk room, and an office that Seven and I are both set up in.

I’ve been in Seattle for close to a month now, and while I’m missing home—my dad and best friend most of all—I think I’m loving the change.

It’s a beautiful city, and Madden’s been taking me out to explore most weekends, but while I have it made with freelance work, I almost wish I worked in an office. With people. Outside of the house.

Until I have my date next week, my roommates will have to be it when it comes to filling my social needs. And considering how different they all are, it’s working so far.

I just wish I didn’t feel like the odd one out.

---