Page 26 of A Stealthy Situation

“Enjoying the party.” Felix looks me over. “Where have you been?”

“Narrowly avoided a house fire, got the view from the roof, and then Jell-O wrestled. Oh. And found out my new friend wanted to fuck me.”

Marshall and Felix high-five. “Called it.”

“Shut up. Anyway, he’s a cool guy, and we’re friends, so I want to introduce you. He’s?—”

Approaching us from down the hall. His hair is back up, that same curl stuck to his neck as earlier, and he’s in different clothes again.

I tug his tank top. “You changed.”

“Well, I wasn’t going to give everyone a show all night.”

It’s definitely a relief to be introducing a fully dressed Benny to my friends. I plant a hand on his shoulder and turn him to them. “Guys, this is Benny. Benny, Felix and Marshall.”

“’Sup.” He eyes them both. “I take it you’re the boyfriend roommates.”

“And you’re the?—”

I shoot Felix a look to be careful of his next words.

“New friend.”

The sly eyes Benny sends my way makes it clear he knows something else was going to come from Felix’s mouth. “That’s me. The new friend with the hots for the straight dude. Tale as old as time, am I right?”

Marshall and Felix laugh as I look between them all.

“What?”

“It’s a joke that’s not really a joke that all queer guys have to have at least one tragic straight friend crush. Actually, that’s probably true for all queer people, but hey!” Benny gestures to me like a magician revealing his secret. “You’re mine!”

“Crush?”

“Okay, that’s overexaggerating, but you know what I mean.”

I throw an arm around his neck. “If I could be gay for anyone, I’d want it to be you.”

“And now you’re just making things worse.”

Felix plants his hands on his hips. “Hey, I thought you said it would be for me.”

“Wait.” Benny shakes me off him. “You just go around telling all the boys that?”

“Can’t help it that I’m in high demand.”

“Am I the only one in this hallway who hasn’t wanted to sleep with you?” Marshall asks, and Benny and Felix answer “yes” in unison.

Gotta say, it feels good to be wanted.

“I think we need another drink,” Marshall tells Fe, and just as they’re about to walk off, Felix tugs me down to reach my ear.

“It’s my duty to inform you that your new friend is a total ten, and all your straightness is going to waste.”

I roll my eyes as they leave, and Benny leans against the wall, folding his arms over his chest.

“What did he say?” His cocky tone makes me pretty sure he heard.

I fake a confused look. “Dunno. Something about barely a four. Run away. Stage-five clinger?—”

---