Page 48 of A Stealthy Situation

“You say that like you didn’t kiss me out of nowhere after I’ve been dying for it for two weeks.”

I shrug. “You said you’re all about the tension.”

“And was I right, or was I right?”

Oh, yeah. He was right.

Now I’m going to do what I said we’d do. Shower and dinner. Back to two friends hanging out.

Figuring out the rest will come.

14

BENNY

Am I in a fucking dream? Considering my dick is sleeping for maybe the first time ever around Harrison, I’m going to go with a no, which means that really just happened. We hooked up and showered, and now we’re sitting down to dinner like he didn’t just blow my brains out.

“It’s not too bad,” he says, digging into the chicken. “Would have been better if I’d been able to season the skin, really get it good and golden.”

I’m eating so fast I’ve barely tasted a thing, so none of it matters to me. “It’s delicious.”

“Well, you would think that, since you can only cook pasta.”

“Luckily, I found a man who can cook.”

Harrison’s knife clatters to the plate, and there it is. The first little chink in his coolness.

“Dude, I’m kidding. I don’t want to date you.”

“And why not? You said I’m hot.”

Okay, that makes me laugh. “So are a million other people on this campus. I don’t want to date them. Besides, what happened to being straight?”

“Well, we just washed the evidence of my non-straightness down the drain, so I doubt that still stands.”

Huh. That response is unexpected. “What are you saying? You’re suddenly not straight?”

“I just gave us both a hand job, and you’re actually asking that question?”

“I told you. Shared orgasms don’t mean anything.”

“Actually, I think those guys who’ve told you that are lying, but okay.”

Probably, but it’s not our place to say. It’s not up to us to tell someone they’re wrong about their sexuality or they’re not the right kind of gay, straight, bi person. Everyone’s situations are different. “That’s a bold statement, considering you’ve never met any of them.”

“Fine.” Harrison pins me with a look that makes my chest feel all weird. “From purely my own experience, I’ve had those thoughts a few times. How a guy would feel and sound and react. I’m highly attracted to women, so it’s not something I’ve spent much time thinking about, but sometimes the thought pops in, and it always bothered me I didn’t know.”

“And now you do.”

He reaches over and covers my hand with his. “Thanks. I really mean that. I’m glad it was you and that we’re still able to stay friends. I don’t know what this all means for me, but I’m glad we got to do that. Really, really”—a smile slips onto his face—“glad.”

I can’t help but smile back. “Yeah. I’m really fucking glad as well.”

Every day, I expect Harrison to freak out, but every day, I wake up to a new message from him. Dumb shit, and funny shit, and GIFs I wish I didn’t understand but now do because of all the movie nights he forces on me.

I hate to jump the gun, but I really do think we can move on from this with our friendship unscathed. Who’d have thought it?

And sure, the crush is still hanging around like a bad smell, but it’ll pass with the next breeze. I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled around campus and during drinks at Shenanigans to find the next guy who’s going to catch my eye. My options are still open; I’m not limiting myself to Harrison, and I’m definitely not going to turn into a pining little puppy over the guy.

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