Page 39 of Down My Chimney

“For what?” she asked.

I answered by opening the camera app and flipping it to face me, then throwing an arm around her shoulders.

“For this.” I grinned, and she rolled her eyes. I managed to catch her where she was looking right up at the ceiling, exasperated and amused at the same time.

I hadn’t posted anything yet today, and I did my best to ignore the cascade of notifications that poured in as I edited the picture and added the caption,The best study buddies bring snacks, and save you all the green Skittles because they know they’re your favorite. I tagged Marika, then hitpost.

“You’re ridiculous,” she said.

“Believe me, I know.”

“Well, enjoy your notifications. I’m off to—Blake?”

She said my name, but I didn’t really hear her, because I’d just realized I had a voicemail from Henry, and a few texts, too. I opened the messages first, and my eyes went wide. Whatever I was expecting, it wasnota picture of Henry’s cock.

Then I realized that the picture was taken in my dorm room, and I really panicked.

“Blake?” Marika repeated. She stepped towards me, trying to look at my screen, but I shoved my phone into my pocket.

“I have to go!” I told her, heading for the door. “Fuck, I have to go!”

Thank God the library was only a couple of minutes from my apartment. That didn’t stop me from sprinting, though. Henry was here. Henry was in my room. Henry wasnaked, in my room.

What the hell was he doing here? What had he told my roommates? How did he even convince them to let him in? Fear clutched at my heart as I tore up my building’s stairs, not bothering to wait for the elevator. What if he’d told them the truth?

I fumbled with my keys, dropping them twice before I got my apartment door open. I burst inside, scanning the living room. Taylor was sprawled on the futon, and Dev was standing in front of the fridge in the kitchen.

There was an empty pizza box on the coffee table and a delivery bag from the wings place. No Henry, though. No Matty, either. And then I heard it—Matty’s voice, coming from the hallway.

“Hey, I couldn’t remember, did you want chicken wings or not?”

Dev and Taylor didn’t look up, but when Matty said, “What the fuck are you doing?” two seconds later, his voice raised in alarm?

Yeah, that got their attention.

I was already tearing down the hall. Matty stood at my bedroom door, looking horrified. I skidded to a stop next to him and let out a wordless cry.

Henry was on my bed. Asshole gaped. With a rainbow dildo lying on the sheets below him.

“What the hell?” Matty said, looking from Henry to me.

“I didn’t—fuck, I didn’t mean to—shit.” Henry twisted around awkwardly and sat down. He tossed the dildo into a bag at his feet, but I could still see it, a candy-colored beacon of shame. “Blake, I’m so sorry, I never meant for this to—”

“What the fuck were you doing, dude?” Matty asked again.

I still couldn’t speak. My heart was pounding, and I couldn’t string together a single thought. Dev and Taylor were coming down the hall, and Henry was scrambling for his clothes, and Matty was still standing there looking disgusted, and I couldn’t say a word.

“I was just—just trying to take a picture,” Henry stammered. He didn’t look at anyone as he pulled his clothes back on. “I didn’t realize I forgot to lock the door. I didn’t expect anyone to come in.”

“In Blake’s room?” Matty said, sounding outraged.

He looked at me again, and all I could do was stare back. My vision was starting to go blurry and dark at the edges. I could hardly breathe. Any second now, they were going to figure it out.

Henry finally looked up, his eyes going straight to me. I could see the plea in them, as plainly as if he’d spoken aloud.

Help me out here. Don’t leave me all alone. Don’t put all this on me.

“I didn’t think he’d mind,” Henry said quietly, his eyes begging me to jump in and defend him. “I thought it would be—”

---