Page 8 of Four Letter Feelings

“Well, if you two got married you’d be Blake and Ben Bartlett.”

“Only if he took my last name.” Blake paused as though contemplating the idea. “I’ve always liked the double B initials though. Yeah, I totally need to marry someone with a B surname.”

Jeremy chuckled again. “Or keep your surname since you like it so much.”

“Maybe.” He sighed. “I’d consider changing it for the right person though.”

“Dude, you got it bad.”

“Shut up and eat your steak! Anyway, you were telling me about how amazing Europe is.”

“It was a pretty sweet trip, yeah. Good food, surprisingly good hockey and beautiful women; what more could you want out of a year abroad?”

“Lie to me, man. Tell me it was awful. Tell me it rained every day and all the men had scaly skin or… I dunno. Something. Anything that doesn’t make me feel like I missed out on the trip of a lifetime!”

“Sorry, BB, but you kinda, sorta missed out on the trip of a lifetime.”

“Don’t call me that, you know I hate it.”

“You just got done telling me how you like your double B initials but I can’t call you the nickname I’ve called you since we were sixteen?”

“He might hearyou.” He gestured with a jerk of his head, “and he might think you’re calling me ‘baby’. I don’t want him thinking we’re, y’know, together.”

“Ok, first of all, you just met the guy; you’re taking this all just a little seriously wouldn’t ya say? Secondly, there ain’t no way he thinks I’m gay.”

Blake snorted as he took a mouthful of food and started to choke.

“What?” Jeremy demanded.

“Oh, dude.” He coughed. “You’re way more metro than you seem to think you are. You could easily ping his gaydar,” Blake replied once he’d taken a swig of his drink.

“I hate you.” Jeremy glanced down at his outfit and wondered if Blake was serious or having fun at his expense.

“Lies. You’ve missed me, Lupes, and I’ve missed you. We’re gonna paint this town red. Huntsvegas won’t know what the fuck has hit it by the time we graduate!”

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