Page 115 of Ancient History

“Good. We’ll start.” I slapped Amos’s ass to signal his turn. He bit his lip, seemingly turned on. That could come later. First, we had to win.

Amos tossed the first bean bag. It hurtled in the air and landed an inch in front of the cornhole board.

“You can go first,” Raleigh said to his teammate. “It might take you a few rounds to warm up, and that’s okay.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Everett shook his head and shot Amos a not-so-secretive eye roll. His bean bag soared in the air and landed on the rim of the cornhole.

“Damn. I guess you’re all warmed up.”

I went, then Raleigh, and on and on, bean bags flying in the summer sun. Raleigh was his gym teacher self, trying to coach Everett on his toss. Everett was stubbornly having none of it.

Amos and I gave each other little touches and pats as we passed each other to throw. It was all massive foreplay for what would come later. I didn’t think I’d have energy for sex after a long day. I was ready to be proven wrong.

Everett and Raleigh gave us surprising competition. Once they put their dislike of each other to the side, they became a formidable team. Everett eventually took Raleigh’s coaching to heart, and his aim improved. They started hi-fiving each other, then back pats, then acting like they were friends.

“There you go! That’s how it’s done!” Raleigh yelled after Everett sunk a bag into the hole.

“Just trying to pick up your slack,” Everett sniped back, getting in his face with a smarmy smile.

“There is no slackage on my end. I had the perfect shot last round, but there was a gust of wind at the last second.” Raleigh cocked an eyebrow to go with his sly grin.

“And I believe that story you’re telling yourself is fiction.”

“I think I know what I’m doing, Ev.”

“Whatever you say, Ral.”

Amos had the same confused look as I did. Were these guys flirting with each other? Was this a new, ahem, whole for Raleigh to explore?

Before I could make heads or tails of it, I tossed my bag way off course. It landed in a cactus pot. That was the ballgame. Everett and Raleigh hi-fived. Raleigh mussed up his hair, which made Everett’s pale skin go extra red.

“See what happens when you embrace teamwork, Ev?” Raleigh said.

“I admit, being on the same team as you makes your cockiness more bearable.”

“Rematch?” Amos asked them.

A familiar blonde ran over and hugged Raleigh hello before he could answer. “Hey, babe!”

Raleigh kissed Alicia—wait, no, he was onto Svetlana now—and grabbed her ass as he lifted her up. “You’re here early.”

“I left work early. It’s so nice out and the store was slow.”

“Did you tell your manager?” Raleigh asked her. “I thought you were working at the store solo today.”

“I texted him and left a note on the window that we had a power outage and had to close early. He’ll understand. Let’s go for a drive!” She had the bounce of a girl who never left her sorority. Her hair swished into Amos’s face.

“Let’s do it!” Raleigh gave her a sloppy kiss on the mouth and another ass grab. Did all opposite sex couples look like that when they made out? “I’m gonna head out,” he said to me.

“Cool.” We fist-pumped.

“We’ll do a study session this week. Get you certified by the end of summer.”

“Deal.” I was looking forward to Raleigh helping me get my teaching certification.

He fist-bumped Amos and then Everett, who seemed not into the whole thing.

“Nice work, teammate,” Raleigh said.

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