Page 29 of Lane

“No,” Lane said, quieter than before. “I didn’t get to do these kinds of things growing up. This is for me as much as it is for the two of you. Our lives are serious all the time. We need to have more fun.”

It wasn’t that I was opposed to going where we were. It didn’t seem to excite me as much as it did Lane. I agreed we could loosen up. When he said he hadn’t been there before or anywhere like it, I knew we had to make this the best experience for him. If Alton and I talked along the way, all the better.

Being in the car with them was unsettling. Lane was so full of energy. He came to Jordan and the rest of us in a bad way, trying to be free of his family. The more he was with us, the more he relaxed and smiled. Now he was really coming into himself, into the person I wondered if he would have been had Edison and Noel not been pieces of shit to him.

As I sat in the back and watched the other vehicles on the highway, I gave in and let the tension bleed out of my shoulders. Tonight was a chance to spend time with two men I cared about.Lane grew on me every day. Alton, well, he’d been in my head for a while now. Being with Lane would be easier, but spending time with Alton would hopefully build my confidence where he was concerned. Having them both would be fucking amazing.

Lane put music on and sang to every song the radio played the entire way to the resort. When we arrived, there weren’t too many vehicles in the parking lot, which made sense given the time of night. Kids had school tomorrow, and this was a prime place for families.

“Ray, grab the bag in the back, please,” Lane said after putting the SUV in park and shutting it off. “Let’s go.”

We walked to the building, which was bigger than I would have thought. Then again, it housed an indoor water park, so my expectations should have been better. Inside, Lane spoke with the manager, and we were shown where we could change and keep our belongings. There were just a few families still in the water with younger kids, but they drifted to the edge and got out when they saw us. I couldn’t fault them. I wasn’t a small guy. Most people were intimidated by me, except the ones in Jordan’s world. They expected someone of my size.

Lane didn’t wait for them to exit before he made his way to the slide, his body on display with just a pair of shorts covering him. Both mine and Alton’s eyes followed him, neither of us moving, content to watch. He turned toward us and winked before he was out of sight.

“He’s doing this on purpose,” Alton said.

“I’m starting to believe there is nothing he does without meaning to.”

“Thank you for coming tonight.”

That drew me up short. I faced him. “Why are you thanking me? We’re on a date.” It still felt weird to say. I was here with Alton and Lane. I couldn’t have predicted this would happen if I tried.

“You could have said no.”

“Have you met Lane? He’s one of the most convincing people I’ve ever talked to.”

Alton smiled. “He does have a way about him. Although, do you want to be here, Raiden? With me too?”

“I’m just going to get this out of the way so we can move past it. When you rejected me, it hurt. I thought you didn’t see me like I did you, but I kept hearing how you’d look at me differently after that. The other guys would say you had a thing for me. I couldn’t let myself believe it, not after what happened.”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to kiss you. I told you the truth when I said I didn’t want to do it like that. What if you weren’t thinking clearly? You were on painkillers and antibiotics. I’d feel like shit if you turned me away once you recovered. It was easier to stop before it started. That didn’t mean I didn’t want you. You could have kissed me when you were better.”

“Easy for you to say. My ego was bruised. There was no way I was offering myself up again.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

I could have told him he didn’t. That I was just a little sore. The truth was, that rejection shaped how I felt about him after. No matter what anyone else said, all I saw when I looked at Alton was how I wasn’t good enough. I projected when I shouldn’t have. But if I hadn’t and we did kiss, would we be here with Lane?

A loud whoop echoed throughout the space as Lane went down the slide—at least, that was what I assumed. We couldn’t see him yet due to the way the slide curved and was so tall. Soon enough, we saw him, a grin on his face as he hollered again and splashed into the water. I smiled in response, enjoying seeing him happy.

He swam toward us then walked from the water. Droplets ran down his body, drawing my gaze to them before finding his eyes again.

“Are you two done talking?” he asked. “I don’t want to be the only one enjoying this.”

Without thinking, I rushed forward and lifted Lane off the floor, putting him over my shoulder and carrying him until we were at the big pool. My legs cut through the water, taking us deeper. At almost chest deep, I slid him from my shoulder into the water in front of me. I contemplated throwing him, but that would have meant putting more distance between us. I wanted him closer, not farther away.

Lane grinned, making my heart beat faster. The moment didn’t last long before a big splash of water rushed over us. Alton was on the other side of that, smiling that he soaked us. Then he was gone, swimming through the water. I dove after him. There was no way he was this slow. Alton wanted me to catch him.

I gripped his calf and pulled him toward me, standing with my hands on his waist once I had him. Alton tried to shove me away while laughing, still playing the game. I wasn’t. How long had I thought about this? Here he was with his blond hair pushed back and his bright-blue eyes. God, he was gorgeous.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” he asked playfully. “I’ve only been waiting years for another chance.”

“Are you going to let me?”

Alton’s arms went around my neck. “You can do anything you want to me, Ray.”

I dipped my head and kissed the man who tied me in knots. He didn’t give me a chance to simply taste his lips. Alton parted them and snuck his tongue out in search of mine. Once they met, I brought him flush against me. He tasted like mint and crisp air. His body was warm against mine, much like the water lapping at us.

---