Page 39 of Switch
Ravi taps on my hand.“Let me know if you need help, yeah?I like reading and doing research.”
Well enough to get started on the reading list before the semester’s even begun.From the same kid who stays up late researching cock cages for fun, that’s as surprising as finding out fire is hot.
“Thanks.”
Ravi’s offer creates a tight feeling in my throat, though.It occurs to me that after an entire year of hanging out and Sunday brunches, I’ve held these guys at arm’s length.I haven’t known who to trust since this whole adventure started.It wasn’t until Christian got pretty badly beaten by his ex a few weeks ago that I started getting to know the others in the group.
They all treat me like a friend anyway.
“I, uh, might take you up on that, actually,” I tell Rav after a while.He’s a friendly kid, to be honest.Nice enough that I sometimes wonder how it is he ended up here with us.
“Hey.”I clear my throat, hesitating before I turn more to face him.“You’ve been doing this for about a month or so.How’s it going for you so far?”
Ravi, focused primarily on a breakfast burrito that’s almost bigger than he is, lifts one shoulder.“Fine, I guess.So far, it’s companionship and dancing at parties.I don’t mind.A lot of the companionship guys seem surprised that I’m smart.Like, why would I be doing this if I had better options or something?”He shakes his head.
“I get that all the time.”Michael, across the table, pipes up.“I gave a dude tips on how to recession-proof his retirement plans last week, and he looked at me as if he’d seen a unicorn.Some of them will give you legit info, though.I’ve gotten some solid investment tips.”
Michael’s sitting next to Dean, like usual.I’m not sure I understand their deal.Sometimes they seem to hate each other.Sometimes they seem like friends.I think I heard something about them being related?I’m not clear on how, since Michael is a buff Black dude, with kind eyes and a wise, old-soul vibe that makes the rest of us look like neanderthals.Dean is lanky, golden all over, and I get the impression he’s so tall his elevator doesn’t quite make it to the top floor.Adoption, maybe?Stepsiblings?Not my place to pry.
“I don’t mean to be nosy,” Dean says in his southern drawl, “but are ya nervous, Rav?Because we’ve all been there.If you’ve got concerns, we can probably help.”
“Oh, I’m not nervous.”Ravi, who seems to end most sentences with a question mark, sounds confident for a change.“I’m waiting for Brennan to work out the details of my auction.”
Fucking what?“What the hell does that mean?”
I’m relieved to see I’m not the only person who looks confused.Across the table, Troy and Adam have paused in the middle of blowing straw papers at each other, and even Simon’s ears are perked up.
“Auction?”Simon asks.He looks concerned, which tells me something, because Simon’s pretty unflappable.
“Oh.Yeah.For my virginity?”Ravi seems to think we should all know what he’s talking about.
The only sound around the table is Dean dropping his fork and then hitting his head on the table when he tries to pick it up.
“That’s not something I’ve heard of Brennan doing before,” Michael ventures slowly.
The man speaks for all of us.
“It was my idea,” Ravi says.“I need a lot of money fast, and Brennan said I’d make bank.Plus, you only lose your virginity once.Might as well go big, right?”Then the skinny nineteen-year-old returns to his burrito as if he hasn’t dropped a bomb in the middle of the table.
Okay.Wow.I’ve done some ill-advised shit, but this seems really fucked.Right now Ravi’s like a kitten who doesn’t realize he’s wandered into a den of starving hyenas.He’s not my responsibility, but he’s sort of a friend.And I don’t think he’s got a clue what he’s getting into.Not sure any of us really do, but I know enough to know it’s got true crime documentary written all over it.
Across the table, two of our female members, Alexis and Eve, are griping about how men are pigs for caring about virginity anyway.They’re not wrong.
Movement in the doorway of the back room where we’re all sitting grabs my attention.I expect to see one of the servers, hopefully coming for my juice refill, but no.No, it’s Wes, the fuckhead with no boundaries, standing with his face on fire and his fists clenched like he wants to throw down.Must’ve followed me, the prick.
Adam turns in his chair and lets out a ridiculous-sounding wolf whistle.“Hey, Daddy.You wanna join us?We’re out of empty chairs, but you can sit in my lap.”
“Or mine,” Troy adds with a laugh.He elbows Adam.“We could take turns.”
Fucking idiots.
Wes turns toward the two cat-calling assholes, looking at them like they’re a species he’s never seen before.Probably hasn’t.
With a blink, he turns back to me.“We need to talk.”
Everyone at the table goes quiet.“We’re done talking, man.”I gesture around the table.Quick count, there are about a dozen of us.“I suggest you think real hard about whether you want to start something here.”
“You need to stay away from my brother.”
