30. Matthias

30

MATTHIAS

I t was just Frisbee, I told myself. Just two men throwing around a Frisbee disk with Buster running between them.

"You can't blame it on the red fire oblivion this time, Matty," Joan said.

Grilling duties were over so it was time to chill out and enjoy the rest of the evening.

The three of us were floating together in the pool. Filipe was fast asleep on the flamingo and slouched in such a way that it would take one small nudge for him to fall in the water. He wasn't lying about passing out after practice everyday this week.

I was floating in a giant donut and Joan was lounging on a bright yellow floating chair.

Here in a bit, the plan was for everyone who was still around to grab a surfboard and head down to the beach if they wanted to surf before the sun went down. With it being a Friday night, many had other plans. Half of the team had already left.

I'd even invited Zoey, who accepted, and would be here in about an hour. Given that her dad was an Olympic swimmer, Zoey had practically been raised in the water and could hold her own on a surfboard.

I, of course, could not get in the water. I was stuck being an observer as I was taking Coach Anderson's threat at face value. Going forward, I was even prepared to jerk off using my left hand. It wouldn't be difficult to conjure images of Ciaran's hands on me, and a lack of left-handed finesse wouldn't be an issue.

"It's just Frisbee," I said after taking a swig from my beer. The breeze had turned me around so I was now facing the front of the estate and no longer had eyes on Ciaran and Jason's frolicking.

Okay, frolicking was probably too strong a word.

"Is it just Frisbee, though?" Joan asked in a ponderous tone. Joan was relishing my newfound RBF—resting brooding face—even if I wasn't playing along with her mind games. "They look good together," Joan continued. "They're beefy and athletic in that all-American way. I bet they'd fuck beautifully."

Beer spewed out of my mouth. "Joan!"

"Sorry, Matty. I can't help but imagine it."

Filipe startled with a snore and splashed head first in the water. He came up, sputtering. "I need a nap," Filipe groused as he climbed back into the flamingo and proceeded to fall back asleep.

Joan and I shared a look and burst into laughter.

"Come on, let's get everyone to the beach," I said as I used my hands to glide to the side of the pool. "We have work to do tonight and I'd rather not stumble over passed out-bodies when it comes time to head out to visit your contact."

When I looked back to where Ciaran and Jason were hanging out, they were nowhere to be seen.