11. Luke

Chapter 11

Luke

“Someone here had sex within the last twenty-four hours,” Bradley announces the minute everyone collapses on the mat after a really intense practice.

“A lot of us probably had sex within the last twenty-four hours,” Gio says. I can’t see the eye roll, but I know it’s probably there. “Do you want us to do a show of hands?”

“That sounds like a pretty good idea,” Bradley says, sitting up.

I love my friends. I really do. But even I can admit that they can be ridiculous and inappropriate. Especially when I tell them that I was the one who had sex. We’ve all talked about virginity and what counts as sex and what doesn’t. It pretty much comes down to what the individual believes. For me, I think mutual orgasms equals sex.

Might as well get it over with.

“I did some frotting? Are you counting that as sex?” I say as nonchalantly as I can muster.

There is silence for a beat, and then the questions start rolling in.

“With a real person?”

“Did you use lube?”

“You must have been really quiet?”

“How do you feel?”

“This is your sexual awakening.”

“Are you going to tell them who you had sex with?”

The last question is from Perry. I sit up and give him the stink eye.

“Wait, it’s someone we know?” Lexi says, looking between us.

Corey never said I had to keep it a secret that we had sex, so I guess it doesn’t matter if I tell them.

“Corey. And the only detail that you’re getting is that it was amazing.” I smile serenely at their red faces. Red from the exhausting practice, gearing up for competition season is never easy, and from holding back so many questions.

Wyatt raises his hand. “I have one question, and it’s not about the sex.”

“Okay?”

“Are there going to be repeats?”

I think back to what Corey said yesterday. We shouldn’t do this again. Shouldn’t. He didn’t say wouldn’t. He wants this as much as I do, but he’s probably going to fight things. Such a Gio move.

“There are going to be repeats, surprise releases, special editions, maybe even a shuffle,” I say with all the confidence in the world.

“Are those gay sex terms?” Wyatt whispers to Hudson.

“I don’t think so, but maybe you should ask one of the queer guys.”

“No, they aren’t. Luke is just being cute.” Perry says, looking angry.

“What is your problem?” I know this isn’t the time or the place, but Perry’s mood swings are giving me whiplash.

“Nothing, I’m fine.” He bites out. “I need to get going.”

I watch as he leaves the gym. The echo of the slamming door gets me moving, and I wave goodbye, ignoring the confused and awkward looks on the faces of my squad. Perry can be a sarcastic bitch, but he’s rarely like that to us and never to me.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I shout as I walk into the locker room.

Perty looks at me for a solid second before he visibly deflates. “I’m sorry, Luke.” He sits down on the bench and looks up at me with sad eyes. “I’ve got stuff going on at home with my sister, and I’m taking it out on you. I’m a shithead.”

“You’re not a shithead,” I say as I sit down next to him and put my arm around his shoulders.

He turns his head so I can see that he’s giving me a side-eye. “Let me own my bad behavior. Don’t you dare people please me, or I will log into your phone and set your calendar to start on a Monday, making you confused as to what day it is. You’ll be a day late to every class and cheer practice.”

I snort. “I think that might be one of my favorites,” I tell him honestly. I love it when Perry is petty. Everyone needs a friend who is willing to risk jail time because someone is mean to you. “Do you want to talk about your sister?”

“Thank you, I will, but I’m not there yet.”

“No worries, Perry. You know I’m here whenever you are ready.”

“I know. Cheer queers forever.” He smiles before raising an eyebrow. “So, sex with Corey Howe?”

I let out a laugh. “I’m not giving you the deets, but it was amazing. I’m not sure if it’s because sex is great or if it’s Corey. Maybe it’s a bit of both. Either way, I need more.”

“You are going to spend winter break covered in cum,” he laughs. “Maybe I’ll get a holiday fling. Sex and holiday films sound like a good time.”

“I forgot winter break was so soon.”

“Hey, what’s wrong? I wasn’t saying you and Corey are a holiday fling.” Perry says, moving my arm off of his shoulder so he can put his around mine.

“I know that, Perry,” I say with an eye roll. “I miss my brothers. Winter break is always hard because we don’t get to see each other. This year it feels worse. They’ve been missing a lot of video chats, and I guess I’m just feeling lonely and left out.”

“Have you told them this?”

“It’s not something I want to say in a text.”

Perry nods in agreement. “Yeah, I can see that, but I do think it’s a good idea if you do. I know you, Luke. You’ll bury your own feelings so you don’t hurt anyone else’s.”

I love Perry, but I really hate it when he is right.

“If they don’t cancel the next video call, I will.”

Perry looks at me shrewdly. “And if they do cancel?”

If they do cancel.

That is a good question. I love my brothers, so I’m not going to pull a dad and walk out of their lives. They are busy people. I know that. I’m also not going to let them walk out of my life. So I guess I will just send them a message…eventually.

“I will channel my inner Petty Perry.”

“Goddess, help us all,” he mutters under his breath.

“Perry,” I chide. “You are the best of all of us.”

“You are a fucking sweetheart, but I am quite literally a menace. It’s okay, though. I embrace that shit.”

I press another kiss to his cheek. “I love you, bestie.”

“I love you too. And I promise this will all sort itself out.”

All I can do is hope he’s right.