Chapter Eleven

Chase

I kissed him.

I gripped his face and planted a soft kiss on his lips. He was surprised, but to his credit, with the camera rolling behind us, he was quick to adapt.

"Morning," he replied. "Running a bit late, sorry. I slept through my alarm."

"Because you work late," I said, going to his desk and grabbing his backpack, shoving his laptop inside while he pulled on his Chucks. His hair was still a bit wet, but damn, he looked good in all black: jeans, hoodie, hair.

Especially against his pale skin and the pink blush on his cheeks.

Damn.

Why did I kiss him?

Because I'd wanted to last night. Because it was all I'd thought about, and seeing him when he opened the door... it felt right.

It's what Dominic would do.

I mean, it was also what I'd do, but I was in character. I was my character, and Dominic would definitely kiss his hot-as-fuck boyfriend every chance he got.

"I can think of better reasons to miss sleep," I added.

He looked up at me, tying his laces. There was definitely a for-the-love-of-god, don't-do-this-on camera look in his eyes. But instead, he stood up and took his bag. "I'm sure you could."

"Hurry up, I'm starving," I said, changing the subject and ushering him to the door. Daniel and Bridgette had to back out of the room with his camera, two steps ahead of us, and I needed to be more aware of shit like that.

"You're always starving," he said as we bounded down the stairs.

"Did you get your report done on time?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation rolling.

"Yep. Did you?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't my best work." I got to the bottom and held the door for him. "You know where I do my best work."

He walked past me, giving me a what-the-fuck glare that the camera couldn't see. "If that's your best then?—"

"Then we need more practice," I finished for him, not letting him finish that sentence on camera. Okay, so maybe hinting at sex wasn't a good idea. I should have known he'd cut me off at the knees.

Lesson learned, Chase.

I fell into step beside him and took his hand, threading our fingers. "What time's your last class this afternoon?" he asked.

"Three. Then I was gonna hit the pool. Wanna come watch me do laps? You've got tonight off work, so we can grab a pizza after. Let's see what the others are doing."

He gave me a side-eye before he smiled. "Okay. Sounds good."

Amos held the door for me this time, and Daniel followed us into the dining hall but stopped filming. The other camera crews were already there, the other guys seated at a table in the corner.

Deirdre and some of the production team were standing with placards that read quiet please, filming , and although the dining hall wasn't too full yet, there were enough people sitting around, breakfast forgotten as they used their phones to film the filming.

Amos and I quickly grabbed some trays of food and slid into the two spare seats at the table.

We were greeted with the usual "hey" and "morning" and we ran through small talk like we'd practiced. Talk about the food, about the hockey game, and our classes of the day.

"So," I began, "you guys wanna grab a pizza tonight? There's an outdoor movie at the beach tonight. I think they're showing Jaws . Elijah and I are going if you wanna hang out."

"Sounds good," Tucker said.

Max looked at Holly. "Wanna go?"

She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear before she nodded. Acting the shy, smitten love interest to perfection. "Sure."

There was a beat of silence, and Jess was quick to fill it. "Hey, so did you hear about the two sophomores that got caught doing the walk of shame? "

Everyone laughed along, shocked but amused. Shocked that she would say that. There was no walk of shame. There was no scandal. The real scandal was the baseball sex scandal and subsequent fallout, but it wasn't like we could say that on camera.

Or the stats professor who slept with the student, only it wasn't a student per se but the student's twin brother that no one knew he had. Professor Brooks accused him of lying and cheating in public , outing himself in the process. It was big news around campus but honestly, how that wasn't caught on camera was the real scandal.

But Jess couldn't say that either. This fake scandal Jess mentioned was just a conversation starter, and it worked. Chatter around the table began, funny and smooth.

Until Didi checked her phone. "Shoot. Look at the time. We've got class in ten."

Phoebe jumped up. "And I'm on the other side of campus." She and Jess said they'd see us tonight and left with their camera team behind them.

Max asked Holly where she was heading next and they left; then Tucker and Didi did the same. "See you guys tonight," Didi said.

"Okay," I replied, watching them as they walked out.

Then it was just Amos and me.

Or Elijah and Dominic, I should say. Daniel was filming again.

"What've you got first?" he asked, stabbing some sliced apple with his fork.

"Documentary Theater."

He scrunched his nose up and it was the cutest thing ever. "I better go," I murmured. Then I pulled the cords on his hoodie, bringing him closer, and I pecked his lips. "See you at lunch."

Ignoring the color on his cheeks—because I'd just kissed him in front of the now-full dining hall—I got up, took my bag, and walked off.

"Okay, cut," Deirdre said, and the dining hall erupted in applause.

I went back to Amos and he stood up and gave me a gentle shove, but I wrapped my arms around him, and sitting my ass on the table, I pulled him in close.

He didn't fight it.

"That was great, guys," Deirdre said. "How'd it feel?"

"Yeah, it was fine," I said.

"We need to work on the small-talk dialogue," Amos said. "Even points of interest for us to talk about."

"Jess did great," I added.

Amos nodded. "She did." Then he gave me another shove, this time with his elbow. "And you kept talking about sex. Jesus Christ." He pointed to Daniel who was now looking at a replay of something. "If you keep throwing me under the bus with all the sexual innuendo, I'll look right down that camera and tell the world that Dominic cries after sex and calls me mommy."

I burst out laughing, and this time he pulled out of my arms. "I do have to go though."

I stood up. "Yeah. I'm headed that way. I'll walk with you."

We walked out, ignoring the eyes and smiles of everyone watching us, even though it gave me a thrill. As soon as we were outside, I slung my arm around Amos's neck as we walked. "Oh, that was such a rush. Doing improv like that. Don't you think?"

He laughed. "It was fun."

"The way everyone was watching. This is gonna be a fucking ride. I love it."

The thrill of the audience, the thrill of the cameras, the improvisation. I loved it.

"And," he added, "now everyone gets to see you swim laps because you went ahead and mentioned it, so now you gotta do it."

I was still too buzzed to care. "Me, shirtless and wet. The ratings will be huge."

He snorted. "Please tell me you wear Speedos."

"If you wanna see my junk, you just gotta ask. I have no objections."

He dug me in the ribs, making me drop my arm, and it was then I realized that Daniel was behind us with the camera.

Great.

Amos laughed and cut across the corridor to head to his class. Still smiling, he blew me a kiss. "Have a good day."

I had to admit, the kiss-blowing took me by surprise, and honestly, it wasn't Dominic who stood there smiling like a fool.

It was one hundred percent me.

"So how's it going?" Tate asked. We were at the gym, weight training. It was leg day, but I wanted to work my chest too. If I was gonna be shirtless on camera in an hour, I wanted to look good.

"Yeah, good so far," I replied, letting go of the barbell. "Though filming just started today. We'll iron out some kinks and things will be smoother as we go, I'm sure."

"And how's Amos? Or Elijah. I dunno which name to use."

I didn't correct him, because honestly, I wasn't sure. "He's... he's good, actually. Takes my bullshit and rolls with it."

Tate laughed. "Perfect."

"You know, Tate—" I said, stopping myself from using the not-funny nickname. "This whole boyfriend thing ain't so bad. Did you know the other night we ordered pizza and watched funny shit on TV. Like I would with you guys, but with him. We got to cuddle and stuff, and I realized that maybe dating someone wasn't so bad. If that's what dating people do."

Jimmy was staring at me. "You were... cuddling? Like in his room, by yourselves?"

"Well, yeah. Where else we gonna do that?"

"But... were there cameras? I mean, aren't you just supposed to do that in front of cameras?"

I shrugged. "Well, yeah. But it's all practice. We need to look comfortable with each other."

Jimmy wore a smirk. "Sounds like more than practice to me. Hey, Tater? I think Chase?—"

"Don't call him that," I said gently. "It's not nice."

Jimmy blinked. "Oh, sorry, I..." He shrugged at Tate. "Sorry, dude. "

Tate made a face. "'S okay." But then he looked at me. "Thanks."

Amos was right. I shouldn't have been surprised.

"And anyway, you're missing the point," I said, changing the subject. "What I wanna know, is that what dating people do? Because it was kinda awesome. And if we can watch Rick and Morty , eat pizza, and have sex, then I think I've been going about this no-dating thing all wrong."

"What did you think dating was?" Tate asked.

I shrugged. "I dunno. Boring monogamy and missing out on fun stuff."

Jimmy snorted. "Holy shit, you had a revelation."

"All I'm saying is it was fun. And maybe I wouldn't mind doing it again."

"Did you two . . . ?" Jimmy waggled his eyebrows at me.

"No. We just . . ."

"Cuddled?"

"Yeah, and we hold hands and put our legs over each other, and we kiss occasionally, but that's only acting. No tongue. And to be fair, I've kissed him. He's never kissed me."

They both stared, and Jimmy's smile became a grin. "So the fake boyfriend thing is kinda sounding real boyfriend-like to me."

Tate nodded. "It kinda does, yeah."

"I don't even do half of that with the girls I date," Jimmy added.

"You should do it," I told him. "It's awesome! That's what I'm saying. I had no idea it could be... so nice. I really should try this whole dating thing for real. "

"Uh, Chase," Tate said gently. "It sounds like you already are."

"But we are acting," I explained. "It's method acting. It's supposed to be immersive. It's not real."

"But you want it to be," Tate said.

Well, shit.

"I dunno. Maybe."

"With him? Or just in general?" Jimmy pressed. "Did you have this epiphany because of him, to be with him? Or just dating in general?"

I tried to think about that. Imagining being like that with someone else... "I dunno. I..."

Goddammit.

Jimmy laughed and clapped my shoulder. "That's what I thought. You got it bad for the emo guy."

"He's not the emo guy," I said, probably way too short.

He raised both hands in surrender, and I let out a sigh. "Sorry. It's just... confusing. Is it our characters? Is it Dominic and Elijah? Or is it me and him?"

"I thought your characters were kinda based on you. Aren't you basically playing yourselves anyway?" Tate asked. And he mighta asked innocently, but the point he made needed no answer.

Because he was right.

God fucking dammit.

Laps of the pool, like always, helped clear my mind. Following that black center line in the lane, regulating my breathing, pushing my body, and using every muscle never failed to help.

I lost count of how many laps I'd done. I lost track of time, and I forgot that Amos was coming to watch.

That I'd asked him to come.

When I stood up at the shallow end, leaned against the wall of the pool, and tried to catch my breath, I saw him. Sitting there in the bleachers... with Jimmy and Tate.

Oh no . . .

And there, at the top of the stands, were Daniel and Bridgette, filming.

Double oh no.

Not that Amos couldn't hold his own, but Jimmy... Jimmy couldn't keep his damn mouth shut.

I pulled myself up the ladder, my legs tired and heavy, and made my way over to them. I wore the swim shorts most athletic swimmers wore. Not Speedos exactly, but a whole lot tighter than swimming trunks.

And from the way Amos's gaze drank me in, I wasn't about to cover up. Camera or not.

He totally fucking checked me out.

All of me.

It gave me a thrill I wasn't expecting, and all those silly fears and doubts about whether we were acting or if we were taking the role of boyfriends too far all just fell away.

Because he checked me out, and he liked what he saw.

If he was Amos or Elijah in that moment, it didn't matter. Because I didn't care either way. Me or Dominic, both knew appreciation when we saw it.

I took my towel and dried my hair, leaving the rest of my body dripping wet. And when I wiped the towel slowly over my pecs and down to my junk, I kept my eyes on Amos.

He scoffed and shook his head, finally looking away. "You have no shame."

"None," Jimmy said. "He has none."

I held my hands out, holding the towel away from my body. "What's not to be proud of?"

"Your ego," Amos replied.

Jimmy laughed and Tate smiled at me. "I love how he takes no shit from you. It's good for you."

"I need new friends and a new boyfriend," I said, loud enough for the camera to hear.

Amos stood up, smiling, and stepped down the bleachers and came to a stop right in front of me. Too close. Not close enough. "Swim practice is about to start, so we need to not be here when this pool is full of people."

Right. Whereas I loved crowds of people, he did not.

"I need to shower," I said. "Unless you wanna come back to mine? Then we can go to the movie on the beach from there. What's the time?"

Amos pulled out his phone. "Twenty minutes past four."

Damn.

I really had lost track of time.

He hadn't answered about the shower, so I tried the oldest trick in the book: I batted my eyelashes and pouted. "You haven't been to my place before," I whispered, certain the camera couldn't hear.

He rolled his eyes in defeat. "Fine."

I beamed at him and barely resisted saying yay!

Barely .

God, what had I become?

I wrapped my towel around my waist, tying it off, and still shirtless and a little wet, I threw my arm around his shoulder.

I knew the camera was on us, and I knew the viewers would love it.

And me. I did it for me too.

"Ugh, you're wet," Amos griped, but his arm came around my back and we walked to the door.

As soon as we were outside where the camera couldn't see us, he shoved me. "You're wet. And half naked."

I laughed. "I'm resisting so hard right now on saying any sexual joke, just so you can appreciate my restraint. I think you should appreciate that."

Jimmy and Tate laughed, but seeing Daniel follow us out the door, I took Amos's hand and headed toward my place. "Cameras are still on," I said quietly.

"Gotta ask," Jimmy said. "Are the cameras allowed in your bedroom? How far you gotta go?"

"It's a reality show," I answered. "You're thinking of Only Fans, you perv."

"Why?" Amos asked. "Would you watch?"

Tate and I cracked up laughing, and I was loving that he took no shit from my friends either. I dropped his hand, opting to put my arm around his shoulder again.

I liked touching him. I liked feeling his body close to mine.

He didn't object, and maybe that was because the camera was behind us. I liked to think it wasn't.

And maybe when this was all over, I could examine my need for physical closeness with him. I could pull it apart and dissect what was different about him—because I'd certainly never craved contact with anyone else like I did with him.

But first, I needed a shower, and to jerk off because, yeah, I liked the close contact a little too much.

His phone beeped and he took it out. "It's a message from Bridgette. They're gonna leave us here and pick up again at the outdoor theater tonight."

"Okay, cool," I said.

"Uh, that means you can drop your arm now," he said.

I kept my arm very much where it was. "I mean, I could. But would Dominic do that? I'm thinking Dominic wouldn't do that."

He sighed and shoved me off him. "Elijah would do that."

Jimmy and Tate both laughed.

When we got to my place, I showed him into my room and pulled my towel off. I was dry now, but I needed a freshwater shower to get rid of the pool smell. And to give him a full view of my body because I remembered how he'd checked me out earlier.

He walked into my room, looking around. Not that there was much to see. I was just grateful I'd made my bed this morning, not something I always did. I threw my towel over the back of my desk chair. "Make yourself comfortable. Help yourself to anything out of the fridge, and don't listen to anything Jimmy tells you. I'm gonna grab a quick shower."

I left him to it, taking the quickest shower of my life. I opted not to jerk off—probably something I'd regret later—and realized upon getting out that I probably should have taken some clothes with me to get changed back into...

So now he was gonna get a full show.

Maybe not taking a change of clothes was the best idea ever.

I went back into my room with a bath towel wrapped around me, wet hair brushed back, and not completely dry. He liked me wet before, so it was the least I could do.

He was lying on my bed, propped up against the headboard, scrolling through his phone. Looking all kinds of comfortable, looking all kinds of hot.

I grabbed some boxer briefs and pulled them on under my towel. I caught the way he glanced from his phone to me and back again. "You just love being naked, don't you?"

I pulled the towel away with a flourish. "Damn straight."

I had no qualms standing there in nothing but underwear, but Jimmy chose that exact moment to knock and open the door. "Oh," he said, stopping and giving me a double take. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

"You're not interrupting," Amos said, not looking up from his phone.

"Whassup?" I asked Jimmy.

Looking right at me, he lifted his phone and took a photo. "Snapchat."

I snatched up my towel and tried to flick him with it. "Oh, fuck off."

He just laughed. "Is that movie thing tonight for everyone?" he asked. "Or just the drama peeps?"

"Everyone," Amos answered.

"Cool." He pulled the door shut and disappeared .

Amos was still looking at his phone so I threw on some shorts and then I climbed onto my bed, over Amos, and planted myself in the crook of his arm, my head on his chest. "Whatcha lookin' at?"

He froze for a second. "Are you all right there?"

"Yep, much better now. Thanks for asking."

He dropped his hand to my shoulder. "Are you allergic to shirts?"

I slung my leg over his thigh. "Not allergic. It's just an intolerance."

His only resistance was a sigh, but then he kept scrolling on his phone. "To answer your question," he said, "I'm looking at what people are saying."

"About us? I didn't think you wanted to look." I squinted at the screen. "Oh my god, are we a hashtag?"

We were. We were totally a hashtag.

"That's hilarious."

He didn't seem impressed. "Hmm."

But there were pics of us in the dining hall, pics of him on my lap in the coffee shop the other night, pics of us walking down the hall. Videos of us walking hand in hand. There was even a video of us just twenty minutes ago, walking toward my place. It was when he'd asked Jimmy if he'd watch our Only Fans and I'd laughed and slung my arm around him. And he'd put his arm around my bare shoulder.

Much like he was doing right now.

Another pic of us at breakfast, everyone else sitting normally, but Amos and me... I mean, Elijah and Dominic were sitting far too close, leaning into each other.

And we had no idea people were taking photos. Sure, the cameras were on us, but these were candid photos by other students. No wonder people were asking questions about whether we were together or not.

I was beginning to ask myself the same thing.

I couldn't take my eyes off us.

"We make a fucking hot couple," I said.

He snorted as he scrolled to the next pic. It was us in the coffee shop with all the cast, Amos on my lap, my arms around him, my face pressed into the back of his shoulder.

Jesus.

"Did you know people were taking photos of us?" he asked.

"Nope. Did you?"

"No."

"I mean, I know the cameras are on us. Daniel's never far away. But other students? Not a clue."

He kept his thumb on the photo of us at breakfast, studying some detail, before he scrolled onto the next one.

Which Jimmy had taken five minutes ago.

Me in my goddamn underwear, Amos lying on my bed.

"I'm gonna kill him," I said. "I didn't think he'd actually post it."

Like he was listening, my door opened and Jimmy stood there, camera ready again.

"Hey, asshole," I said, trying to get up.

"Two hundred and eighty-four likes in five minutes," he said, grinning like the shithead he was. "For what it's worth, I'm on the they're-not-acting side of the fan war."

Amos surprised me by hooking the pillow from behind his back at Jimmy's head so fast, he had to duck and pull the door shut. "Fuck off."

Jimmy laughed from behind the door and I grumbled. "I'll kill him later. I'm too tired to get up."

Amos settled against the headboard, and I put my head back on his chest. I wasn't lying. I was tired after overdoing it again at the gym and in the pool. And he was much too warm and comfortable.

He zoomed in on the pic of us, zooming in on me in particular.

"Looking for something?" I joked.

"Just checking it was decent, nothing showing, if you know what I mean."

"My junk? I'm in my underwear. It doesn't hide much."

"They're black, at least—helps hide outlines."

"Jesus Christ." I took his phone and zoomed in to see if the outline of my junk was at all visible. Thankfully, it wasn't.

I relaxed and he took his phone back. "Your swimming trunks are more revealing than your underwear."

"Oh, yes. And don't think I didn't not notice how you appreciated those swimming trunks."

He stilled, frozen. "I did not."

"You absolutely did. And you just gave yourself away because you should have said it was Elijah checking out Dominic."

He gave me a shove. "Oh, shut up."

I laughed. "It's okay with me. I have zero objections. In fact, I like you checking me out. Amos or Elijah, or both. I work hard for this body. I'm glad someone appreciates it."

"Half the campus appreciates it," he mumbled.

"Only half? That's disappointing. "

He chuckled. "You just love the attention."

"And you hate it," I replied. "That's why we make a perfect couple."

He was quiet for a bit, and I couldn't be bothered correcting the couple thing.

He knew what I meant.

I ignored the pictures on his phone and closed my eyes. I couldn't ever remember feeling so relaxed. So peaceful.

So happy.

"Uh, he posted the video," Amos murmured. "Though it's more of a gif."

I cracked an eye open to watch. Sure enough, there were Amos and me, lying on my bed, exactly as we were right then. The door swung in, a shirtless me draped over Amos, me trying to get up, Amos throwing the pillow at the door.

That was the entire clip.

The caption read Still not acting .

"It has three hundred likes," Amos added.

I groaned. "I'll kill him later. I'm too tired. Do we have to go to the outdoor theater?"

"It was your idea."

"Past-me was a dick. Now-me is a much more reasonable person."

He chuckled, turned his phone off, and put it on my bedside. His arm fell back to my shoulder, so I hitched my leg a little higher on his thigh and closed my eyes.

"This is nice," I mumbled. "We should do this more often."

"Hm" was all he replied.

I told my dick to behave itself and snuggled in, ready for the best nap ever.

I woke up fully embracing Amos. He was on his side, holding me, his leg between mine, sound asleep. His dark lashes fanned his cheeks, his pink lips were wet and parted, and so help me god, I had to make myself not kiss him.

Don't do it. Don't kiss him. Don't pull him on top of you. Don't open your legs so he'd fit between them, so you could feel his dick against yours. Don't do it.

I wanted to kiss him so bad.

And not just a small peck like I'd done before. I mean, a deep kiss. I wanted to thread my fingers in his hair, tangle my tongue with his, and grind on his dick. I wanted his hands all over me.

And my dick was most definitely not behaving itself.

Christ.

But he was so attractive, especially in sleep. The frown was gone, the scowl. He looked peaceful and happy and so goddamn beautiful.

My door creaked open, and a hand appeared holding a phone, aiming the camera right at us.

"Post that photo and you die," I said. "I fucking mean it, Jimmy."

Amos stirred, pulling away from me, confused. He looked at the now-closed door. "What?"

I pulled him back close. "Nothing, don't worry about it."

He held his breath, then he let it out with a sigh. "I fell asleep," he mumbled, clearly still trying to come to grips with the world.

"Best nap ever," I replied. "We should do this more often. Like all night. Except at your place because my friends are assholes."

He pulled away for real this time and sat up, scrubbing his hand over his face and through his hair. "What time is it?" he murmured, grabbing his phone. "Ugh."

He held it so I could see the screen. It was 5:42.

"Shit." I sat up, bending my legs to hide my semi. "We should get ready to go."

"I was just gonna wear this," he mumbled, pulling at his T-shirt.

"Yeah, same."

"Do you plan on wearing a shirt? Or is everyone getting to appreciate your emotional support tiddies?"

I snorted out a laugh, then took his hand and placed it over my pec, giving myself a bit of a squeeze. "These are Elijah's emotional support tiddies now."

I dropped my hand from his but he kept his hand right there, cupping my pec. "Are these like an A cup?"

I batted his hand away. "Fuck you."

He smirked. "Get up and put a shirt on." He stood up and stretched his hands over his head, giving me a peek of pale skin above the waistband of his jeans and... and a decent bulge at his crotch.

"Damn, Amos," I murmured. "Do you have a concealed weapon permit for that?"

He pulled his shirt down and gave me an annoyed glare. "Shut the fuck up and stop staring at my... me. "

I gave my semi a squeeze. "Or we could skip the movie and stay in."

He stared.

Holy hell. Was that... was that interest in those dark eyes?

I stood up, adjusting my junk, not even attempting to hide my semi now. "For real, though," I said. "We could act out some roleplaying. I could be a really annoying jerk and you could give me another lesson in consent. But we'd be naked and you'd have to remind me over and over with your dick in my ass."

His mouth fell open.

"It's been a while since I've done that, and I?—"

He threw my shirt at me. "Get dressed."

"Or? Was that a threat? Get dressed or what? You'll make me suck your dick? Because it's been far too long since?—"

"Or I'll go home."

Oh.

I pouted. "That's no fun. The fucking and the dick sucking is so much more fun than that."

He glared, all serious business. "Chase."

"Fine." I sighed and pouted some more, but he was clearly not playing. I pulled my shirt over my head. "Did you wanna eat something here or should we grab something at the pier?"

He was still obviously a little mad at me for all the sexual innuendos and offers I could throw at him. "Tacos."

"Hell yes, tacos now and blow jobs later. Perfect night."

He glared and I held his gaze because this kind of foreplay was my favorite. He quickly realized I was still playing, so he looked away and rolled his eyes. "Shut the fuck up." He snatched up his phone and pretended I didn't exist while I found my slides.

"Christ," he mumbled.

I shot him a look. "If Jimmy posted that picture of us in bed, I will kill him. For real this time."

Amos looked at me then. "Which one? The one he posted before?" He held up his phone and it was the first pic.

"No, he tried to take another one. You were asleep." His eyes narrowed at me, and I held up both hands. "I threatened to kill him if he posted it."

"Let's go find him."

Jimmy was in the living room, on the couch with his leg over the side armrest, scrolling on his phone. "Hey, dickbag," I said, walking in.

"Oh look, it's the Sleeping Beauties."

"Stop posting shit," I said. "You got no right to do that."

He held his phone up. "Did you see how many likes you got? And about a thousand comments about how excited people are to watch the show when it airs."

Amos stood beside me. "Post anything else without our consent and I'll report you for stalking and invasion of privacy and have you expelled."

Jimmy stared at him, and Amos held his gaze, unflinching.

I slid my arm around Amos while grinning at Jimmy, giving him the bird. "What he just said." Then I looked at Amos. "Your lessons in consent are awesome. Though your lesson with me was much more fun. "

He rolled his eyes, though I caught the hint of a smile.

"I didn't mean anything by it," Jimmy said. "I'm sorry. I didn't post the other one, and I can delete the first two."

"It's too late now. They're out there and probably reposted a hundred times," I replied. "Just don't do it again."

He stood up, his eyes wide. "I'm sorry. I am. I thought it'd be funny. I didn't mean anything. I swear."

I believed him. His apology was sincere.

"Funny?" Amos asked.

"Well, yeah. Because it's Chase. He's never done the boyfriend thing. He has an aversion to public displays of affection but now he's all clingy and pathetic. It's funny to see, that's all."

"Pathetic?" I stared at him. "Pathetic. I am not pathetic, fuck you very much."

Jimmy just shrugged and half-smiled, and Amos didn't argue. "Do you think I'm pathetic too?" I asked him.

"No," he lied.

"Great. Generic and pathetic. That's awesome. I love my life, love my friends."

"Just keeping it real," Amos replied.

"Well, if you could keep it real with less teeth when you're sucking my dick later, that'd be great."

Amos rolled his eyes at that, but he didn't deny it.

"Wait," Jimmy said. "What?"

"Nothing," Amos said. He gave me a flat stare. "Are we going?"

"We sure are. Tacos, Jaws on the big screen, and BJs later. Let's go! "

Amos shoved me into the doorframe as we walked out, and Jimmy laughed behind us.