Chapter 2

2

Colin

Me: Do you want to bang for lunch today?

I text Ash as soon as I get out of my Constitutional History class. It's my only one of the day. He has a short break around this time, and it's often when he grabs a quick bite to eat. If I have time, I like to join him. Ash can get distracted by his studies, and it's important to me to make sure he eats and takes care of himself. Not that he can't do that himself, because he can, but doing this for Ash always makes me feel good.

Ash: Um…I know sometimes you can be the tiniest bit…and I say this in the most loving way possible…clueless…but do I have to remind you that you're straight? And we're stepbrothers? Though that one isn't as big of an obstacle as your sexuality is. Unless waking up with me naked in bed with you the other day has changed things…and if so, we should at least have a conversation before we get to the banging.

Banging? What the fuck is he talking about? He knows I'm straight and seeing his naked ass isn't anything new to me. We're cuddly stepbrothers. Usually it's with clothes on, sure, but it doesn't mean anything.

I scroll up to my message, before chuckling at myself.

Me: Hang. That was supposed to be: do you want to hang for lunch today?

I'm the worst with typos. He knows this. But that also won't stop him from giving me shit about it—not that I wouldn't do the same to him.

Ash: *laughing emoji* Well, just so you know, if you ever change your mind, I'm here. Brothers help each other out with things like that.

I almost stumble over a curb that wasn't there before, I swear it. Seriously, do they move those things? Or maybe I'm just shit at paying attention.

Me: Brothers help each other out with banging? Did Troy and Atlas start a trend?

Ash: I meant talking about your sexuality, smartass.

Me: Oh…my mistake…so…do you want to bang? Because you know that's gotta be something we keep using from now on. There's no way I can ever say hang to you again.

Ash: I'm sure that will help make us look like absolutely normal stepbrothers.

The thing is, we're not absolutely normal stepbrothers. Troy is my best friend, yeah, but Ash is my person. Literally my brother from another mother…well, and father, but the gist of it is the same. Most people see we're close—like the waking up naked in bed together—but they don't realize how truly close Ash and I are. That there's not a secret between us and hasn't been almost si nce the beginning.

Ash: I only have about forty-five minutes before my next class, but you're a quickie…

What's a few sexual jokes between brothers? It's all in good fun.

Me: You've never complained before. As long as I bring that good meat…

Ash: Good meat? That beaten-up rank sausage?

Me: Grade A sausage and you know it. You've seen my dick.

I chuckle.

Ash: Only if the A's for Asshole.

Me: A as in Ash-hole, you mean? So it sounds like you know what you're bringing.

Dude. That was a good one. I'm quite proud of myself. I automatically picture his mischievous half-grin. I've seen it too many times to count, and it's comforting in a way that probably doesn't make much sense. It's hard to think about it without a smile of my own.

Ash: Would be the best hole you've ever had. Now are you going to feed me or what?

Me: Obviously. Meet me in the dining hall.

I chuckle to myself as I head over. I can't imagine what people would think if they saw some of the things Ash and I do or heard some of the things we say to each other. To some people, that might seem weird, but then, others might not understand why it wasn't a big deal for him to wake up naked in the same bed as me either. We're just…close. We bonded in the beginning over the ch anges in our lives and dealing with them all together. Ash was a lot shyer when we were kids, though no one would believe it now, but he's come out of his shell so much over the years. Sometimes I sit back and watch him, amazed by who Ash is.

The dining hall is basically a cafeteria they call a dining hall, as if that will trick us into thinking the food is better than it is. It's between the law buildings where I am and where Ash will be coming from, so it's perfect. It doesn't take me long to get there, and when I arrive, Ash is leaning against the brick building, looking at his phone, his dark bangs hanging over his forehead. He's in an Alpha Theta Mu jacket that matches the cap I'm wearing backward. He has on his, and black-rimmed glasses rather than his contacts today. He prefers his glasses, but he'll wear contacts when he's doing something physical like the TaskFrat challenges.

"What's up?" I say as he stands up straighter and slips his phone into his pocket. Ash is more twunk than twink, words I only know because of him. He's about two inches shorter than me, and though he hits the gym and has great muscle definition, he's not as thick as I am. I keep in shape not only because of football, but because I like working out. My body isn't anything to sneeze at. Not that Ash's is either. We keep up with each other when we're working out together.

"Hey, you. How was class? "

I open the door and hold it for him. "Good. We're learning about some really interesting shit. Professor Wilkins was telling us about this precedent where…" I ramble on as we approach one of the build-your-own-meal style of food bars. Ash is a good brother who listens even though I'm talking about something he couldn't give less of a fuck about. My mom is a lawyer, and my dad used to be before he decided he wanted a change and became a writer. Ash's mom is a lawyer too, but unlike me, he has zero interest in law.

Ash glances around uneasily. "Careful, Colin. Someone's gonna hear you talking like this and realize you're a big nerd disguised as a jock."

"There's nothing nerdy about all this," I tease, though he's right about me being both a nerd and a jock. I love sports, am book smart as fuck—though not as smart as Ash. Brains aside, I'm aware that sometimes I can lack some common sense. Or…a lot of common sense.

"A big, mushy-hearted jock…who is kinda great," Ash adds, making me beam.

"Fuck yes, I am." He's not the only person to tell me things like that, and I know I'm awesome, but it feels better hearing it from my bro.

We grab Chinese food from the bar, then head outside. We're lucky enough to find a picnic table beneath a tree. It's a gorgeous March day, halfway through the month. After spring break, the school year always seems to fly by.

Ash inspects the table. "Bug check complete. No sign of Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, or Arachnida. You're good, Big Guy."

"I hate you sometimes." Though, really, I'm fucking grateful for him. I've always hated bugs, but I also don't like the thought of killing anything, like, at all. When I was thirteen, right after our parents moved us in together, the spider incident took place. I screamed like a six-year-old girl. Ash ran into the room, ready to defend me from a psycho killer…that wasn't there. When he realized it was a bug, he grabbed a shoe to squash it, but I tackled him before he could.

"Can you…take it outside?"

His nose had wrinkled in confusion. I'd expected him to make fun of me, and then I'd have to kick my new stepbrother's ass, or you know, get really mad at him because I'm a lover not a fighter, but Ash had just nodded, got the jar I kept in my room, and took it out for me.

He's been doing it ever since.

Which maybe isn't a good thing. Why do I need Ash to be my bug protector? That's not normal, is it?

"Stop that."

"Stop what?" I ask before biting into my egg roll.

"How are you so full of confidence in some ways but all overthinky, unsure of yourself, and clueless in others?"

"Because I'm super hot and everyone wants to fuck me?" I pump my brows. "Also, wow…ouch…"

Ash glares at me. "You know damn well I never would have said that if I thought it would hurt your feelings. You know you're goofy and sweet and my best friend."

My pulse runs a sprint at his compliment, and at the fact that he can read me well enough to know my feelings weren't really hurt. "Aw! You really do love me!" I tease. This banter we share is the best. No one knows me the way Ash does.

"You once got a splinter out of my ass cheek, Col. How could I not love you?"

"What about your ass?" a voice comes from behind me. I recognize it instantly. It's Atlas's friend Brenner, whom I never really had a problem with until he started flirting with Ash. I don't know why I care if he does. They're both bi, sex is fun, we're young and dumb, so we should enjoy all the fucking we want, but lately it's been rubbing me wrong. Not just when Brenner does it, but when anyone does. I chalk it up to being a protective brother. Ash keeps me safe from creepy-crawlies and doesn't tell anyone my scaredy-cat secret, and I spoil him and make sure anyone he hooks up with is good to him, and if they're not, I might suddenly be okay with violence .

"Just that it's the best on campus," Ash flirts. "That and my dick, depending on what someone's in the mood for."

While Brenner never used to annoy me, we're not super close to him either. Since Troy and Atlas started dating, Brenner and Taylor are around more because they're Atlas's friends. Hell, I didn't even know Atlas had friends before he fell in love with my best friend.

"I mean…I'd have to test them both out to say for sure." Brenner sits beside Ash, who smiles at the compliment.

"His ass is cute. All tight and round," I say, and Brenner's mouth drops open. "What? It is."

"Um…" Brenner looks back and forth between us.

"Colin didn't mean it like you think he does. And it's not you. We're just weird," Ash replies, which kicks my protective stepbro instincts in again.

"Also, keep your hands off Ash's butt."

"I'm so confused. Did something change between you?" Brenner scratches his head.

"No. Why?" I ask.

"Because you're telling me what his butt looks like?"

"No, I've been seeing that for ages. This isn't new."

"Not sexually," Ash throws out.

"Obviously," I reply.

"I'm not saying I wouldn't be interested…" Brenner interrupts us. "Might be fun being between two st epbrothers."

"We don't have sex with each other, or with the same person at the same time," Ash says in unison with my, "I'm straight, and I said hands off Ash."

"Are you sure you're straight? And are you even connected to reality right now?"

"Fuck off, Brenner." I dig into my food, taking a bite, then point to Ash with my fork. "You need to eat. We spent a lot of time talking, and you have to go to class soon."

"I'll do what I want, thank you," Ash replies playfully, but he does start to eat. I think he likes that I pay so much attention to him, which works because I like paying attention to him. It was an interesting dynamic when he had a crush on Troy. I had to work harder not to let it show that I'm protective of him, but for some reason, I also knew that Troy and Ash would never happen.

"Anyway, I don't want to interrupt this brotherly lovefest. Hit me up." Brenner nods at Ash, stands, and takes off. I feel Ash's gaze on me, but I don't meet it on purpose.

"You know I could have sex with Brenner if I wanted to, right?"

"I know." And really, I don't care. Much. But sometimes I wonder if I do…or why I would. "Do you want to have sex wi th Brenner?"

"That's beside the point." Ash takes another bite.

"Want me to go get him for you?"

Ash glares at me, the hints of gold and green in his hazel eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

"Aren't brothers supposed to protect each other's honor and shit?" I ask. "I'm just trying to do my job. We look out for each other."

No one else would see it, but I think Ash melts a little. While his parents love him, they're not the most attentive people in the world, and lucky for him, I am. Well, lucky for both of us, since I enjoy it too.

"You're too sweet for your own good." Ash gives me a cocky grin. "Take me to class?"

I roll my eyes, pretending it's the last thing I want to do, when really, I'm here for it. "Just halfway."

We dump our trash, and then Ash climbs on my back. I spoil my stepbrother by carrying him the whole way…and feel strangely proud of myself when I do.