17. Elton

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Elton

I’ve always loved hanging out with Everest.

Even when he was the annoying little brother who wanted to color instead of game, I spent every chance I got by his side. Life gifted me with an automatic best friend, and I was going to take advantage of it.

Then, things changed. His lacrosse accident happened, his anxiety emerged, and he pulled away from me. Those four years without seeing him constantly and being able to hang out hurt, but I’m glad that in the last few months, we’ve started to rebuild our relationship.

We’re at his favorite pizza place—this greasy hole in the wall that looks like it could give you food poisoning—and he’s ordering the entire menu.

“Oh! And garlic knots, please!” he tells the waitress, handing over our menus when he’s done.

I chuckle as she walks away, teasingly shaking my head. “Think you ordered enough, bro?”

He scoffs. “As if you won’t eat half of it.”

I laugh alongside him because, it’s true, the Hill appetite is legendary. I lean back in my seat, take a sip of my beer, and raise an eyebrow. “How are things going with you and Rhys?”

“Great,” he says with an easy blush, nibbling on his bottom lip. “I mean, Rhys has been your best friend since middle school, so you know how awesome he is. Sure, he can be grumpy sometimes, but he’s incredible.”

I nod, ecstatic as hell that those two found their happily ever after despite all the crap baggage between them. “I’m happy for you guys.”

“I noticed you two haven’t had a chance to hang out recently, though.”

“Uh-huh, and whose fault is that?”

He blushes but doesn’t comment. Those two spend every single waking minute together, and while it’s cute, it means I’ve been spending more nights alone than usual. Especially considering they both moved out and left me all by my lonesome in my gigantic penthouse.

Wow, okay, could I sound more like a spoiled brat?

“What have you been up to?” he asks as he fiddles with his straw. “Still going on dates?”

I shake my head. Then I open my mouth, hesitating because the rules of the fuck-buddy relationship constitute secrecy, but I realize that doesn’t mean I can’t tell Everest anything . “I’m actually hooking up with someone.”

He raises both eyebrows, shocked by my admission. “Seriously? Mr. Relationship? The one who’s looking for forever is now no-strings-attached?”

I chuck my straw wrapper at him. “You’re the one who suggested it.”

“I know, but I didn’t think you’d actually go through with it,” he mumbles. “Um, how’s it going? Like, don’t tell me the sex details. God knows we’re way too close when it comes to that.”

Oh, absolutely. The image of me accidentally walking in on Rhys coming all over my baby brother’s face still haunts my nightmares, and no amount of bleach will ever be able to wipe it away from my memory.

I chuckle, however, and shrug. “It’s…”

“Any other word than good isn’t okay.”

I snort, batting away his concern. “Oh, shut up. It’s just…”

I trail off again. How do I explain my relationship with Knox? While he’s been nice during hookups, he’s still a moody asshole before and after. A part of me doesn’t even think his kindness is genuine, no matter how shitty of a person that makes me. It’s giving me a bit of whiplash, but I also have to remember that I’m the one that asked for it.

“Elton, you’re worrying me a bit,” Everest says, pouting. “What’s going on?”

“I’m bisexual,” I blurt out, cheeks reddening only a bit at how loudly that came out. When Everest starts laughing, I scowl at him. “What’s so funny about that?”

He shakes his head as his laughter dies down. “No, it’s just that you looked so nervous to tell me that. You do remember that I’m gay, right?” He pauses. “Wait, is this some sort of freakout?”

I shake my head, because even though Knox is the first guy I’ve hooked up with, I’ve never not been open to the idea. “Nah. I’ve jerked off to gay porn before?—”

“Too much information, bro.”

“—but I’ve never hooked up with a guy.”

“So, this person you’re hooking up with, they’re a guy?” he questions.

I nod. “Yeah, and he’s…”

“Dude, you have to finish your sentences.”

“He’s a dick, okay!” I admit, just a tad embarrassed. “He’s a moody asshole who only cares about himself, and I’m wondering if that’s just a guy thing.”

Looking almost disappointed in me, he shakes his head while still being understanding. “It’s definitely not a guy thing. I’ve never been an asshole to any of my hookups, and most guys aren’t like that either. This sounds like this guy’s problem.”

I know I’m the one who said it, but I find myself a bit defensive for Knox’s sake. “He can be nice, though. Like, I asked him to respect me and shit, and he did.”

He snorts. “Do you think if he actually was nice that you’d have to ask at all?”

He brings up a good point, but my stubbornness is too strong to listen. “He’s just misunderstood, is all.”

“I don’t know,” he mumbles, clicking his tongue. “It seems like he has red flags you’re willingly ignoring.”

Okay, that’s not true. I’m healthy enough to spot red flags, and Knox is covered in them, but I don’t think that applies in our situation. “It’s just a fuck-buddy relationship. It’s not like I’m in love with him.”

Can you imagine? Falling in love with Knox Sanders? It would be like rolling around in bed with a cactus.

Everest looks skeptical, but simply shrugs. “I guess you’re right. But he’s nice to you?”

“Well…he is now.”

“What a stunning endorsement.” With a sigh, he leans back in his seat as he takes a sip of his soda. “You know I just worry about you, right? I’m not trying to be judgmental.”

I nod. “I know, and I appreciate it, but I’ve got this.”

“Okay…” He bites his bottom lip, looking nervous and awkward as hell. “Do you need tips?”

I raise a curious eyebrow at that. “What kind of tips?”

“Ugh, I can’t believe I’m discussing my brother’s sex life with him.” He rubs a hand down his face, trying to mask his discomfort for my sake. “Mom and Dad had the talk with me, and the internet was my best friend growing up, but have you done your research. Like, about…” He drops his voice to a hushed whisper. “Anal?”

I choke on a laugh, nearly spilling my beer. “You want to have the sex talk with me?”

“Someone has to!”

I sober at that. While I’ve done extensive research, I’m admittedly still nervous about my first time letting Knox top. I know I want it, but I’m not too sure if I’ll like it. “Does it hurt?”

Without me having to elaborate, he understands. “It can. If you don’t use enough lube, or aren’t prepared enough, it definitely can. But…” He flushes, his tan neck beet red. “It feels really fucking good otherwise.”

“Did your first time hurt a lot?”

He shrugs. “I was young and inexperienced and so was the other guy. It was a learning curve, but once I knew what to do, it never actually made me feel pain.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Okay, that’s good.”

“But you know you don’t have to bottom, right?” he rushes out. “A lot of couples don’t do penetrative sex at all. It’s not a requirement of being with a guy.”

“I want it,” I say, chuckling only a bit when he blushes even harder. “I’ve fucked him, and he obviously liked it a lot, and I want to experience that too.”

Seeming at ease with my answer, he nods. “Okay. If that’s the case, then you should go for it. Just know, if at any point you don’t like it, you have the right to say no.”

“Yeah, I know that much,” I say, and deep down, no matter how big of an asshole Knox is, I know he’d take no for an answer. Everest looks about ready to crawl in a hole and die, so I take pity on him. “Enough about that. Tell me more about how your classes are going.”

He releases a heavy breath and smiles. Then he proceeds to tell me all about how his grades are better than they were in the summer, and how Rhys helps him study all the time. Rhys won’t start his courses until the spring, but he’s already excited about them. I tell him about how it feels to be in my last semester of graduate school, and it sounds like that’s a path he’s considering himself.

All in all, we spend the evening in a very satisfying brotherly bonding moment. By the end of the night, I’m so glad I’m not an only child, because I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have Everest by my side to help me through whatever I needed.