(THEO) I ended my call and leaned back in the seat, rolling down the window to light a cigarette.
“Great, now my car is going to smell like an ashtray,” Henry complained, shooting me an annoyed glance.
“Fuck off,” I retorted, taking a long drag and closing my eyes as the nicotine settled me.
My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen.
A text from Torren.
MY PET yeah we got in this morning are you coming tonight?
A smile tugged at my lips as I balanced the cigarette between my fingers and typed back.
ME on my way darling are you done with classes?
“How long till we get there?” I asked Henry.
“Says two hours,” he said, nodding at the GPS.
ME I’ll be there by five MY PET cool yeah handed in my last paper this morning I’m officially on summer break and please refrain from calling me that while we’re here ME what shall I call you then?
MY PET something appropriate for a man your age I laughed out loud, unable to help myself.
“Texting Torren?” Henry asked.
“Yup,” I said, taking another drag and waggling my eyebrows at him.
“Lex’s going to be pissed,” he noted.
“He doesn’t have to know,” I replied coolly, giving him a look.
“You’re not supposed to know either, so pretend you don’t know we’re texting.” ME I suppose I could just call you that when we’re alone together though that’s not very appropriate for a man my age to do either “Because you’re so subtle about it, both of you,” Henry muttered.
“You really need to watch yourself this weekend, Theo.” “I can be subtle,” I argued.
“I want to take him sailing.
Think I’ll manage without Lex catching on?” Henry shrugged.
“Maybe if he’s busy with wedding stuff, but just because he can’t see you doesn’t mean he won’t know something’s up if you two go sailing together.
Alone.” “We won’t be alone.
You’re coming with us,” I said matter-of-factly.
He rolled his eyes.
“So I can sit around and watch you drool over Torren in a swimsuit?” “No, so you can sit around drinking, probably with a date, while I drool over Torren in a swimsuit.” He snorted.
“Fine.
That sounds marginally better.
I thought Torren didn’t want me to know.” “He doesn’t.
There’s nothing to know anyway, other than texting and spending time together.
I haven’t even kissed him,” I admitted.
Henry’s eyes widened.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I shook my head, taking a long drag and flicking the ashes out the window.
“I’m not kidding.” I’d seen Torren twice after our first dinner, and both times had gone the same way.
I tried to keep it casual so he’d be comfortable.
Whenever we got close enough, I waited for him to ask me to kiss him, but he kept refusing.
“It’s starting to get uncomfortable.” “Like you’re getting bored?” he asked, confused.
“No, like physically uncomfortable,” I clarified.
“I haven’t been with anyone since I slept with Chris almost a month ago.” I took one last drag and crushed the cigarette butt in the car’s ashtray.
Henry gaped at me.
“No, no, no.
Hold it right there.
You can’t just say shit like that without context.
That was the last time you had sex?
Why?” “He asked me not to,” I said simply.
“Hold on, hold on.” Henry waved his hand as if trying to process it.
“Torren told you not to fuck around?
Torren told you not to fuck around while not fucking you, and you’re just…going along with it?” I laughed, shaking my head.
“Torren asked me not to, and I’m patiently waiting for the green light.
It doesn’t bother me.
It’ll make it more appealing when he finally gives in.” Henry groaned, throwing his head back.
“I never thought I’d see the day.
That kid has you wrapped around his finger.” “No, he doesn’t,” I shot back, though the words sounded hollow even to me.
“No?
You’re in a committed relationship with a kid who’s not giving it You’re going on dates, texting… You’ve turned into a teenager.” “I’m not in a committed relationship,” I corrected firmly, frowning.
Henry laughed again.
“Theo, this is the kind of thing you used to give Lex shit about, dating girls who withheld sex to get him to commit.
Remember that?” “It’s not the same,” I argued.
“He’s not withholding sex to get me to commit.
He’s just getting used to the idea.
He’s never been with a man before, it’s a big adjustment,” I explained.
Henry chuckled, shaking his head.
“It’s like watching your hero fall.
Theo Kane, whipped.” “Fuck off,” I muttered, glaring at my phone as it buzzed again.
MY PET I don’t think there are going to be a lot of opportunities to be alone together with our families there we could go sailing I didn’t mean we couldn’t just that it’ll probably be hard I smiled to myself, the corners of my mouth twitching upward.
ME I’ll figure something out and I want to get you out on the boat what kind of swimsuit do you usually wear?
“Texting your boyfriend again?” Henry teased, watching me out of the corner of his eye.
“Why don’t you mind your own fucking business for once?” I retorted.
Henry hissed dramatically, clutching his chest.
“Ooh, felt the sting of that one.
You must be pissed I’m right.” His loud laugh reverberated through the car.
MY PET a normal one and don’t even think about getting me one I chuckled, but my smile faded as I stared at his words.
Henry was right about one thing.
Torren had shifted the balance.
Somehow, without even trying, he was calling the shots.
He made it seem like he was superior to me, being the dominant one instead and making me do things his way, something I wasn’t used to.
Never even did.
And I was letting him.
That part was new.
And I was excited to see how this would play out.