Page 66 of Fish Out of Water

Robbie pulled out a moment later, throwing the used condom in the small garbage bin by the bed before he collapsed back into bed. His hair stuck to his forehead, darkened with sweat. Jake was taking up most of the bed, so he scooted over, allowing Robbie to stretch out just a bit. It was hardly enough, but that wouldn’t matter soon.

“Robbie?”

“Yeah?” Robbie’s voice was a little huskier than usual.

“I think you should go.”

“Mm.”

Before Jake could push him out, Robbie had curled up next to him, chin resting on Jake’s shoulder, arm around his waist. It was nicer than Jake expected—comforting, almost—and he fell asleep faster than he had before in his life, the quilt that was covering them half-falling off the bed on Robbie’s side.

17

IN THE FAMILY

Jake awoke to a stirring in the bed—not his stirring, but that of the man lying next to him. He blinked in the brightness of the room, the curtains wide open to the quiet backyard where a robin searched for worms.

“What time is it?” Robbie mumbled.

“Dunno. Morning.” Jake reached for his phone, wincing as he stretched his sore arm. Sleeping scrunched up in a bed not built for two people was even worse than he’d anticipated. “We really should’ve thought this through.”

“Yeah.” Robbie yawned and stretched. The blanket slipped down his chest, pooling in his lap.

Jake’s fingers met smooth, hard wood. He groped around for a few seconds longer, but there was nothing on the nightstand besides the lamp, a still-open bottle of lube, and a torn condom wrapper. “Fuck.”

“What?”

“I left my phone in the living room.”

“My clothes are in there too,” Robbie said. “At least my shirt is. Damn it.”

“I’ll get it,” Jake offered. “I’ll try to sneak through the hall. If we’re lucky, my aunt isn’t awake yet.”

Robbie groaned. “This is why you don’t have second nights with the same guy, isn’t it? Too messy.”

“That’s one of the reasons, yeah. We can’t make this a regular thing, Robbie. This was the exception to the rule, and now it’s done.”

“I know,” Robbie said.

He got out of bed, letting the sheets drop from him. His body, even from behind, was perfect. With the faintest of tan lines left over from the summer and a smattering of freckles on his back, Jake had to fight the very thought of seeing that body another morning. Or many other mornings, again and again and again.

“I think you should get back on that dating app,” Robbie said as he pulled his pants on. “There are some hot guys around Grayland. You’ll find someone to take your mind off this little town.”

“You think it’s a good idea?” Jake asked.

Robbie hesitated a little too long before answering. “It’s a great idea. You’re not going to be here for that much longer anyway, so you might as well make the most of it while you still can.” He forced a harsh, unnatural laugh. “You don’t want to waste it on a rich bitch like me, right?”

Jake suddenly felt sick, which was odd because he hadn’t had a drop to drink last night, and he wasn’t even that tired. The hours of sleep he did manage to get cramped in bed were, for the first time in weeks, deep and restful.

“I’m gonna get our shit from the living room,” he said, sitting up carefully. He gripped the sheets tightly, keeping them above his waist as his eyes scanned the floor for his underwear and jeans.

“I’ll do it,” Robbie said. “If she is awake, your aunt will be less likely to confront me than you.”

“Thanks.” Jake cradled his head in his hands, deliberately not watching Robbie, still shirtless, walk to the door.

He left it ajar so Jake could hear his footsteps padding down the hall. The sound faded only to return only a minute later, which meant that he must have been successful.

Jake glanced toward the door, but instead of Robbie, a wad of fabric was pushed through the crack. A phone slid beneath the door next, coming to a stop a few inches into the room. It took Jake a moment longer to realize that Robbie wasn’t coming back in. No kiss, no goodbye, nothing. Just a wrinkled shirt tossed through the door, landing unceremoniously on the floor.