Page 149 of Floored By Love

Colton mock-gasped in offense. “Friends can cuddle too, Cam. You of all people should know that.”

“What’s that mean?” Luke asked.

I sighed, knowing Colton would probably put it indelicately, and explained. “Colton and I used to snuggle. Platonically,” I added, feeling Luke tense up next to me. “It wasn’t sexual-”

“Speak for yourself, stud.”

“Not helping, Colton,” I murmured. “For me, it wasn’t. Sometimes it was just nice to be touching someone.”

“It’s fine.”

“Totally what someone says when they’re actually fine,” I teased him.

“I mean, obviously, I don’t like the idea of him touching you, but I didn’t have a claim on you then, and if you wanted to cuddle now, I’m not gonna be an asshole about it.”

“Really?” I asked.

“I trust you. If anyone needs a cuddle, have at it.”

Colton didn’t waste any time. He slid over and filled my other side with his fluffy hair and muscular frame.

“Well, I guess Austin isn’t here. And we’re not official official, so as long as you guys don’t tell him about this,” Orion said, before walking over to Luke’s other side. He mirrored Colton’s position.

All of us couldn’t help but glance over at Alex, as Dr. Satler and Muldoon crossed through the compound to reset the power.

He must’ve felt our eyes on him.

“I’ll admit, you guys look cozy. And I’m comfortable enough to accept physical affection from a guy and not freak out. Move over, Colton. It’s not like cuddling can make someone gay, anyway.”

“That’s what did it for me,” Colton deadpanned.

“Have you had the team water?” I asked. “Because cuddling might activate the ingredients within the water. It happened in Brisbane.”

“Grant isn’t gay though, so I’m like him. The token straight.”

“And Ty’s technically bi, so not all of that team was gay,” Luke said.

Colton wrapped one of his long arms around Alex’s neck and pulled him closer. Alex was a few inches shorter than Colton, the team giant, so he fit next to him in a very little spoon-like manner.

A few minutes later, just before Dr. Satler was about to find Samuel L. Jackson’s appendage, I heard Alex give a loud sigh.

“This is kind of nice, actually.”

Colton laughed. “You’re like a hog in mud, aren’t ya?”

“I know that means I’m happy, which is true, but should I be offended you called me a hog?”

“Probably not, since I called myself mud.”

“True.”

“Ahhh!” Orion screamed. I felt the couch jolt. I turned to see Orion clinging tightly to Luke’s right side, his face buried under Luke’s armpit.

Luke leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Good thing I remembered deodorant today.”

“I heard that,” Orion said into the slightly hairy cavern in which his face was still firmly planted.

We had said our goodnights to each other after the movie ended. The pints of ice cream had all been eaten. I felt stuffed and happy, and Luke was getting ready for bed in the next room.