Page 12 of The Forever Vault

“Oh, sorry, Orion. I call him ‘O’.”

“Oh yeah, I was. He was with you in London? You went to school together too, I think?”

“Yeah, he was and we did.” I tossed my suitcase on the bed. Ezra leaned against the door.

I had to smile inwardly at his attitude. He was a bubbly one. I was sure I’d be feeling like that if Cam were with me. Instead, it felt like a part of me had stayed with him. It wasn’t a surprise I felt that way, but I was going to have to get used to it.

“You want help unpacking?”

“No!” Ezra looked disappointed, which made me feel guilty. “I mean, no thanks. I have some personal stuff in he-”

“If it’s like a dildo or something, I don’t care. It won’t bother me.”

I must’ve stared at him for too long.

“Hey dude, I know you don’t really know me, but everyone knows you and Cam. It’s not as big of a story anymore, but I’m gay, too. My parents and coach know, a few friends back home, the guys I’ve been with, obviously.” He paused and smiled, then his hands continued weaving what I could only describe as the world’s most intricate invisible scarf. “My coach said I could learn a lot from you and I know you don’t really know me that well, but I really look up to you, and Cam too. And I know it’s probably a huge understatement to say it sucks that Cam isn’t here, and I have no idea what that must be like, but I’m really glad we’re roommates and we’ll hopefully be spending a lot of time together because you seem like a great guy and Orion had nothing but nice things to say about you-”

“You can take a breath, Ezra.”

He laughed. “Sorry. I’m just really excited.”

“I can tell.” I chuckled. “Your enthusiasm is refreshing. It’s making it a little easier for me to be here.” I swallowed. “Without Cam.”

Ezra left the door to make himself comfortable on my bed.

This boy had no boundaries and I kind of liked it. He was a little bit of Cam, Colton, and Orion all packed into one tall, likely ripped, body.

Maybe this won’t be so bad after all?

“Jesus! Is that your dildo?”

I thought he was on his phone and didn’t think he’d notice. “Uh, yeah.”

“Mind if I take a look?”

“Seriously?”

“I mean, if you aren’t comfortable, I understand. I just don’t have a lot of gay friends and while my coach is super supportive, it’s a little weird to talk about that with him. My parents are obviously out of the ques-”

“Okay, okay. I get it. I should be less weirded out and more supportive of your curiosity. I’m an only child and Orion’s not a baby gay anymore, so I haven’t been a mentor for a while. Here ya go,” I said, handing him my Cam-sized toy.

His eyes widened. “You can take this?”

I nodded, smiling. Cam would never believe this. “My boyfriend’s actually bigger than that.”

“No fucking way, you lucky bitch. I mean…you’re lucky. I didn’t mean to call you a bitch.”

“It’s okay, I am a lucky bitch. You can be jealous.” I finished unloading my clothes into the dresser.

“Okay, good. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re hot, but Cam…woo.” He dramatically fanned himself.

“So, boy-next-door is your type?” I sat down next to him, trying not to be distracted by how he was absent-mindedly stroking the dildo.

“Yeah, probably. Your beard definitely gives off a little daddy vibe, and that’s not a bad thing, just not quite what I’m looking for.”

“Well, my first piece of advice is to focus on the Olympics! Dick can wait.”

“You didn’t follow that advice.”