I walked into the kitchen to find Cruz leaning against the counter with his eyes firmly on Luna who was being interrogated by Jett. At least she hadn’t run from me after all.
“Was it as good as people say? I bet she paid them all to lie so us guys would feel threatened,” Jett was saying, glancing at Cruz. “Back me up here, man. Tell her guys are better in bed than Riley. I can’t say it without Beckett coming for my balls.”
Cruz grinned, crossing his arms. “He’s right, Luna. Guys are better. The last time I nailed Jett’s ass, he said I was the best fuck he’s ever had.”
“If we fucked, you’d be the bottom,” Jett argued, turning around and smacking his own ass. “See this? This is muscular from all the thrusting. Turn around so we can see yours. I bet mine’s firmer. Yours probably has an echo when the air gets inside it from all the poundings it cops.”
I was surprised when another guy walked in from the living room, his dark hair spiked at the front to keep it off his face. I didn’t recognize him, but since he stopped beside Cruz I assumed he was one of the Night Assholes.
“Cruz would definitely be a bottom,” the guy offered, crossing his arms. “He gives off people pleaser vibes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he let Stone fuck him sometimes as stress relief.”
Jett cackled, but Luna seemed uncomfortable until she noticed me walking towards them. Her shoulders relaxed, and she pushed a coffee towards me as I rounded the counter. “Here.”
“Thanks.” I gave her a smile and downed half of it before turning to face Cruz. “You’re definitely a bottom.”
“Bite me.” He chuckled, his eyes drifting to Luna before coming back to me as he raised an eyebrow. “Late night?”
“Bite me,” I mocked, repeating his words back to him. He laughed, but he didn’t add anything to it. His friend eyed me silently as I dropped an arm around Luna’s shoulders to speak in her ear. “Finish your coffee. We gotta go.”
“What for?” she whispered back, leaning into me more and making my stomach flutter.
“I have a bad feeling Rage is about to get me in trouble.”
“What did you do?” she squeaked out, and I gave Cruz a dirty look as he snickered.
“Can we just go?” I asked again, relieved when she nodded and finished her coffee. Cruz sighed, glancing at his phone.
“Ry needs to hurry the fuck up. I’ve got places to be.”
I walked towards the hallway but paused, frowning at him over my shoulder. “What are you waiting for him for?”
“We’re going running.” He shrugged before nudging his friend. “Right, Drake? You’ve been super excited.”
Drake grumbled, not seeming happy in the slightest about their impending fitness session.
“Fuck that. Have fun,” I answered, taking Luna’s hand and tugging her up to my room so we could finish getting ready for the day.
We were in my car five minutes later, the windows down as we smoked in silence, but her soft voice snapped me out of my daydreaming when we reached the main road.
“I’m sorry I got mad this morning.”
I glanced at her, pushing my sunglasses onto my head to assess her. She looked uncomfortable, and I had to remind myself that she was new at this. I struggled to understand why sexuality was such a problem since it was so openly spoken about when I was growing up. I knew lots of kids at school who’d had problems telling their families though.
One guy got his ass beat by his father in our freshman year of high school for coming out as gay. Another guy got bullied badly in our senior year for the same thing. It was ridiculous.
No wonder Landon was happy hiding in the closet.
“It’s fine,” I said with a small smile, downshifting as we reached the bar. We hadn’t had a destination in mind, but the bar was as good as anywhere else. “I’m not about to out you, as much as I’d love to rub it in your smug boyfriend’s face.” Her eyes went wide, but I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I said I won’t say anything. Don’t worry.”
She relaxed, squeezing my hand back before letting go and staring out the window while I parked. We climbed out, and I gave her space as we wandered inside, but her entire body tensed as we noticed her dad at the bar talking to Alex and Harley.
Alex gave us a friendly wave, and the moment Archer’s eyes landed on me, they narrowed to slits.
“Shit,” Luna murmured under her breath as he started towards us, but I rolled my eyes and nudged her shoulder.
“You’re acting guilty. We played truth or dare, relax.”
He glanced at her, but turned his attention back to me pretty fast as he stopped in front of us. “Riley.”