Aaron left me after an hour with a bear hug and a pat on the back. “Don’t be a stranger this summer.”

“I won’t. You too.”

Classes were done, and Asher had talked about getting a job this summer to help us out. I still had my gross gas station gig that had promised an increase in hours over the summer months. We hadn’t revisited the other employment opportunities Asher had looked up online, but they sat at the back of my mind, lingering all the time. We’d mutually agreed—through our silent twin voodoo brain link—that we’d only go there if we had no other choice and needed the cash.

I lay on the bare mattress of the bed as I waited for Asher to show up with the last of his stuff—including the bedding. It would be our first night in our shared apartment. I couldn’t wait.

Later that evening, we lay in our underwear, sweaty from celebrating as we ate pizza right out of the box—a treat to ourselves for all the hard work we’d put in the past little while.

Jay had been requesting a Skype call since early afternoon, and Asher opened his laptop, logging in while I nibbled a piece of crust.

“Shouldn’t we get dressed?” I asked.

“Nope.” Asher grinned. “I like teasing Jay with what he can’t have. Besides, I have a plan. Follow my lead.”

“What’s the plan?”

“You’ll see.”

“I can’t know?”

“Nope.”

I tossed the remainder of my crust aside and sat up beside Asher as he connected a call to Jay.

The minute Jay’s face appeared on the computer screen and he saw our nakedness from the chest up, he groaned and tossed his head back.

“I hate you both.”

“What’s wrong, Jay, my man?” Asher taunted. “Problem?”

Jay rose from wherever it was he was sitting and paced away from the camera. I thought his laptop must have been on a table by the height. The house in the background was insane. It was clear from the little bit we could see that Jay was loaded.

“Dean!” Jay called out. “Do you want to see what I put up with?”

He returned to the table, tugging the tie he was wearing loose. “I had news to share, but your state of undress has my mind muddled. Don’t tell me you were fucking before you called. I’m not sure I could handle it.”

Asher swung an arm around me and tugged me against his side. “Busted. Sorry, Jay. You see, Atti and I just moved into the apartment we’ll be sharing, and we spent the afternoon celebrating our independence and freedom. By that, I mean we were fucking.”

“Asshole.”