Silver & Sage, page 5
part #1 of Silver in the City Series
“Just wondering why everyone was falling all over themselves with Bay. Seemed like an asshole to me. You think he’s got a thing for Sage?” My brows drew together.
“You mean because he was looking for someone to watch his new son and asked Sage for suggestions?” Benji tapped his chin. “Yeah, probably just an elaborate scheme to get to Sage.”
“I’m guessing he’s been staking out the joint, watching Sage, spinning a story about how he needs a baby-sitter. Then just sat out front feeding Arlo ice cream cones until Sage came around the corner.” Kyson pursed his lips and nodded, completely straight-faced.
I rolled my eyes.
“What did he say to you back there?” Benji gestured toward the bathroom.
I shook my head. But Benji and Kyson both just waited. “Fuck. Nosy asshole is what he is. Told me I had it bad for Sage. And that pressure was on me to do right by him or watch him with someone else. Said Sage liked me too.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “As if, right? The kid—and kid is a very operative word—is way too young, a renter, and an employee.”
My damn brother and cousin glanced at each other and smirked before turning toward me and fucking grinning like fools.
“What the fuck are you two smiling about?”
“Look, we were going to give it a little more time, but since you brought it up…” Benji started.
“I didn’t bring anything up. Bay brought it up and you two made me tell you.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“We have a few thoughts.” Benji pulled a chair out and motioned for Kyson and I to sit.
I sighed. “Of course, you do.” I plopped in the chair as Kyson patted my shoulder and sat next to me.
“First thought is you need to back off of Sage. You don’t have to be so grumpy and gruff and nit-picky. You two bicker like grumpy old men.” Kyson played with the salt and pepper shakers.
“Second thought is, despite you thinking he’s too young or any of those other excuses, you do seem to have it bad for him. And I’d agree that he’s got it bad for you. You two go back and forth like you don’t like each other, but the looks in your eyes prove you wrong.” Benji tapped his fingers on the table.
“You’re both morons. Go ahead and believe what you want to. He’s a kid. He still in school. He and I have almost nothing in common. I’m his landlord. And now I’m his employer. Not a single one of those things is a good idea in a relationship.” I leaned back in my chair.
“He’s twenty-four years old. That’s not a kid. He’s only ten years younger than you. He’s in school because he’s smart and he has plans for his future. You don’t have to have a lot in common to find someone attractive. Stop saying you’re his landlord like it’s something dirty. He lives with us and pays rent the same as we do. None of those things should stop you if you want to pursue things. He wasn’t your employee when you first found him attractive. You didn’t give him the job because you find him attractive. Did you?” Benji drew designs with his finger on the table.
“Of course not.” I scowled. “I gave him the job because he’s amazing at tracking and organizing the supplies.”
“We just think that you should be a little more open-minded. Maybe admit that you like him and see where things go. He may not even want a relationship. You both can take things slow, just see how it goes.” Kyson stacked the salt and pepper shakers on top of each other.
“Whatever. What if I admit I like him and he doesn’t feel the same? Would he want to move out? What if we give it a try and it crashes and burns? We lose a renter. You guys said he was the best of all the applicants. I’m not taking a risk of losing a good roommate. Do I think he’s fucking adorable and gorgeous? How could I not? That doesn’t mean I’m going to lose his rent payment or his help here in the bar. You guys go ahead and believe what you want to believe. Yes, he’s cute as fuck. But there’s nothing between us and that’s the way it has to stay.” I stood up from the table. “I’m going to finish up out here and then check to see if Sage needs any help. What time do you want to leave in the morning?”
Benji and Kyson both rolled their eyes at being dismissed. We decided on a nine o’clock in the morning departure time. My cousin and brother went to work finalizing the décor while I stalled for time with every last job I could think of up front. When I had no choice, I headed to the back to check on Sage.
Damn my brother and cousin, and Bay for putting thoughts in my head. Damn them for making me wonder if Sage found me attractive. Damn them all.
The next morning, armed with coffee and hot tea, the four of us threw our bags in the trunk and piled in Benji’s car. I called shotgun, so Kyson and Sage were in the backseat. I hated sitting in the back, and I didn’t need to be stuck back there with Sage for the whole trip.
The drive was only about two and a half hours, but we had planned to stop at a state park and do some hiking. Twenty-five minutes into our drive, Benji pulled into a gas station.
“Time for fuel and snacks!” I jumped from the car.
Once inside the store, I noticed Sage looked a little lost. “You don’t want any road trip snacks?”
Sage shrugged. “I’m not real experienced with road trips. Do we just pick foods that we like?”
My heart hurt. This beautiful boy, this damn genius with the sweet heart, had never been included in a road trip. “Yep, drinks, snacks, candy, anything you think you want on the drive.” I watched Sage tentatively grab a candy bar, chips, and a drink. I purposely threw extra candy, extra chips, and an extra drink in my basket just for Sage.
Back in the car, Benji announced it was game time. “So, Never Have I Ever is difficult to play if you’re not drinking. Plus, we don’t need ten restroom breaks. Truth or Dare is hard in the car if you choose dare. So, we’re going to play a combo of the two. When it’s your turn, you state something you’ve done or not done, and the other players have to truthfully tell their experience. You all in?”
I shrugged. “Sure.” Benji always thought a road trip needed a damn game.
Kyson and Sage agreed to the game.
“Okay, I’ll start.” Benji paused to think while he switched lanes to merge into traffic. “We’ll start easy, but I think the rule is we can get as in-depth as we want.”
I glanced over my shoulder and caught a glimpse of Sage taking a drink. His eyes went wide and his cheeks pinked deliciously. Oh, the things I wanted to hear the kid admit.
“I have seen every episode of Glee.” Benji stated his truth and looked to me.
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve seen every episode because you made me watch it.”
Kyson chuckled. “Same. But I actually enjoyed it. Not sure Bo did.”
Sage smiled. “I stopped watching on the last season. Got bored. In my defense, a roommate watched it, so that’s why I watched.”
“Your turn, Bode.” Benji tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
I thought over my question. I could go straight for the jugular, but I didn’t want to set Sage on edge. I already knew he’d never skinny dipped, run a red light, or made a prank call. I decided my first question would be easy. “I’ve jacked off in bed while someone else was in the room sleeping.”
“Oh, don’t I fuckin’ know it.” Benji laughed and groaned. “I don’t know if you were trying to be quiet. If so, you sucked at it.”
I laughed. Benji and I had shared a room most of our lives even through college. I knew he’d heard me. But if you can’t share that with your twin do you even really have a relationship? Actually, that gave me a great idea for my next question.
“Don’t act like you didn’t do the exact same thing.” I smacked the back of my hand against Benji’s arm.
“Fine. I did the same thing. But I think I was a lot quieter.”
I snorted. “What about you, Ky?”
“I have jacked off in bed with a boyfriend sleeping next to me. Worked out well. He woke, realized what I was doing, and helped me finish things.” Kyson shifted in the back seat. “We broke up, but that was a fun time.”
I turned to Sage. “Your turn.”
Sage’s face was as red as a tomato. “I’ve never shared a room with anyone. Never really had anyone sleeping in my bed. The most I’ve done is jack off while my parents or Mrs. Phegley were in the same house. With my door locked.”
I immediately wanted to sleep in Sage’s bed and wake to hear him stroking himself. Fuck. These damn thoughts were getting out of control. It was all Benji, Kyson, and Bay’s fault. I swallowed hard. “Kyson. You’re up.”
Kyson rubbed his hands together and laughed evilly. “I’ve recently or currently had a crush on someone older than me.”
I glared at Kyson by way of the side mirror, but the fucker just winked.
“Would the most recent someone be named Bay?” Benji teased.
“Maybe, maybe not. That’s my truth. I don’t have to give specifics.” Kyson kicked the back of my seat. “Bode?”
I wanted to growl and pout and refuse to answer. “I’ve not recently had a crush on anyone older than me.” Like Kyson, I wasn’t giving specifics. And whatever my fucking head was going on and on about with Sage wasn’t a crush. It wasn’t. I found him attractive. That’s it.
Benji laughed out loud. “Hmmm, I think I just decided on my next question.”
I shot him a I’ll kill you look.
“Fine, fine. I have not recently had a crush on someone older than me. But in high school, I crushed hard on a Senior when I was a gangly, gawky Freshman. What about you, Sage?”
The kid could lie. Any of his answers could be fabrications. But something told me he wasn’t the type to be deceitful.
“I have recently or currently had a crush on someone older than me.” His words rushed from his mouth before he took a gulp of his drink. “Okay, my question.”
The way he changed the subject as quickly as possible made me wonder who his crush was on. And the thought that it might be me went straight to my dick.
Sage cleared his throat. “I knew I was gay right about the time I hit puberty. I found a stack of Playboy and Playgirl magazines in the attic of a house I was helping to clean. The Playboy icked me out. But the Playgirl? I didn’t understand why or what it meant at the time, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the men.” After Sage’s word vomit, he clapped a hand to his mouth.
I was turned in my seat so I could see him and I had to take pity on the kid as his ears turned so red they looked as if they’d catch his hair on fire. I cleared my throat. “I’m going to take everyone’s answer on this one.” Kyson and Benji chuckled, but allowed me to keep speaking. “The three of us knew we were gay when we were about fourteen. Maybe we’d had thoughts about it before that, but it was set in stone then. And that leads me to my next question. I have allowed and enjoyed someone other than a date or boyfriend to jack me off.”
“Jesus, Bo. Just going to drop that out there, huh?” Kyson rammed a knee in the back of my seat.
“I don’t have to give specifics, but for the benefit of our new friend, I will. When the three of us started hearing friends talking about girls’ boobs and butts, we came to each other and kinda were like ‘What the fuck? Why are they so interested in those girls?’ A while later, Benji let it slip that he liked a Senior. When we finally got it out of him and he admitted it was Jimmy Medsker, Kyson and I admitted we’d been watching some of the guys in the locker room. One thing led to another and we all felt relieved to admit we liked guys. It was kinda nice coming out to each other first and having each other’s support.”
“What does that have to do with someone other than a date or boyfriend jack you off?” Sage frowned and stuck a chip in his mouth.
“Benji, Ky, and I were each other’s firsts as far as hand jobs and blowjobs.” I shrugged and Sage choked on his chip. “We never went further than that. But we’d grown up together since birth, Benji and I since conception, the three of us are closer to each other than to anyone else. When we realized we all liked guys, it made sense we’d experiment with each other to learn our way around being gay. At least at first.” I braced myself for Sage’s face to scrunch in disgust. Not a lot of people knew this information. I wasn’t ashamed of it. There was nothing wrong with it. We were all consenting. We were the same age, none of us had power over the other. We weren’t going to impregnate each other and mess up DNA. We learned what we liked with each other in a safe and comfortable environment.
Sage’s face was pink, but he let go of the breath he’d been holding. “Fuck, that’s so hot.”
Kyson, Benji, and I all busted out laughing.
“Not gonna lie, yeah, it was pretty damn hot. Inexperienced, gangly, exploding way too quick, but hot.” Kyson reached around the seat and squeezed my shoulders. “I can’t believe you just threw that at him.”
I shrugged and glanced at Sage. “You’re okay with it? Some people aren’t.”
“Do you guys still…” he paused and chewed on his lip, “hook up?”
“No. Haven’t done that since we were horny teens experimenting. I’m not against people who do, but we’ve not found reason to do that with each other anymore.” I opened a candy bar and took a bite. “Your turn to answer.”
Sage’s eyes went wide. “No, I’ve never allowed someone other than a date to jack me off.”
“Or boyfriend?” Kyson nudged Sage’s leg with his knee.
“Haven’t really ever had a real boyfriend,” Sage mumbled.
Holy fuck.
“But you’ve dated and messed around, right?” Benji asked. He wasn’t judging, just making conversation. Not exactly casual conversation, but it didn’t seem too probing.
“In for a penny, in for a pound,” Sage murmured. “My grandma used to say that all the time. I guess since you spilled your guts, I can spill mine. Are all road trips like this?” He shook his head. “Anyway, yes, I’ve been on dates. I’ve messed around in that I’ve given and received one hand job and one blow job.” He paused and looked directly at me. As if he was challenging me to grasp what he was saying. Like he expected me to make fun of him.
All of a sudden, what the kid was saying hit me like damn brick in the face.
I cleared my throat. “So, nothing beyond that?” Oh my God. The kid was a virgin. When we’d pegged him as inexperienced, we hadn’t known the half of it. Holy shit.
Sage nodded. “I’ve never really hit it off with the few dates I’ve been on. I don’t think I’m one for random, pointless hookups. I’m not purposely holding out, just haven’t found anyone who likes me well enough to have sex with.”
“Anyone who doesn’t like you well enough doesn’t deserve to have sex with you.” I bit out the words and turned in my seat to stare out the front with my arms folded across my chest. “Nothing wrong with being a virgin.” I felt the need to assure him of that.
The game was over.
And just like that, there was another tally in the Sage and Bode have no fucking reason to even consider being together category.
The very last thing I needed was to be responsible for the sexual awakening and education of this beautiful boy.
Fuck.
6
Sage
I was torn between being embarrassed to admit my inexperience and my heart soaring over having three friends I felt pretty much comfortable enough with to tell them the truth.
While it wasn’t easy to tell three men who were older than me and clearly much more experienced than me that I had next to zero sexual experience, I knew without a doubt that none of them would make fun of me or hold it against me. Even gruff and grumpy Bode. And I was right. While Bode didn’t seem happy with the information, he definitely took a protective stance rather than judging me.
While I was a virgin, and I felt okay telling them that, it didn’t feel like the right time to explain I wasn’t clueless or uneducated in sexual acts, desires, and likes/dislikes. Maybe there would never be a reason to delve deeper into that. I gave a mental shrug and focused on what the guys were saying.
“If you ever want our help in meeting guys or advice about dating, anything like that, just let us know.” Benji slapped me on the shoulder once we’d piled out of the car at the state park where we were going to hike before heading to their hometown.
“Yeah, we’ve got single friends. You could always bring a date to the Lizard as a safety net, let us check him out, be there as support if needed.” Kyson propped his foot on a split-rail fence and tied his shoe.
“Kid doesn’t need our dating advice. Not like any of us are actually dating anyone. And I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want us playing matchmaker. Right, Sage?” Bode frowned with his arms folded over his chest.
I shrugged. “I don’t have any prospects right now. And I’m pretty busy with school.” I took a sip of water. “But I wouldn’t mind you guys checking him out and giving me pointers if it ever gets to that.”
Bode scowled and mumbled something unintelligible as he turned to stalk toward the path. Benji and Kyson both laughed and sent winks my way. I wondered at all three reactions, but I shrugged and caught up with them for our hike.
We spent the next ninety minutes traveling paths through a beautiful Indiana forest. Fall was right around the corner and the very tiniest inklings of the season change were starting to show on a leaf here and there. The day was warm, but there was a different feel to the air that let a native Hoosier know summer maybe hadn’t given up completely just yet, but she was starting to lose her fight.
Fall was my favorite season. I loved watching summer come to an end. Loved the way the heat and humidity struggled to maintain its hold but slowly gave way to cooler and cooler air until there was an actual bite in the brisk breezes which blew through the magnificently colored leaves decorating our deciduous trees. Fall was always a new start to school too and this year was no different.
But it was different. Not only was I in a new year of schooling, I had new friends. Possibly the very first real friends I’d ever had.
Friends who had invited me on a road trip. Friends who shared secrets with me. Friends who didn’t judge me for being me.
