He Says He's Just A Friend

Chapter 58 - Feels Like the First Time

- Clay -

We stayed at the club for almost two hours. By the time we left, at nearly 1 a.m., the club was beginning to feel more like a sauna. Sweat beaded on both our foreheads, dampening our hair. The collar and underarms of my new shirt showed the signs of a night of grinding on my boyfriend, packed into the throng closer than sardines in a can, but I couldn't find the capacity to care.

The night breeze that should have chilled me straight through had no effect as I held Emmett's hand, gleefully strolling through the shadowy streets of a city where I'd lived my whole life. It felt as if I'd never truly lived at all until tonight. My skin was still buzzing when we got into my car to head toward home. As Emmett's idol said, I was drunk on something stronger than the drinks in the bar.

"I think this was the best night of my life," I said, feeling the ache in my cheeks from so much smiling.

Emmett reached over to play with my hair. "I'm glad you had fun, baby. I just wanted to show you that being gay can be awesome."

At that, I had to laugh. "I know. If I wasn't gay, I wouldn't have you. That's awesome enough, without all the other stuff."

Emmett ran his fingernails across my scalp, sending a wave of delightful chills up my spine. "I love you so much."

I smiled, glancing over at my sweet, handsome boyfriend. I didn't want this night to end. And maybe it didn't have to. "Do you have a curfew?"

Emmett shook his head. He stared down into the darkness of the footwell. "I may have told my mom that I might sleep over with you if you asked."

"You really told your mom that? And she was okay with it?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Emmett had finally looked up at me. "We had a really long conversation about sex last year when she first found out that I was sleeping with Alfie. She pretty much told me she knew I'd find a way to do it, even if she forbid it. She just wanted me to be smart and do it safely."

"Isn't that what all parents say? Mike told me I should always have condoms, and be a gentleman, and never push the person—although he said girl—into doing anything."

"No. We talked about that, too. But I mean safe, as in doing it in a safe place. She made me promise to never go cruising in the Parkland Woods or to meet up with someone I don't know from an app. And not just because of STIs and stuff, but because they might hurt me."

My mouth dropped open. I'd never even considered that. But it made so much sense, given his history with that asshole Patrick.

"So, we should go back to my house then?" I raised my brows curiously, glancing at Emmett for confirmation.

"Only if you want. And we totally don't have to do anything. We can just watch a movie. Or even go to sleep."

I made the turn that would take us back to our neighborhood. "I'm not tired."

"Me, neither."

All the windows in my house were dark when I parked in the driveway. After getting out, me and Emmett joined hands. We were both smiley, continually throwing glances at each other. We headed around the back to go directly into my room. The motion detector light on the back porch flashed on as I fumbled with my keys, searching for the right one. I wasn't sure if my shaky hands were from the adrenaline that had yet to fade or the nerves about what would happen once we got through the door. I finally found the correct key and let us in.

I rushed over to the interior door to flip the light switch so Emmett didn't have to shuffle around in the dark. I also locked the door to avoid any unpleasant walk-ins.