Back in the Saddle

Late-Night Drives

Nick's POV:

Clay and George are sitting in the front seats, Clay driving since it's his truck and George riding shotgun since he called it first, with the rest of us in the back. Alex is sitting in the middle because he gets carsick, much to my displeasure. I wish that I could keep talking to Karl for forever; our conversation tonight was unlike any I've had with another person.

I think that there's a possibility that I could really fall for him, if I allow things to continue as they are now. And I think that I will, because my small crush isn't letting me think logically. In my mind, falling head over heels for him with absolutely no idea if he even likes men sounds like a wonderful idea.

Clay let the brunet have the aux cord since it's his first time on a drive with us, and right now he's sifting through his spotify, trying to find the right song. Finally, he gasps and eagerly clicks on a song, looking to all of us to get our reactions. The music starts playing as soon as he clicks on it, but it takes me a second to recognize the song playing through Clay's loudspeakers.

"Hey I love this song!" George says from the front seat.

"I should hope so," Karl laughs. "You are the one who showed it to me, after all."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that."

"Don't go there 'cuz you'll never return. I know you think of me when you think of her, but then it don't make sense when you're tryin' hard to do the right thing but without recompense," all of us sing in... sort of unison.

Everyone knows the lyrics aside from Alex, who knows a portion of the chorus but just bops his head along for the rest. Karl giggles at him every time he does this, which gives me butterflies and a bit of jealousy each time. 'The Adults Are Talking' is one of my favorite songs; I have to admit that Karl has a really good taste in music. Damn, is there anything about him that isn't perfect?

Once that one is done, the next song comes on, and this one takes me a minute to remember. But when I do, I instantly slip into a happy mood: it's 'Looking Out for You', by Joy Again. George starts to hum along to the music and I catch Clay looking over at him, adoration in his eyes. It honestly annoys the crap out of me. I wish they would just admit their feelings for each other already; can it really be that hard?

My mom asked my other mom out within a week of knowing her. They got engaged after dating for eight months and have been married ever since. That's the only example I've ever had of what a relationship is like. I was a baby when they met: I was a product of a one night stand that my mom had with some random dude who she claims to not even remember, so there's never been a father figure in my life. I don't really know what I'm missing though, I love both of my moms a lot and can't imagine not having them.

"Okay, guys. Drive thru or eat in?" Clay says, pulling into the parking lot of Taco Bell.

"Drive thru!" Alex shouts, sounding like a little kid.

"The way you said that made you sound like an ipad kid," George jokes, reading my mind.

He coughs obnoxiously loud, right into George's ear, and the brunet reaches back and slaps him. All of us break into laughter, but Alex isn't amused. "Owie," he whines, rubbing his face. "You know, my mommy didn't feed me today. But George- my mommy didn't feed me today. Did you know that?"

"Any askers?" George answers, not looking back.

"Ouch, that's harsh," Karl says.

"You stole my joke!" Alex complains, resulting in even more laughing from us bystanders.

"Can all of you please shut up!" Clay wheezes out. He rolls down Karl's window since he's on the driver's side and pulls up to the speaker. "Tell this poor worker what you want, please."