“Booker was there, too. He and Whit have been friends since birth. Their parents were neighbors, so they were just kind of stuck with each other. Took me a while to figure out why shy, chill Booker is tight with the hot mess express that is Whit, but it makes perfect sense now. They balance each other. When Knox and I got to the cabin, Booker’s parents were still there, unloading his stuff. That’s why Whit was outside. Neither Jesus nor Mr. Zabek would approve of nudity, except maybe in the shower. Anyway, as soon as they left, Booker visibly relaxed. It was like he could be himself when Whit was around. And over time, he started to be that way with Knox and me, too. He can just be himself, you know?”
She gives me a questioning look and I know what’s coming. “What do you mean?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. When his parents are around, especially his dad, he has this standard to live up to. When they’re not, when he’s just with us, he can just be free. And what does it mean for him to be free? I don’t really know. I just know his jaw isn’t clenched and his shoulders aren’t up around his ears.”
“Damn,” she says, shaking her head, “that’s rough.”
I nod my agreement, because she’s right.“Look, there’s a grocery store up ahead. Ollie said it’s basically the last sign of civilization for miles. Wanna stop and stock up? The guys are bringing stuff later tonight, but knowing them, it’ll be booze and potato chips. Maybe some Clif bars for Booker.”
We turn off into the parking lot and our shopping trip takes less than twenty minutes.
We make it to the cabin a half an hour later, and unload. For a cabin in the woods, it’s pretty nice. There’s a main room with a TV and fireplace, an adjoining kitchen, and a deck that looks out onto the lake in the distance. There are four bedrooms. One has a jacuzzi tub, so we claim that right away, not that anyone really cares. Hell, just because it’s inside our room doesn’t mean Whit won’t walk in and start running the tub at three a.m.. Then again, those three might just pass out in front of the fire or out on the lawn furniture.
We make lunch, take a hike in the woods, and just enjoy the afternoon. There’s something magical about being away from the responsibilities we have at school. Up here, it feels like time doesn’t exist. We’re free from the pressures of our classes and of our families.
“Feel like a movie?” I ask.
“Maybe,” she says, toying with the strap of her tank.
“Feel like stripping down and soaking in the tub?”
“Yes, please.” Phoebe’s smile is coy, like she knows something I don’t.
“What are you up to?” I ask, pulling her close and threading my hands through her soft hair.
“Have you checked your phone?”
“Honestly, no. I’m kind of trying to pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist right now.”
“Understandable,” she says, leaning in to my touch. “But trust me. You’ll want to see this.”
I grab my phone from the table where I left it hours ago, and swipe up to see a string of texts.
Knox:Bailing this weekend. Why drive a couple hours to hang with you guys when I can stay here and fuck sorority girls? No offense.
Booker:Sorry guys, last weekend’s game was shit, so Coach wants us to put in some extra time on the ice. Have fun! :)
Whitman:Hate to disappoint, but you guys are going to have to spend a romantic weekend alone without me. I know this is devastating news. Please accept my apologies. To be honest, I have fuck-all to do. I just don’t feel like getting my ass in the car and driving up to buttfuck nowhere to listen to you two blow each other’s minds. I can download porn at home. At least then I get to watch.
“Oh my god. They’re a mess. I hope that didn’t offend--” She stops me with a kiss.
“Offend me? Ha. No chance of that. I knew what I was getting into that first night at dinner when Whit told me he likes to rub his own meat--in the kitchen, of course--and Knox asked if I was down for a three-way. Besides, that means we have the place to ourselves, right? For the whole weekend?”
She’s right. It does. And maybe I’ve used my boys as a buffer for too long. Maybe it’s time to finally give in. To show Phoebe what she means to me--no inhibitions, no outside worries. This weekend, I’m not my mother’s son. I’m Ty Marshall, the guy lucky enough to have a weekend alone in a cabin in the woods with his girlfriend.
It’s not a bad deal.
***
Phoebe
I see the moment Ty realizes what I want, and how much freedom we have. There will be no interruptions this weekend. No distractions. No books, no tutoring, no job, no homework. No naked Whit on the couch with an undetermined number of guests. No random loud noises in the middle of the night.
It’s just us. And heaven help me, I’m going to make it count.
“You know what? I’m going to soak in the tub for a while, give myself a really good scrub. Feel like meeting me in the bedroom in an hour or so?
Ty swallows, his Adam’s apple visibly bobbing. “Yeah,” he clears his throat, “cool. I’ll see you in an hour.” He kisses me sweetly, but presses his hard body against me seductively. “It’s a date.”
