Tail - Chapter 3

Story by Marthell on SoFurry

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#3 of Tail and side stories

After the play Kale receives an unexpected message.


"That otter's cock was pretty damn big, wouldn't you say Ryan?" Adrian says. He's loving every damn moment of this. "And I wouldn't say no to a little of that husky's butt. Not that it's little. I see why you were tempted now. Damn good casting if you ask me."

Kill me now. Please.

"Adrian..."

We're outside the theater standing together in the night, me leaning against the building, him stood tall beside me. Most of the rest of the audience has wandered off now that the performance is over. We avoid the few who are still around smoking or discussing the play with their friends and partners and family.

"I told you he was a crazy fucker, why the hell was he on stage with that guy if they were fighting like hell just the other day?"

"Fuck, I don't know, maybe they made up." I can't quite manage to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

"Oh I see. Make up sex. Make up sex makes everything better." He nods to himself as if he has just given out some deep words of wisdom.

"Are you trying to make me feel awful? I thought you wanted us to be a thing." Damn husky, what the hell was he there for anyway?

"Oh I do girl, but how am I gonna give you some make up sex if we haven't fallen out?"

Despite myself I laugh. He grins at me, obviously pleased with the reaction.

"If you really want make up sex," I say. "Then you shouldn't be making me laugh."

"Damn. You've foiled my plan. What if we just pretend we've fallen out and we have make up sex anyway?"

"I think I've heard that phrase more in the last two minutes than the last two years," I say exasperatedly, pulling out and lighting up a cigarette.

"Then you haven't lived." Adrian says. He lifts a paw to my chin and gently takes hold of it. He looks into my eyes for a moment, then lets go and looks away. He takes a step back and wafts away the smoke. "And if they've made up then I guess that means I'm fresh out of competition, and I'm due for a good wolf cock sucking."

My cock likes the idea, but my head is apprehensive. It's not that I don't like him. It's not that I don't find him attractive, I mean he's a little slim for me, but he keeps good care of himself and to be honest he's still hot as hell - I mean, the fag walks into a club and has more paws on his ass and crotch in five minutes than most guys get in a night - it's just that I'm scared. Scared that it won't work out, scared that it will fuck up our relationship, despite his promises, and on top of that, there's Ryan...

"Hold on a minute darling. We haven't confirmed they made up. Maybe they hate each other to bits and he's just a damn professional." I take another drag from my cigarette. "You know? Like exactly how you aren't." I kind of regret the words as soon as they leave my muzzle. They were leaking a little more poison than I intended. I shouldn't have said it. His tail is still, he raises an eyebrow.

"All right bitch. Calm down." He says, grimacing and looking off into the distance at nothing in particular. I'm about to apologize when he smiles, his tail starts wagging and he laughs. "Just fucking with you Kalie, I get it, you're still making your mind up and we don't know for certain." He puts on innocent puppy eyes and looks straight at me. "Does that mean I don't get a mouthful of wolf dick tonight?"

"I didn't say that." I walk over to a nearby trash can and snuff out my cigarette. "I just said you might still have competition."

"Good," he says and, although his voice is laced with a little of something I can only discern as fear, I can tell he means it. "I wouldn't want to be settled with."

An impulse takes hold of my mind. An idea captives me. I consider it for a moment. Fuck it. Go on then.

I take hold of Adrian's arm and pull him close, I tilt my head down to look at him and nuzzle into the side of his face, whispering into his ear: "you won't be." I let out a short growl. He physically shudders in my grip. My cock likes that, and I do too. "How about we head back to mine?"

"Hell yes," he gasps.

It's right now that my phone decides it's a great time to buzz. It's a text, my phone's still on silent since we were in the theater.

Adrian raises an eyebrow at me. Obviously he felt it too.

"You expecting a text around now?" He asks.

"No." The answer hangs still in the air for a while before I follow it up with a halfhearted: "it could be anyone."

Somehow we both know it's Ryan. Adrian looks up at me expectantly. Another moment's hesitation. I let go of the fox and take the phone out of my pocket.

"Let me see at least." He says. I don't argue.

Right there is the message, lit up on my screen with the name Ryan heading it as we knew both it would be. It reads: Hey there wolfy >:3 I know it's late, but I'm heading out to sword & sheath for a few drinks in a couple minutes with a friend, want to come and chat and see if we can figure out where things might be going? And maybe I can find you somewhere nice to sleep tonight while we're at it. We gonna be there from 10.30 so let me know if you can make it xx

"Fuck me to the moon and back." Adrian whispers. He looks at me and then speaks normally. "Two x's? Damn, you two must be getting serious. And did you see that emote? I mean, rawr!" He lifts up a paw and goes all limp-wristed while he makes the sound." Damn Kalie, this bastard is in to you." After a moment he smirks, then mutters: "can't imagine why that would be."

"Fuck." Is all I manage to say. Adrian stares at me, waiting for more. "What should I do?" He opens his mouth, I lift a paw, he stops and tilts his head. "What should _we_do? I'm not going to abandon you tonight, this is our first date after all."

The slender fox takes a moment to consider that, running one paw through the light red fur of his opposite forearm. He gives off a hum and still doesn't speak. The lack of his blabbing muzzle going off at me is starting to make me nervous. He lifts a paw up to his ears and lightly tugs at each of his earrings one at a time for what feels like forever, but is more likely fifteen seconds.

"You might tell me to fuck off with this one, but you're right, it's our first date, so... how about you text him and ask if you can bring your own friend along?"

I can't tell if this is the worst idea of all time, or if it's genius. My emotions are so mixed up right now that I don't know that it matters. Either way we're doing it. I'm not one to avoid the exciting. Obviously Adrian will have the chance to wreak his usual mischief, but somehow I don't mind. I kind of want to see them meet, like a sheer stone cliff fighting against the crashing waves.

All I know is that I'm going to remember tonight, well, if I don't drink too much.

*

We walk into the bar like we were born for this very moment and with a sense of confidence and swagger that's exacerbated by our excitement, the sheer ridiculousness of the night's events, and the presence of each other. All in all we make for an impressive looking couple of fags.

That might not be the best way to look in most bars, but Sword & Sheath isn't most bars.

Can make it for 10:30, but with a friend RN, can I bring him along?

Sure, see you soon xx p.s. will need to talk to you privately for a minute when you get here ;3

Adrian loved that. "The mystery deepens," he said. "You know you're filling me in after, right girlfriend?"

I couldn't exactly argue with that.

When I say the Sword & Sheath isn't most bars, I don't mean it's a gay bar... well... I don't mean it's not a gay bar either, it's... well let me put it this way: if it were any more bi-curious there would be a cock in every viable hole by now. On second thought I don't know how helpful that description was, but I'm sticking to it.

A voice in the back of my mind tells me I should be scared, nervous, even anxious about meeting with Ryan again. I mean, what the hell is going on with him and Marty? And Adrian is only bound to up the strangeness, yet, for one reason or another, having the auburn furred fox with me calms me down completely.

A few steps deeper into the establishment is when I see him. There on a bar stool sipping at a cocktail and staring straight at me is Ryan, alone. He waves at us with a single brief hand motion and a wide grin lights up his face. He's so damn cute, and even cuter naked. Unfortunately it's not a secret I've been fortunate enough to keep for myself, it's pretty public information. Damn play. Still, he's gorgeous.

When we're close enough to talk comfortably his gaze shifts over to Adrian who he gives a quick once over.

"Nice to meet you...?" He holds out a paw, leaving a gap in his speech for the fox to fill.

"Adrian. Nice to meet you too, uh, Ryan wasn't it?" He shakes the husky's paw and Ryan nods to him in response. "Kalie told me."

"Kalie? That's a cute little nickname, I might have to steal that one." He laughs to himself. "I've been sticking to good old fashioned Wolfy."

"Oh I wouldn't switch over if I were you," says Adrian as the two continue to talk past me. It's like I'm not even here. The fox leans in to Ryan's ear and says: "I think he likes it. He tries to act all tough but I think he's just begging for the right canine to come along and put him in his place." He winks. I'm already beginning to regret bringing him here, but I manage to resist the urge to publicly face palm.

Ryan loves it. He lets out an extended chuckle and nods in agreement. "Oh, I don't mind playing the long game on this one. He'll see the logic of 'best of both worlds' eventually I'm sure."

Ugh, him too? Damn switches. I swear Adrian is a bad influence on everybody he comes into contact with.

"I guess I don't get any say in the matter, do I?" I ask, finally speaking up.

"No." They say immediately in perfect union, both staring straight at me. After, they turn to one another, sharing a look that combines amusement and the kind of canine mischievousness that I don't like to get involved with.

"I'm fucked aren't I? You've only known each other for - what, two minutes? - and you're already ganging up on me."

"You bet your ass," Adrian says, a certain level of vindictiveness entering his expression through a curl at the edge of his grin and a gentle lowering of the head.

Ryan reaches out and taps my shoulder lightly. I look into his soft, welcoming eyes. Something about how he carries himself makes me want to hold him close and share his body heat, in the rain, under a tin roof, on a cold winter morning.

"Wolfy?" He says, disrupting my daydream.

"Yeah?"

"I need to talk to you in private for a minute." He nods towards an empty table in the corner of the establishment. I nod as my only response. The husky looks at Adrian. "Sorry Adrian, mind waiting here for a little while?"

The fox shakes his head. "That's no problem, I'll get myself a drink." In one motion he swirls around to face the bar counter, struts over and puffs his chest over the edge, making sultry eyes at the bartender. Naturally the bartender walks towards him immediately, despite the gaggle of people waiting for service. The fox knows how to work situations to his advantage, I'll give him that.

While I'm staring at him, Ryan takes me by the paw and guides me over to the deserted table. When we sit down he takes a sip from his cocktail and suddenly his eyes find it difficult to meet with mine.

"So, uh..." he begins, apparently tongue tied. This is new. I've never heard or seen him any other way than entirely confident. "I've got a few things to admit to you." He rubs the back of his neck with a lifted paw and staunchly refuses to meet my eyes.

Interesting. My mind races. It could be anything. I do my best to keep my expression locked to a supportive smile and to stop my ears from perking up and swiveling to listen in as closely as possible. Stay cool Kale.

"Sure Ryan, what's up?"

"Well, it's-" the husky starts and stops all over again. He lets out a sort of disgusted sigh and shakes his head. "Sorry, I'm not normally like this. It's just that I haven't actually met a guy I found interesting enough to want to get in contact with after a night since, well..."

"Marty?" He finally looks up to me at that and nods. "Well it's understandable, and it means a lot to me that you think highly enough of me to say that. How long were you two together?"

"That's what I was going to explain." He takes a long drink from his cocktail, finishing it entirely before speaking again. "You're gonna think I'm a fucking psycho." He shakes his head and looks me straight in the eyes. "It's, uh, let me start at the beginning. I'm an actor, like, a theater actor. Semi-pro. Not my general day to day but I make some money off it, put in a lot of time and travel for shows sometimes, all that bull."

I could let on that I already knew he was an actor, but that might distract the flow of conversation and more than anything I want to know where this is leading.

"The good news is I don't think you're crazy, so far at least." Is what I end up saying. It seems to help him, his expression brightens, although only a little bit.

"I was only getting started," he says, his gaze drifting off into the center of the room while he scratches behind one of his ears. "So yeah, remember when you followed me out of the club the other night and overheard me on the phone, complaining about my boyfriend?"

"Yeah."

"I was talking to Marty."

"What?" I try to wrap my head around that and fail.

"Me and Marty aren't partners. We just live together."

"But the shared bed, and the argument-"

"As for the bed, we're friends, you know? The kind that get benefits. Like you and your fox over there." He points at Adrian, who's idly schmoozing with a few of the guests while he waits.

"Oh, me and Adrian? It's not, well, I mean-"

Ryan laughs at me and rolls his eyes.

"Don't worry, you're not on trial here." He says. "As for the argument, well, let me go back to what you overheard me saying on the phone. I was talking to Marty. It's, well, it was an act."

Everything swirling in my mind starts to slow and begins clicking in to place.

"An act?"

"That's right," he makes a sheepish smile, looking embarrassed to even be here. "I thought it would be kind of fun, and it's good practice."

"You used me as practice for your acting career?" I blurt out incredulously. Out of the corner of my eye I see Adrian half turn towards us at my sudden loudness, his ears firmly swiveled in our direction. I wonder if he can hear us from over there. He has great hearing, he's a fox after all, but with the buzz of the bar I think there's no way he can make any details out.

"I can't exactly say you're wrong." Ryan sighs, but forces himself to perk up and stares right at me. "I need you to know I genuinely was interested in you, or else I wouldn't have done any of it. And the sex, that was legit. And great." He pauses, considers something, and speaks again. "Just so you know, I've done this kind of thing a few times before, but you're the only one I've ever told about it. Take that as my personal brand of fucked up praise."

I take a moment to digest all of that. I should have ordered a drink. At least this makes sense of the play. Damn, I hate to admit it, but a small part of me kind of loves what I'm hearing: the arrogance, the playfulness, leading to the honesty and praise. This husky is intoxicating. Like the first drag of a cigarette. You kind of hate yourself for getting involved with it in the first place, you hate that it's always in your mind, you hate that you can't let it go. But somehow you love every damn second of it.

"Thank you? I guess?" He laughs at that. "What about that argument, was it planned too?"

"Oh," he laughs and his teeth show in a wide grin. "No. Marty got pretty drunk that night and forgot what we agreed, but obviously he realized by the time he got in. We improvised the whole thing."

"Damn, really?"

"Hell yeah."

"I would be pissed, but that's fucking impressive." The shouting, the tears... wow. Now at least it makes more sense why he wanted more sex straight after. And now I don't have to feel too bad about fucking a guy in a relationship, even though I evidently would have done it either way. Damn. It really was impressive.

"Fuck, I'm so relieved you said that. I really like you Kale. I didn't want to continue whatever we have going on here with that lie behind us, that's why I asked you out here. Oh, and that friend I said I was with?" He pulls out his phone and starts tapping on the screen while he speaks.

"Yeah, where is he anyway?"

"I'm telling him to come back now. It's Marty. I thought I should just give you the run down before you two met." He makes a few last taps on his phone and puts it away.

"Are you just a living, breathing mindfuck machine or something?"

"I have a feeling that's exactly why you like me."

I'm left not knowing quite how to respond. That's when Marty walks in. Ryan stands up and I follow his lead as we walk to meet the dark furred otter at the bar counter. Adrian looks over to us, stands as we move towards him. Then his eyes follow Ryan's gaze, he sees Marty and his whole face lights up as if Christmas had come early. He looks at me to gauge my reaction. My expression of vaguely bewildered amusement appears to be too much for him, as he raises a paw to his muzzle and he starts laughing for a couple of seconds before he forces himself to stop and regain his composure. Moments later the four of us are stood at the bar together.

Not awkward at all.

"It's good to meet you properly Kale. I don't think our first encounter was very representative." Marty says to me in his light, well mannered tone. After watching the play I've become accustomed to it. He sticks out a paw, I take it and shake it. My life has got considerably more exciting over these last few days. Maybe I'm just as fucked up as Ryan, because I'm loving it. "Ryan's told me all about you." His eyes dig into me and he lets his words drawl on just long enough to make it clear he isn't really talking about my electrifying personality.

"Nice to meet you too Marty." I say. The otter smirks and he gives me a long once over from head to toe and back again.

Adrian examines me and the otter as we speak, trying to figure out exactly what's going on here. I feel a little bad for him, he has all the confusion and baggage of seeing these two without the explanation I've just had from Ryan.

Luckily the husky is a very perceptive bastard. He must have read Adrian's expression as he says: "And that handsome fox over there is Adrian, Kale's friend." He turns to Adrian. "I'm guessing Kale probably told you about the other night?"

"Kalie tells me everything." He says instantly. "He wouldn't stop blabbing on about you, you must have been good."

"The very best." Ryan responds. The two talk like gossiping girls at a nail parlor, with a hint of flamboyance and self-aggrandizing confidence about their words. Marty catches my eye and raises an eyebrow. It's non-camp gay code for: look at these fags. "I'm guessing he told you about the, uh, argument too?" Adrian nods, quiet for once because he wants the answers just as much as I did a couple of minutes ago. "Long story short me and Marty here are just friends who live together, the argument and the rest? Well, I'm sure Kale will be happy to fill you in later."

"I look forward to hearing about it," he says, and I know he means it. "Anyway, good to meet you Marty." The otter reciprocates the greeting and gives the fox a once over just like he did to me. I wonder which one of us impressed him more. Ugh. I shouldn't think about that. I already have more guys asking me out right now than I know how to deal with, and that's only two.

"Now that's all over and done with, why don't we get some drinks in you two." Ryan says, pointing at me and Marty. "Me and your luscious fox friend are already in the swing of things."

I see Adrian's ears perk up at the word 'luscious'. Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. Flirt with my friend right in front of my face when me and you have been sleeping together, will you? Maybe the husky meant nothing by it, maybe he's just being friendly. Maybe I shouldn't be over-thinking this. Hell I'm technically on a date with Adrian right now. It's not like me and Ryan have made any real commitments yet. Then again, maybe the real reason I'm so annoyed is jealousy.

Enough of that. There are more important things to be thinking about. Like drinks.

I summon the bartender, and when he sees me next to Adrian he comes right over. Adrian's set for the moment but the rest of us order various drinks one by one. While we're waiting on them to come I take the moment of peace to think about the situation I'm in right now and try to figure out how I got here, where I'm with my best friend who wants to get serious, my fling who wants to fuck some more, and the guy he sleeps with. After a few seconds of trying and failing to give it any meaningful context I'm presented with a drink and it all leaves my mind as quickly as it came in.

Once we're all equipped and ready we find a suitable empty table and sit around it. Me opposite Ryan, with Adrian to my right and Marty to my left.

"So," Ryan starts the moment we're all sitting. "What were you two up to tonight?"

I'm really not going to get a break am I?

"Uh..." I attempt to say. "Well..."

"We went to see a play," Adrian butts in. His voice fueled with conspiratorial confidence. "It was pretty good actually." Ryan's eyebrows go up and his mouth parts slightly, closes again and he shakes his head. Marty lets out a quiet laugh. Adrian smiles. "It was called Romeo and Julian, you might have heard of it."

"You two must have been rather confused." Marty speaks up. "It's to be expected though. Nothing involving Ryan is ever simple."

"You can say that again." I say, without even thinking about it.

"Oh, don't pretend either of you don't love it." Ryan says in a sultry tone, leaning in towards us. He sits up straight and takes a sip of his drink. I can't offer an argument so I stay quiet. The otter does the same. His choice of words though: you two. More to think about, at least, when I'm not half way through a drink late at night in the middle of a conversation with a long list of things to think about already populating my inner to-do list. "Simple is boring. Anyway, what did you and Adrian think of the play?"

"I liked what I saw." I do my best to sound coy. Adrian's tail flicks at my words and I instantly know why, but I dismiss it. I told him I wouldn't be exclusive until I'd figured out me and Ryan, and I certainly haven't figured out me and Ryan.

Perhaps in an attempt to de-sexualize the comment Adrian adds: "Yeah, you're both great performers."

It's too late. Ryan locks eyes with me, takes a long gulp of his drink and says: "Nice view right?"

The entire universe fades away around him and me. All that's left is the two of us in a sea of black. I notice everything about him, taking it in, properly internalizing it for the first time. His bluish gray eyes. His white and black fur. The way he's sat up straight so that he can tilt his head down just a little while he speaks, until he's leaning in and looking up. The way his ears never dip, not once showing a sign of weakness. That perfect amount of fat, certainly not skinny, but not unhealthy. That fluffy, gently swishing tail that hypnotized me so perfectly the first time we met... Nice view right? Are you fucking kidding?

"Fuck yeah."

He smiles.

The rest of the universe fades back in.

Adrian's tail is wrapped around a leg of his chair, unmoving. Maybe I shouldn't have brought him here. Then again, this was his idea. The fox glances at me, follows my gaze down and then uncurls his tail. He looks across the table at Marty.

"Oh don't let that husky take all the credit, you gave us quite a nice view too," he says to the otter. Then he not-so-subtly winks at him. Marty stares right back. They seem to share a moment, speaking volumes without words. Or maybe I'm just projecting.

"It seems you two have us at a disadvantage." Marty says finally, talking to the both of us but keeping his gaze firmly on the fox. "It hardly seems fair that you've seen us naked and we haven't seen you two in the fur."

"Hey, I've seen wolfy butt naked." Ryan interjects.

"Well yes, apart from that."

Well this might get awkward fast, especially if Adrian isn't interested in-

"So have I, if that counts for anything." Adrian says.

Or, just, okay then. Today is not my day for being in charge of anything.

"Now I just feel left out." Marty says. "What's he like?"

"I'm right here you know." I say, raising a paw and doing a little wave.

None of them even look at me.

"Oh, he's pretty hot." Adrian says, Ryan nods in agreement. I should be flattered, but I'm having trouble accepting quite what's happening. "Do you like wolf dick?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?" Marty asks, causing Adrian to laugh.

"You would definitely appreciate the view then."

"I don't mind a nice bit of wolf ass either."

"Well it's very nice, but unfortunately it's on an a no-access policy." Adrian says dryly, giving me a disapproving look and shaking his head.

"What a shame." Marty looks at me and frowns.

"I know, I've been trying to cure him of that personally defect for a while now. No luck quite yet."

"We'll see what I can do about that," Ryan adds in a voice that oozes so much self confidence that I almost, almost, want to let him top me right here and now. I have a vision of me sprawled across the table, him thrusting hard into me while the whole bar watches. My disobedient cock can't help but tingle with the thought.

"How about we see which one of us can fuck him first?" Adrian asks them. "It's bound to happen eventually."

Ryan laughs and nods, Marty smiles and rolls his eyes. Adrian shakes paws with the two of them, confirming the friendly competition. Their eyes collectively settle on me.

"Um..." I say. I don't know what I was expecting from tonight, but it certainly wasn't that. That seems to be about right for how my life is going lately. "How about you all stop thinking about my wolfy ass and we get some more drinks."

"No chance on part one of that, but part two sounds good." Ryan says. I roll my eyes. He's a lot more like Adrian than I realized. Not that that's a bad thing.

We get more drinks and chat about the play for a while, about how good the performances were and the great adaption of the script. Marty asks Adrian about where he works and he ends up explaining about both our jobs, seeing as we work in the same building. It's dry stuff but that fox he can make anything sound fabulous. By the time Ryan asks about our relationship I can tell I'm not entirely sober. I tell him we're best friends and leave it at that, Adrian doesn't give me a disapproving look or stiffen up, so I assume I didn't fuck up too bad.

I ask Ryan about him and Marty, which leads me to filling in Adrian about what the husky told me earlier, the fox finds it predictably exciting. After the fox recovers from the information overload - and after he gives Ryan a look that I can only imagine translates to_damn you're fucked up, bitch -_ Ryan says they met when they were cast in the same play in the city a few years ago and they quickly bonded. Now they live together, and sleep together, and sometimes sleep together. He hastens to add they're not_together_ together.

I want to ask him what that makes us. Whether he wants to be with me, exclusively me, or if I'm just another fuckbuddy. Not that I would hate the latter option, I'd just like to know. But I don't ask. I'm scared of what the answer will be either way. The important thing is that, right now, neither of us are tied down, we're trying things out, and for the moment that's okay.

After all the talk we're done with our drinks all over again and we're at least a little, tiny bit buzzed. I wouldn't say drunk, but, well, you know.

"So how about another round?" I take a look at the nearest clock, it's past midnight by now. "Or is it time to head home?"

"Yeah, I think it's time to go back," Ryan says, nodding. Adrian looks at me, trying to catch my eye, but the husky speaks up again and consumes my focus. "Why don't you join me?" Adrian's gaze switches instantly over to Ryan, his eyes widen. Ryan meets his gaze and smiles. "And your gorgeous fox friend is very welcome to join us. I mean, if you're both okay with that."

I look to Adrian, not sure what to think or how to feel about the proposition, hoping he can give me some guidance. He looks at me and thinks for a moment. I may not be able to tell quite how I feel about this, but from the pressure my clothes are forcing against my hardening dick I can tell that at least one part of me has made it's mind up. Why choose one when you can have both? Adrian sighs, a light and vaguely tipsy sigh, then shrugs the kind of shrug that can only mean: fuck it, go on then.

"Let's do it," I say, feeling half excited and half like I've just signed a contract with the devil without reading the fine print.

"I don't have to go and find somewhere to stay again do I?" Marty asks the husky. Ryan looks around at the two of us, eyebrows raised, I look at Adrian, he looks at Marty, Marty looks at me and grins.

"I wouldn't want you to be at a disadvantage," Adrian says to the otter, surprising me and Ryan by being the one to speak. Marty, however, looks like he expected it.

"So it's settled then," Ryan says. A sense of accomplishment evident in his voice. "Come on, let's get going."

We get up from the table, and it's only by the time we're out the door and into the cool night that it hits me.

"Wait, Ryan, was this whole night all just a long ass set up for group sex?"

He doesn't answer. Marty laughs out loud.

I don't bother asking again. I don't need to know.