Free afternoon.

It had been a long time since something like this happened. For the first time in long months, after spending nearly every day in the company of at least one woman, I was surrounded by nothing but dudes.

It happened when classes were over. Outside my classroom, I said goodbye to the girls who were going to meet with Diana at the coffee shop, and just some time after they left, Thomas and Ben approached me.

“What’s this? Got dumped?” Thomas teased.

“They’re going to talk to Diana,” I told him. “And since I’m not working or going to the gym today, I have the rest of the day free to lose my mind thinking about how that’s going.”

“Wait, you’re free, Oliver?” Ben asked. “If so, mind if I bother you for an hour or two? I… need advice.”

I blinked. “Advice?”

Ben nodded. “It’s… a delicate subject. Kind of. I’ll treat you to a burger. Two burgers.”

“I’ll help if I can, but are you sure it’s me you want advice from?”

“I know no one better to ask,” he told me.

Thomas grinned. “Ben got a girlfriend. He needs advice about women.”

“Ah. Well, that’s awesome, Ben. Congrats. And I can see why you’d come to me for advice, but I’ll give it to you straight. I have NO idea what I’m doing.”

“Says the guy who JUST got one more girlfriend,” Thomas said, crossing his arms.

“Wait, what? You serious?” The one to speak was Mark. He had just thrown his backpack over his shoulder and was getting ready to leave. He walked up to us, grinning and saying, “Dude, one woman is exhausting enough to deal with. Why do you subject yourself to more suffering?”

“Because it’s worth it,” I answered, playing along. “REALLY worth it.”

Mark laughed. “Oh, fuck off. Now you’re just bragging.”

“See? I’m sure you have a hint or two to share,” Ben said, giving me a light punch on the shoulder. “Come on, Oliver. Help a brother out!”

“Let me join in,” Kevin said, approaching from behind Ben, walking past him and wrapping an arm around my shoulders to lean on me. Considering he was even taller than Thomas, the position was really awkward. He then spoke in hushed tones. “I need help too, man. Lena and I… I’ll go into details later, but yeah. I’ll treat you, too. What do you want?”

“If we’re doing this, we might as well have privacy. Let’s go to my house,” Thomas said. “Wanna come along, Mark? You might learn something.”

Mark groaned. “I’d scoff, but with this guy I just might. I’ll go. If Oliver doesn’t mind, that is.”

That he was polite enough to think of that gave me just enough reason to not object. “Alright, fine, I’ll go. But I don’t guarantee anything I say will actually work for any of you. Take my advice at your own risk.”

Ben smirked. “Thanks, man.”

Oh, and it didn’t escape me that Thomas stealthily invited himself into this whole affair. Crafty ass. And that was the reason we were in his backyard, the five of us sitting around a round, glass patio table. We stopped by a fast food place and ordered to go. Kevin and Ben insisted, so I ordered two really burgers and a ton of fries.

“So you really got a new girlfriend, Oliver?” Kevin asked as we ate. “Who? Is she from our school?”

“No, she’s not,” I told him. “She’s… older.”

“She’s my girlfriend’s best friend,” Thomas said after swallowing a big bite. He downed it with soda and continued. “She hooked them up. Apparently she had her eyes on Oliver for a while.”

“Oh shit, I was thinking university-older,” Ben said. “So she’s like… what, 25?”

“26.”

“Is she hot?” Kevin asked.

Mark flinched at the question. It almost made me feel bad. The guy seemed to have the impression I’d get upset over anything. But then again, I had already gotten quite upset with Kevin and Ben once before.

Eh. Water under the bridge.

“You be the judge,” I told them, bringing out my phone and sliding it over the table with a picture of Diana on it. A decent picture of her, if you were wondering. Fully clothed. Even so…

“Oh, holy shit…” Mark gasped. “Dude, she’s even hotter than Mila and the others.”

“In some ways,” I told him. “She definitely has a whole different vibe.”

“Yeah, she looks a lot more mature,” Ben said, nodding.

“Is it just me or she’s kinda tall?” Kevin asked.

“She’s about as tall as me,” Thomas said.

“Woah, seriously?” Kevin raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t that bother you?” he asked me.

I tilted my head. “Why would it?”

“I mean… You’re short, she’s tall. Must be awkward.”

I sighed and shook my head dramatically. “Kevin, if you can’t appreciate the nuance in the differences in size, then you really do have a lot to learn. For example, me being shorter means my head is closer to chest-height.”

“...” Kevin’s eyes slowly widened more and more and his jaw began to fall. “Oh. Ooooooh. Dude, that’s… Ahaha! That’s genius.”

“Alright, that’s it!” Ben smacked the table as he laughed. “If I wasn’t convinced before, I am now. Teach me your ways, master.”

“What about Noelle?” Mark asked, his lips slowly curling into a smirk. “SHE’s shorter than you.”

I nodded. “And therefore easier to carry. She’s as light as a feather.”

Thomas and Mark snickered loudly before they broke into laughter.

“You really live in a whole different world than us, don’t you?” Thomas said.

“You’re exaggerating. I’ve just learned to love things as they are. I’m short, nothing to do about it. Besides, wishing Noelle was taller or that Diana was shorter is a waste. It’s part of what makes them special.”

“You definitely have a type, though,” Thomas insisted. “Sure, they’re different, but all your girls are sexy in similar ways.”

“Can’t deny that. But I thought we came here to talk about Ben and Kevin. Don’t think I don’t see what you’re pulling.”

“Damn, lasted less than I thought,” Thomas said, grinning. “Still more than we could’ve gotten out of you three months ago.”

That was true. I was no longer overcome by anxiety and a desire to be accepted. Instead, with these guys I just wanted to… BE. It felt different than being with the girls. Freeing in some ways, more restraining in others.

It wasn’t bad.

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