he one I looked up to, the one whose face I couldn’t wait to see. He was the cool older brother who could do no wrong. He was the one I turned to when everything went to hell. My mother might have broken me when she left, but Otter destroyed me when he ran. I’m not fooled by the difference. I know what it means. That is one thing I’m not confused about. The rest…
well, the rest I don’t know. I’m weirded out by how I seem to be noticing other guys, and that the feeling is growing exponentially beyond my control.
It’s not right. It shouldn’t happen.
“What’s with that look?” I hear Isaiah ask.
“That’s his thinking face,” Anna replies.
“Oh.”
“I need to call Otter,” I tell them. I feel weird. I need to hear his voice.
“His name is really Otter?” Isaiah asks. “And you’re Bear? Let me guess: long story?”
I start to tell him the story for some reason, but I get cut off. “Bear and Otter,” Anna agrees. “How about you and I walk away and let Bear use the phone? Or better yet, how about you walk away. Forever.”
“Anna,” I scold. “Don’t be rude. Isaiah’s… nice.”
Nice? it laughs. That’s one way to put it. If by nice you mean he gets your dick moving, then yes, Bear. He’s nice.
“See?” Isaiah says. “I’m nice.” He gives her his nicest smile, full of white teeth and dimples, and I look away. He’s very nice.
“I know nice people like you. Just because Bear’s naïve doesn’t mean everyone else in his life is.”
“Hey, I’m not naïve—”
“You know what’s fun?” Isaiah asks. “When you meet someone for the first time and they turn out to be bitchy. I love that.”
Uh-oh.
Anna’s eyes narrow. “Excuse me?”
“We were just leaving,” I say hastily, grabbing Anna by the arm and pulling her away as fast as I can. “I’ll see you later.”
“You will because we’ve got the same class,” he says, grinning at me, causing fluttering in my stomach. “Which starts in fifteen minutes. I’ll save you a seat.” He winks at me and then turns on his heel and walks in the opposite direction. I stop myself before I check out his ass.
“What in the hell was that about?” Anna snaps at me as we round the corner. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“Since when did you start thinking I needed your help?” I ask irritably.
She looks aghast. “Um, maybe around the time I saw some stranger pressing you against the wall while he rubbed up on you? Bear, I know you.
I know even you’re not that stupid. You mind telling me what’s going on?”
I rub my hands over my face. “Fuck. I don’t know!”
She opens her mouth but seems to change her mind. But then she says it: “You and Otter aren’t having… problems. Right?”
I shake my head. “No. I don’t know. He seems to think that I’ll get sick of him and will want to see what else is out there. You know… with guys.
And then there’s the fact that everyone he’s ever been with besides me looks like they should be running in slow motion on the beach somewhere.”
She snorts. “Do you?”
“Run slow motion on the beach? Of course not!”
She rolls her eyes. “Do you want to see what else is out there?”