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“Don’t scoff. Social belonging is on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Social interaction is important just like food and shelter.”
Numbers are simple: they always do what you expect them to do. It’s what drew me to aerospace engineering, the ability to see a problem and find a solution using known mathematical principles of physics is amazing. Plus, rockets.
Duh! Rockets ftw!
People, on the other hand, rarely do what I expect. They say things that are different than what they mean, they laugh and tease, they lie. People don’t make sense the way physics and numbers do; they don’t even try to.
Emotional bonds are strange that way. Unlike physical forces, they are in no way impacted by the distance between the two objects—or people as the case may be. It’s fascinating when you think about it.
I swear I can hear Theo’s puppy dog eyes through the phone.
I slip into the chair and fold my hands on the table in front of me, more acutely aware of them than I usually am. Hands are an odd thing, so useful and yet perpetually in the way.
“If you were smart, you’d know that there’s no way the Millennium Falcon could do a Kessel Run in under twelve parsecs. It has one of the least aerodynamic designs I’ve ever seen.” “Not aerodynamic?” he repeats in disbelief. “Have you ever seen a frisbee? They’re plenty aerodynamic.” “A frisbee is not a spaceship, different things need to be considered,” I argue. “You’re right, considering that the spacecrafts in Star Wars are capable of lightspeed travel, I’d say that aerodynamics aren’t even what’s really in question. What you want to consider is photodynamics.”
“Furthermore,” Pax goes on, pausing to drain his latest drink. “If you look into Star Wars lore, a parsec is a unit of distance, not a unit of time, so one can assume Han was just talking out of his ass to sound like a hotshot, rather than listing actual specs for the Millennium Falcon.” “Wow,” I murmur, still dumbfounded. “Alcohol clearly makes me stupid, and also, you’re a total nerd,” I tease, letting the surprise infiltrate my voice. “I mean, I knew you were smart, but you’re a nerd.”
“Does anyone else know, or are you completely in the closet?” I ask with mock innocence.
Whoever’s idea it was to open a late-night burrito place smack dab in the middle of all the bars on the street is clearly a genius.
Elijah: Your brother texted me and said we’d have ONE drink. The man is Satan. He got me drunk and took advantage of me.
So, he’s a genius and apparently isn’t lacking in social skills or self-confidence. I’ve heard of such unicorns but haven’t seen one in the wild before now.
I’ve officially doubled my record number of friends. Theo would be so proud.
“So, what’s the problem with the hottie?” “There’s no problem, I just hate socializing, and it’s been a long week so I’m not sure I’m up for a whole night of worrying that I’m saying or doing something stupid.”
For reasons I doubt I could decipher if I spent the rest of my life contemplating them, he cuts me off with his lips against mine. My breath catches, and my brain short circuits. Did I give him a sign I didn’t know I was giving? And if so, what was it so I can be sure to do it again.
Oh my god, I’m going to see Paxton without pants on. If this is a dream, please, please, please don’t let me wake up before I get to see his dick.
“I don’t know what I want because I don’t think I know everything there is. All I know is that I want to feel you against me, I want you on top of me and all around me, I want to see what it’s like when you fall apart from pleasure.”
My brother asked me to look out for his best friend, and I end up humping him like a horny dog.
“He’s pretty busy with school and everything; I’m not sure he’ll have time.” “It doesn’t hurt to ask,” Seph points out. “Besides, he has to eat, it might as well be fancy, tiny birds.”
If Heisenberg’s Uncertainty principle is that you can know the velocity or location of an object at any given time, but not both. I think the Paxton Uncertainty principle has to be that you can understand what he says or how he acts, but both can’t be comprehensible at the same time.
I’m more worried that two out of three of them will try to get in your pants.” My eyebrows pull together, and I tilt my head. “Why would they want to do that? I’m nothing special to look at. I’m awkward, I’m…there’s no reason for anyone to want me that way.” Pain lances through Pax’s eyes, and for a few stuttered heartbeats, I’m sure he’s about to kiss me. “Oh, Einstein, you really have no idea.”
“I can’t believe you left early last weekend, man,” Hudson says. “A group of undergrads stumbled in about an hour after you took off, and I had to take three of them home all by myself since you weren’t there to help out.” He smirks, and out of the corner of my eye, I catch Bishop wince. “I’m sure that was quite a hardship for you,” I tease. “Those poor guys though, stuck with you instead of the thousands of better options they could’ve gone home with instead.”
“They were great, it’s just…” he cuts himself off, shaking his head and slouching in his seat. “It’s just what?” “I don’t get you. That first night at the bar with the Star Wars argument, you were so passionate and smart. You’ve been the same when you come to hang out at my place or text me. But then tonight you’re this dude-bro asshole who only thinks with his dick. It’s like you’re some kind of horny Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
My breath hitches, and heat flares in his eyes. “We’re nothing more than atoms crashing into each other.”
I read through the list, feeling my despair grow as I wonder how I’m going to be able to do so many different things at once—suck, swallow so I don’t gag, flick my tongue along his tip, use my hand to cup his balls…it’s like the Bop It game from hell.
I know I’m not supposed to feel anything other than lust for Pax. That’s kind of the whole point of our not complicated arrangement. But what am I supposed to do when he takes me somewhere so thoughtful and looks at me like I’m someone?
I never knew the whole inexperienced thing would do it for me, but goddamn if it doesn’t.
“There’s a great burger place just up the street.” “Oh my god, that place is to die for, and there are always super-hot guys there,” Alex adds helpfully, and Theo’s expression finally softens. “Hot guys?” he repeats. “Ridiculously hot guys. Like, all the firemen hang out there after their shifts.” “Way to bury the lead; always start with firemen,” he scolds.
How can I want him this badly? It’s like I’m addicted to him on a cellular level. God, it’s going to suck when this ends.
“When did you get such a filthy mouth?” “Probably when you put your cock in it,” he reasons, and I bark out a laugh.
“There’s this idea in string theory that there are infinite parallel universes with infinite possibilities,” he says, settling closer to me, his soft cock, still wet with his cum, pressing against my thigh as he hitches a leg over mine and nestles his head onto my chest. He lets out a content sigh, his whole body relaxing into me. “I hope we’re doing this in every single one of them.”
“I guess I’d better feed you. Sorry, I’m pretty rusty at this boyfriend thing. You’ll have to remind me if you need regular walks or anything.”
You’re the smartest, sexiest, most incredible man I’ve ever known, and I’m hoping like hell you’ll agree to let me spend the rest of my life in awe of the fact that you actually chose me.”
