Seth pitched a rock into the river. "You and West have a thing?"

"No."

"That argument didn't look like two people who weren't involved."

Zay sighed. "He kissed me at Josh's last party but that was the extent of our involvement. He wanted me to admit I had feelings for him, to admit that I'm gay. I wasn't ready."

"Yeah, West has a way of pushing a little too hard." He grinned. "He's always been like that, though I remember after he came out he was so uncertain of everything. His dad's rejection hit him hard and I think he was looking for acceptance wherever he could find it. I guess that's why he fell in with us so easily. He regretted it, a life of crime wasn't for him." Seth grinned widely. "I guess he blames me for the things he did."

"You two had a thing?" Zay asked.

Seth shrugged. "It was more of a hookup than a boyfriend thing. He had just come out and I think he was, I don't know, exploring I suppose. I was his first." He tossed another rock.

Zay watched the ripples created by the rock, waiting for them to disperse before he spoke. "So then it wasn't serious?"

Seth bumped his shoulder against Zay's. "Jealous?"

"No, just curious."

"Nah, it wasn't serious. We were sort of each other's booty call. Friends with benefits, whatever. At least that's how I looked at it. I never asked West if his feelings were more involved, once he decided to bail on the gang we stopped talking, so I doubt there was anything there."

"Probably not." He smiled at Seth. "Though, he was pretty angry for someone whose feelings weren't involved. Maybe he's still hung up on you cause you were his first."

"Nah, I doubt it. He doesn't like the gang and I'm sure he thinks I'm going to try and convince you to join up."

Zay snorted. "As if. After that convenience store fiasco, you couldn't convince me to get anywhere near Darrel and those guys again."

"But you're near me."

"Yeah, well ... you're different," Zay replied quietly.

Seth placed a hand against his cheek. "Am I?"

He covered Seth's hand with his own and smiled. "Yes, very."

They remained as they were, staring at one another for several seconds before Seth leaned in and pressed his lips to Zayden's. It was tentative as if he were afraid Zay was going to shove him away. His lips were soft and when his tongue swept out to lick over Zay's bottom lip he released a little groan in response to the touch of his tongue.

Seth deepened the kiss and Zay accepted it, twining his arms around Seth's shoulders and pulling him closer. Seth's hand slipped from his cheek to tangle in Zay's hair, he moved forward and laid them back in the grass.

When Seth's hand slipped beneath his shirt, Zay gave him a little push. "Seth ... I'm ..."

Seth backed off and sat down. "Not ready for that," he finished.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I don't mean to—"

"Stop it, I understand, Zayden. You've spent most of your time trying to hide who you are, this is all new to you."

He sat up with a sigh. "Thanks for understanding."

"It's not a big deal." Seth nudged him with an elbow. "I'm not here to roll over you and force you to do anything you don't want to. You need time, I'll still be here when you're ready, though I will say you've got the kissing part down." He grinned and Zay blushed.

"Thank you, it isn't as if I haven't kissed anyone before."

"Yeah, I know but it's still true." He stood and yanked his shirt over his head. "I am going for a swim, are you joining me?" he asked as he shed the rest of his clothing.

"I think I'll pass," Zay told him, looking away as Seth shed the last of his clothing.

Seth bent down and pecked a kiss on his lips. "I'm not asking you to come to swim with me with the hope you'll decide to fuck me, Zay, I just want to go for a swim."

"You are very persuasive," he said with a smirk.

"I try. Are you coming?"

"Fine, I'll swim." He stood and stripped off his clothing.

Seth ran into the river with a shout. "Holy shit, this water is a lot colder than expected. I swear to God, my dick just tried to climb up inside my body."

Zay burst out laughing as he waded into the water. "Are you trying to tell me not to judge your endowment by this swim?"

"Fuck you!" Seth splashed him as he swam over to where Zay bobbed in the water.

"We already agreed that wasn't happening."

"Funny." Seth lifted his feet and let his body float. "My parents used to bring me here when I was younger."

Zay allowed himself to float beside Seth. "That's cool."

"Yeah, I kinda miss those times. Ya know?"

"My parents might be religious zealots who want to reprogram me, but I still miss them."

"And you feel guilty about it," Seth replied simply.

"Yes, no ... I don't know maybe." He sighed. "When I was younger I thought our church was like every other church, that what we believed in was something all Christian churches taught. It wasn't until I went to church with Alyssa that I realized that wasn't true."

"Is that when you began to question your sexuality?"

"No, I'd already been doing that for a long time, but it wasn't until that day that I began to think maybe it wasn't sinful and wrong. It was then that I started thinking that everything isn't always so clear-cut."

"I suppose it isn't." Seth reached out and grasped his hand. "I'm glad you called me, I was afraid you wouldn't."

Zay pulled his feet down and turned to face Seth, waiting until he stopped floating. "What made you think I wouldn't call?"

"Weston."

He snorted. "West has nothing to do with anything."

"Come on, I know his appeal, we had a thing, remember? West is sexy and smart and he has a personality that draws you in. He's hard to resist."

"Yes, he's also a pushy asshole."

Seth laughed. "Yes, he is. Though when I knew him he was a lot less pushy. That dominating personality of his hadn't asserted itself yet, or it was taking a break after what he went through with his dad after he came out." He shrugged.

"Doesn't sound like West."

"Nope, but that was a difficult time for him."

"I'm sure it was. Can we not talk about West?"

"Sorry."

Zay hooked a hand behind Seth's neck with a grin. "I'm glad I called you too." He dragged Seth forward and locked lips with him. It didn't take much to realize the cold water had little effect on dousing their desire and after a minute or two Zay took a step back, his breathing slightly ragged. "Okay, maybe it's time I went home."

Seth chuckled. "Agreed. Come on, let's go before I make a serious attempt at convincing you to let me be your first."

Zay laughed loudly. "It would take little convincing." He frowned. "I probably shouldn't have told you that."

"Probably not," Seth said with a wink. "But I promise I'll behave."

"The bad boy is going to behave? I think you broke all the teen novel rules."

"This isn't a novel I can break whatever rules I want and I will break them if it means keeping you by my side." He leaned in and planted a kiss against Zay's throat, moving down to nip at his collar bone before he pulled away.

"You do not play fair, bad boy," Zay told him breathlessly.

"Hey, I said I'd behave, not become a nun."

"You're a guy you can't be a nun."

"Figure of speech, Walker. Come on before I try to keep you naked." He grabbed his things and began getting dressed.

Zay was tempted to allow Seth to convince him to remain naked, but he pulled his clothes on. He wasn't ready yet, his mind wasn't in a good place, and starting anything that might cement their relationship, make it more than what it already was, probably wasn't a good idea.

Once they were dressed, Seth grabbed his hand and they walked back to where Seth's motorcycle was parked. Zay allowed himself a grin as they approached the bike.

"What's the smile for?"

"I was just thinking about how much I like being snuggled up to you on the back of your bike."

Seth made a small sound and dragged him into his arms, kissing him very thoroughly before releasing him. "Can't say that I'm averse to having you pressed against me."

"Come on," Zay told him.

"What, am I too tempting?" Seth asked.

"Funny, let's go."

Seth swung a leg over the bike and patted the seat behind him. "Let's go, biker babe."

"You are so hysterical."

"I know, it's one of my most redeeming qualities."

"I thought it was that you're a good listener," Zay told him as he settled onto the back of the bike behind Seth.

"Hmm, you may have a point." The bike's engine roared to life, Seth released the brake and they flew down the road.

Zay wanted to shout, but he held it in for fear that Seth might make fun of him for it. He truly loved riding on the back of the motorcycle and it wasn't simply so he could press close to Seth. It made him feel alive and he could understand why people loved to ride.

Seth pulled into the driveway and parked in front of Josh's house. "Home sweet home."

Zay brushed a kiss over his lips once he was off the back of the bike. "Thanks for everything."

"Any time."

Zay turned toward the house and stopped, he turned back to Seth. "Do you think you could teach me to ride sometime?"

"And lose my old lady?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Har har. Can you teach me or not?"

"Of course, I'd be happy to." He pulled Zay in for one last kiss. "I'll talk to you later."

"Okay." He stepped back and watched until he could no longer see Seth.

"That was adorable."

He spun to face Alyssa. "Are you spying on me now?"

"Nope, I'm checking up on you like a good mother."

"You are not my mother."

She grinned. "Someone has to make certain you make good choices!" She sniffled and wiped away an imaginary tear. "My baby boy is all grown up."

He grunted. "And what, you think West would be a better choice than Seth?"

She shook her head. "Never said that. I think you should consider what happened last time you got involved with Darrel's crew."

"I'm not involved with Kootz and his guys, I'm involved with Seth."

"Seth is part of the crew, Zay. He isn't going to stop being a part of it either. You know that. It's damn hard to separate the two."

"Look, I like the guy and until I have a reason to doubt what he tells me, I'm going to believe him. He says he's trying to break away from Darrel and the gang. He works at his uncle's place because he's trying to go straight. He doesn't want to end up some lifer in and out of prison."

"Fine, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop checking up on you. I care about you, you're my best friend and I love you."

He dropped an arm around her shoulders. "I know and I appreciate it, but I know what I'm doing."

"All right if you say so." She pulled away from him with a grin. "Josh is planning another party, his parents have decided they want to go to Paris for a month."

"A month?"

"Yup, they leave Friday. His mom said something about a second honeymoon." She shrugged.

"Nice, so we get the house to ourselves for an entire month?"

"Yup, looks like it."

"Well, that could be fun."

"A lot of fun. Come and help us with the planning!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the house.

He laughed. It was the first time since his conversation with his parents that he felt like laughing, like having fun and living life. He was looking forward to the party and he planned on inviting Seth, whether anyone liked it or not.