Still a Slut for Bennett - Part 9

Everyone in this story is 18+

I was sitting cross-legged on my bed, chatting with someone I met on Grindr when I heard the sound of the front door opening. Cooper and Jose’s voices carried through the apartment, their usual banter echoing down the hall as they returned from their classes. I hesitated for a moment, my thumb hovering over the screen. Part of me wanted to stay in my room, but a bigger part of me—the part that was tired of secrets—decided it was time to stop hiding.

Cooper was sprawled on the couch, his shoes kicked off and his bag slung over the armrest. Jose was leaning against the counter, pulling out a water bottle from the fridge. I hesitated at the doorway, feeling a lump rise in my throat. My palms were sweaty, but I’d already decided. I couldn’t keep hiding who I was from the people I spent every day with.

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my voice cracked slightly.

Cooper looked up first, his usual lazy grin in place. “Yo, what’s up?”

Jose glanced over, smiling briefly. “Hey, man. What’s up?”

I took a deep breath, my heart hammering. “So… there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you guys,” I started, my voice trembling despite my effort to keep steady. They both looked at me now, their attention fully on me. I swallowed hard. “I’m gay.”

The words hung in the air for a moment, heavier than I’d expected. Jose blinked, clearly caught off guard. His smile faltered as he processed what I’d said. “Wait, what? Seriously?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine surprise.

Cooper, on the other hand, leaned back on the couch, raising his eyebrows slightly. His feigned surprise was so obvious it was almost laughable. But after seeing me lick Bennett’s cum off my finger the other day, I couldn’t exactly blame him.

I managed a nervous chuckle. “Yeah. I mean… did you guys suspect?”

Cooper smirked, his lips twitching as if he was trying not to laugh. “Maybe.”

Jose’s eyes darted to Cooper before turning back to me. “Honestly, I didn’t. You were so…” He trailed off, shrugging. “I don’t know. You were always just you. I didn’t think about it.”

“Well,” Cooper interjected, finally breaking into a grin, “the gay porn blaring from your room was definitely a hint.”

“Seriously? Fuck me! I really thought I was being slick about it,” I said, embarrassed. “Even Bennett noticed that…”

Cooper burst into laughter, the tension breaking slightly as my face heated up. “Hey, ‘fuck me’—exactly what they said in the vids, right?” Jose chimed in, barely holding back his laughter. “Wait, that’s what that was? I thought you were just weirdly into some kind of artsy stuff! And wait—does Bennett know?”

“Of course Bennett knows,” Cooper said with a snort. “He was probably sitting right next to you, jacking it together.”

“Fuck you,” I shot back, laughing despite myself. Their ridiculous humor was exactly what I needed to shake off the awkwardness.

Cooper’s laugh softened into a grin. “Hey, seriously, man, thanks for telling us. I mean, I’m not shocked, but it’s cool you’re comfortable enough to say it.”

Jose nodded quickly, his earlier surprise melting into a warm smile. “Yeah, for real. And, uh… sorry for being dense.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Thanks, guys. I mean it.”

Jose leaned against the counter, sipping his water as I hesitated, unsure how to bring up the next thing. Finally, I just blurted it out. “So, uh… I have a date tonight.”

That got their attention. Cooper raised an eyebrow, and Jose blinked in surprise. “A date?” Jose asked, his curiosity piqued. “With who?”

“Someone I met on Grindr,” I said, feeling my face heat up. “His name’s Jamie.”

“Wait—Jamie Houston? Tall guy, brown hair, super friendly?” Jose asked, his expression lighting up.

“Yeah, that’s him,” I replied, surprised. “You know him?”

“Of course I do! Jamie’s been openly gay forever—since, like, kindergarten. He’s a good dude, chill. You’ll like him.”

“That’s what I thought,” I said, feeling a little more at ease. “We’re just grabbing coffee.”

“Solid move,” Cooper added with a knowing smirk. “Low stakes, low stress.”

Jose shifted, glancing toward the hallway. “Well, anyway, I gotta take a leak,” he said, backing away. “But seriously, that’s cool, Eli. I mean it.”

As Jose disappeared down the hall, Cooper leaned forward on the couch, his expression shifting to something a little more serious. “So, what about you and Benny?” he asked, his voice low, almost conspiratorial.

I felt my stomach flip. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged, though his gaze didn’t waver. “You know what I mean.”

I sighed, leaning against the wall, my cheeks heating up. “There is no me and Bennett. I help him out when he’s horny, sometimes. That’s all.”

Cooper chuckled, shaking his head. “Yo, that guy is always horny.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, even as a twinge of sadness crept in. “Yeah, kinda.”

Then Cooper’s expression shifted slightly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “And this, uh… date of yours, does this sudden date have anything to do with Bennett’s own hot date tonight?”

My stomach dropped slightly, but I forced a laugh. “No,” I said quickly, waving it off. “It’s not like that.”

“Hmm,” Cooper hummed, clearly unconvinced, but he didn’t push further.

Jose returned from the bathroom, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics—Suddenly, The door swung open, and Bennett strolled in, brushing the faintest hint of snow off his shoulders. “Yo,  sup’, losers?” he said, grinning as he dropped his bag by the door.

“A lot!” Cooper said, gesturing toward me. “Eli just came out.”

Bennett stopped mid-step, looking at me for a beat before his grin returned. “Well, duh. Took you long enough.” He dropped onto the couch next to Cooper, slouching back. “We have all noticed all the gay porn blaring from your room?”

“Hey, I didn’t know.” Cooper chucked.

I snorted with laughter, and feigned being upset. “Can we not, I feel personally victimized!

Bennett smirked. “Hey, just saying. But seriously, cool of you to finally tell everyone.”

“Thanks,” I said, a little relieved by how casual he seemed. The four of us fell into easy banter, the usual teasing bouncing back and forth. Snowflakes drifted past the window, soft and steady.

But then Jose, always eager to stir things up, grinned at Bennett. “Oh, by the way, Eli’s got a date tonight.”

Bennett paused mid-reach for the water bottle on the table. “A date?” he repeated, his tone even.

“Yeah,” Jose continued. “With Jamie Houston. You know, tall guy, super chill?”

“Right,” Bennett said shortly, leaning back against the couch. He didn’t look at me, his eyes fixed on the falling snow. “Sounds great...”

The room felt heavier for a moment, the easy flow of conversation disrupted. I glanced at Bennett, his expression unreadable as he fidgeted with the cuff of his jacket.

“Anyway… I have to go now.” I said as I got ready, putting on my favorite hat for the first time of the season.

Bennett looked at me and then, walking to the window. He turned back, his gaze sweeping over me before landing on my hat. “And you’re wearing that? You look like a dork.”

I flushed, tugging at the hem of my Pikachu hat. “I like it.”

“Sure you do,” Bennett said, smirking, though the usual teasing edge felt sharper now. “Good luck impressing Jamie in that.”

“Dude,” Cooper said, frowning slightly. “What’s with the attitude?”

“Nothing,” Bennett said quickly, waving it off. “Just saying. Anyway, I’ve got stuff to do. Later.”

Cooper got up from the couch and walked over to me, grabbing the two Poké Balls dangling from the straps of my Pikachu hat. He gave them a playful tug, grinning. “I think it’s cute! Don’t listen to Grumpy Benny,” he said, his tone light but pointed. “He’s just jealous of your mad cool hat.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, the tension easing a little. Cooper let go of the straps of my hat and placed his hands on my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. His thumbs pressed lightly, massaging for a brief moment as if to reassure me further.

“See?” he said with a grin. “No need to worry. You’ve got this.”

“And honestly,” Jose chimed in, “Jamie’s just as much of a dork as you are, so I’m sure he’s gonna love it.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, my cheeks warm but my mood lifting.

“I’m off!” I chirped, heading for the door and pulling on my jacket. “Okay, but be home by midnight—and no funny business!” Cooper called out mockingly, grinning as he leaned back on the couch.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling as I stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against my face.