Encore – Chapter Two

I stared at the ceiling.

Josh was gay now. That was new.

I turned my head and stared at the wall. The thin sheet of drywall separated me from Josh, who was probably asleep already, maybe dreaming about… whatever gay guys dreamed about. Pool parties and musical numbers?

It wasn’t like I had a problem with it. Obviously. I knew a gay guy at work and we got along fine. We'd even had a beer after work once – I made sure he knew it wasn't a date.

But this was different. This was Josh. Josh who smoked weed constantly and wore baggy jeans and had a regular stream of skater chicks. Josh who watched dumb skate videos all day and called his Dad when his card got declined.

Now Josh wore glitter and posted thirst traps and used the word "vibe" without irony.

I sat up, rubbing my face with both hands.

There was a pattern here. I wasn’t stupid. Josh had acted straight for years. Then Jayden moved in across the hall with his gym arms and his cocky tank tops and his obsession with that reality show. And suddenly Josh was different.

It wasn’t homophobic to notice.

I stood up and paced a little. Jayden had to be the reason. Some people just had that kind of pull. That show they watched, Encore, had something to do with it too. All that talk about reinvention, next acts, becoming your best self… maybe it was hypnotizing him or something.

Or maybe Josh had always been gay and he'd found the courage to say something.

I paused. Encore was definitely influencing Josh, but that didn't mean it made him gay.

But Liam was watching too, and he was definitely under the influence.  He'd always been the fat friend in a stoner movie, now he’d started going to the gym, wearing tight shirts, fixing up his hair.

If Liam was gay now too...

I pulled out my phone and opened TikTok.

His profile picture had changed — Liam stood flexing in front of a mirror, shirtless, his smile easy and sure. The bio just said: protein • party • pride.

I clicked the most recent video.

Liam sat on the edge of his bed, wearing a sleeveless tee. He was smiling nervously, hands in his lap. The lighting was soft. Maybe a filter?

"Hey guys," he said. "So this is kinda a big one. I wasn’t sure whether to post this, but I should just be real. So here goes..."

He looked up at the camera, eyes steady.

"I’m bi. Or gay. Still figuring it out, honestly. But I’m not gonna pretend anymore. I like dudes. And that’s not something I’m ashamed of. Not anymore."

He laughed once, awkwardly. "If you’ve known me a long time, this might be a surprise. Or maybe not. I dunno. Either way, thanks for sticking around."

He leaned forward and the video ended.

"Okay," I whispered.

So it wasn’t just Josh.

----------

I got up early the next morning. Josh was at the gym – assuming his new schedule held.

I still didn't have any idea what to do.  Time to practice some avoidance. I left without coffee and headed to the office.

Days ago, Josh was a greasy stoner. Then Jayden and Encore entered the picture, and now he was a claiming to be gay and  preaching like gospel – "be more."

I didn’t blame Josh. He didn’t know what he was getting into.

That show had done something to him. It was like... conditioning. Reprogramming. He didn’t even realize he’d been taken.

And Liam too. Both of them were changing.

If I’d known sooner, maybe I could’ve stopped it.

Jayden set him up. That was the worst part. He moved in across the hall and started dropping little bombs– Encore this, Encore that – until it infected Josh's brain. He’d played them like a pro.

Josh didn’t stand a chance.

Not unless I figured out a way...

I grabbed my phone. Liam had a roommate. Mark. Josh and I had met him once at a party. Mark had been cool, down-to-earth. I thought he worked construction.

I found his Instagram and sent a message:

>> Hey – this is Ryan, you probably don't remember me?  Josh’s roommate?

>> You free to talk sometime? Liam and Josh are both acting weird.

Mark replied three minutes later:

> Yeah, man. Totally. Let’s grab a beer around six? I’m fresh out of ideas.

He showed up still in his work clothes – cargo pants spattered with white and gray, a long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up, drywall dust still clinging to his forearms. The guy looked exhausted.

"Liam’s been on some kind of TikTok enlightenment bender," Mark groaned into his beer.

"They're watching this reality show," I told him.  "And... uh... you're never gonna believe me."

"Try it."

"I think it's brainwashing them," I said.  "With like... algorithms and stuff."

"You got a solution yet? Or we just here to drink about it?"

“I’m trying,” I said. “But yeah... I needed a beer.”

We clinked glasses and drank.

After a few sips, I leaned in. "So... Liam posted a coming out video."

Mark sighed, long and slow. "Yeah. I saw."

"That’s new, right?"

"Very."

"And Josh just came out too. Like, last night."

Mark nodded. "Liam’s been watching every day. Talking about challenges. Giving me workout tips...."

"Josh cleaned the entire apartment, and then he wore glitter to a club."

We looked at each other.

"It’s the show," Mark said.

"That’s what I’m thinking. It’s like... gay mind control."

He barked a tired laugh. "That’s what it feels like. They start watching, and then boom. Shirts get tighter, thoughts get looser."

I nodded. "So how do we break it?"

The waitress brought us two beers each before we settled on the plan.

"Cut it off at the source," Mark summarized. "No internet, no show. I’m gonna pull the plug at my place. You do the same. Kill the Wi-Fi, trash the router, whatever."

"You think that’ll work?"

"It’s not a perfect plan. But it’s a start. They can’t get brainwashed if they can’t watch."

I took a long drink. "Alright. I’m in."

Mark held up his glass. "To getting our roommates back."

We drank.

----------

I was buzzed when I got home.

The apartment was lit up. Music pulsed faintly from the living room, some remix of a pop song.  Jayden was by the couch, dancing to the beat.

Josh and Liam were both standing in the bathroom, flexing.  It was easy to see why.

Josh was stripped down to his boxers and his body had changed. No more wiry limbs or slouched posture – his shoulders were broad and rounded, his chest full and heavy with muscle. His waist had narrowed, and every segment of his abs stood out in sharp relief. He moved with a dazed kind of enthusiasm, grinning wide with a bright-eyed energy.

Liam looked different too, but in another direction. His build had thickened, bulked out from every angle. His arms were heavy with muscle, his chest dense, his legs packed with power. He looked like he’d been lifting for years.

"Dude, check it out!" Josh said, breaking into a bicep flex. He bounced on his toes, proud and loose.

Liam mirrored him, slow and deliberate.

I stared. "What happened to you two?"

"Encore!" they said together, then broke into a giggle.

"Wanna watch?" Liam asked. "We're just takin' a quick flex break."

I shook my head, unable to process this level of weird.

"I think I’m gonna go to bed. Long day."

"Your loss," Jayden called from the couch. "We’ll try to keep it down."

I nodded and backed into my room. They were already headed for the couch, putting on the next episode.  I hung back a few seconds and watched the logo flash across the screen.

"Hey boys," the host said, speaking directly to me.  "Today, our contestants are competing for the best strip tease!"

I shut my door and opened the router settings.

I didn’t just turn off the Wi-Fi. I wrecked it. Changed the admin password, renamed the network to DO_NOT_CONNECT, disabled every port I could find, and hit save.

The background chatter of the show stopped. The apartment was silent for the first time in days.

"Dude?" Liam said. "It just stopped."

"Try loading it again," Josh said.

More silence. Clicking.

"My wifi still works," Jayden said, probably checking his phone.  "Watch party at my place?"

"Yeah!" Josh said. "Let’s go!"

"Totally," Liam said. "Encore waits for no man."

They stampeded out the door.

Damn.  I guess there was a hole in our plan.

----------

I slept late the next morning. My head ached faintly and my mouth tasted like shit. I blinked against the daylight.

The moment I stepped into the kitchen, I forgot my hangover.

Josh was standing by the counter, drinking a smoothie. He had on a pair of running shorts that didn’t even try to hide the curve of his ass. His thighs looked pumped, and the fabric clung to every inch of him like it had been vacuum-sealed. Across his chest, a slim crossbody bag rested snug against his muscle. I realized what it was for—keys, wallet, phone. Nothing in his pockets to mess up the view.

"Morning," he said brightly, like nothing was weird.

"Yeah," I said, caught completely off guard. "You look... great."

"Thanks, dude." He smiled, flashing teeth. Easy. Charming. Totally unaware that he was dressed like a walking thirst trap.

He took another sip of his smoothie, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Oh, hey, dude... the Wi-Fi went out last night," he said casually. "Can you reset the router or whatever? It just, like, stopped working."

"I’ll give it a try," I said, keeping my voice steady.

He nodded and wandered off, humming something tuneless.

Whatever happened next, at least Encore wasn’t in our apartment.

----------

Mark and I had been texting on and off all day.

> Any change on your end?

>> Still watching, just at Jayden’s.

> Shit.

I hadn’t seen Josh since that morning. He left in his tiny shorts and never came back. No idea if he’d even stopped by the apartment. Liam was probably at the gym. Mark said he basically lived there.

A new message buzzed in:

> He just came home.

>> And?

> All about the tank tops now. Wide back. Massive shoulders. Keeps posing in the mirror.  Dude’s a zombie.

> Lol

> He literally just swapped one tank top for another and left again. Headed to Jayden’s.

>> Unbelievable

> I think his shirts are getting smaller

I tossed my phone onto the couch and stared at the ceiling.

I thought about watching some TNG, but I didn’t want to chew through my data plan. With the Wi-Fi still fried, streaming was out.

Instead, I picked up a book. Something literary I’d been meaning to read for months.  I made it ten pages before my eyes started to blur.

----------

I woke up with sunlight in my eyes and a dry mouth. My phone said there was nothing new from Mark. I thought about scrolling, maybe checking the news or socials, but my data plan was already dragging. I tossed the phone aside.

The shower helped clear the fog from my head. I stayed in longer than I needed to, letting the heat ease the tension in my shoulders.

When I stepped out in a towel, Josh was back.

He stood in the kitchen, chugging a protein shake and scrolling through his phone. Fucker probably had unlimited data. Must be nice to be rich.

His shorts today were tighter than ever – barely containing the size of his thighs, stretched taut across the curve of his ass.

"Morning, dude," he said, flashing a grin.

"Hey," I replied, walking past him toward the coffee maker. "Skatepark still a thing? You do any tricks lately?"

Josh blinked slowly, then shrugged. "Nah, man, haven’t been out there in a while. Been lifting more. Skating’s cool, but it doesn’t really pump your glutes the same way."

I looked over. He actually flexed his ass when he said it.

"Right," I said.

"I mean, I still got the balance and all, but like... if I’m gonna sweat, I’d rather do it with weights. Or, like, with a dude," he added with a smirk.

I glanced over at him.

Josh didn’t look embarrassed. He looked relaxed. Relaxed and deeply horny.

"Not trying to be weird, bro," he said, holding up one hand like he meant it. "I know you’re straight. Totally cool. Just sayin’, if you weren’t, I’d wreck you."

I stared at him.

"Like, respectfully. I’d go slow at first. But once you were into it..." He trailed off with a low whistle and winked.

"Thanks," I said, not sure where to put my eyes.

"Just putting it out there," he said cheerfully, reaching for a banana. "Anyway, I’m gonna shower. Unless you wanna smell my pits.."

He tossed me a wink and disappeared into the bathroom.

I stared at my coffee, trying to piece together what the hell had just happened.

----------

It made a little more sense when I stalked their Instagrams.

Josh had posted again. Some kind of quiz challenge. One of those dumb reels with multiple-choice questions flashing on-screen. Junior high level stuff. He answered every one of them out loud, and he got every single one wrong.

After each wrong answer, he’d let out a little giggle, tilt his head, and flash this sheepish, self-deprecating grin.

"Wait, I thought Alaska was an island? It’s always floating at the bottom of the map."

"Water boils at, like, sixty degrees, right? Because that’s when showers feel too hot."

"Mount Rushmore isn’t just a movie set? I swear I saw it in National Treasure."

I could see his brains dissolving in realtime. The next video hit even harder.

Josh sat shirtless on the couch, his pecs catching the light, his skin still flushed from the gym. He looked straight into the camera, his tone relaxed and casual.

"So I picked Red Team on Encore, obviously. If you know, you know. That means I’m a top. Like... an actual top. My whole vibe now is who I wanna fuck and how soon can I do it. And bro... I’m so horny. All the time. It’s like my whole body’s just... alive."

He gave a slow, flexy little bounce of his chest and smiled.

"I love how it feels. I love how I look. And if you’re watching this and you’re cute? Hit me up. Like, for real."

I closed the app. Almost against my better judgment, I checked Liam’s TikTok.

He posted a video that had blown up. Over a hundred thousand views.

He stood in a locker room, shirtless, doing the quiz on his phone. Just like Josh, he got them all wrong.

"What’s the capital of Italy?"

"Uhhh... pasta."

The app gave an angry buzz. He laughed and flexed.

"Who cares, I got the biceps."

"How many continents are there?"

"Easy—twelve. One for each month."

Buzz. Flex. "Who cares, I got the lats."

"What’s 7 times 8?"

"Uh... fifty-something. Fifty-two?"

Another buzz.  Another flex. Another "Who cares, I got the glutes."

His comments were full of fire emojis and thirst replies.

He ended the video with a grin.

"Don’t listen to me for smart shit, okay? But if you wanna look big, I’m your guy."

I scrolled, expecting more. There wasn’t another quiz, but the next video was him in a gym tank, confidently answering questions about hypertrophy and cutting cycles.

He spoke with total authority. I rolled my eyes.

Now he's a fitness genius?

----------

Josh texted me around noon.

> u gonna be home after work? kinda wanna hang

It was so normal I had to reread it twice.

>> Sure dude. So long as Encore's not playing ;)

Josh came out of his room wearing baggy jeans, a loose t-shirt, skate shoes, and a hemp necklace. Except for the muscle, it looked like the old him. I told myself to just stay cool. If I didn’t freak out, maybe things would go back to normal.

"Hey," he said, smiling. "Sorry things have been so weird lately. What if we grabbed a beer? Just hang out. Catch up."

I blinked at him. "You serious?"

"Yeah, dude. Just us. Like before."

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Okay. That sounds good."

We were halfway out the door when Josh stopped.

"Just a sec," he said, darting back into the kitchen.

I waited in the entryway, frowning as I heard a repetitive sound.

Scissors.

A minute later, he returned.

The jeans were gone. He was now wearing only a tiny pair of tight black boxer briefs. The t-shirt had been hacked into a crop tank with huge side slashes that exposed most of his chest. His socks had been pulled up halfway to his knees, stretched and neat.

"Sorry bro," he giggled. "Gotta be comfy."

Still, we went.

We hit this divey place a few blocks away. Cheap beer and decent food. Josh turned a lot of heads on the walk over – guys, girls, old ladies walking dogs. He didn’t seem to notice, or maybe he just didn’t care.

We grabbed a booth near the back. Josh ordered a tall IPA and I went for a lager. We talked about nothing for a bit – music, weather, some dumb video we’d both seen a hundred times. It was... almost easy.

You could almost forget he'd sliced his t-shirt into a crop top.

Almost.

He couldn’t stop fidgeting. Adjusting his tank, tugging the waistband of his boxer briefs higher like he was trying to frame his hips. Every time he laughed, he stretched his arms behind his head, making his chest pop. He kept licking foam off his glass like it was some kind of routine.

Midway through his second pint, he leaned forward and said, "Hey. You wanna watch an episode with us tonight? Encore, I mean."

I froze. Then I let out a breath.

"Dude. This Encore thing is super weird. I mean... you, your body, the way you dress, the way you act – none of this is you. You never even mentioned being gay, and now you’re dressed like a pride float."

Josh sat back, calm. "Yeah. I mean, I get it. There’ve been a lot of changes. But Encore’s helped me, man. Like, for real. And if it’s too much for you... I get that. Just... watch one ep with us. Just one. If you don’t get it, if you don’t wanna watch another, I’ll quit. Cold turkey. No more Encore."

I stared at him. That was one hell of an offer – he must really want me to watch.

That overconfident asshole. He thought I'd get hooked like he did. But I knew... so it couldn't really hurt me, could it?

It’s not like one episode could do anything.

Just bitchy queens yelling and dancing, right?

"Alright," I said. “One."

----------

I'd never been to Jayden's apartment before. It was the mirror image of ours, but... ours doesn't have a Shawn Mendes poster.

Jayden answered the door in a fitted tee and grey sweats. He flashed me a grin.

"Hey, Ryan. Come in. You want a drink? I’ve got hard seltzers or, like, preworkout if you’re feeling crazy."

"Seltzer’s great," I said, stepping inside. The place smelled like cologne and coconut oil.

He handed me a cold can and sat on the arm of the couch, legs open just a little too far.

"So Josh says you’re finally watching an episode. Big night."

"I guess," I said. "He seems... really into it."

Jayden tilted his head. "You worried it’s gonna turn you gay?"

"What? No. I’m just – trying to figure out what the hell happened to him."

"Growth," Jayden said, tapping his chest. "Sometimes it’s loud."

He smiled again, this time a little softer. And longer. He let his gaze drift down my body and back up. I felt myself flush.

"You clean up good, you know. Got that brooding energy. Real 'before' vibes."

"Thanks," I muttered. I could feel the heat in my ears. I had to keep my cool... for Josh.

"Just saying," he said, voice low. "You’ve got potential."

My skin prickled. I reminded myself again to stay cool. Don’t react. Don’t give them anything. Just play it chill. I excused myself to the bathroom, more flustered than I expected.

When I came back out, Jayden was still on the couch – only now Josh was in his lap. Fully straddling him.

Jayden’s hands were on Josh’s waist. Josh’s head was tilted down toward Jayden’s neck, mouth brushing skin. They were moving in sync, slowly, like they were trying to memorize each other’s rhythm. Jayden’s hand slipped up under Josh’s tank, cupping a pec, and Josh arched into it with a soft moan. Josh’s hips ground down against him again and again, grinding hard and shameless. Jayden met each thrust, his hands sliding lower, gripping tight. Josh rocked faster, both of them gasping between kisses. His tank hiked up as his back arched, showing off the sculpted lines of his torso.

Josh whispered something, and Jayden laughed, low and filthy. Their mouths met again, sloppier this time, breathy and intense. Josh looked drunk on it.

I cleared my throat – loud.

They broke apart instantly. Josh scrambled off his lap, straightening his waistband. Jayden ran a hand through his hair and avoided eye contact.

"Hey," Josh said quickly, breathless. "We were just... waiting."

I forced a nod. Stay cool. Don’t give them anything.

"Where’s Liam?" I asked, walking toward the couch like nothing happened.

"On his way. He’s bringing Mark. Same deal as you. If either of you say stop, we both go cold turkey."

That made me feel better. Mark was a level-headed guy. No way both of us fall for this thing.

Liam and Mark showed up ten minutes later. Liam wore a sleeveless crop hoodie. Mark looked a little embarrassed next to him. Shorter, stocky, blue-collar muscle packed into jeans and a plain white tee.

We all crowded onto the couch. The episode started.

Each contestant had brought in a buddy from home. Guys who weren’t part of the show, just... regular dudes. The host grinned and explained the challenge – each buddy had to answer trivia questions about their contestant. Wrong answers meant the contestant got to correct them. With magic.

I rolled my eyes. Magic wasn't real... I glanced over at Josh's bulging biceps.

The first guy was a bodybuilder named Flame. His buddy from home – some skinny dude named Lucas – got the first question wrong. What’s Flame’s favorite food?

"Grilled chicken," Lucas guessed.

Flame snapped his fingers. Lucas froze. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open – and then it started to fill with fluid. Thick, creamy liquid that spilled past his lips and down his chin. He gagged slightly, swallowed, and blinked in confusion.

"Try again," the host said.

Lucas cleared his throat. "Uh... cum?" The audience roared.

Next question. What was Flame’s first job?

"Uh, lifeguard?"

Flame flexed, and Lucas gasped as his pants vanished, replaced by black spandex booty shorts. His legs swelled, thighs bulging with sudden muscle. He looked dazed.

"Try again," the host offered.

"Um... gogo dancer?" Lucas asked. The audience awarded him with another roar.

"Third question," the host said. "What’s Flame’s nickname for you?"

"Dude, I don’t even know if you have one."

Flame shook his head and grinned. Lucas moaned, fell to his knees, and grabbed Flame’s calves. A leather harness formed over his pecs. He looked up adoringly.

"Try again," Flame ordered.

"Is it... boy?" Lucas whispered hopefully.

The audience went wild.

I couldn’t believe I was watching this... but I couldn’t stop. Encore felt like taking a hit of acid – the buzz hit right behind my eyes and melted through my chest. Everything got lighter and looser and warmer. I wanted to lean in, to keep watching, to be part of this weird, horny, dazzling thing. I felt high. And I didn’t want to come down.

I glanced over at Mark.  His eyes were glued to the screen.

The next contestant was a surfer type named Rio. His buddy – some nervous, floppy-haired guy named Nolan – sat beside him, already looking overwhelmed.

"What’s Rio’s favorite season?" the host asked.

"Winter?" Nolan said confidently.  “He loves to ski.”

Rio raised an eyebrow and lifted his shirt to flash his abs. Nolan blinked – and suddenly his hoodie transformed into a mesh crop top, his body leaner, tanner, and slightly glistening.

"Try again," the host prompted.

"Uh... summer?"

"Correct," Rio said with a wink. "But too late."

Second question. "What’s Rio’s go-to pickup line?"

Nolan squirmed. "Hey, girl, you from around here?"

Rio wagged his finger. Nolan's pants tightened, shifting into snug board shorts that barely hid his growing bulge. He squirmed, visibly flustered, his body shifting under the fabric.

"Try again," the host said.

"You’re hotter than the sand at noon?"

"Closer," Rio laughed. "One more try."

"Uh..." Nolan's voice cracked and then dropped to a permanent baritone. "Hey bro... you wanna ride this wave?"

"Good job," the host said.  "Final question.  What’s Rio’s biggest fantasy?"

"Uh... like... surfing with dolphins?"

Rio rolled his eyes and grabbed his bulge. Nolan moaned, his features shifting as a cocky grin settled over his face. He grabbed Rio’s arm and whispered something into his ear. Rio smirked and nodded.

"Wanna share that with the group?" the host teased.

"Threeway with my boy and a tourist," Nolan said confidently.

The crowd lost it.

I'll spare you the rest – it's a repetitive format, but I couldn't look away.  Not a single right answer... and not a single regular guy left on screen.  The stage looked like a diva convention.

I felt electric. With just a few minutes left, the host pulled a phone from his pocket and flashed it at the camera.

"Is everyone ready for the at-home challenge?" the host teased.

The crowd acted like he'd just scored a touchdown.

"Dude, you gotta download the app," Josh said, flashing his screen at me. "Here, scan my code."

I didn’t even think. I scanned the QR code. My phone pulled down the app and I was staring at the Encore logo on my screen.

"REFERRAL CODE ACTIVE!" the app showed. "JOSH’S PROTÉGÉ"

I didn’t know what that meant, and I didn't have time to think. The host was pumping us up, telling us to complete the at-home challenge before the next episode.

I glanced down at my screen. It was in big neon letters.

"RYAN'S CHALLENGE!" it said.  "ADMIT YOU'RE HOOKED ON ENCORE!"

Not much of a challenge, I said, showing Josh my screen.

"Oh yeah," Jayden piped up. "That's cause it's your first time."

Josh showed me his challenge – he was supposed to fuck a guy before the next episode. I guess they were personalized because Liam's was different. "Get fucked."

"So..." Josh turned to me and Mark. "You still want us to stop? Or you wanna watch another?"

Mark and I locked eyes. I knew we shouldn't, but... it felt so good. Like a guilty pleasure.

“I... um...” I stammered.  “I mean...”

“It’s okay,” Jayden encouraged.  “You can say it.”

“I don’t wanna be gay,” Mark grunted.  “But... I kinda want the muscle...”

“And it’s weird and surreal,” I said.  “Not like that’s a bad thing...”

“So...?” Josh grinned at us.  “What’s the verdict?”

"WE WANNA WATCH ANOTHER!"

"I gotta admit dude..." I told Josh. "I'm hooked on Encore."

"Yeah," Mark agreed. "This show is the best thing ever!"

Jayden grinned. "Then it’s time to catch up. You’re like... thirteen episodes behind these guys. You have to see it all."

I felt a twinge of disappointment. We weren’t part of the club yet. But Jayden was right.

We had to see it all.

"I think we're gonna watch another episode..." Josh said, glancing at Liam. "Like... in a little bit."

"All good," I said. None of my business what those two did. "Mark... you wanna head across the hall? Start getting caught up?"

"Isn't the wifi out?" Jayden asked.

"Yeah... sorry about that," I mumbled, staring at my shoes. "I kinda... I didn't want you to watch Encore, so I fucked it up. I can fix it though!"

"Naughty," Jayden chuckled at me.  “But now you’re one of the boys, aren’t ya...? Thanks for giving Encore a chance."

"Yeah," Liam said, clearly distracted.  "I knew you'd love it."

Josh leaned closer to Liam on the couch, his arm sliding around Liam's shoulders. Liam turned – this was exactly what he wanted. Their bodies shifted together, like magnets locking into place. Josh nuzzled Liam’s neck, pressing a kiss to the skin just beneath his ear. Liam exhaled, his fingers trailing up Josh’s thigh.

They weren’t subtle about it. Josh’s other hand slid under Liam’s shirt, fingers grazing over his abs, then drifting higher. Liam shivered, biting his lip. Josh whispered something into his ear and Liam nodded eagerly, both of them clearly buzzing with anticipation.

Mark cleared his throat. "Yeah... we should, uh, get going."

"See you soon," Jayden grinned.  "Real soon."

Mark and I walked across the hall. Once we were back in my apartment, I closed the door and looked at him.

"We really doing this?" I asked.

“Let’s do just... one more episode...” He hesitated for half a second, then smiled. "This show is the best thing ever."

“One more... be more... “ I laughed. "I’m hooked on Encore."

That settled it. I fixed the wifi while he grabbed us some beers from the fridge.  The two of us sat down on the couch, just a little closer than necessary.

Time to play.