Part 1
“Here we are,” James said as he pulled off the winding, two-lane road that traversed Beaver Lake State Park. They’d been driving for an hour through the hilly, wooded area, occasionally passing a small, roadside restaurant or convenience store, but seeing very little else in the way of civilization. A small, metal-and-wood mailbox marked the otherwise inconspicuous drive, which pulled a quick s-turn, perfectly shielding the property from the road. The drive wove through tall oak and cedar trees, which were well into the process of shedding their leaves for Autumn, a blanket of yellow and brown covering the damp ground.
From the passenger seat, Cody turned down the radio of James's brand new Ford Bronco Sport, a gift his parents had bought him for an impressive GPA last semester. It was one of the higher trims, with huge bucket seats and all the bells and whistles, and it had made the three-hour drive one of the most comfortable road trips Cody could remember. They'd loaded the backseat full of goods for the weekend – a cooler full of groceries, bags upon bags of junk food, and more than one case of beer. (James had told them not to worry about liquor, as his dad kept the cabin bar fully stocked.) They were only staying two nights, but James insisted Cody buy anything that caught his eye when they went to the store earlier that morning.
The weekend away had been James's idea as well.
It was the weekend before Thanksgiving, and their university had the whole week of the holiday off, so it seemed like perfect timing. Normally Cody would've hung around campus for a day or two, watching movies in his dorm room and dropping in on some apartment parties, before making the drive back home. But about a week ago, James had asked if he wanted to join for a couple nights at his parents’ cabin. An Airbnb reservation had cancelled at the last minute, and he’d asked if he could have it for a post-midterms getaway. They'd happily agreed. At first he'd considered just driving up for a quiet weekend alone, or maybe even asking one of his Grindr flings from the semester to join him, but one evening as he and Cody were studying in one of their residence hall's common rooms he heard the invitation escape his lips before he even had a chance to think about it.
“Like, next weekend?” Cody asked, looking up from his laptop.
“Yeah,” James answered. “You've probably got plans to go home. Nevermind.”
“No,” Cody stopped him. “I wasn't going to drive home until Monday. That sounds fun.”
“Awesome,” James had smiled, and they both returned to their studies.
As they rounded the s-bend, Cody laid eyes on the cabin. It was an impressive property, a small but stylish A-frame structure with modern glass windows and sleek stone embellishments on the corners and framing the front door. Warm light spilled from the windows and out onto the gravel driveway, looking like a giant lantern nestled in the woods. It was just before five o’clock but felt much later; the sky was cloudy and dark, and a fine mist had started to float down and coat the car windshield. In the gloomy weather, the cabin looked particularly inviting.
“Wow,” Cody marvelled. “This looks straight out of a magazine.”
“Thanks,” James smiled. “My parents bought it when I left for college. Guess this was their way of coping with being empty nesters.”
“They just bought another nest,” Cody commented.
He always knew James came from money. James never bragged about it, of course, but it was pretty obvious – he always had the newest iPhone; had owned two different, brand new cars since they’d been in college; and always dressed in pristine, expensive clothing. Even today, for their little road trip, he wore Lululemon joggers, an All Saints hoodie, a Louis Vuitton cross-body bag, and a pair of Gucci sneakers. The price tag of his outfit probably equated to the price tag of Cody’s entire closet, but he found this distinction between them more amusing than intimidating. Even beyond the material clues, however, James carried himself like someone who came from wealth – he had a confidence about him, the casual arrogance and naivety of someone who’d never really had to worry about anything. It was all very different from Cody’s modest upbringing, but who was he to fault someone for their parents’ income.
“Yeah, I guess they did,” James laughed, clearly amused. He knew he was fortunate and was never shy to call out his parents’ eccentricities. He put the car in park. “Come on, let’s get this stuff inside before the weather gets any worse.”
They were able to unload the car in two trips. James focused on grabbing their bags while Cody focused on hauling in the food, lugging in the heavy cooler and cases of beer with minimal exertion. This was an understood dynamic between them in most areas of life – James keeping an eye on the details while Cody focused on the heavy lifting. It was a dynamic that matched their stature.
Cody was a little over six feet tall, with broad shoulders, dark blonde hair, and thick, strong legs; the happy-go-lucky, himbo type whose life centered around his protein intake and his daily trip to the gym (sometimes twice when he needed the extra activity). This wasn’t to say he was vapid or vain, not in the slightest. He was kind, thoughtful, empathetic, and intelligent – as mechanical engineers at a rigorous, private university, they both were. He found the process of working out as mentally stimulating as it was physical. He’d never met a challenge he couldn’t face, and weightlifting was no different. He loved adjusting his technique, his routine, or his nutrition and carefully tracking the impact on his progress and results, and he prided himself on the thirty-plus pounds of clean muscle he’d gained in his two-and-a-half years of college so far. He was a true athlete – knowledgeable enough to be one of those young, hot, online trainers, but humble enough that the idea had never crossed his mind.
James, on the other hand, had always been the bookish type. An engineer by schooling, he also had a deep passion for literature and philosophy, and could while away the hours discussing Joyce, Woolf, Kant, and Dostoevsky, a trait that only added to his air of wealth and culture. He had a lean, runner’s build, the kind of lithe frame that always looked exceptional adorned with his expensive wardrobe, with dark hair and delicate features, a face that toed the line between severe and beautiful, all sharp lines and soft eyes. Despite his serious disposition, he loved to laugh and was always generous with his friends, a trait he developed early on when he became aware – and considerably self-conscious – of his family’s good fortune. While some might be tempted to cite the old cliche of buying one’s friends, James was always intentional about getting to know others, and he was proud of the fact that he surrounded himself with good people.
“Alright!” Cody exclaimed as he stowed one case of beer in the pantry and another in the fridge. “Beer is in the fridge, which means we are officially unpacked!” He turned and wrapped James in a big bear hug, his arms easily encircling James’s slender frame.
James returned the hug, resting his face against Cody’s chest and breathing in the warm, spicy smell of his cologne. That was one thing he always appreciated about Cody – the youngest of three brothers, he had an earnest and enthusiastic way of showing affection, a stark and welcome contrast from James's experience as an only child.
After a few moments, they finally broke apart.
“Damn, this place is sick,” Cody observed, stepping back. “Not at all what I expected when you mentioned ‘your parents’ cabin’.”
James smiled. “What did you expect?”
“I don’t know, flannel? Logs? Taxidermied animals? Usual cabin stuff.”
“Why would the cabin be wearing flannel?” James smirked, beginning to transfer their groceries from the pile of reusable shopping bags and into the cabinets.
“You know what I mean,” Cody laughed. “This just feels so…not like a cabin.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” James agreed. “Rustic wilderness isn’t exactly Alan and Patricia’s style.”
“Well tell Alan and Patricia their style is just fine.” Cody took in his surroundings. The cabin was as modern and picturesque inside as was the exterior. A polished concrete floor – heated, James explained – extended through the open concept kitchen, dining, and living areas; floor-to-ceiling glass windows ran along the back and side, opening up to a covered porch where a hot tub and outdoor fireplace looked warm and inviting; an oversized, brown leather sofa piled with soft blankets and huge throw pillows created the living area, centered around a plush rug and dark wood coffee table, flanked by two modern looking armchairs; a sleek stone fireplace graced the left wall, above which floated a huge tv (no deer mounts to be found).
“I’ll pass that along,” James laughed. They finished unloading the groceries and then stood in the kitchen, unsure of what to do next. “I can show you your room?”
“Sure,” Cody agreed, grabbing his bags from where James had dropped them by the front door. “Lead the way.”
A short hallway branched off to the left, leading to the bathroom and two bedrooms. Both rooms contained a queen bed, each piled high with throw pillows and warm blankets. The rooms were minimally furnished – a small chest of drawers and a simple accent chair completed the spaces, which were clearly intended to be used only for sleeping.
“You can take either room,” James explained, standing in the hall. “I usually take the front room, but I really don’t have a preference. They’re basically the same.”
“Works for me,” Cody said, stepping into the back room and tossing his duffle bag onto the bed. “This bed looks comfortable.”
“Yeah, the mattresses are pretty good,” James agreed. “I think a good night’s sleep was a top priority when they furnished the place.”
“As it should be,” Cody smiled. “I definitely need to catch up on sleep after the late nights last week.”
“Same,” James agreed. “Bathroom is here, obviously. Sorry we’ll have to share. I was always surprised they never added in a master bath.” James turned the light on, illuminating what Cody could only describe as a hotel spa. A huge, glass shower loomed in one corner next to a large jacuzzi bathtub. A wide, slate countertop with his-and-hers sinks lined one wall and featured a huge, backlit mirror.
“Jesus,” Cody laughed. “No worries, this thing is big enough for two.” He said it absentmindedly, then caught himself and blushed at the implication. “Not that we have to…you know.”
James laughed, feeling a blush warm his own cheeks. “Don’t worry, I got what you meant.”
They stood there awkwardly for a moment, Cody admiring the bathroom, James admiring Cody, until James finally shook himself free.
“Well, I’ll let you settle in. Want a drink or anything?” he asked.
“Yeah, that would be great,” Cody obliged.
“What do you want?” asked James.
“Whatever you’re having.”
“Deal,” James smiled.
Cody took another appreciative look around the room then went back into his bedroom, unzipped his duffle bag, and began putting his clothes into the dresser.
Back in the kitchen, James went to the pantry and took a look at his dad’s liquor supply. In the true style of his parents, they had one of everything, as well as a substantial offering of mixers, with a bonus supply of scotch – his dad’s favorite – and vodka – his mom’s. Not wanting to mess with anything too complicated (one wanted drinks that were easy to refill) he opted for a scotch and soda, hoping Cody would approve of his choice. He filled up two tumblers, garnishing each with a small wedge of lime, and made his way over to the sofa.
He heard Cody go into the bathroom and close the door, and he smiled to himself about Cody’s “big enough for two” joke. It was definitely large enough, and his stomach fluttered a bit at the idea of the two of them sharing the space, brushing their teeth in the mornings, getting ready for bed, one shaving at the sink while another stepped out of the shower…
He shook off the image of this domestic routine, reminding himself that they weren’t here to play house for the weekend (as much as he might enjoy the idea). They were here to relax, to unwind, to get some downtime before heading into hectic holiday schedules with their families. Nothing more.
A few minutes later, Cody walked into the living room. James handed him his drink, which he accepted eagerly. He took a sip, sighed contentedly, and sat on the couch at James’s feet.
“So,” he began, looking at James. “What shall we do?”
“Hmm,” James thought, taking a sip of his drink. “There’s a good pizza place in town I thought we could order for dinner. Besides that, I don’t really know. I brought cards, we could build a fire, watch a movie, chill in the hot tub. Whatever we want, I guess.”
“Hell yes to the pizza. And honestly, yes to everything else, that all sounds great.”
They decided the first order of business was to order the food, which showed up about forty-five minutes later. They ate on the couch, accompanied by two freshly refilled drinks, and watched some reruns of Parks and Rec on tv. Between mouthfuls of pizza and laughing at the show, they didn’t speak much. They didn’t need to; it was nice to just coexist.
Long after the sun had set, the cabin radiated a warm glow, like the entire place existed nestled amongst the smoldering embers of a cozy fireplace. In the dark, the deck, lit by a perimeter of Edison bulbs, looked incredibly inviting. James noticed Cody’s attention had drifted away from the tv and out the back door. He gently nudged his leg.
“You good?”
“I’m good,” Cody smiled. “I was just thinking it might be hot tub time.”
“You read my mind.”
They hopped up from the couch, depositing their plates and empty glasses in the kitchen next to a stack of empty pizza boxes, and went to their rooms to change. James rummaged through his bag for his swimsuit – a pair of blue and white seersucker trunks that looked more like they belonged on a Caribbean vacation than a cabin in the woods, but he always liked the way they fit. They rode low on his hips, drawing attention to his v-lines, and he thought they accentuated his ass nicely. He stripped off his clothes, leaving the door open behind him, and quickly stepped into the swimsuit.
He returned to the kitchen, thinking he’d grab a few beers from the fridge, when Cody entered the room. He wore a pair of snug, navy blue swim trunks that perfectly hugged his hips and made the muscles of his legs look enormous. (The bulge in the crotch made something else look pretty enormous too.) He looked like a model, with broad shoulders and bulging pecs and arms that could crush someone. It wasn't often James saw his best friend in any state of undress, and for a second he had to remind himself to breathe.
“Beer?” James finally managed to ask.
“Bring the case,” Cody smirked.
After a few beers, James had adjusted to the presence of his half-dressed best friend, and he felt his body begin to relax, the warm water and gentle jets lulling him into a state of perfect contentment. He looked over at Cody and saw a similar state of bliss – he had sunk down into the hot tub so that his head could rest against the edge, eyes closed, a peaceful smile across his face. Suddenly, the perfect happiness of the moment, or maybe it was the effects of the alcohol hitting his system, made him overwhelmingly grateful for his friend.
They'd been friends for two years now, and while they'd never been terribly transparent with one another about their inner thoughts and emotions, they each possessed a quiet confidence in their relationship, an understanding of commitment and dedication, an assurance that the other would be available at the drop of a hat. Their relationship had begun mostly as a two-person study group; they shared most of the same classes and learned quickly in their freshman year that they lived in the same wing of their residence hall – they'd even been sharing a bathroom for weeks without know it; they each enjoyed the other’s disposition and appreciated that they were, without sounding too conceited, a bit sharper than several of their fellow classmates. They first decided to join forces and study for a particularly intimidating midterm. This led them to break for meals and share a few late-night pizza runs together, and as midterms turned to finals, they were watching movies on the weekends and making the occasional grocery runs together on Sunday mornings. Neither of them could pinpoint when exactly they went from being classmates to friends, but seeing Cody's lazy smile in the warm, patio light, James couldn't imagine the past two years of college without him.
“I'm really grateful for you, man,” James said, his voice carrying a bit more of a slur than he wanted to admit.
Cody's eyes popped open, lighted by a brief flash of surprise. He looked at James and flashed an amused smile. “I'm grateful for you, too, dude.”
“Seriously,” James continued. “I don't know how I would've survived the last two years without you. So thanks.”
Cody's amusement turned to genuine affections. “Of course. Wouldn't have wanted it any other way.”
They held each other's gaze for a few moments until Cody turned to grab his beer from one of the built-in cup holders. As he did, a random thought popped into James's head, and he heard himself voicing it aloud before he could catch himself.
“How come we’ve never lived together?” he asked.
Cody looked back at him with a puzzled expression. “What?”
“You know…,” James tried to explain. “It's just…I don't know. I consider you one of my best friends – best guy friends for sure – and we're like halfway through our Junior year of college now. And I guess I just wonder why we never chose to room together.”
“Oh,” Cody looked back at him, his brow furrowed in a way that was inscrutable but also somehow alarming.
“Sorry, ignore me, I'm rambling,” James backpedaled.
“Have you wanted to live together?” Cody asked, his tone a characteristic neutral.
“I mean,” James began. “Not necessarily. Maybe. I think it could be fun. Or maybe I'm just afraid I'm going to get through college and regret never having roomed with anyone.”
“I thought you liked having a single,” Cody said.
“I do,” James admitted. “But also…I'm just used to it. I don't want to regret not having any roommate stories. I think it would be fun to, I don't know, get annoyed with you for staying up too late playing video games or get kicked out when you want to bring a girl back on a Friday night. Roommate things.”
“Who says I’d kick you out?” Cody flashed a mischievous grin.
“Fair,” James chuckled. “I’d watch.”
They often joked like this, little quips and comments about James giving Cody “extra attention”, about Cody enjoying it.
Cody barked a laugh at that one. “Well, you know I haven't been doing too much of that.”
“I know,” James laughed, though in reality he wasn't really sure. He knew a lot about Cody, but he didn't know what Cody was like in his room at midnight or waking up on a Saturday morning. He found himself wanting to know, wanting to see him shuffle around the room in the morning with sleep still in his eyes, wanting to know what he got up to late at night when he was bored or lonely. “I guess if I did want a roommate, you're the first person that comes to mind. And I guess I've always kinda wondered if you didn't want to live with me cuz I'm, you know, gay.”
A horrified expression adorned Cody's face. James continued.
“I know I sometimes get a little flirty or whatever when we've been drinking but I ne…”
Cody cut him off. “Dude, not at all. I swear to God, that's never once crossed my mind.”
James nodded, an attempt to convince himself that was true, and they sat for a few beats in an uncharacteristically awkward silence.
“I guess I just thought…” Cody began. “I don't know what I thought. I guess I assumed you wouldn't want to give up your single.” He laughed. “To be honest, I can’t really see you trying to share a room with anybody, and I guess I assumed that extended to me. You never brought it up, so I figured you didn't really care about having a roommate. And I never even thought to ask.” He leaned forward, his eyes bright and intense. “I have never once been uncomfortable with or bothered by the fact that you're gay. Okay?”
James felt surprised by the sudden intensity of his emotion, which he choked down. “Okay,” he said roughly. “I believe you.”
Cody held his gaze for what felt like ages, until James finally had to look away. They stayed quiet for a bit, a comfortable silence, if a little stilted. Cody finished his beer and reached over the edge of the tub to retrieve another one. James watched the muscles ripple down his back.
A few minutes later, after James had finished his beer (he opted to take a minute before getting another one), Cody spoke up. “Do you feel like people are bothered by that? By you, I mean?” His voice was calm and curious, with no hint of judgment.
“A little,” James confessed. “I guess it’s hard not to feel like they might. I was in the closet for so long, it seemed, that I think I’m still always censoring myself. At least a little. Not telling that story or making that joke or giving someone that compliment they might misinterpret.”
“What kind of compliments?” Cody asked, his face neutral.
“I don’t know.” James felt himself blush and couldn’t help but giggle at his own embarrassment. “Like how your chest has looked fucking huge lately, and your shoulders look so strong and powerful and sexy.”
“Thanks, man.” Cody smiled, a hint of pink on his cheeks. “I’ve been hitting chest really hard lately, so I actually appreciate the compliment a lot.”
“You look like you could crush somebody. In the best possible way.” James continued.
Cody laughed, blushing further. “Damn dude, keep ‘em coming.”
“Yeah? It doesn’t make you feel awkward or make me sound creepy?”
“Creepy?” Cody looked surprised. “No, it’s nice someone appreciates the work I’ve been putting in on myself. Why would that be creepy?”
“I don’t want guys to think I’m checking them out,” James said, sounding a little defeated.
Cody shrugged. “Everybody checks everybody out.”
James was speechless for a second, desperately wanting to unpack what Cody meant by that. Was it an observation? An invitation? A confession? He was trying to figure out how to ask when Cody moved on.
“I’m sorry, though, man. I didn’t know you felt like that,” Cody said sincerely. “You know you don’t have to censor yourself around me.”
“Same,” James echoed. “Not that I think you do, not really. But…same.”
Cody smiled and sipped his beer, settling back into his seat when a look flashed across his face. He barked a short laugh that James didn’t know how to interpret, and before he could ask about it, Cody returned his beer to the cup holder and his hands disappeared beneath the water. They returned a few seconds later, now holding a pair of sopping wet, navy swim trunks.
James nearly choked. “What is happening?”
Cody wrung out his swimsuit and tossed them across the back porch where they landed with a wet thud. “There,” he smirked at James. “Now I’m not censored at all.”
James was stunned. The reality of his best friend naked in the hot tub with him was exciting, arousing, and somehow hilarious. He burst out laughing.
“What?” Cody asked, starting to laugh, himself.
“Nothing,” James said through his giggling. “That just really caught me off guard!”
“Good,” Cody smiled, settling back into his seat. “Gotta keep you on your toes.”
“You’re ridiculous,” James rolled his eyes.
“You like it,” Cody teased. “Honestly, though, best idea I’ve had all day. This is so much better.” He closed his eyes and let out a contented sigh. “You should join me.”
James was about to make a sarcastic remark before realizing he had nothing to say, an uncharacteristic occurrence for him. “Fine,” he agreed. “But I’m gonna need another beer.”
James slipped out of his swim trunks and tossed them across the deck where they landed next to Cody’s. As he settled back into his seat, he watched Cody turn around and reach for the case of beer. As he leaned over, Jake admired his torso – long and pale and smooth. This time, it rose out of the water just enough to reveal the faintest hint of his ass crack. James felt his mouth go dry but made no effort not to look. When in Rome, he thought.
Cody handed him a beer, a knowing smile on his face, before reaching for his own drink. He raised it in a toast. “To being uncensored.”
“Here’s to that,” James smiled, and took a drink.
About an hour and another beer later, James confessed he was about ready to call it a night. His head was swimming from the alcohol, and his skin was starting to feel like a dried fruit (he chuckled at the pun).
“Yeah, I’m about ready too,” Cody agreed. “Where’d you put the towels?”
“Back of the chairs,” Cody said, nodding his head to the patio furniture across the deck. “Next to our swimsuits.”
They looked at each other and laughed.
“Didn’t think this part through,” Cody blushed.
“The bill comes due,” James teased. “On three?”
Cody nodded, and they both began to count. “One.. Two.. Three!”
They both stood, the water splashing from their movement, shocked by the cold night air, but even more stunned by the sight before them.
James let his eyes freely explore Cody’s body, steaming and glistening in the warm light. Despite the ever present scruff on Cody’s face, his torso was smooth, and his pubes were almost entirely trimmed, letting his plump cock really stand out. It was between three or four inches soft, with some considerable heft. James imagined it was thick whenever he was at full mast. His balls hung heavily, pink and smooth, and James wondered how they might taste. He tried to push the thought aside to mitigate any excitement that might embarrass him.
He looked back up to see that Cody’s eyes were doing some exploring of their own, tracing up and down James’s body, no doubt taking in his narrow waist, the trail of dark brown hair that led from his belly button to his patch of pubes, much thicker and darker than Cody’s. He knew his cock wasn’t too impressive, just a couple of inches, perched atop balls which always hung close to his body. It was bad for showing off, but pretty handy for bottoming, which was James’s usual preference.
However, as Cody’s eyes raised to meet his, their expression showed raw fascination and considerable interest, highlighted by the bewildered smile on his face. In that moment, any insecurity James might have felt instantly melted and evaporated, rising into the black night like the steam from his shoulders. Standing naked with his friend filled him with a sense of confidence and power he couldn’t possibly have anticipated – and, he would admit, a fair bit of arousal. He wanted to pause the moment indefinitely, to hold onto this freedom to look, to admire, to exist in total freedom, when a particularly cold wind blew through the yard and set them both shivering. They could each see the goosebumps break out across their arms, see their junk immediately retreat for warmth closer to their bodies, and they couldn’t help but laugh.
“I think that’s our cue to go in,” Cody suggested.
“Yeah,” James said through chattering teeth. “I think it’s time.”
They stumbled over to the towels and quickly wrapped themselves around the waist. “You grab the swimsuits, I’ll grab the beer,” Cody ordered.
These they carried inside, shivering and laughing and tiptoeing in a pointless attempt to avoid leaving wet footprints on the concrete floor, which was, to their delight, heated for the night. Cody threw the beer back into the fridge, and James ran the wet swimsuits, ice cold now, into the utility room where he tossed them in the dryer. Back in the kitchen, they both hurried to dry themselves, removing as much of the cold water droplets as they could.
James’s heart beat quickly as he gave himself one last pass with the towel, wrapping it modestly around his waist. He looked up at Cody, who was just securing his own towel around himself, and they caught each other’s eye, dissolving into another fit of boyish laughter. James watched Cody’s abs flex and ripple with each laugh.
“Well,” James finally said as the giggling subsided. He felt a rush of awkwardness now, unsure how to make the next move.
“Well.” Cody echoed.
“I guess it’s time to call it a night?” James suggested. A faint shadow of disappointment flitted across Cody’s face, and James instantly cursed himself.
“Probably a good idea,” Cody agreed. “I have been very excited for a good night’s sleep.”
“Same.” James nodded with forced enthusiasm. “And besides, we always have tomorrow night to stay up and rage.”
Cody met his eye for a moment before smiling. “Yeah, we gotta have one fun night while we’re here.”
“For sure,” James remarked.
Cody suddenly looked around the kitchen as if cued by some unheard sound. “I need to grab some water,” he finally said.
“Oh yeah, here.” James went to the cabinet at the end of the counter which held the plates and glasses. He grabbed two glasses, filling them with water from the sink, and handed one to Cody, who nodded in thanks. A bit awkwardly, they crossed the living room to the hallway where they stood in the doorways of their respective bedrooms.
James’s towel had started to come loose. He could feel it sitting lower on his hips, and he was sure Cody had noticed.
“Goodnight,” James said, his voice suddenly quiet.
“Night, dude,” Cody replied with a warm smile. “Sleep tight.” James could just picture Cody sprawled out in the bed, his strong, warm chest the perfect resting place. He banished the thought.
“You too,” was all he said.
After another moment’s hesitation, they parted ways, stepped into their rooms, and closed the doors behind them.
