Group Chat
A few weeks after Clay’s story, the outside weather got a little warmer and dryer. It wasn’t really spring yet, but there was this feeling that at least the hard part of the winter was over. On a Tuesday late afternoon, as I was preparing my duffle bag for soccer practice that was planned for later on, my phone vibrated. It was Logan, in the group chat we created with all of the guys, mostly for party planning, or asking who’s available for a workout; and basically just to send stupid stuff.
As I remember it, the group was composed of Logan, Charles, Aaron, Fred, Brody and myself. The new guys who we had met at the new year’s eve party weren’t in that group chat at that time, neither was Clay (being younger than me, he hung out more with the other part of the group than with my friends). Logan actually instigated it, and as he was one of the more prone guys to get naked when he was drunk, he named it « Bros before Clothes ».
—New text in « Bros before Clothes »
Logan: Who’s going to practice tonight?
Me: Dude, you realise I’m the only one in the group who plays with you?
Aaron: Uh hello..
Aaron: I’ll be there
Me: Woops, sorry man 😀
Logan: Who wants to hang out after practice tonight?
Charles: Can’t tonight, sorry.
Logan: Why? got a hot Grindr date? Haha
Charles: Yeah, with your dad actually.
Logan: Oh, enjoy. The old man might actually show you some tricks.
Charles: Ugh, you’re disgusting.
Me: We can hang out at the studio after practice, got some beers left.
Logan: I’m game 🍻
Logan: I’ll keep my clothes on this time tho if you don’t mind 😏
Aaron: This time?!
Charles: Wtf is he talking about.
Me: Logan shut up
—New text from « Charly »
Charles: Did something happen with Logan?!
—New text from « Logan Legend »
Me: Dude wtf
Me: Don’t you fuckin say anything 😮
Logan: Ugh, you’re such a pussy
Me: Why the hell would you say that on the group chat
Logan: Dude I wasn’t gonna say anything
Logan: Not everything is about you
Me: Yeah right
Logan: Unless??
Logan: Did you like what you saw? 💦
Me: Oh shut up don’t be stupid
Logan: Haha I knew it, I turned you. I’m irresistible.
Me: Sure, keep tellin yourself that.
Logan: Guess I’ll have to be careful not to drop the shampoo in the locker room later 🚿
Me: Fuck you
Logan: Haha, yeah you wish.
—New text in « Bros before Clothes »
Logan: Haha guys I’m just messing with you guys
Logan: Anyway, anyone else for tonight?
Fred: Nope, tennis practice until late, sorry guys
Brody: I’m away this week, back on Friday evening if u wanna hang out
Aaron: I’m there if I can catch a ride with one of you after practice.
Logan: Noice. C u in a bit at practice.
—New text from Charly
Charles: Sorry, fell into Logan’s trap 😂
Me: Haha yeah you did 😇
Me: So what are you really doing tonight?
Charles: Hot tinder date 😏
Me: Haha for real?
Charles: Yeah
Charles: Gotta go actually
Me: Alright, come over tomorrow?
Charles: Sure 😃
—New text in « Bros before Clothes »
Logan: Can I ask TL to join? Will be easier for 2v2 games
Me: Ofc
Logan: Charles, still don’t want to come? 😜
Me: Dude leave the guy alone for a sec
Logan: Jeez you guys have no sense of humour
Logan always teases people, especially in our group. I always used to laugh about it, it was just how he was, and on the rare occasions he didn’t make fun of us, you knew that something was going on with him. Although, I didn’t really pay attention to his remarks, he pissed me off this time when I thought he was just going to tell the group about our little experiment of the other day. I counted on practice to calm me down, sports usually do the trick for me.
Because of that little chat, I was a little late to practice and just joined the team on the field. After I was a little yelled at by the coach for being late, I started warming up. The rest of the team was already jogging around the field, the evening was pretty cold so I ran a little fast to reach them and warm myself up.
« Well, look who’s here! Nice of you to join us! » Logan said.
He was running together with Aaron and a few other teammates, discussing about last weekend’s game we had won and where Logan played particularly well. « At least I really played, not like that dude who was just staying around looking pretty » he said while slapping the back of my head, his usual way of joking around.
I just rolled my eyes, not in the mood for this today after he had already pissed me off in the group chat earlier. « Maybe you just got distracted by how amazing I was. » he continued.
It didn’t really show because of the cold, but he started to really pushed my buttons.
« Oh dude shut up, you look like you just barely got into puberty. » I heard Aaron say from behind us, obviously also a little exasperated by Logan’s over-confidence and regular teasing.
The whole team laughed, and surprisingly enough, it made Logan quiet for some time. After warm-up and drills, we moved into scrimmage splitting into two teams. I was with Aaron while Logan was on the other team. I wasn’t really into it, and spent more time chatting with Aaron about what we could do on the weekend than really playing.
« Yo, you guys are gonna play or are you jerking each other off » screamed Logan from the other side of the field at the sight of us talking. He smirked saying that, obviously making reference to the other day. I ignored him and laughed it off. I know how Logan works, the more upset you get, the more he’s going to keep teasing. Gladly, and without noticing I was heating up, Aaron had my back: « Nah bro, trying to keep some for your mother, how is she by the way? ». As stupid as those comments were, they were the typical ones making Logan laugh. Which he did, while lifting his middle finger at Aaron.
I didn’t really know why I got so worked up about Logan’s comments. After all, nothing unusual happened. I mean… Yes of course, it was unusual, but Logan had told me that he also did that with several other guys of the group when we all were younger. Maybe it’s because we’re adults now, and adults don’t do those stupid teenager things anymore. Or maybe it was because I had never heard Logan make comments about that to the other guys… Or did he? Maybe I just didn’t pay attention, not knowing the context.
The scrimmage cooled me down, I actually played pretty well, and scored a nice goal after dribbling past Logan with ease. As I jogged back, I couldn’t resist giving him a smirk. « So, who’s the pretty boy now, huh? » I shot at him, making sure it landed. The coach whistled the end of the training, and we all head back to the locker room in the usual post-training banter.
I’ve always had this odd attachment to the locker room. It sounds strange, I’ll admit. But for me, it was more than just a space. It felt like a refuge, a place where time slowed down. The smell of sweat and shower gel, the echo of laughter…Those things made it feel like nothing else mattered. In that room, surrounded by the guys, I could forget about everything outside. It was a sanctuary, where we were all just ourselves. No judgment, no expectations. Much like what I could feel at Concrete, but with only friends around.
I always liked to take my time in there and was one of the last ones to hit the showers. Eventually, I undressed and joined Aaron and a couple of other teammates who were already in there. « Man, I’m wiped out, that last game really took it out of me. » he said in a fatigued voice before continuing « I’m not sure I have it in me to hang out ». « That’s cool man, but I thought Logan was your ride? You know there’s no chance in hell he’ll say no to a few beers » I replied. He lifted his eyes to the ceiling in reflexion, grabbed the bottle of shampoo and said « Ugh, right. Oh well, guess a beer or two can’t hurt. Did Logan shower yet? ». I laughed and said « Logan? He’s even slower than I am. » He smirked in agreement and told me he’d get dressed. I followed his lead.
As we were wrapping up in the showers, Logan walked in, his usual smirk already in place. Aaron, always the instigator, called out, « Hurry up, man, so we can get to the beers already! » Logan shot him a thumbs-up, his tone agreeing, though he wasn’t in any rush. The rest of the guys quickly dressed, chatting and laughing as they finished up, while I lingered on the benches, scrolling through my phone, my towel loosely draped around my waist.
Eventually, the locker room emptied out, and I found myself alone for a moment. Logan emerged from the showers, towel slung low around his hips, water still dripping from his hair. He caught my eye, an exaggerated sigh escaping him as he threw open his arms in mock impatience. « Dude, come on, get dressed » he called out, his voice loud and carrying. « Let’s get out of here. The others are probably already waiting for us. ». I got dressed pretty quickly, compared to Logan at least, but waited for him.
For a minute.
Then two.
Then five.
It’s impressive how long it takes him to pat himself dry, let alone throw on a tee.
After a moment, and I was already fully dressed and putting on my shoes, I got impatient and said « Dude come on, you’re the one who told me to hurry ».
« - Chill out man, we got time.
« - The others are waiting already! How long does it take you to dry off ». I raised an eyebrow before continuing: « - You don’t have that much skin you know ».
With his usual smirk on, he grabbed his sagging pipe with his right hand and played it up and down almost in my face, saying: « Hey, you’re the one who said I was bigger than I look » .
I softly kicked him back, visibly annoyed by the fact he put that on the table again. I was really exasperated by his behaviour throughout the day, so I attempted to pull a Logan, thinking this might actually shut him up; especially since we were supposed to hang out for the rest of the night…
« Yeah, well » I said, giving him a knowing look, « I think your ego is actually bigger than your… » I paused, then slowly lifted his shaft with my index « …little spaghetti down there ». And that actually shut him up.
I think I almost hurt his feelings, although he still wore that smile on his face, but that began to look fake. He got dressed pretty quick after that, not saying a word. After his put his shoes on, he bumped me on the arm and said: « Hey, don’t forget text TL we’re on our way », to which I nodded in agreement.
—New text to « TL Peter 🍆 »
Me: Just got out of the showers
Peter: Alright, text ur address again, meet you there in 20 😉
Logan and I left the locker room together and made our way to the parking lot, where Aaron was already waiting by the car. We piled in, and the drive back to my place was surprisingly quiet. Logan, usually full of jabs and jokes, barely said a word. I didn’t mind it, it was a relief. The silence felt almost welcome after his constant teasing earlier. At least, he wasn’t pushing my buttons.
We pulled up to my place.
To be continued in Chapter 6.
This story is part of a series exploring the outrageous adventures of a tight-knit group of friends. It delves into the chaotic mix of bromance, experimentation, and discovering new boundaries of friendship and pleasure. While purely fictional, some moments may be loosely inspired by the author’s personal experiences. Feedback is always welcome!
Thank you for reading.
