Chapter VI.
After Practice
We pulled up to my place. Peter was waiting at the door with his phone in his hand, scrolling to pass the time. Logan was the first to jump out of the car, practically bounding towards Peter. As he approached, he threw his arms around him in an exaggerated hug, slapping him on the back « What’s up, man? Long time no see! » Logan said, his voice loud and friendly, carrying that boisterous energy. « Yeah, how long has it been, like two days ?! » Peter said clearly trying to break the ice, making it clear from the start that tonight was all about fun and not taking anything too seriously.
Aaron followed behind us, moving at laid-back pace, and gave Peter a quick wink and a pat on the shoulder as he passed him. Aaron and Peter weren’t really friends, no enemies either, they had also just hung out a the new year’s eve party but not much after.
I got out of the car last, stretching a little before walking up to the studio. For a moment, I caught myself looking at Peter again, taking him in without the drunken haze of the New Year’s party hanging over us. He wasn’t the guy I’d seen stumbling drunk and who flashed his gigantic wand at me; here, he looked composed, grounded. Still the same Peter, but… different. Sober. With a quiet, cool vibe. I walked up to him, and we exchanged a fist bump. There was a slight awkwardness in the way our hands met—nothing too obvious, but just enough for me to notice. It was the first time we were seeing each other without the blur of alcohol, and I wasn’t sure how to read the shift in energy.
« Hey, man » I said, trying to keep it casual, hoping the awkwardness would pass quickly. He nodded and gave me a simple, « Hey » in return, his tone quiet but friendly.
I couldn’t help but feel a little weird about it. We’d gotten along fine when we were both drunk, but sober… it was like we were still figuring out this friendship.
Aaron, who had already made his way inside, was the one to raid the fridge. He grabbed a few beers and tossed them to the group, one by one. I caught mine with a quick reflex, and we all cracked open the bottles in unison. I hadn’t really mentioned Aaron much up until now. I mean, he’s been around, he’s just kind of… there. The kind of guy who doesn’t need to be the center of attention but fits into the chaos. But this isn’t the time to get into all that.
As we all took our first sips, the momentary tension faded, replaced by the usual banter. After all, we were about to dive into a night of Call of Duty and beers—plenty of time for all the weirdness to fade away.
During one of the games, Logan, who was on the losing team as usual turnt to Peter: « So what did you do today bro? ». « Ah, not much » Peter shrugged, taking a sip from his beer. « Went on a three-hour bike ride, and that’s pretty much it. »
Logan groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically. « Christ, man, three hours on a saddle? I don’t know how you do it. I swear I’m bored just listening to you talk about it. »
Aaron, who had been quiet until then, jumped in with a grin. « I actually admire it. We could never play soccer for three hours straight. »
I couldn’t help but nod along. I would learn over the months that three hours was on the low end for Peter; sometimes he'd be out on a bike for six. It was insane to think about. I couldn’t even imagine it. Logan, catching a glimpse of me nodding, shot a smirk in my direction. « You wouldn’t last, man. I could play all day, but you’re definitely getting rusty. » His tone was light, but the usual teasing was there. I shrugged, keeping it cool. « I could give it a shot. » I said, more out of curiosity than anything.
Peter leaned back, catching my interest. « You should, man. I’ve got a spare bike, we’re about the same size, and I know a route that’s perfect for beginners. Join me sometime! »
I silently at first, hesitated. The idea seemed interesting, but I wasn’t sure. Soccer was boring me a little lately, but I knew nothing about cycling, nor was I close enough to Peter to share hours on a bike next to him.
He looked back at me, with confident grin on his face. « Come on, give it a shot. I’ll show you the ropes. Maybe you’ll even like it more than soccer. ». I was still hesitant, but wanted to try something new. « Alright, why not, you free Saturday? ». He replied positively, obviously very happy I agreed to join him.
Logan, who had been silently watching from the other side of the couch, leaned forward: « Hold up, hold up, » he said, raising an eyebrow. « You two are seriously gonna spend the whole day biking together? What, you’re gonna brush each other’s hair while you’re pedaling too? »
I shot him a glance, but Peter didn’t flinch. Instead, he shot back with quick wit. « Nah, but maybe we’ll talk about real sports while you’re sitting on your ass playing video games all Saturday ». At that moment I realised that Peter was quick on his feet and that he didn’t fear Logan’s jokes. I liked that in him, nothing could throw him off; unlike Logan, who was quick to make jokes, but not so good at come backs, which he often deflected with a head slap or a bump on the arm.
A few seconds later, a thought crossed my mind.
« Dude, I don’t even own any cycling clothes. » I admitted, looking at Peter. « Sorry man I just thought about it. » Peter grinned, « No worries, man. I’ve got extra pairs of shorts and jerseys you can borrow ».
I looked at him, slightly surprised. « You sure? I mean, I’m not sure I’d fit in your... gear. ». Logan jumped at the obvious opportunity to make a joke out of Peter’s nickname: « Don’t worry, at least there’s gonna be plenty of room for your dick in TL’s shorts, bro. ».
Not the least thrown off by his comments, Peter instantly reacted: « Aww, what’s up man, sad you’re not the biggest in the room, Loggy? ». His instant comebacks were perfect, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he called Logan « Loggy » as he was infantilising him. Peter, in the strongest confidence even added: « No offence Aaron, I don’t know about your… attributes. » even if they had not spoken much.« No worries bro, no competition there. » Aaron replied, focused on the game.
Seeing Peter coming back at Aaron so easily and so confidently… I had growing respect for him, and actually couldn’t wait for that bike ride now. « Anyway, yeah you’ll fit no problem », Peter added. « Cool. » I added, simply with a gentle smile.
A few seconds of silence passed, and then Logan, not ready to give up on the joke just yet, leaned back with a grin.
« So, » he said, looking between Peter and me, « are we gonna do a full-on fashion show when you two rock up in matching Lycra?. » I couldn’t help but laugh as I tried to picture us both in full cycling gear. Peter, never to miss a beat, dropping with cutting tone: « You really think you’re in a position of giving fashion advice, sweatpants? »
The way Peter delivered it—cool, calm, and with zero hesitation—was enough to make Logan pause. He opened his mouth like he was going to say something back, but then seemed to think better of it. With a roll of his eyes he let it go, slouching further into the couch.
« Whatever, man, » Logan muttered, trying to hide the slight edge in his voice. « You two enjoy your ride. ». « Don’t worry, we will. » Peter replied, looking at me with a playful wink, his confidence unmistakable.
Aaron, completely oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, grunted as he focused on the game, completely absorbed in the match. « You guys can talk about bikes all night, but I’m not stopping ‘til I’ve destroyed you both ».
We went on playing a few more games after that. Eventually, Peter got up after a winning party and shot a grin at me before pulling on his jacket. « Alright, man, I’m out, I’ll see you Saturday. Don’t forget your helmet. »
I nodded, smiling. The idea of the bike ride felt suddenly exciting, something new to look forward to. He gave me a quick wave before heading out the door, and I followed him for a moment, watching him leave.
Aaron, who had been glued to the game the entire time, finally hit pause and stood up with a groan. « Alright, I’m out, too » he said, stretching. « You two enjoy your bike date. » He tossed me a lazy wave, then clapped Logan on the shoulder. « Dude, you’re my ride, let’s head out ».
Logan, still half-buried in the couch, managed to lift himself up and dropped a half-hearted « Later, bro. » before heading to the door with Aaron. It was clear from the way his eyes flickered toward me and Peter that his mind wasn’t entirely on the game anymore.
The guy was jealous.
Of a bike ride.
Like I had stolen his favourite toy.
I have to admit I loved that, I even added to the awkwardness: « Catch you later, Loggy. » I said with the same teasing smirk Logan used to use all the time. He gave me a middle finger before entering his car, with Logan on the passenger’s seat.
I cleaned up the place a little, grabbed the empty beer bottles and eventually collapsed on the couch, scrolling through my social feeds for a few minutes.
—New text from A-Bomb Aaron 💣
Aaron: What was that? 🤔
Me: ??
Aaron: Dude, is Logan jealous or something? 👀
Me: 😂
Me: Looks like it 😆
Aaron: 😂
Aaron: That guy Peter’s nice
Aaron: Never really talked to him before 🤷♂️
Me: Haha yeah, he’s a cool dude
Aaron: I can totally picture you two in matching jerseys, riding off into the sunset.
Me: Ugh, not sure I’m ready for the lycra thing just yet 😅
Aaron: You’ll be fine, gotta keep up with the vibe
Aaron: Just don’t turn into a cyclist, we still need you in the team
Me: Don’t worry bro, just trying out something new ✌️
Aaron: I get that
Aaron: It’s a good thing
Aaron: Trying out new things 😏
Me: 😂
Me: Plenty of things to discover in the world
Aaron: True 💯
Aaron: Night bro, love you 💙
Me: Love you too bro 💙
I tossed my phone on the nightstand, kicked off my shoes, stretched a little. Took off my clothes and finally climbed into bed wearing my trunks. The cool dark blue sheets felt good against my skin, and I sank into the mattress, the weight of the day slowly fading away.
My mind drifted back to the ride with Peter, something I was actually looking forward to. It felt good to think about trying something new, breaking away from the usual routine.
As I adjusted my pillow and closed my eyes, Aaron’s last message flickered in my mind. That damn smirk emoji. "Trying out new things 😏" he'd said, followed by that little smiley face that made me pause.
Was it just him being his usual sarcastic self, or did he think there was something more behind it? I pushed the thought away, telling myself it was nothing. I sighed, sinking deeper into the bed, hoping the answer would come to me eventually. For now, I was just going to enjoy the ride ahead.
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.
