Max Pov
After that day when Alex walked in on Jeff getting gang-banged, things spiralled badly. I knew he wasn’t going to take it well, even though he was hard and did cum watching Jeff getting his ass fucked. But to move to another country, even though it was New Zealand, was a bit drastic, I thought. Jeff was distraught; he didn’t know what to do. Alex wouldn’t speak to him, and Ben had deserted him as a friend as well.
I spoke to Jeff a few times, trying to get him to calm down and see how things panned out. I was trying to get him to see that it was probably for the best that Alex had left; he could now see who he wanted and fuck whoever he wanted. He didn’t want to hear that. I guess I wasn’t known for my tact.
I rang Alex. I had to try to do something to sort this situation out; I really felt bad for Jeff. What do you want, Max, Alex said.
I was actually surprised he was speaking to me. I told him that running away wasn’t the answer, that he needed to face problems head-on, and that he was abandoning his relationship with Jeff because of me. Jeff is hurting Alex, I told him, and he is so sorry for what happened.
I’m the one you should be mad at, I told Alex, I organised the group scene, I gave Jeff a joint to smoke, which let his defences down, and I invited the other guys over to your place. He loves you, Alex.
He may love me, but he picked you to fuck that day, cheating on me behind my back.
“Call him Alex.” Just give him a chance to explain. Ben told me he was alone, so I went over, and things got out of control.
I hadn’t heard from Jeff in weeks. The silence was something I hadn’t anticipated, if I’m honest with myself. Men like Jeff, eager, pliant, desperate for direction, they don’t usually walk away.
I was in my office when Ben called. I almost didn’t pick up. The boy had been distant as hell since Alex left. I knew he blamed me; he was caught between loyalty to his friend and whatever complicated feelings he harboured toward me. Blood versus cock, I suppose. A timeless conflict.
“Why the fuck did you have to do it, Dad? “ he asked. I told you to fucking leave them alone; it’s all your fault Alex is gone. He was angry. I fucking miss Alex and Jeff, to be honest, he said. Did you know Jeff is leaving, too? Not only did you fuck up my relationship with Alex, but you fucked up your own relationship with Jeff.
“Jeff’s leaving?” I asked. I felt something tighten in my chest, though I couldn’t quite name it. “Where is he going?” “Auckland. He’s moving there for work, says he found a place to live, and somehow he’s going to make it up to Alex and try and win him back.” Fuck this was the worst. How did I let this happen?
I set my phone down on the desk, my jaw twitching. Auckland, New Zealand. Another country. I had to talk to Jeff; I had to make him see sense.
But that wasn’t my only concern; my wife has started asking questions: Why hasn’t Ben been around lately? Have you two had a falling out? Nothing direct about sleeping with anyone else, nothing that would suggest she knows anything, but there’s a shift in how she looks at me lately. A wariness that wasn’t there before. I’ve been careful, always careful, but careful doesn’t always matter when someone starts paying attention.
That evening, I made an excuse that I was going out with a couple of the guys from work. I headed over to Jeff’s, knocked on the door, and Jeff answered. I’m busy, Max, he said. I just want to talk, I told him. Ben told me you were leaving. I think we need to discuss it.
