Quinn.
Eddie had a mean crush on Bernard’s older brother ever since he saw him in a family photo. All this time he knew Bernard, Eddie had never met the fabulous man.
But he did dream about meeting him.
As Natasha and Ozzy flirted, making Eddie uncomfortable, Eddie walked towards the hallway where the basement door was located. He then, realized Bernard must have gone into the bathroom.
Eddie glanced back once, then opened the basement door and crept down, hoping to see this hunk in person.
As he snuck his way, he heard Quinn talking, and wondered if he had a friend with him. He paused, looking into the unfinished basement, which was rough, yet had a bed, sofa, and a music system, like a makeshift bedroom, but also had the washer/dryer, and hot water heater and furnace as well.
Then, he caught a smell. Pot.
“Ya…sure. No prob.”
Eddie crouched lower and then he could see Quinn, smoking from a joint, lying on the unmade bed, the phone to his ear. Around him was clothing, as if he had unpacked hastily; books, a laptop computer, and magazines, all scattered as if dropped from above.
Quinn met Eddie’s gaze.
Eddie froze and the urge to flee was strong. He gulped the beer. Oh, God. He’s unbelievable. Holy shit!
“Ya…hang on.” Quinn put the phone to his chest. “Yeah?”
“Sorry.” Eddie held up his hand and was about to escape.
“Dude?”
Eddie leaned down to see if Quinn meant him or whoever was on the phone.
Quinn held out the joint.
Eddie didn’t hesitate. He scrambled to be near him.
Quinn sat up on the bed, gave Eddie the joint, and kept talking. “Dunno. Flopping at my mom’s for now…yeah. No. It’s cool.”
Eddie took a hit. He inhaled and choked, coughing his head off, putting the beer bottle down on the floor.
Quinn smiled at him. “Huh? Yeah. Okay. Late—” He put the phone on a plastic perforated milk crate which doubled as a nightstand.
Eddie handed him the joint, still coughing.
“Who’re you?” Quinn ran his fingers through his long brown hair.
Eddie finally stopped coughing. “Eddie.”
Quinn handed him the weed.
Eddie took it, trying to smoke it and not cough.
“First time?” Quinn smiled.
Yes, it is. Nope, not admitting it. He took another hit and choked so hard, he nearly gagged. I’m high. Holy shit.
“It’s strong. Medical grade.” Quinn smoked more and offered it.
Eddie shook his head and drank the beer, trying to stop coughing.
“Eddie?” Bernard called from above.
“Yeah?” He stared into Quinn’s brown eyes, wanting to be like him…so much. The man reeked of ‘cool’.
“Okay. Just looking for you, dude.”
He heard Bernard walk on the upper floor. Eddie was high, very high. He ogled Quinn, having placed him on a pedestal, like a movie star, yet he knew nothing about him.
Quinn put the joint out between his fingers and relaxed on the bed. “So? What’s your deal?”
“I work with your brother.” Eddie thumbed at the stairs.
“The geek with the gross beard?” Quinn laughed.
“Yeah.” Eddie was nervous. He wanted to be friends with a cool guy like Quinn.
“He’ll look back on that and gag.” Quinn stretched his long legs, extending them behind Eddie.
“Ha.” Eddie had no idea what to say to not sound like a dork. He was excited to be able to sit here, near this gorgeous stud, but also intimidated.
“So? That dude? Upstairs?”
“My dad.”
“I think my mom’s got a major crush. He’s hot.”
“Huh?” Yes, he was high, but…“My dad is hot?”
“DILF.”
Eddie blinked and tried not to be shocked. “Are you gay?”
“I hate labels.”
Eddie wished Quinn would think he was hot. “Yeah. He’s okay. Just a dad.”
A voice from above called out, “Are you ready for dinner?”
Quinn sat up. “Mom does a good enchilada.”
Eddie stared at Quinn as he stood, running his fingers through his mane of hair and tucking his shirt into his worn jeans. “Ya comin’?”
Eddie touched the sheet, looking at Quinn’s pillow.
“Huh?” Man, am I stoned.
“How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
“Yeah? Nineteen?”
Eddie tugged on the corner of the pillow.
“Do ya got a girl?”
“No.” Eddie slowly brought the pillow to his lap.
“No? A boy?”
Eddie leaned down and sniffed the pillow. “Oooh…”
