James froze at that. “First time? Like, sexually your first time? As in a virgin?” He cleared his throat and realized he probably could have sounded a little less frantic when he asked that.

The little shit across from him just rolled his eyes and scoffed though. “Obviously I’m not a virgin. I’m 21 and attractive. I’ve just never been with any guys before.”

All right. That was much better. He would’ve felt like way too much a sleaze if Corey had been a complete virgin. “So, bi then?”

“Yep. I want my experience with men to be good. I want to know that if mid way through I want to be called -” he cut himself off. His cheeks pinkened slightly as his eyes dropped back to the half empty glass of water.

Something hurt inside of James. He remembered his own warring thoughts when he was coming to terms with being attracted to both men and women. How difficult it had been to admit that to just himself, let alone other people. He would’ve done anything to have had someone there to help through all of that. “Cora or Corey? Do you still want me to call you Corey right now?”

Pained eyes looked up at him. “Cora,” Cora whispered to him. She closed her eyes and let out a relieved breath after. Something seemed lighter about her.

“Do you always want to be Cora?”

“No.” Her answer was immediate. “No, some days I’m Corey. Some days I’m Cora. I don’t know what changes it or why I’m like this… I don’t want like, surgeries or anything, since it’s always back and forth. I just want to look like how I feel and be acknowledged for -” again she cut her rapid speech off. Her fingers tapped along the glass in front of her.

“All right. Ok, I tell you what. Take a week. Two. Think it over and if you still want to do this with me then ok. I’ll let you have this be your safe space to be who you want to be and to do what you want to do with me. On one condition though.”

The disbelief on Cora’s face was wiped off to be replaced with one of trepidation. “What’s the condition?”

“We keep it secret. I don’t want Wes knowing.”

And there was the relief. The weight off her shoulders. A grin that lit her face up. James’ heart skipped and he was already regretting the offer. This girl was going to be dangerous.

“That’s not a problem!” Cora laughed and leaned back in her seat. “Are you serious? You’re interested in doing this with me?”

“I am. You’re attractive, as Cora and as Corey. If you want someone to just fool around with in your free time, then I’m here for that.”

“Can we start tonight? I want to try giving a blow job again.” An eager grin lifted her lips.

“No.” Her face fell at his refusal, but James held strong even as his cock stirred in interest. “I said to take two weeks to really think about it. I also want you to get an STD test done. I haven’t been with anyone since my last check up, but I’ll get it done as well for your reassurance.”

An uncomfortable look crossed Cora’s face. “I want to use condoms. I’ve never not and don’t really want to risk anything.”

“Good, but I still want testing done. Condom’s break. Accidents happen. Plus it’s just a good idea to be tested regularly anyway.”

Cora still looked a little unsure, but she nodded.

“All right, now that we’re on the same page… Do you need a ride home?”

Cora smiled at him. “Yeah, sure. Thanks.”

James had just pulled onto campustown when a question came to him. “Hey, where did you get ready before? I know you didn’t just walk out of your dorm room dressed feminine.”

“I rented a hotel room.”

James snorted. “All right, well if you decide you do want to do this, then next time you can just get done up at my place if you want.” James pulled to the curb in front of the residence hall. He made eye contact with his brother who was just leaving the dorms. “Just text me when you know, all right?” James said to Cora after he tore his eyes away from Wes’ scowl.

“All right. Thank you, James.”

James grinned at her. “You’re welcome, Cora.”

Cora slid out of his truck, but before she could shut the door, Wes was there with a hand on it. “Hey, bro. Good timing.”

Perfect. James rolled his eyes to hide the sudden tension he was feeling. “Well get in or let me leave.”

Cora stood back a bit and glanced between them. James gave her a short wave. Wes smiled her way. “I’ll see you later, Corey,” Wes said to her.

If James hadn’t been looking, he wouldn’t have seen how Cora’s smile stiffened slightly. He wouldn’t have seen the way her shoulders tightened. He wouldn’t have seen her discomfort with the name and the way reality seemed to crush the light in her eyes. It just reinforced his decision. He was doing the right thing by giving her his space to be safe in.

“Dinner, then?” James asked. He’d already eaten, but if he knew his brother at all then he knew Wes was hungry.

“Sure, yeah. Hey, didn’t you agree to not fuck my friends?”

“Sure did. Which is why when your friend asked to meet up I agreed so I could apologize in person.” That was true. Not a lie. So far so good.

“Oh, Well thank you for that then.”

“No problem. What do you want to eat?” He directed his truck towards the restaurant Wes picked. “What’s the big deal about the two of us hooking up?”

From the corner of his eyes, he could see Wes stiffen. “There’s no ‘big deal.’ It’s just wrong. You’re too much older than he is and out of everyone you could sleep with, why would you choose my friends?”

“I’m not choosing your friends. It just happened.”

“You knew exactly who he was when he walked in and you chose to say yes to him. Just don’t make shit harder on me.”

Don’t make shit harder on me. James let the silence grow between them after that. He didn’t feel bad about his agreement with Corey. They’re both adults who can make their own decisions, but this conversation was giving him flashbacks to the one and only date he went on after taking in Wes.

“I won’t make things harder for you, Wes. You’ve always come first for me and you always will.” Things wouldn’t be harder. Wes would never know.

“Thank you.” More silence. “I don’t expect you to put me first anymore.” Wes sounded as awkward as James was feeling. “I just… I don’t really even know.”

James pulled the truck into the parking lot and turned to Wes. “Don’t worry about it. You have an early class tomorrow right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s eat and get you back home.”