Everett and Seymour were best bros. They loved each other— no homo, of course. They were both straight, and secure in their masculinity. At least, that’s what they’d both managed to convince themselves.
The summer in between their junior and senior years of high school, they spent a ton of time at the beach. They weren’t checking each other out, obviously. They were both straight. (They believed that more than anything else.)
“Dude, am I fat?” Everett asked with a frown as they set up their towels on the sand one day. He had definitely gained weight after the school’s volleyball season ended last winter.
Seymour looked at his bro. Everett’s pale skin looked as smooth as it always did, and although his abs weren’t as solid as Seymour’s, there was no denying the truth.
“Nah, bro. You’re hot as fuck,” Seymour reassured him. “No homo though.”
Everett sighed in relief. “Thanks, man. I needed that.”
“Anytime, bruh.”
Everett felt self-conscious sometimes, but Seymour always made him feel better about himself. He smiled at his bro, taking in his flawless dark brown skin. Seymour seemed to notice him staring and flexed his muscles a bit. If Everett wasn’t so focused on Seymour’s muscular body, he might’ve noticed that he was blushing, although it was pretty subtle given his complexion.
This happened pretty much every time they went to the beach that summer.