Timothy’s Terrible Prompt Stories - 61. Prompt 579 How can you be so sure?

An Eric POV chapter to make Team Rob happy.  

“How can you be so sure?” Rob’s blue eyes were unusually earnest.

“About what?” Eric wriggled to get a bit more comfortable on his bed, next to where his brother lay in his customary sprawl.

“How can you be so sure Nelson is the one you want?”

“Rather than a girl, you mean?” Eric scowled. He couldn’t believe Rob suddenly asked him this after almost tricking him into coming out.

“No!” The swiftness with which Rob reached out and punched his thigh took Eric by surprise. “Don’t be an idiot, bro. I know you like what feels right, natural, or whatever.”

“Sorry,” Eric mumbled as he rubbed the sore spot on his leg. He should have known better than to doubt Rob. After all, his brother was his greatest supporter and seemed almost proud of the fact Eric was dating Nelson.

“How can you be so sure Nelson is the one?”

“Well, one can never be sure—” This time Eric managed to avoid the punch aimed at the same spot.

“Quit avoiding my question, asshole. I’ve seen the way you look at him, and he’s no better. You might as well be married or shackled to each other. That boy is yours for life, and you’re well and truly hooked too. Yup, my little brother is off the market, in a love-forever relationship at the age of fifteen. It’s so cute I’m getting cavities from all the sweetness.”

A new and astounding thought occurred to Eric. “Uhhm, Rob, are you jealous?” He couldn’t believe his older, handsome, popular brother - in whose shadow he’d always stood - was envious of him.

“Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m not envious of you dating Nelson in particular, though he does have a nice pert ass and hair like a girl.”

“ROB! Stop perving on my boyfriend’s ass. Find your own guy.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Plenty of guys out there with cute bottoms if I ever wanted to take a walk on the wild side. Trevor has a good bubble butt, as a matter of fact.” Rob smirked as Eric rolled his eyes.

“Be serious, Rob.”

“Answer my question, and I’ll answer yours.” They stared at each other, and Rob caved with a shrug. “OK, I’ll admit to envying you, but not for the reason you think. I want to find love, to know I’ve found the one who’ll be by my side for the rest of my life. Oh, not right now, I wouldn’t mind sowing a few wild oats in college, but eventually I want to be stuck by lightening when the right girl comes along.” Rob’s voice got low and almost dreamy. “I want us to look at each other the way you two do.”

“Jeez, Rob, you’re a closet romantic.”

“If you ever tell anyone, you’ll regret it.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

“So, for the fourth time. How can you be so sure?”

“I don’t know, I just am. Maybe it’s the way Nelson makes my heart race and my guts turn to mush. The thought of being apart is painful, but making him smile is my favorite thing to do.”

“I’da thought making him moan your name would be your favorite—”

“ROB!”

“Sorry, go on.”

“It’s mushy and I don’t like to talk about feelings, you know that.”

“Yeah, but I also know you. You’re always analyzing and trying to put matters into words. So, spill.”

Eric wanted to roll his eyes again, but he almost liked this Rob who didn’t mind showing a vulnerable side.

“Nelson makes me a better person, or perhaps he makes me like myself more, because his love shines a different light on who I am. We share a lot of interests and opinions, and we could be good friends even if we weren’t boyfriends. I know I can trust him and rely on him, and even if we disagree, he’ll never betray me or let me down or lie to me.”

Rob was nodding, and his eyes were unfocused as he gazed on the ceiling.

Eric took a deep breath and decided to go all out.

“The only other guy I’ve trusted like him…that’s you, Rob. Nelson is friend and family and lover in one, and I’ll do anything to keep him.”

Rob’s gaze snapped back to Eric’s face at the mention of his name. The atmosphere stayed serious for a moment, and then a glint appeared in his eyes accompanied by a happy smirk.

“Anything, huh? And I bet Nelson is just as eager to prove his devotion.”

“Jeez, Rob, you sure are nosy about my sex life. I mean, it’s great, but I’d be with Nelson whether we have sex or not. Can you say the same about your ex or anyone else?”

“Nope. You’re right. My dick may have been engaged but my heart and mind sure weren’t.”

“Eeww, Rob, I don’t want to think about your dick and what you do with it.”

“Nothing much at the moment, except what you saw the other morning.” Rob started laughing when Eric attacked him with a pillow.

“Fuck, don’t remind me, jerk! I’d almost managed to chase that image out of my mind.”

“Chase or replace, bro? We both know whose dick you’re dreaming of, right? Has Nelson provided you with some nice images?”

“Get out, Rob!” Eric jumped up and was about to throw his door open.

“Wait, Eric. Let me just say something important.”

“What?”

“Don’t send naked pics to Nelson, and don’t ask him to send you any either. It’s not safe.”

“I know that, Rob. Really? Who’s the internet nerd in the family, eh?”

“OK, OK, sorry. I just wanted to be sure. I always made certain Mel never took any risqué pics of me, not even shirtless.”

“Not just shirtless? Why? That’s pretty innocent, isn’t it?” Eric thought of those pictures Nelson had from the drama group.

“Depends on the circumstances. Shirtless outside in the garden or at the beach with a group of other people might be OK. But in her room, posing for her, or perhaps on my bed? No way, because the implications are clear. And why would she need a picture like that?”

“I see your point.”

“I have an easy test or rule about this. Don’t take or send any picture you won’t show Mom and Dad.”

“That covers a lot more than naked selfies.”

“Yep, but it’s even more important now that cameras in cell phones are everywhere, and people post pics and tag you on Facebook. It might be fun now, but in twenty years’ time, when your dream job is on the line, do you really want someone to dig out a picture of you smooching Nelson with your hand down his pants?”

“ROB!”

“And don’t get all high-and-mighty on me. If you were straight, my line would’ve been the same one Dad gave me about my hand being up my girlfriend’s skirt. Kiss and fuck Nelson all you want, just make sure there’s no evidence! No pics and no used condoms under the bed.”

“All right, all right, you’ve made your point, thank you. Now buzz off, Rob, I have homework to do.”

“You’re welcome, bro. And thanks for the love lecture. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Rob held his hand up with a grin and Eric couldn’t help smiling as he high-fived him on the way out. Rob was incredibly annoying, but he meant well and he cared. What more could you expect?