The Himbo Machine — Chapter Ten

I dropped a springroll back on my plate and stared at the phone. It was buzzing on the table, vibrating like the end of the world.

The call display just said “SAM”.

“Shit...” Eddie chuckled. “I don’t suppose you know another Sam, huh? Like you’ve sucked a lotta cock bro, maybe it’s just some dude looking for seconds.”

“No luck,” I grimaced. “There’s only one Sam... and I have a feeling he’s not going to voicemail.”

The inventor of the himbo pill. The guy who sent us on this whole mission. Calling me for the first time since we left... and Dr. Robinson was in the machine right that second, getting his brains sucked dry... it couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Hey Sam!” I said, trying to sound cheerful as I picked up the call.

“Hello Grant,” he said. He sounded tense – weird, I’d never seen him rattled before. “Why haven’t you called me yet?”

“Huh?” I said. Playing dumb was my specialty. “I dunno boss... we’re still looking for the machine!”

“Don’t bullshit me Grant,” Larkin snapped. “I know you found the machine. I know you’re in San Francisco. I know Jeremy is being transformed as we speak. You’re lying.”

“What the... how do you know that?” I asked. I wasn’t playing anymore, now I was honestly confused.

“Your buddy Eddie posted a TikTok,” Larkin said. I could practically hear him smirking over the phone. “You should follow him... it used to be pretty boring, but his last couple videos have some serious himbo energy... I guess he took a ride in the machine himself, huh?”

I glared at Eddie.

“What?” he asked, stuffing his mouth with chicken.

“Did you post about the machine!” I hissed at him.

“Oh yeah... bro, we’re getting so many new followers,” Eddie grinned. “I love the attention dude, you know that.”

“He should take it down,” Sam said over the phone. “We don’t need anyone else catching on. Text me the address Grant, and I’ll give you all the himbo pills you want. I’ll even hand over the formula... though I doubt Eddie can follow it anymore.”

“He wants the address,” I hissed at Eddie.

“Gimme,” Eddie said, grabbing the phone out of my hand. “Hey, Larkin, go fuck yourself. We’ve got the machine now bro, we don’t need you.”

He punched a button and hung up on Sam.

“See bro,” he grinned. “No worries.”

“Uh... was that the best idea?” Ollie asked, staring at Eddie. My boyfriend seemed totally unfazed, like he thought the whole problem was solved. That’s the new Eddie – the same one who likes to parade around town in a thong and post videos about world changing technology.

“No,” I said, glaring at him. “No, it wasn’t. That was a dumb move Eddie... Larkin knows where we are because you posted some video and now he’s gonna be pissed cause he knows we’re not giving him the machine. If you’d just kept quiet...”

“What?” Eddie chuckled. “Like we were gonna ride off into the sunset and never have any consequences? Bro, deal with it, Larkin was gonna come back sometime. Now it’s now. At least we know he’s coming.”

“This doesn’t matter,” Ollie said, glancing between the two of us. “Eddie, when did you post that video?”

“Like... right after we put him in the tube!” Eddie said proudly. “It’s going viral dude, you gotta check it out...”

“Okay, so that’s... nine hours,” Ollie said, checking his watch. “Robinson’s got to cook for another hour, and for all we know Larkin’s already in town. Let’s get back to the spa –Larkin won’t be far behind us, and we need to get out of dodge.”

---------------------

We got back to the spa with time to spare. I checked the touchscreen – there were still fifteen minutes left on the timer. I could see a glimpse of Robinson’s beefy new body inside the tube, but the most important part was just starting.

I watched the tube start to flicker with light as Robinson’s mind was programmed. Eddie had wiped him hours ago, but now he was being loaded up with everything he’d need to be the perfect daddy himbo. Caring and thoughtful and silly. Horny as hell. Well intentioned, but obsessed with the gym and cock and just being a really good friend.

It was too bad we made him hopeless with technology. I could have used some help disassembling the machine.

Finally the tube hissed open. The room suddenly smelled musky and stale. Whatever the machine does to these guys, it reeks like a locker room.

I loosened the straps and let Robinson sit up.

“Whoa...” he said, staring at everything with wide eyes. I could only see his torso, but he had seriously hulked out. He had a pair of massive pecs above a narrow waist. His arms were wide and beefy. His shoulders made my cock hurt.

Robinson was one hot daddy now.

“Guys, check out my sick physique!” he cheered, throwing his arms up in a double bicep pose. “It’s like... majorly aesthetic, right?”

He planted his hands on the side of the tube and hopped out. Robinson had worn a pair of khakis and a polo shirt to the spa... it was all comically small on him now. His ass was so round that the khakis split immediately.

“Shit... I guess I’m gonna need new clothes, huh boys?” he laughed. For the first time since we met, Robinson felt safe to be around.

“Uh... Robinson, we’ve got to –“

“Hey,” he said, giving me a carefree smile. “Call me Robby.”

“Okay... Robby. We’ve got to get out of here. Pack up the machine and go. Do you remember Sam Larkin? Or how the machine works? Anything?”

“Nah man...” Robby said, shaking his head. “Who’s that Sam guy?”

“Sam Larkin,” I said again. “He’s... he’s a seriously bad guy, okay? He wants to hurt us and take this machine, but it’s not his... look Robby, I need to know if you’re with us.”

“Hell yeah guys,” Robby grinned. “I’m like... totally Team Himbo. You’re my boys, y’know, of course I wanna help you out. I’ve got your back, no matter what!”

It seemed too good to be true but... wiped and programmed, Robinson was a whole new man. Robby, I mean.

“But uh... do we have some time?” Robby asked, glancing around at our faces. “I mean, I’m like... hella horny boys, any chance y’all could give me a quick pounding before this Larkin dude shows up?”

He tugged at his shirt, trying to pull it off. Finally he gave up and grabbed at the collar, ripping it straight down the middle. Even then, it took him a good thirty seconds to take off the polo shirt – the sleeves were far too tight around his biceps.

“Yo, bro, I gotta boyfriend already,” Eddie smirked, grabbing my hand. “I mean, you’re hot as fuck, you know? But I’m in serious love right now, and we haven’t talked about bein’ open or whatever.”

Robby nodded as he struggled to pull his split khakis down over a pair of seriously meaty quads.

“Yeah, for sure man...” he said, taking a quick second to readjust his hardening cock under a pair of polka dot boxers. “That’s like... super sweet. I’m totally rooting for you guys!”

Eddie glanced over at Ollie.

“I mean... go ahead, if you want bro.”

“Maybe we should put that off...” I suggested. “Larkin’s probably tracking us down as fast as he can. For all we know he’s already in the city.”

“Bro, I’ll blow my load in like... it won’t take long,” Robby grinned, hefting his heavy cock. “I’m so fuckin’ horny!”

“Yeah, but we need a plan,” I sighed. “And we need it now.”

“Fine,” Robby said, striking out his lip in a mock pout. “But guys... I’m gonna need a sex scene eventually, you get me?”

“Grant’s right,” Ollie said with a shrug. “Later bro.”

Robby finished stripping out of his ruined pants and leaned against a wall, his boxers barely hiding his cock and balls.

“Okay,” Ollie said, clapping his hands and shifting into work mode. “What kind of move is Larkin going to make? I don’t know this guy at all. The fact that he sent you two... I’m guessing he’s not really a ‘hands on’ kind of guy, right?”

“He sent us cause he didn’t want Robinson to catch on. That’s not a problem anymore,” I smirked. “I don’t think Robby’s gonna cause him any trouble.”

“So he’s coming himself?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I mean, he’s obsessed with this machine. And now that Eddie told him off, he’ll be expecting us to try something.”

“He knows you might try something, but he doesn’t know about me,” Ollie pointed out. “Unless – Eddie, you didn’t post anything about me online, right?”

“No way,” Eddie said, shaking his head and looking satisfied.

“Don’t look too smug,” I told him. “Larkin’s only coming because you blew our location.”

“I blow lots of stuff bro,” he chuckled. “Sorry... dumb joke... but hey, I’m a himbo now, right? You can’t expect I’m gonna act all smart and shit. Ollie did my programming bro, maybe he coulda left a few more brain cells.”

“I like you,” Robby said happily. “I think you’re perfect.”

“Thanks bro,” Eddie said, flashing Robby a grin.

“Okay, here’s a plan,” Ollie said. “We know Larkin wants the machine... so that’s the bait. What if Grant calls Larkin, tells him where we are. Him and Eddie can go upstairs, meet with Larkin and bring him down.”

“Uh... bad plan dude,” Eddie laughed. “Then he’s got the machine!”

“Except I’ll be hiding down here with Robinson’s gun,” Ollie said. “You lead Larkin down the steps, I’ll stand over here, out of sight... and then we’ll have him. All we need to do is cuff him to a chair and we can figure out the rest later.”

“Yeah, but what if something goes wrong,” I asked. “The machine is the only bargaining chip we’ve got. We should put it in a van, get the hell out and never look back.”

“You said it yourself, he’s tracking us, and he could already be close,” Ollie said. “Look, I don’t know how to take this thing apart, we can figure it out, but that’s time we don’t have... besides, Robinson had that thing upstairs, that programmed guys to follow his orders when they walk into the spa, right?”

“Yeah, but Robinson’s gone.”

“We’ve still got Robby. I bet Robby can give an order just the same,” Ollie said, glancing over at our newest addition.

“I don’t remember that,” Robby said slowly. “But like... we could try?”

“Okay, so if everything goes wrong, just tell Larkin to freeze. And then tell him it’s an order...”

“So like... hey Grant... kiss me,” Robby grinned. “That’s an order.”

I nodded. That was exactly what I meant... I was so proud of him. I almost wanted to... yeah... he deserved a kiss, right? I stepped towards him and planted a firm kiss on Robby’s lips. He grabbed me and pulled me tight.

“Okay,” Eddie grinned. “So that still works.”

Robby grinned as I walked back towards my boyfriend. I shook my head... there’s powerful magic in this place.

“Let’s do it,” Ollie said, looking at me for confirmation.

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Let’s do it.”

I texted Larkin and gave him the address.

“I’ll be there within the hour. Wait for me outside,” he texted back.

A few seconds passed and another message came in.

“No tricks.”

---------------------

Robby, Eddie and I only waited for about twenty minutes before Larkin showed up. If he was expecting a trick, he probably thought he’d catch us unprepared.

But how long does it take to load a gun?

“Hello boys,” Larkin said casually, like we were old friends meeting up for a drink.

Tyler was walking a half-step behind him, bubbly and bright like always. He was wearing a pair of bedazzled jeans and a tight pink t-shirt that highlighted his delts perfectly.

“It’s good to see you,” Larkin said, searching us with his eyes. “Eddie, that’s quite the wardrobe upgrade... I think I recognize the outfit.”

“Yeah!” Eddie laughed happily. “After I went through the machine, well... y’know!”

“Good boy,” Larkin said. He seemed to relax a little. “There’s always room for you at our house.”

“I can’t wait!”

“And who’s your... my god... Jeremy?” he gasped, staring at his old friend. “Is that you?”

“Hey,” he said with a grin. “I’m Robby bud, good to meet’cha.”

“Why don’t we go downstairs,” I offered. “Robinson’s lab is in the basement. I think you’ll like what you see.”

“So many syllables Grant,” Larkin said, reaching out to pat my chin. “Don’t worry... you’ll be back to normal soon.”

I unlocked the door and led them inside. Sam kept glancing over at Robby like he was waiting for him to slip up and reveal a secret agenda. Not our Robby... that guy’s an open book.

We walked them slowly through the spa. I didn’t know the details about where Robinson’s reprogramming device was, so I made sure we showed them every room that he’d toured us through. My stomach clenched – everything about this plan made me sick.

“This is all such a waste,” Larkin said as he stared at the empty massage tables and the softly lit space. “Jeremy, you were always too paranoid. This is typical... so much subterfuge for something that should be in an anonymous office somewhere. Where’s the basement?”

I took him down the narrow flight of stairs and into the waiting room. Sam saw the machine through the observation window and his eyes lit up. He stepped quickly across the room to stare.

“It’s improved somewhat,” he said. “When I saw this in Brooklyn, it didn’t feel nearly so... complete. A touchscreen? Designed in California indeed.”

“Hands up,” Ollie snapped from behind him. “Don’t move.”

Larkin turned and saw the gun trained on him. He was all the way across the room, too far to do anything. But Tyler... he reacted instantly, kicking the gun from Ollie’s hand and sending it flying across the room.

“Well look at you Grant,” Larkin said, blinking at the surprise. “You found friends. But did you really think that was going to work?”

“I don’t know,” I said, staring down the barrel of the gun. Tyler had grabbed it quickly, and now we were being held at gunpoint ourselves. I glanced nervously at Ollie and Eddie. Robby just stared at me dumbly.

Dammit Robby, I needed you.

“Relax Tyler,” Larkin said. “Let Grant go – he can't do anything against me anyhow... remember your conditioning Grant? All those TVs around the house, repeating and repeating and repeating...”

“I’m not on the pills anymore,” I told him. “Maybe you could control me when I was drugged, but now I’m –“

“A good himbo hates to be overdressed,” Larkin said, raising an eyebrow at me.

I didn’t even have a chance to resist it. My hands pulled off my t-shirt, shucking it over my head and letting it fall to the floor.

“A good himbo hates to be overdressed,” I repeated as my shorts landed on the floor. I was just in my jockstrap now, plus a pair of gym shoes.

“Stop looking so shocked Grant,” Larkin said with an evil grin. “A good himbo just wants to have fun, right?”

I could feel my internal control falling apart. Tyler was looking at me thirstily... so was Robby... and so was Sam...

I walked over and locked lips with Sam.

“A good himbo just wants to have fun...” I giggled. Oh god... I just wanted Sam to fuck me.

“And Grant... there were some subliminal messages too,” Larkin smirked. “A good himbo obeys the man who made him.”

“Yeah...” I said, realizing that Larkin was right. It didn’t matter that I was off the pills. It didn’t matter how long it had been. “A good himbo obeys the man who made him.”

“Good boy,” Larkin said with a satisfied smile. “Is there somewhere we can lock these guys up?”

I pointed at a small storage room.

“Tyler,” Larkin said, gesturing at Eddie and Ollie. Tyler corralled my friends into the room, locking them in with the old ‘chair under the doorknob’ trick.

“What about that guy?” Tyler asked, staring at Robby.

“Jeremy... are you still in there somewhere?” Larkin asked his old friend. “Is this just a new body, or are you really gone?”

“Uh... I dunno this Jeremy guy,” Robby said, shrugging his thick shoulders.

“Too bad,” Larkin sighed. “I wish he was here to watch. Tyler, I’m going to look over the machine. I see some handcuffs over there, why don’t you secure Jeremy to the couch... and please, make sure his ass is nice and accessible.”

Tyler handed me the gun and went to get the handcuffs. I knew it was my perfect opportunity, but I couldn’t do anything. A good himbo obeys the man who made him.

After Tyler took back the gun Sam walked towards the machine. I followed him, my heart sinking with each step.

“It’s finally mine,” Larkin grinned. “Do you know how long I’ve been dreaming about this? And Grant, I know it was cruel, but I had to send you after it... it’s for the best, you see that now.”

“Yes sir,” I said automatically.  All my old habits were coming back.

Sam glanced at the touch screen. The last settings were still on there, from when we made Robby.

“Hmm, interesting,” he said. “Big and buff and dumb and addicted to sex... but nothing about age, unfortunately. I suppose this isn’t the fountain of youth... not yet. Jeremy was always better with the technology side.”

“You can do that?” I asked.

“Really Grant,” he said. “I can do anything.”

I believed him.

“Now, let’s go take care of some unfinished business first,” Sam said. “There’s quite the list... taking care of Jeremy, getting you back on your pills... or maybe we’ll just run you through the machine. And let’s not forget about your friends in the closet, I think it’s time for a full wipe.”

“Please...” I said, trying to find the words. “Eddie’s my friend. Eddie’s my boyfriend.”

“And yet you held a gun on me,” Sam shrugged. “You can’t always get what you want.”

I followed him back into the waiting room.

“Well, hello ‘Robby’,” Sam said. “I looked over your settings... you’re one hell of a sex-addict now, huh? You’re probably jonesing for my cock right now.”

“Yeah man!” Robby said, wiggling his ass in excitement.

“Well you can have it,” Sam said, loosening his belt. He flopped his beautiful cock out and lined it up with Robby’s hole. “But first... I want you to acknowledge that I’m the superior scientist.”

“Huh?”

“You and me, we invented this together – and everyone acts like I’m second fiddle! I want you to admit it, I’m the one who made this happen!”

Robby was quick to agree. I think he’d have agreed to anything for cock.

“Totally!” he said, trying to push back onto Sam’s cock. “You’re like... definitely smarter than me! Especially now that I’m a horny himbo!”

“That’s right,” Sam smiled.

“Now fuck me!” Robby begged. “Please!”

I felt up my hard cock. Damn I wanted to join in.

“Mmm...” Sam said. “I think I’ll leave you desperate for a while. I like the way it looks on you.”

“No!” Robby cried out. “I need to get fucked! Fuck me Sam! That’s an order!”

I could almost see the wheels turning in Sam’s head. I’d been through this a couple times... I knew exactly what was happening. He’d be justifying it to himself, coming up with a reason why he wanted to fuck Robby. It wouldn’t be long and then...

Sam lined up his cock again and thrust in roughly.

“OH FUCK YES!” Robby screamed, grinding his ass as Sam forced his way in. “YEAH BOY... FUCK MY HIMBO ASS!”

Tyler and I stood there, our hard cocks obvious and eager. We could see the chair shaking as Eddie and Ollie tried to force their way out of the closet. But none of that mattered to Sam – he needed to fuck Robby, and Robby was only too happy to help.

Sam grabbed Robby’s hips and started finding his rhythm.

“Fuck yeah...” he moaned as his cock darted in and out of Robby’s himbo hole. “And fuck you Jeremy... I was always fucking smarter than you... always fucking better than you...”

Robby moaned under him.

“And look at you now. You’re a fucking himbo Jeremy... remember that? You just wanted to fuck them... an unlimited supply you said, but now... fuck you Jeremy, you shouldn’t have screwed me over!”

I could see sweat dripping of Sam’s forehead. Robby was melting under him, eagerly taking his cock, moaning with each thrust.

“I’m gonna take you home boy...” Sam yelled. “We’re gonna put you in the basement. Chain you to a bench press and fuck you twice a day... I own you now!”

“Yeah!” Robby screamed. “You own my slutty ass!”

That pushed Sam right over the edge. His hips bucked wildly as he blew his load deep in Robby’s hole. I could see Robby’s cock jump, soaking his boxers in cum.

Sam gasped as Robby collapsed onto the couch. His cock dropped out of Robby’s thick ass, covered in cum. He grabbed my discarded shirt off the floor and wiped his pole with it.

He breathed out deeply.

“Okay boys... time to check out the machine. And Tyler, you're overdue for your next pill.”

“I don’t get it,” Tyler shrugged. “Why’d we have to fly all the way here for this... like... you’re so smart! You invented the himbo pill! Who needs a machine?”

“You don’t get it,” Sam said. “But you will. The pill... it nudges a man towards being a himbo. Gets you fuzzy, gets you high,gets you dumb... but mostly it just lowers your inhibitions. They make it a lot easier to condition you, but you and Grant... I think you were closeted himbos all along. The pills just let it come out.”

“Huh?” Tyler said, looking confused.

“You were a stress case,” Sam said, looking at Tyler fondly. “And the pills helped. But if you’d smoked a little weed, had the right friends... you’ve always had a himbo inside you.”

“But that means the guys who reacted badly...” I said. “The guy who got violent?”

“Those guys weren’t himbos on the inside,” Sam shrugged. “That was just who they were, uninhibited.”

“So you didn’t really make us?” I asked.

“I don’t know...” Larkin shrugged dismissively. “But I’ve got the machine now. You’ll be the perfect pair of houseboys.”

“You didn’t make us?” Tyler repeated. For the first time since I’d met him, Tyler seemed like his confidence was shaken. But Sam had his machine – he wasn’t watching us. “Then why should we do what you say?”

“A good himbo obeys...” Larkin said absently, but Tyler cut him off.

“A good himbo obeys the man who made him,” Tyler said, shaking his head. “But you didn’t really make us... we were himbos all along...”

Tyler raised the gun and pointed it at Larkin’s chest.

“We don’t gotta do what he says,” Tyler said.

It was like a pane of glass shattering in my head. Larkin wasn’t in charge... he’d never really been in charge.

“You’ve been holding me captive for years...” Tyler said, his eyes growing wide. “You made me do all the chores, you made me into your boyfriend... and you made it all up?”

“Tyler –“ he started, but there was nothing more to say.

“I wanna get free and live,” Tyler said, staring at Larkin. “I wanna love who I wanna love. I wanna live free – and the only way that happens...”

Tyler stared at the machine.

I held the gun on Larkin while Tyler set the other guys free. Five muscled up guys versus one aging professor? Larkin didn’t stand a chance.

The needle poked into his arm and his eyes lost focus. I strapped him into the machine while Eddie showed Tyler the touchscreen. We let him choose the settings. After his years with Larkin, it only seemed fair.

“Don’t you want to wipe him?” Eddie asked as they finished up the program.

“Nah,” Tyler said, giving a weird grin. “I want him to remember.”

His head was starting to clear. He was hours late for his pill. It doesn’t take long.

“Don’t worry Sam,” Tyler whispered into the tube. “You’re gonna be a total beefcake. But it’s your turn to spend all day wearing tiny thongs and doing the chores... and you’re gonna love every second of it.”

He reached into the tube and pulled a small vial of pills from Larkin’s pocket.

“I guess these are yours now,” he said to me, taking one from the bottle. “You want one?”

“Not right now,” I said, holding myself back. Once I was on those pills, I’d keep taking them til the bottle was empty. “We’re gonna have to make some decisions and I don’t want my judgement clouded.”

“C’mon bro, do it!” Eddie urged me on. “Let’s get you himbo’d up, then we can go dancing or whatever!”

“Besides,” I said to Tyler. “Someone needs to be responsible around here.”

Tyler looked at the pill in his hand and shrugged.

“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” he said, dropping it back in the bottle. “It’s been like... years since I didn’t take a pill... maybe it’s time to get some clarity.”

He tucked the bottle back into Larkin’s pocket and activated the machine.

The timer said six hours.

---------------------

Despite it being Christmas, we found a bar with a dance floor. It wasn’t a gay bar, but did that matter? Between the five of us, we brought enough gay for everyone.

Eddie and Ollie dragged Robby onto the dance floor, eager to teach him some moves. The beefy man was only to happy to let the pair of muscle boys show him how it’s done.

Tyler and I joined them for a couple of songs, but I don’t think either of us were really feeling it. The bar kind of sucked and the music was no good for dancing... but those three are pure himbo energy, they could grind to Ave Maria.

“You doing okay?” I asked Tyler. I remembered coming off the pills – it was a wicked hangover. He seemed like he was handling it pretty well.

“Yeah,” he said, taking a sip of his beer. “Damn, that’s good. You know... I haven’t had a beer in... since I got together with Sam. Bad for my abs, but who cares?”

“You’re taking this well,” I said.

“Yeah... my heads starting to clear man... first time in... you get the idea, right?”

“Yeah.”

We sat and drank – he had a beer, I had a vodka tonic. There weren’t that many people at the bar and nobody was having as much fun as our crew. The three of them had the dance floor to themselves and they were loving it. They reminded me of peacocks – bright and colourful and impossible to ignore.

Especially Robby. He was huge, even compared to the other guys. We’d saddled him with a lot of muscle and it was beautiful on his mature frame. Ollie and Eddie were clearly dancing in his orbit.

Eddie was glancing over at us every so often, hoping we’d join in. Ollie never took his eyes off Robby – I think he was falling in love. Definitely lust.

“It looks like those two are hitting it off, huh?” I finally said, just to break the silence.

“Yeah,” Tyler nodded. I’d always known him as a strong and confident himbo, someone I looked up to and learned from. But now...

“Feels kinda awkward, huh?” I asked. “Like... we look like them, but...”

“Yeah,” Tyler nodded again. “We’re a little out of place, I guess.”

Eddie and Ollie and Robby, they were all perfect party himbos. Introspection wasn’t their strong point. I felt that familiar tug in my psyche... wanting to be them... not knowing how...

“Is that all you want?” Tyler asked, staring at our friends.

“Huh?”

“A whole life, just sex and fun and absolutely zero impact,” Tyler said. “You can have it, you know. If that’s what you want.”

“I chased across the country to get it,” I sighed.

Tyler nodded and raised his empty pint glass. The bartender saw him and swapped it out for more of the same.

“I mean... Sam mentioned it was inside us all along,” I said. “And who knows, maybe if I’d never taken those pills, maybe it would have stayed buried. I used to stress just to stress, you know? It made me feel... worthwhile.”

“And those guys don’t stress,” Tyler suggested.

“That doesn’t make them worthless,” I said, shaking my head. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“It’s okay Grant, I get it,” Tyler said. “Maybe I’ll want it again in the morning...”

“What do you think I should do?” I asked. Tyler was right – he got it. Nobody else could.

He took a long drink and sighed.

“I watched him bring you into the house,” Tyler said. “And yeah, I was on the pills, and conditioned, and defeated... but I could have said something. I watched him trap you… like h trapped me.”

“So?”

“I didn’t say a damn thing,” he said. “So I’m not gonna tell you how to live your life now. You have to decide who you’re gonna be, and Grant... you can be anyone.”

I went and danced with Eddie.

---------------------

The bar kicked us out around two and we ended up wandering the streets. That lasted about ten minutes – Eddie likes to show off his body, but he’d stripped to a thong again, and it’s cold in December.

We ended up back at the spa, hanging out in the waiting room downstairs. Robby napped on the couch while the rest of us sat up and drank tea.

“So it’s Christmas,” Ollie said, sitting on the floor with his back propped up against the couch. “Any wishes?”

“Just a good year,” Eddie offered, giving me a playful glance. “Parties. Friends. Fucking. Drop outta school, get a modelling gig, you know... the life.”

“I think I’m gonna stay here,” Ollie said with a slight smile. “I’m just a kid from Ohio. I’ve heard about the Castro and all that stuff... I want to check it out. See what happens.”

“You and Robby were looking tight,” Tyler suggested.

“Yeah... let’s see what happens. What about you – what’s the new year gonna bring?”

“Oh god... I don’t know,” Tyler said. “I’m gonna stay off the pills for a few days, see if I can think that through. These last few years... it’s been the same day everyday. I don’t know.”

“Oooh, that’s mysterious,” Ollie teased. “What about you Grant?”

“I uh...” I said. What did I want?

Eddie gave me a sharp glance. He wanted me to take the pill. Live that empty life.

There was a sound from the other room. Thank god. The tube was hissing open, filling the air with a musky scent.

What did I want? The four of us hurried towards the machine. Sam was waking up inside.

We crowded around the tube and watched Larkin emerge. Sam was transformed.

But what did I want?

——————————

Hey guys, we’ve got one more chapter coming in August.  I’m not sure what’s next after that.  Drop your ideas in the comments And I’ll put up a poll next week with some options.  -D