Zade Collins:
Okay… this was bad. No. This was weird. Really, really weird.
I stood there, still crouched awkwardly behind the low hedge, one hand trying to cover my legs and y underwear, the other holding onto what little dignity I had left. Because, yeah—I had no pants on. And Blake West, my childhood best friend and my cousin was just… standing there, staring at me like I'd grown two heads.
I cleared my throat. And immediately regretted it. Blake blinked at me, wide-eyed, then had the audacity to tilt his head, all confused, like he was the victim here. "What?" he said softly, frowning. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
I squinted, pressing my palm more firmly against my thigh. "Uh… why am I looking at you like that? Blake. Buddy. You wanna explain why I woke up without my pants?"
His doughy cheeks turned red. I'm not talking a casual blush here. I'm talking tomato-level. Fire-engine red. His entire face practically lit up, like his skin didn't even know how to process this conversation.
"I… I didn't—" He stammered, stepping back automatically, as if my semi-naked state was contagious. "W-what? Don't look at me! It's your pants!"
I arched a brow. "Oh, now it's my fault."
"I didn't touch your pants!" His voice cracked a little as he said it, which honestly made it so much better.
I crossed my arms—not helping the whole covering-myself situation, but, whatever. I was on a roll now. "Uh-huh. Okay. So my pants just… what? Magically grew legs and ran off on their own?"
He sputtered, nervously fidgeting with the box of chocolate in his hands and biting his pink lips that were smudged with chocolate that I fed him earlier, I saw it but didn't ask him to wipe it clean because he looked adorable. "I—I don't know! I found you like this! I swear!"
That was when it hit me. I smirk. Slowly. "Oh."
Blake froze.
I leaned forward slightly, caging him against the wall as I lowered my voice. "I get it now." Blake blinked at me in pure terror while clenching the box to his chest as if the box is going to protect him from me.
I smirked. "I get it. You thought—'Oh, poor Zade's unconscious! Let's get some payback! Let's prank him him! When he wakes up, he'll be so embarrassed not wearing pants!'" I laughed softly, shaking my head. "Smart plan, honestly."
Blake's jaw dropped. "Wha—No! No! I didn't—"
"Admit it," I cut in smoothly. "You pulled the prank. You wanted me to wake up humiliated because you thought there was bugs in the box."
"I swear I didn't! I swear on—on my mom's—" He stopped himself, swallowing hard, his face crumpling for a second at the mention of his mom.
And immediately, guilt stabbed through my chest. I should stop teasing him. Damn it.
I softened just slightly, but my teasing grin stayed. Maybe it was easier to keep it there than face the weight behind his eyes.
He was still standing there, shaking his head frantically, cheeks burning. "I would never do that! Why would I take your pants off? That's—That's insane! I promise!"
I pretended to think about that. Then, grinning wider, I swiped my thumb across my bottom lip and said lightly, "Huh. Guess we're calling it 'I didn't take your pants off' now."
Blake's face somehow turned even redder. He gasped. "Zade! I'm serious!"
I leaned forward just a fraction. "Are you?"
His eyes flickered to my bare thighs, and then he panicked, snapping his gaze up to the sky, his breathing a little ragged. He was hiding behind his hands now, shaking his head like this whole scene would just vanish if he refused to look.
God. He was adorable.
I chuckled under my breath, watching him fall apart from pure secondhand embarrassment. Couldn't help it. Couldn't stop myself.
So… I pushed a little further.
Without thinking, I moved my hands off my legs entirely, standing up straight, giving him the full view of my boxer-brief situation.
He looked once. And screamed. Like, an actual, high-pitched shriek.
"Zade! Stop it! What are you doing?!" I laughed, full-on, the kind that shook my shoulders.
"Oh no," I said, acting all serious. "Are you embarrassed, best friend? You took my pants off and now you're shy?"
"I didn't take your pants off!" he wailed, covering his eyes. "Put your pants back on!"
I smiled wickedly. "Can't. They're missing. And clearly, you want me humiliated, so…"
I reached for the hem of my T-shirt slowly, teasingly. His fingers peeked through the gaps of his hands as he panicked.
"No—No, Zade! Stop! Don't take your shirt off too!"
I tugged the T-shirt halfway up my torso, showing my stomach. "Zade! Stop!" He was practically shaking now, blushing so hard I worried he'd faint.
At this point, my own laughter nearly broke me. I let the T-shirt drop back down. "Relax, I'm joking."
He lowered his hands hesitantly, glaring at me in horror. "You're evil." I smirked. "You love me." As my hand moved to my underwear, pretending like I was going to slide them down.
He immediately looked like he regretted his entire life. And then, without warning, he ran. Like, full-on bolted.
Not even a word of goodbye. He just turned and sprinted, feet slapping against the stone path as he dashed toward the house, muttering something like "Nope, nope, nope" under his breath.
I stood there, laughing, winded, hands on my hips, watching his figure vanish.
God.
I missed this.
I missed him.
Once I caught my breath, my smile faded just slightly. I glanced down at myself, chewing the inside of my cheek thoughtfully.
And then the thought hit me.
I frowned.
Wait…
If Blake really didn't take my pants… Then where the hell were they? I looked around slowly, eyes scanning the entire backyard.
The pool glistened in the morning sun. The flower beds rustled softly in the breeze. The stone path stretched empty.
I brought one hand down, instinctively adjusting my cock and balls to check if everything was still where it should be. Okay. Good. No one had stolen… those.
But my pants? Gone. Mystery of the fucking year.
I exhaled slowly, staring into the distance. "…What the fuck?" I'm over 100% sure that Blake did not take my pants, because he is way too shy to do such a thing, I knew from the beginning and just wanted to tease and cheer him up a bit, but now I can't help but wonder what happened to my pants.