Swim Crush

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

M y heart felt like it was pounding outside of my chest and my arms were jelly. Coach Sawyer put us through the workout of our lives. Prepping us for the upcoming collegiate championships was his only focus.

“Don’t forget to cool down. Good job, boys.”

“I need a drink after this. You in, Mike?” Danny asked.

I turned to slap my best friend in the next lane, but he blocked it. “Are you kidding? Wait until after the championships or this might’ve been for nothing.”

Danny didn’t seem to like that suggestion, shrugging me off then starting his cool down. I launched myself off the wall in my lane and caught up easily before easing off the throttle.

“I can’t hold out much longer,” he said, paddling through the water slowly on his back.

Hearing the disappointment in Danny’s voice, I suggested, “You could always find a cute fuck?”

“Ha! You’re one to talk. What was the point of coming out if you’re not gonna find some twink to plow?”

He had been constantly learning new terms to prove how much he supported me. Twink was his latest find. His comfort with it made me smile.

“I’m taking my time,” I explained as we turned at the wall.

“Don’t make me go on Grindr for you. Oh! There’s this new app called Stroke. It’s for casual stuff like mutual masturbation.”

“And Grindr is what? Fancy stuff?” I never thought I would be discussing this with him so openly, but I was so glad we were. “I’m okay, Danny. I can find my own guys.”

“Guys he says. You need more than one for it to be plural, and you haven’t had any!”

Our conversation continued into the locker room. I nodded and smiled at Hayden, the coach’s son, who was talking to Will, one of my teammates, as we entered. Luckily, the rest of the team seemed content to discuss the championships or the latest football scores or whatever else Danny’s voice was overpowering.

“Well, what are you looking for? And don’t say a relationship.”

“Are you gonna let me answer first?”

Danny was always like this. I’d known him since we were kids. Everyone thought we were brothers because we both had brown eyes, brown hair and were inseparable, but he did have a few inches on me.

Height-wise!

Dick-wise, he had a nice one. Despite that whole thing about gay guys being afraid to check out other guys in the locker room, I wasn’t like that. I liked dick, so I looked at dick. Plus, he and I kind of fooled around in middle school. You show me yours turned into who could shoot farther.

He was super chill when I came out, which was a bonus. I thought maybe he’d think I was in love with him.

“Earth to Mike! I know you like twinks, so do you want a power bottom or a sub?”

When Danny wanted to learn something new, he really put his heart into it. “You’re a walking gay dictionary, you know that?”

“What can I say? I’m an equal opportunity orgasm-enhancer.” Danny wiggled his ass as he left the showers and I followed, thankful that a life’s worth of exposure to it had limited my penile response.

Walking back to our lockers, I grabbed a towel from the rack and dried off. It was time to eat and I had a mountain of homework left. A t-shirt and sweats was all I needed. And caffeine.

Before I gathered my stuff for laundry, Hayden was already there.

“Can I get that for you?” he asked.

“Thanks, Hayden. Sure.”

He was our equipment manager, and kind of like an assistant coach and whatever else his dad needed him to be. I handed him my towel and picked up my Speedo off the floor where I had pulled it off. Danny handed his towel over, though it left him completely naked. Hayden stuttered something and then disappeared around the corner.

“You didn’t have to flash him your dick like that, dude.”

Danny ignored me. “What about him? He’s kind of cute…in a nerdy way.”

“You don’t even know if he’s gay.”

“That’s why I gave him the towel. I think he looked. Do you think he looked at it?”

“Jesus, Danny, I didn’t notice. I was too busy rolling my eyes at your flagrant display.”

“He seems like he’d have a tight ass,” Danny said matter-of-factly before pulling up his boxers.

“Shhh! He’ll hear you.”

“Good, then maybe you’ll get laid.” He pulled a shirt over his head before adding, “Finally.”

“You seem way too concerned about me. What about you?”

“I pulled two chicks last wee– What’s that?”

I looked down to where he was pointing. A piece of paper had fallen out of my locker when I pulled my duffel bag out. Even with it on the floor, I could read my name on it. It was folded into a small square, so it took me a second to get to the words.

I think you’re amazing, and it means a lot that someone like you is so open and proud about who they are. Like last week, when you wore a different rainbow-themed shirt every day. My favorite was the unicorn one.

It made me feel a little less alone.

With admiration, Harpocrates

“Harpo-what?” Danny shrieked.

I was already Googling it. “The Greek god of silence, secrets and confidentiality.”

“Ohhhhh.”

“What do you mean, ‘Ohhhhh’?”

“You, my friend, have a secret admirer. Looks like I don’t have to help you much longer.”

Hmmm. I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much, but it certainly made me feel good – to have that kind of impact. Even if it was just one person.