Swim Crush

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

“ S o what did it say exactly?”

My roommate had commandeered homework time as soon as he found out about the note. I should’ve known better than to mention it.

“Do you still have it?” Logan asked.

“You’re as excited as Danny was.”

“No shit. He’s been trying to get you laid longer than me.”

Logan was also comfortable with my homosexuality. Apparently, my pheromones attracted friendly guys that liked being naked around me. I saw Logan’s ass more than I saw Danny’s. It was a curse and a blessing.

“Both of you have the equipment I’m looking for, so you could’ve done something about it a long time ago,” I challenged, which seemed to shut him up. For a few seconds, anyway.

“Point taken…and let’s put a pin in that, shall we? Just show me the note.”

Put a pin in that?

His hand was incessant, so I handed it over then asked him to put a shirt on.

“Whatever! I’d be naked if you weren’t here all the time.”

“You’re naked all the time anyway.”

He gave up the argument to read the note. “Blah, blah, blah…my favorite was the unicorn one.” He paused. “Mikey! The coffee shop! Let’s go!”

He grabbed an elastic from his dresser, put his hair up, pulled a shirt on and yanked me out the door before I could even ask why he wanted coffee so late. He’d be up all night and then I’d have to hear him complain about being tired.

He was so excited he had us running to our bikes.

Mack University was a small college, but had a large campus. It took over fifteen minutes to ride from our dorms in the north to the athletic center in the south. But for now, Logan was heading to the cluster of businesses in the center of downtown Brentwood at a dangerous speed, and I was struggling to catch up with him. Coach would kill me if I injured myself doing something this reckless, but Logan was excited. It was hard not to feel the same when he got like this, which, to be honest, was a lot.

When we first met, we were like fire and ice. He was an excitable Golden Retriever and I was a reserved...whatever kind of dog is reserved. I was into sports; he was into the creative arts. I was in the closet; he had two dads. It’s not that we were total opposites, but rather complimentary. A fact that helped both of us in more ways than one, but especially academically. He was also the first person I came out to – last year – though when I told Danny next, he wasn’t surprised either.

“Come on!” He was jumping up and down at the bike rack. I did not look at the front of his loose shorts.

“Are you not wearing underwear?”

“Were you looking?” I was definitely looking. “Never mind. I already know the answer, and this is exactly why we’re here.”

What? I was so confused.

He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and led me inside, whispering, “Do you remember last week? It was Pride week and we came here and you ordered an egg-white English muffin with pepper jack cheese?”

“You remembered my order?”

Just like Danny, he ignored me. “The barista – the suave Latino, I think his name was Arturo.”

I knew the one he was talking about. He was…handsome. I saw him bend over once. His shirt rode up and the bright teal waistband of his Andrew Christian underwear peeked out, catching my eye. I was ninety-nine percent sure he was gay, and I was a hundred percent sure I wouldn’t mind dating him.

“When you went to pick up your order, he said, ‘I like your shirt.’ Do you remember what one you were wearing? Hmm?”

The uni-

“The unicorn shirt!” Logan triumphantly finished.

He was right. And he was shoving me to the counter to order.

“He’s here!” Logan whisper-hissed in my ear, his hand still on my back.

“Uh…”

“Iced white chocolate mocha?”

It seemed the cashier knew my order. “Yeah, that.”

“Name?”

“Mike.”

Logan ordered and while we waited, he kept pushing me in the back and I kept shushing him. There was no way I was going to say anything to Arturo. He was working.

A few minutes later, his melodic voice called out. “Magic Mike?”

I held in my excitement as he gave me a huge, bright smile. It felt electric when our fingertips touched as I grabbed my drink.

“Thanks.” I turned and dodged Logan, who was trying to block my way, picking a booth close to the service counter. I wasn’t planning on saying anything, but I could be close enough to stare longingly.

“Why didn’t you say anything? You should’ve slipped him your number!” Logan admonished, sitting across from me.

“Let’s use the time we have to help me come up with something to say,” I suggested.

“He already likes you. He even gave you a Channing Tatum stripper joke-name with your drink, and he likes your unicorn shirt.”

“And he wears Andrew Christian underwear,” I added.

“Like your neon jockstraps?”

“Yes, like my neon jockstraps.”

“Well, what more do we need to know?” Logan grinned triumphantly. “He definitely plays for your team. I don’t see how he didn’t write that note.”

We proceeded to spend the rest of the evening arguing over the best way to approach Arturo, as if I were offering myself as a virgin sacrifice.

After almost an hour, the last customer left the shop. It was just me and Logan.

“Now’s your chance!”

Before I could even get out of the booth, the bell rang above the door. I turned briefly to see a purple-haired pixie of a boy saunter over to the counter.

And plant a big, wet kiss on Arturo’s lips.

I simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief and cursed myself for getting my hopes up.

Logan said what I felt. “Guess it’s not him then.”

“Nope.”

“But we were right. He does play for your team. Secret admirers usually aren’t polyamorous, are they?”

“Don’t worry, Mikey. It wasn’t Arturo, but we’ll figure it out.”

Our bikes were stashed again and we were in the stairwell, almost to our floor.

“Maybe I should go by Mike. Mikey sounds like a kid’s name.”

“Whatever, dude. It’s cute.”

“Whatever yourself. Nobody calls you Log.”

“Well, maybe they will once they’ve seen it, huh? You know, you have a great ass.”

“Your mind is a whirlwind of ideas, Logan, and you just say all of them at once.”

I held the door open for him at our landing, letting him take the lead down the hall.

“It’s part of my immense charm.” Logan soft-punched me in the stomach. “Someone left a note for you!”

My eyes shot to the door and sure enough, there was another note, which Logan grabbed before I could. He shoved it in my hands, and practically yelped, “Open it! Open it!”

I wanted to apologize…kind of. I know the notes are probably creepy, but I don’t have your courage. Or muscles.

I’m never this forward. I guess it’s the anonymity that’s rewarding you with my honesty. I work out but am nowhere near as stacked. I’d ask for workout tips, but how would you get them to me? Lol.

Admiringly, Hercules (aka Harpocrates)

“Wow.”

For once, Logan was speechless. I was a little flattered.

I shrugged. “Well, it seems he’s noticed my body.”

“The entire school has noticed your body. You wear practically nothing in the pool.” Logan had found words again and unlocked our door. “It’s not that hard to notice you’reーwhat’d he say?ーstacked.”

“He might be too,” I said, “though it’s a little unclear. He obviously likes mythology. That wasn’t just a one-off.”

Logan took his shirt off and sat on my bed. “Your powers of deduction are truly staggering.”

“Well, I don’t hear you coming up with any suggestions!” I made for my desk chair, remembering Logan’s pin comment from earlier. Was he trying to say he was bi?

“Let me think.”

I checked my email and socials, then opened my ecology textbook. There was a quiz tomorrow and I hadn’t studied much. After a while, I heard a snore and turned to see that Logan was, of course, asleep. So much for thinking.

I flipped his covers back, then went over to him. Logan was my height, but a little skinnier, so it wasn’t too difficult to move him to my bed.

“Mmm…naked.”

He also talked in his sleep. And this had happened often enough that I knew he wanted his shorts to come off. Thankfully tonight, it was a one step process since he wasn’t wearing any underwear.

Maybe Logan’s your admirer?

He couldn't have put the note on the door. He was at the coffee shop.

After all, he’d just tell me. Plus, when he was naked around me, he was never hard . If I were naked around someone I was attracted to, I’d definitely be aroused.

I went down the hall to brush my teeth and take a piss. A bit later, after continuing my daily streak in Marvel’s Puzzle Quest and fantasizing about the latest Grindr torsos, I drifted off to sleep, but not before reminding myself to scold Logan tomorrow and make him promise me a favor for having to strip him down again.

The ecology quiz went well. It was mostly about the types of interspecific interactions that structure communities. Commensalism was the one I always got confused, but I studied the fuck out of the recommendations from the TA and lo and behold, it worked out.

When I handed in my quiz, Professor Fraser asked if he could ask me a question. I refrained from the obvious joke – that he already had – and followed him when he motioned to the side of the classroom.

“This is kind of silly, I probably could – well, I know I could – find a personal trainer, but I know you’re on the swim team, and well”ーhe gestured at meー”would you ever consider helping me sometime? Or do you know anybody that could show me around the gym? I’ve tried to go, but honestly, it’s intimidating.”

And now that I had a few moments to myself on the way to the dining hall, I had a new theory about my admirer. Professor Fraser could be Hercules.

I texted Logan.

I had already agreed to show the professor around the gym since I figured my grade could always use a little insurance. Honestly though, my theory seemed a little far-fetched. Professor Fraser was handsome, but I couldn’t imagine he’d use notes to declare romantic interest.

Damn it.

Danny hadn’t answered my texts either.

I made my way into the dining hall. It was one of the older ones on campus. You had to descend a wrought-iron spiral staircase to get to the dining area. It was a relic from the seventies and I loved the kitschy architecture. It was also the smallest one, so it was quieter, more intimate. There weren’t many students in line, but I did recognize Hayden from behind. He seemed to be by himself.

“Hayden! How’s it going?”

He jumped a few inches, then smiled when he realized it was me.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s fine. I was just lost in my own thoughts, that’s all.”

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Honestly? My dog, Aristotle, isn’t doing well. I’m just worried.”

“Aristotle, huh?”

“Uh…he came with the name.”

“Well, at least you can see him. He lives with your parents I’m guessing, right? In town?”

Hayden nodded, then smiled. "Yeah, you're right."

When we both had our food, I asked, “Mind if I sit with you?”

“Sure. I mean, I don’t mind.”

We found a table in the corner and made small talk about the swim team. I told him what a hard ass his dad was, and he reminded me that he’d spent many more years with him than me. Unable to withstand the need for psychological release, I divulged that Professor Fraser had asked me to work out with him.

“And you said yes?!”

I nodded.

“I wonder if he’ll wear tweed in the locker room,” Hayden wondered out loud.

“You’re kind of funny, aren’t you?”

Hayden shrugged. “Better than funny-looking.”

I looked down when my phone vibrated. “Finally.” I shot off a reply to Danny and told him to meet me at the gym. He didn’t know about my second note or the professor.