They worked through the morning and got most of Kelly’s belongings into the moving truck. Bernard and Rory packed the breakables in his truck.
Bernard tripped on a crack on his way to the unit, and Rory caught him from behind. Rory’s hand grazed his crotch.
“Are you okay?” Rory asked.
“Yeah, thanks.” Bernard smiled. He shivered as goosebumps ran up his arm. Heat flooded his body.
Rory’s eyes shifted down and back up.
“You look okay,” Rory said. “Doesn’t seem to be anything broken.”
“Thanks for the catch.”
“Anytime.”
Rory smiled at him. The smile warmed him inside. Why couldn’t he find a guy who was interested in him and made him feel like Rory did? Rory was the best friend he could ask for. No man would ever live up to his standards. Rory’s genuine kindness would make sure of that.
They arrived at Kelly’s new house around eleven.
“I’ve ordered pizza for lunch,” Kelly said. “It’s the least I could do for everyone helping me.”
“Thanks,” Bernard said.
“Yeah, that was nice of you,” Rory said.
Bernard and Sarah carried a dresser upstairs. She closed the door behind him and rounded on him.
“Okay, when are you going to ask Rory out?”
“What?”
“Seriously, you don’t see it?”
“See what?”
“I am one hundred percent certain I saw Rory check out your package and your ass at least three times today.”
“He did not,” Bernard protested.
Did Rory check me out? Rory was aroused in the pool.
If Sarah was right, and Rory was checking him out, maybe what he was saying at the barbecue was him trying to come out to him. Rory was not straight. He had suspected. Rory gave off some signs, but he was more religious than Bernard ever was. It’d be hard for him to come out. Bernard was lucky with a father and family who supported him. Rory didn’t have that support.
“Yes, he did. I saw him.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Bernard said. “Even if Rory was gay, he wouldn’t be interested in me. Just like Kelly isn’t interested in me.”
“Why do you think Kelly isn’t interested?”
“He said he wasn’t ready to date anyone. He didn’t give details, but I think it has to do with his ex.”
“Oh.”
“So, I’m not pursuing either of them. If I’m meant to be with someone, it’ll happen. Right now, I’ve gained a lot of close friends, and I don’t want to compromise that with a slight chance of dating someone that might not work out.”
“Okay,” Sarah said, “but I’m telling you. I saw Rory check you out.”
“I’d want nothing more than to be with him,” Bernard said. “I’ve loved him since high school. I kept my distance because he insisted he was straight. I think I chose Jason and Tracy because I wanted someone who reminded me of him.”
