“Yes. Anyway, we met there. He was a friend of one of the guys, so we were all hanging out. And at the end of the night, we were alone, and he kissed me. I, uh, didn't even know he wasn't straight.”
I hope this slight stretching of the truth will protect Ethan’s anonymity.
“Damn. That was a big night for you, huh?”
“Uh, yeah. And he kind of freaked out about it – about me knowing that he was, uh, gay.”
“Gross.”
“Yeah. It didn't feel great. So he left, and I figured that would be the end of it. Except that we, uh, kept running into each other.”
“Why? Is he, like, stalking you?”
I can't exactly say he's a coworker without risking giving everything else away.
“No. We just have a lot of mutuals.”
This pause is long, and I worry that Avery is figuring it out on the other end of the line. And honestly, would it be so bad if he did? If finally, someone actuallyknew? Maybe then he could give me some actual advice.
“Okay. So he eventuallystoppedrunning away, though?”
“Yeah. We became friends. I told him I had no interest picking up where that night left off and he understood.”
“...until he didn't?”
I sigh.
“Look, it's been harder than I thought to hook up.”
“Right, because there are no gay people in Minneapolis.”
“No, there's actually a super legit community here. But, uh, the reporters are justsofocused on hockey.”
“Sounds rough.”
I remind myself that Avery would give anything to be here, dealing withThe Neutral Zoneand theStar Tribune.
“I mean, the fan base is nice. But every time I opened Grindr, I'd be wondering whetherthisdude would sell the story of hooking up with hockey's first out player. It just seemed easier not to.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“Anyway, one night we were texting, and I was horny as fuck. And, uh, so was he.”
“I guess sexting is better than your right hand.”
“I mean, it heavily involved my right hand, but yes. It was nice to have some...help.”
Hm. I may have to revive the idea of sexting on the road with Ethan. After all, we can’t always rely on the hotel cancelling rooms.
“And then once I moved into my new place, he came over and we hooked up. And then again. And it sort of became...a thing.”
“Okay, but that still sounds like a friend with bennies. It doesn't have to be athing.”
“Well, we spent the night together a few nights ago. And it was...different.”
“Different how?”
“More…tender? We ended up cuddling most of the night, and then going again in the morning. I thought he'd freak out again, but...he hasn't.”
