The Davids go through a break-up and guys commiserate about their roomie beaus in the fourth week of Volume 5. Volume 6 launches on February 11!

CHAPTER 16 - SWEET


Charlie pushed Robbie away.

"Robbie, what are you doing?"

"I thought you said... "

"Well, I did... I mean, as long as your crush wasn't... you know... me."

"But Alex dates older guys. And I thought you said I was sweet."

"You are. But in that ‘cute puppy meme on Facebook' sort of way."

Robbie looked down. "I just thought... "

"And I thought you meant someone your age. Like Alex. Or someone in the GSA."

"No one my age gets me, Mr. Parker. But you... you're always there for me when I need you."

"Because that's my job. Because I'm an adult and you're a kid. No matter what Alex may say or do, that kind of relationship isn't good. Someone's getting exploited and that's not right. Do you understand?"

"I... I gotta go." Robbie ran out so fast, he didn't see Alex in the hall on the other side of the door.

"Well, well," said Alex. "Things sure got a lot more interesting."

###

CHAPTER 17 - LET DOWN


"We've got to break it to him gently," Other David said, ordering a round of drinks as they waited for their Guest to arrive at Halsteds.

"We could just as easily not have called him back," said David.

"Except for that we're not assholes. Well, I'm not anyway."

"This is so awkward!" David whined, sipping his gin and tonic. "It's like some really weird break up."

"We just have to let him down easy. We'll just explain it calmly and rationally. It was a fun time, it was something new, but we're a couple and we need to focus on us."

"It was a lot of fun," David said, with a shit-eating grin.

"God, if there was only someone we knew here," Other David said, looking around. "That way we could do the fake intro and finally figure out his name."

"God, we are assholes, aren't we?"

"Hey guys!" their handsome Guest called, coming in the door.

"Hey... you!" they both cooed.

"Can we order you a drink?" Other David asked.

"No thanks. I just had some beers with my roommate. Don't wanna get too drunk for... you know. Later." He winked at them. The Davids were immediately torn between wanting to throw him on the table and make love to him or bolt for the door.

"About that... " Other David began.

"Oh no," their Guest frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No... well... I wouldn't say wrong. It's just that... well... David and I have been talking. About our situation. And we thought, maybe it would be best if... "

"We don't remember your name!" David blurted out.

Other David glared at his better half. "Right. Well there's that. And also... well... we don't know if it would be... productive for our relationship to continue on this venture."

Their Guest frowned, looked down for a minute, and them looked then both dead in the eyes. "This is because of Charlie, isn't it?"




###

CHAPTER 18 - BOTHERED


Tyler was chest deep in paperwork when LaTrice knocked on his door.

"Hey boo," she said.

Tyler looked up from his papers wearily. "Oh, hey LaTrice. Is there something wrong?"

"No. Nothing wrong. Just... haven't really seen you since you started the new job."

"Yeah, I've been playing a lot of catch up. Edward's taking a huge chance on me and I'm not exactly qualified. And that jerk who just quit didn't quite leave everything in order."

"I probably won't be seeing you at the kitchen anymore, huh?"

Tyler detected that hint of sadness in her voice. "Well, I'll try to stop by from time to time... "

"You're busy. I shouldn't have bothered you." LaTrice started to head out but Tyler standing up suddenly stopped her.

"LaTrice, you're my friend. You're never a bother. Sit down. Tell me what's new with you."

LaTrice eagerly came in and sat at his desk. "Well, I got a job interview, at this café in... " Tyler's office phone ringing cut her off. Tyler let it ring a couple of times, trying to focus on LaTrice, but finally picked it up.

"Haven, this is Tyler Drake." LaTrice tried to sit quietly and respectfully, but Tyler talking about reports and demographics quickly took over the office. She hated herself for being a bother. While Tyler's back was turned, she tried to quietly slip out.

"Where are you going?" Tyler asked, putting the phone to his chest.

"That sounds important."

"Well, it's about funding for the year. So yeah."

"It's cool, yo. I'll... .I'll see ya when I see ya."

Tyler watched her leave his office. He took a breath and got back on the phone. "Excuse me, sir? Something just came up with one of my residents. Can I call you back in a few?" He hung up the phone quickly, grabbed his coat, and chased her down the hall.

"I thought you were busy."

Tyler smiled at her. "I can take a break. Want to go for a walk?" LaTrice smiled and nodded. As they reached the lobby, Tyler's phone vibrated. It was a text from Brad.

"Is it important?" LaTrice asked.

Tyler put his phone back in his pocket. "No," he said, smiling at her and holding the door open. "Now, tell me all about this job interview."







###

CHAPTER 19 - ONE DIRECTION


One Direction was blaring in his earbuds and he knew it was going to be a good day. He felt so good about the extra mile he ran that he decided to skip the protein shake on the way to his Botox injection.

"You want to go for some collagen today too?" asked his aesthetitician.

"Can't today, Susie. I've got a cute new boy I'm too busy smooching."

"Oooh!" the aesthetician cooed. The calendar reminder alert went off on his iPhone. "Is that him?"

"No, I'm just late for an appointment with my accountant."

*

"You've got to in rein your spending," his accountant demanded.

"What are you talking about? I'm hardly spending more lavishly then I have in the past."

"You are in fact and the numbers don't lie. This might've been ok years ago, but you're living on a single income now. And I gotta tell you, you're not bringing much in at the moment."

"So what are you saying?"

"If you don't live more modestly, you're going to be completely broke by the end of the year."

"More modestly? I don't think you understand how this lifestyle works!"

His accountant sighed and rubbed his temples. "I'm just trying to be a friend. You're right, maybe I don't understand everything about your lifestyle. We're the same age, I've got a wife and kids and maybe I just think about money differently."

"Exactly. You don't get it."

"Quite frankly, it's rather alarming how much your funds have depleted in the relative short time you two have broken up."

"I've been making some... new investments."

*

He knew retail therapy was probably the worst idea considering the conversation he'd just had, but it's the only thing that would've made him feel better. It was one shop he told himself. He stopped into Water Tower Place at Abercrombie and Fitch He loved the way that store smelled and the eye candy all around wasn't so bad either. He walked up to the cash register with two complimentary shirts in tow.

"Do you need gift boxes?" the hot fratty cashier asked.

"No. Well, maybe one. For the shirt I'm buying for my boyfriend."

"And the other one?"

"It's for me."

"Oh," the cashier said, rolling his eyes.

*

They hadn't made plans for the day, but he figured since the boy would be done for the afternoon, he'd surprise him. He waited outside patiently, waiting to catch a glimpse of the boy.

"What are you doing here?" the boy asked.

"I wanted to see you. I thought it'd be a fun surprise."

"But I've got plans."

"Oh, but I got you a present," he said, tossing the shirt to him. "So please will you hang out with me? Pretty please?" His face contorted itself into one of those lame duck face pouts that the boy felt plagued his Instagram feed.

"God Bruce! Grow up!"

Bruce sighed and watched Alex walk off, still in his school uniform.



###

CHAPTER 20 - PASSING SHIPS


Ben rolled over and could still feel the Charlie's warmth on the spot where he'd been sleeping. He opened his eyes, looked at the empty spot and smiled. The alarm clock said 9:45AM, Charlie was already teaching first period. It'd be hours before Ben had to be back at the hospital, but he hated lounging in Charlie's empty bed without him. He forced himself awake, threw on his boxers, and went to the kitchen in a quest for coffee. Charlie always made a whole pot and always left enough for Ben to have a mugful when he woke up. And there was exactly that... in someone else's mug.

"Oh hey," said the handsome Irish-American man, standing in his boxers with what was supposed to be Ben's mug of coffee.

"Morning," Ben sighed.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take the last cup. I figured I was alone in the apartment."

"It's alright. Will you drink more if I brew some more?"

"Absolutely. You're Ben, right?"

"Yeah. How'd you... ?"

"I helped file the police report. When that psycho bitch... "

"Right."

"I'm Fitz. Caleb. Fitzgerald. Everyone calls me Fitz."

Ben offered his hand. "Ben Finn. You're dating... ?"

"Hunter. Charlie's roommate."

"Right."

"And obviously you're dating Charlie?"

"Yep. He's the best." The coffee maker beeped and Ben refilled both of their coffees.

"It's weird that we've never run into each other before."

"Stands to reason I suppose. You're probably getting off patrol right when I'm signing in for my rounds."

"Passing ships."

Ben chuckled. "Right." Taking a sip of coffee, he asked, "How's it going with you two?"

"It's going gangbusters, man. Hunter's a great guy."

"Absolutely. I mean, when Charlie was in his coma... " Ben looked down quickly and took another sip of coffee. "I mean, it's just... it doesn't bother you? Charlie and Hunter living together?"

"Why would it?"

"You know... because they hooked up?"

Fitz put down his coffee. "Wait, what?"

###

Volume 6 launches on Monday, February 11! Just joining us? Catch up here:

Volume 1 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 2 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 3 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five

Volume 4 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five


###