Tyler looked away from the proposal for a moment to check his vibrating phone. It was a text from Brad.

"Sorry," he said, returning his attention to the proposal.

"It's all good," LaTrice, sitting on the edge of her seat anxiously. Tyler remained silent and thoughtful as he poured over the pages she'd so carefully crafted with Josh's help. He cleared his throat, took a sip of water, and put the finished proposal down on his desk.

"Well?!" she asked eagerly. "Does it look ok?"

"Ok? This is great! Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Fuck yeah! It's my plan, ain't it.

Tyler smiled. "Stupid me for asking." His phone vibrated: it was another text from Brad. He put the phone his desk drawer.

"So how long until I can put this shit in action?"

"As soon as Edward signs off on it."

LaTrice began to get teary. "I'm doing something, Tyler. I'm making something happen."

"I know! And it's awesome!" Tyler said, hugging her. "Just promise me you'll be careful."

"You don't have to worry about me. I can hold my own." Tyler's phone vibrated faintly from within his desk drawer. "Dang, Tyler, you must be dickin' someone real good. That motherfucker won't leave you alone."

*

Brad was two pints in when Tyler arrived at The Pitstop. When he caught sight of Tyler, Brad stood up and pulled out the stool for him.

"Sorry I'm late. Got held up at the shelter."

"That's ok. Did you get my texts?"

"Yep. All of ‘em."

"It's just, you never answered back... ."

"Well, I was working, man. I was busy."

"Right. Right. It's just... you know... I was working too... "

"Well I'm here now. Do you wanna grab dinner? See a movie?"

"Whatever you want, Tyler."

Tyler didn't understand why Brad was so on edge. He made eye contact with Hunter, who poured him a beer. Brad watched aghast.

"Christ," Brad said, appalled. "Were you just flirting with him in front of me?"

"What? No, that's Hunter. My roommate."

"Christ! Are you and your roommate... ?"

"Jesus, Brad, what's up with you?"

"I just... I texted you all day and you didn't answer back. And then you came in and I don't even get like a hug or a kiss or whatever, and then this hot guy comes up and... I don't know man, I don't know it's supposed to work with gay stuff. Am I supposed to care about this kind of stuff? I have zero frame of reference. All I know is when Becka and I were together, if I didn't text her back within five minutes, I got shit for it. If I didn't greet her with a kiss, she thought something was up. Every girl I talked to she thought... omigod. It's happened, hasn't it. I'm the girl."

Tyler laughed. "You're not the girl. You're not acting the manliest right now, but... I don't think there's supposed to be a girl or guy in a gay relationship. Or a right or wrong way to be gay. I think there's just what is. You know?"

Brad downed the rest of his pint. "I just... I just really, really like you. And it's freaking me the fuck out."

Tyler gave him a kiss. "Alright. That's a start."

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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

Volume 5 -
Week One, Week Two, Week Three, Week Four, Week Five


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