"This is so awkward," Ben said, unbuttoning his shirt on the computer screen.

"Desperate times," Charlie said, pulling down his gym shorts.

"I'd forgotten how hot you were," Ben said, watching Charlie stroke on the other side of Skype. "I mean, I hadn't forgotten, but... "

"Shut up," Charlie said. "I mean... what are you thinking about doing to me?"

"Doctor Ben?!" a voice called urgently from the other room.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Charlie said.

"Sorry babe."

"No, it's cool," Charlie said, already getting soft. "Go."

*

"This long distance thing is bullshit," Charlie thought to himself, blasting Boyce Avenue on his iPhone while he rode up the Broadway bus. He'd never attempted to do anything like it. Was it working? Was it not? Was this still an actual relationship? There was only one couple  he knew that had gone through this, in college when one of them studied abroad for a semester. He got off at Berwyn and walked west, in search of his answer.

 

When the door opened at David's condo, he didn't expect to see Josh there. In his underwear.

"Hi," Josh said.

"Hi?" Charlie said.

Awkward.

###