Page 38 of 12 Gays of Christmas

“Is that what you want? Why else would you be here?”

He adds the lipstick so quickly I barely notice. Then he packs his stuff and takes off his gloves. “Don’t sell yourself short, Gil. You’re cute. You’ve got all those muscles.”

“Won’t that make things awkward with Colin?”

“Ha. Things are already awkward with Colin. If you haven’t noticed.”

I stuff my hands in my jacket pockets. Things are sometimes awkward, but most of the time, it seems like they relish their rivalry. At least now I know what to look for. “I guess.”

“The thing you need to ask yourself, Gil,” he says, turning his full focus on me. It’s a little unnerving, “is why did you go out with me? Is it because you don’t know any other serious guys? Do you want to see what’s under this black garb? Or do you want to make Colin jealous?”

My eyes dart back to his. “You think I want to make Colin jealous? You think Colin would be jealous?”

“He was pretty irritated by the idea.”

He was. But I don’t think it was jealousy. Would he really be jealous?

“By the way, that’s your answer,” Remi says, trying too hard to sound matter-of-fact.

“Answer?”

“That’s why I’m doing this. To make Colin jealous.”

Pain starts in my chest like someone punched me. I rub my hand over it, trying to get more air in my lungs. “Are you trying to get Colin back?”

His mouth drops open, and I wish I could enjoy Remi being speechless. But I’m still struggling. Pull air in. Push it back out. It’s not that hard.

“Colin told me you were smart. I’m struggling to see it. I don’t want Colin to be jealous because I want him back. I’m not the one he wants.”

Maybe not breathing is causing oxygen loss to my brain because nothing he says is making sense. “I don’t understand.”

Instead of answering, he stands and holds out his hand. It’s warm, which surprises me. “Come on, let’s have our date.” Remi grabs his bag that he stowed in the office and leads me through the building. “Is anyone here other than us?”

“Yes.” He glances over me. “Wait, do you mean anybody alive?” I nod my head, unwilling to ask how many dead people are in the building at this time. I don’t want to know. “Then, no. Just us. Unless the zombie apocalypse happens, and then I mean, you’re cute, but I’m probably going to feed you to them.”

“That’s fair. My brain’s probably tastier than yours.”

“Okay, I take it back. You’re kind of smart. Except when it comes to love.”

Love? “Where are we going?” I ask instead.

He grins at me. “The roof.”

The rooftop area is closed in by a railing. I noticed it when we arrived, but I thought it was for decoration. The building isn’t tall, but neither are most of the buildings in the town. The biggest ones tend to be at the university.

The view is breathtaking. The city lit up and sparkling and looking brand new. The sky is a little hazy, but some stars shine through. It’s hard to enjoy it when it’s so cold. I wrap my arms around myself to keep warm.

“Don’t be a baby. At least the snow’s gone.” The snow melted a couple of days ago, and the rooftop is now dry. There’s a small sitting area and even some flower boxes. What would it be like in the spring with all the flowers in bloom? There are some low lights.

The outdoor patio set has a table and chairs and even a couch, and although it’s worn, it’s still in good shape. I sit on the bench and Remi sits next to me. “We’re sharing a blanket,” he says, putting a blanket around our shoulders. “This is a date, right? Sharing is romantic.” Then he pulls a warming bag out that contains foil-wrapped…hot dogs. I laugh at the absurdity.

He glances up at me. “You don’t like hot dogs?”

“I guess I’m surprised you like hot dogs.”

He stops with the hot dog almost to his mouth and furrows his brow. “I can’t like hot dogs? These are kosher. Not that I’m really—wait, what did you think I ate? Never mind, don’t answer that.”

“You do sleep in a coffin. Although I’m pretty sure you were kidding about that.”

---