“Let me help you,” I say, turning him to face me.
“How?” The vulnerability in his voice gets to me. I want to comfort him. I clasp my hands behind my back to resist the temptation.
“Was it the grumpy or bear part that turned you off?”
“Both?” Gil says, scratching his head. “I think. But, also, he talked about his mom a lot.”
I crack up, and it’s contagious. Soon, we’re both laughing so hard that Gil is gasping for air. Patting him on the back, my hand lingers without my permission. And then, because I’m an idiot, I squeeze the back of his neck, trying to reassure him. Instead, I’ve made it awkward. Gil stills as if he has stepped on a landmine and doesn’t know how to get off without blowing everything up. I drop my hand and move back. “You must have some ideas of what you like.”
Gil darts a look at me and clears his throat. “No…”
“I don’t believe you.” Why am I pushing this? Do I really want to know Gil’s type?
Gil glances at the door to his bedroom. Is he about to bolt? “I need to—”
“How are you finding the guys? Is there a website or an app—wait, are you using Grindr?”
“No apps.”
He looks miserable, so I decide to give him a break. “Let’s order pizza and devise a plan.”
“Really?” He bites his lip and smiles, looking hopeful for the first time.
“Of course. Pepperoni with black olives?” It’s his favorite. He nods, and I order the food on my phone.
When we’re settled in the living room with our pizza and soda, Gil asks, “Why are you helping me?”
“I’m your roommate.”
He grins, and I bask in it for a full thirty seconds before turning away. “Is that part of roommate duties?” His eyes sparkle with humor, and I can hear it in his voice. “Helping him get laid?”
I choke on my drink, and his grin widens. Did he time that question? “Sure, Gil. Any time you need help going through a list of guys—”
“Types of guys.”
“Types of guys to find out what your dick likes, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks, Colin.”
“One question,” I say, swallowing a bite of pizza. “Do you have a beefy gym rat in mind? Or do we need to find one?”
“I—didn’t plan this out very well.”
“No worries,” I say, pointing my slice of pizza at him. “We can plan while we eat, and tomorrow, we’ll put our plan into action.”
The relief on his face helps ease some of the churning in my stomach. Gil deserves to find what he wants. Even if it hurts. Even if it costs me another roommate.
DAY TWO: THURSDAY, THE GYM RAT, AND PIZZA
DECEMBER 14
GIL
The next day,after Colin’s last final, we trek across campus to the university fitness center. “Did you know that in1986, a referendum was passed by the ASU student body, which led to the creation of the ASU Fitness and Recreation Center? The new addition—”
“Gil?”
“Yeah?”