Page 44 of 12 Gays of Christmas

“Wait…” He shrugs a shoulder. “I was going to read on my lunch break, but maybe we could go to the diner across the street. And talk about the book.”

Is Darcy asking me out? What world is this? “Sure,” I say, ignoring the doubts tumbling around in my stomach like balls in the bouncy house my parents rented for my eighth birthday party. The party no one showed up to. It was then that I poured myself into sports because I never wanted to feel that way again.

Is this a trick? And what about Colin? But Colin ignored me this morning. His only comment was to wish me luck in finding a librarian. And to tell me he was going home. I should be used to people leaving me, but it still hurts.

The diner is busy, but we finally get a table in the corner. Evidently, this is the place to eat on a Friday at noon, three days before Christmas.

“So why didn’t you go home for Christmas break?” Darcy asks, taking a sip of his coffee and then adding more sugar. It reminds me of Colin and the ridiculous amount of sugar he adds to his coffee.

“Why didn’t you?” I want to hold off answering the question for as long as I can.

He stirs his coffee and takes another sip. This time, he sighs and nods his head. “Perfect.” I raise an eyebrow at him, and he grins. “Sorry. I was running behind this morning, so this is my first real coffee of the day.” He drums his fingers against the cup. “This is my home. The town, not the diner. Although, with coffee this good, I could live here. Make my bed right over there next to the coffee pot.”

Darcy dresses like a librarian. Practical. Muted colors. But somehow, he still seems to sparkle. Is it his eyes? His sunny personality? I can’t keep from grinning. “You’d have to share with everyone.”

“I work at a library. I’m used to sharing.”

“Good point.”

The server brings our food. Darcy has a burger and fries. I’m eating a salad. I’ve been eating a lot of junk lately, and with playoffs right after the holidays, I need to keep in shape.

Once we get our food, Darcy returns to his earlier question. “You don’t live in town. So what’s the deal?”

“My mom is in Portugal—”

“Oh my God. Your mom is Claudia Lauten. She did some amazing studies on gene replacement in animals that carried over to people. She’s helped so many—”

I’m not sure what stops him. Probably the look on my face. I try to hide it, but the ache is always there. Losing two parents. Not just one. “Mom’s great.”

He reaches over and squeezes my arm. “Sorry. I get carried away. I hope you’re not spending Christmas alone.”

“Not sure yet.” Why am I telling him the truth? It would be so much easier to make something up. But lying has been my default for so long, and I’m tired of it.

“Three days. You better figure it out.” His eyes sparkle like he’s teasing me, and my body relaxes.

“My friends Steph and Roxy are having a Christmas Eve party. But they’ll probably want to spend Christmas together without…” I let the words trail off. “And my roommate, Colin, will go home soon. His family has been on him for the last week to come home.”

“But he’s staying for you.” It doesn’t sound like a question.

“Yeah.” The guilt of Colin staying for me makes the word sound heavy.Get it together, Gil.You’re out with a cute guy.

“I like you, Gil,” Darcy says, popping another french fry in his mouth and taking a sip of his coffee. “But there’s one thing I don’t share. Guys.” His smile is still there, but his eyes tell me he’s serious. “So this is just a friendly lunch. I don’t date guys who are taken.”

“I’m not—I’m single.”

“You are unavailable with a capital U. Your roommate—”

“Isn’t interested.”

“He’s staying with you over break.”

“Because he feels sorry for me.”

He stares at me, a french fry in his hand. He drops it on his plate and wipes his hands on his napkin. “How can you be this clueless?”

“Look, you don’t know him. Or me.”

“I’ve seen you both at the library and around campus. You bring him coffee when he’s there late. He checks out books he has no interest in, so no one knows they’re for you.”

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