Page 5 of 12 Gays of Christmas

“When was the last time you were here?”

“Yesterday.” I hand my student ID to the guy behind the desk.

“Hey, Lauten. Great game last week. Ready for Saturday?”

“Absolutely.” I give him my standard answer. This isn’t my usual gym time, so I don’t recognize him. But everyone knows me. Or thinks they know me.

Colin hands over his ID and raises an eyebrow. “Yesterday?”

“Fine. This morning.” There’s no reason to lie about it, but I feel as if I’ve been caught doing something wrong.

“Exactly,” he says, pushing me toward the locker rooms. “You’re here every single day. So why are you nervous?”

After two years of no touching, Colin is now touching me all the time. What is up with that? “I’m not.”

His sigh sounds almost fond. “You’re giving me random facts about the rec center.”

I don’t answer. I'm not sure I can even come up with one. All my energy is focused on telling my dick to stand down. I just realized Colin will be changing his clothes. And Colin stripping is not something I need to think about, yet now it’s all I can think about. “It’s not always because I’m nervous.”

“Really?”

He sounds curious. Abort. Abort. Because the other times I spew random facts is to get my mind off Colin and his stupid gorgeous mouth. “Let’s get this over with.”

I stomp to the locker room, ignoring his laugh and trying not to sneak a look at Colin, but he laughs at something, and I turn to see. He’s facing away from me and, oh my God, why does he hide that gorgeous ass? And then I notice the birth mark above his right cheek that is now forever burned into my brain. I jerk my head forward and think about the St. Louis Arch, when it was built, and every renovation since. I clamp my lips tight to keep all those thoughts in. Once I’m finished changing my clothes, I head out.

“Hey, wait,” Colin says, rushing to catch up with me. I’m glad my face doesn’t advertise my embarrassment like his does. Because my face feels hot. My body feels hot.

I just need to get through this without totally humiliating myself.

Normally, I know the guys at the gym, at least by sight. At the beginning of every semester, a new crop of people shows up, but they trickle out week after week, leaving only the serious. But I don’t know any of the guys here. This is better because when this ends badly—and it will—I won’t have to adjust my gym schedule.

I stop at a weight bench and glance around for Colin.

“Really?” he snarks as he crosses his arms. The area is less crowded than usual, with many students already gone for winter break.

I frown. “What?”

He tries to wave his hands around without actually waving them, and it’s cute.No, brain. Not cute. No, dick. NOT cute. “Everyone’s so big—they have muscles. Ugh.” His face turns as red as the checkmark on his Nike shorts.

“I’m looking for a gym rat, so…” I shrug and lean in. “And if we’re spotting each other, no one will think it’s weird we’re hanging out together.”

That is obviously the wrong thing to say, going by the glare I’m getting. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you afraid people would think we’re together?”

“That would defeat the purpose.”

“Right.” He turns, and I realize he’s going to bail. I grab his arm.

“Hold on, Colin,” I say, not letting go…in case he decides to leave, not because I enjoy the firm muscle of his bicep. He has to work out, right? “Look around. Is anyone paired up?” The only guys working together are the ones spotting each other. Working out is mostly a solitary experience. My favorite part.

He turns his head, looking around the room. The fight leaves his body, and he slumps, his shoulders down. “Oh.”

“I’ll go first. You can spot me.”

“I…” He lets out a huff of air. “This is a terrible idea.”

I’m still holding his arm, so I turn him to face me. “Ignore them,” I say. “Focus on me.” I explain how spotting works and where he needs to stand. Then, I take my position on the bench. It’s difficult to focus with Colin right there. Why did I think this would be a good idea? After my reps, I ask if he wants to lift.

His jaw tightens. “No fucking way.”

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