Page 10 of His Choice

I sat up straighter in my chair, lowering the book I was reading. “You check out that site more than gay men do.”

“I know.” He plunked himself down on the chair next to mine. “You owe me. I’m getting spam from all sorts of gay sites now. Although I gotta say, I was tempted to buy one of those anal douches. You never know when a chick might want to get freaky.”

I scrunched my face. “You really don’t have a filter, do you?”

He appeared confused. “With you? Why would I? Don’t others share everything with the people they’re closest to?”

Hmm, if that were the case, I would have asked Aaron to share his body a long time ago. “I’m one of those people to you?”

Aaron smiled. “Of course, man. I have lots of friends. But you’re the one that’s most important.” His expression sobered. “Wait. Aren’t I your best friend?”

I chuckled. “Yes, but it’s like you rudely said the other day, I don’t have many others. It’s not that great of an honor for you. Don’t get a big head.”

Aaron’s levity returned. “Impossible. It’s always eager to grow for a little more pussy. You just wish you could have at it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please don’t ever use that comment as a pickup line with a woman unless you’re carrying an icepack for your eye.”

I chose to ignore his comment about me boning for him. Months earlier, I had confessed to Aaron that I found him attractive, and I had suggested he move so he wouldn’t be creeped out with the knowledge. Instead, it had boosted his ego. Since then, he’d found ways to tease me about it.

“That’s just stupid. If I was carrying around an icepack, the ice would melt and it would be worthless. Besides, I don’t date chicks that behave as primly as you do,” he replied.

“I’m not…prim!” The truth was, even I believed I was, no matter how hard I tried not to be. That trait was courtesy of my parents, who wouldn’t even attend an R-rated movie.

“You talk like a prude,” he clarified. “I didn’t say you are one. I know you’re a horned-up closet slut.”

“That’s not true, either,” I protested. Aaron had no idea how inexperienced I was. That was something I hadn’t shared, best bud or not. A guy who got around as much as he did would have a coronary from the revelation.

He smirked. “So, you’re an out-and-proud slut who’s just been down on his luck since we met? Guess we’ll need to change your fortunes with the show His Choice.”

“I’m not a slut at all. And I told you that I’d apply for the show, but I guarantee you I won’t be selected. I hate seeing you get excited about this just to be disappointed after they laugh in my face,” I admitted.

He shook his head. “They’ll select you, and I’m going to help you nab Cliff Walker on the show’s finale. When you’re rich and famous and change your last name to Walker, you’d better support me with my acting ambitions.” Although Aaron was respected for his work in engineering, he longed to enter the arts. I had never seen him perform, as the town didn’t even have a theater. As much as I dreaded seeing him leave White Pines, I’d encouraged him more than once to move to New York City if he was serious about becoming a star. I had to believe his looks would garner attention there.

“You have a better chance of getting discovered in this nowhere town than I have of attracting Cliff Walker,” I pointed out.

He scowled. “Stop being such a wet rag. You know what job you should have studied for? Mortician. You would have been perfect for that.”

“At least I wouldn’t have had to listen to someone yapping in my ear all the time,” I shot back.

Aaron squinted. “Of course you would have. I would have just moved into an apartment with you above the funeral parlor. Hey, now that I think of it, that could have led to some good times. Imagine decorating the house for Halloween? We could put real coffins and corpses out on the front porch.”

“You are one sick puppy. And I’m pretty sure that would be against the law.”

He shrugged. “Why not make themselves useful one more time before they’re tossed in the dirt?” I shook my head. “See? You’re no fun.”

I snapped the book closed and placed it on an end table. “Exactly, which is why I have zero chance of getting on this show, let alone making it to the finals.”

He rolled his eyes. “Scooch over!”

A couple of months earlier, I had shared with Aaron that the best friend I had ever had was a girl named Melody that lived across the street from me in my hometown of Pittsburgh. She and I had been so close, our parents had thought we were a couple. But Melody had known I was gay and loved that about me. She used to tell me I was more sensitive and thoughtful than other guys she knew, and we had similar tastes in books, movies…and men. We would spend hours together sitting in the same overstuffed chair, cuddling and talking or watching something on television.

Aaron must have been jealous after I had finished recounting my past. Even though I had only spoken with Melody by phone on occasion since moving to Vermont, Aaron overcompensated on the chumminess after each call. He had even started cuddling with me on the sofa or chair, no doubt remembering I had recalled those moments with Melody fondly. It seemed he hated being second to anyone when it was something important to him. I didn’t call him out on it, as it was more flattering than annoying. Plus, I enjoyed being close to him.

I moved to the edge of the chair, and Aaron sat next to me, looping his left leg over my right and putting an arm over my shoulders.

“It would be better if you did this sometimes when you’re just wearing a pair of jogging shorts,” I jested. He smacked the back of my head lightly. He did that on occasion, and even though it was never enough to hurt in the slightest, I always made a production of it. “Ow. Quit it!”

“I’m not your plaything. Your friend Melancholy didn’t perv on you when you cuddled with her, did she?”