Page 48 of Unrequited Sloth

“Ryan might do that, but you’re head of the law faculty. This feels like a cross-examination.”

“Sorry. You know what I’m like. Let’s order some food and you can tell me whatever you want and I’ll shut up.”

Bobby nodded. He was feeling emotional and wasn’t sure why, so he didn’t want to risk trying to speak. Martin went to the bar to put their lunch order in. They were in a pub off campus, one that rarely had students in it. Martin being gone gave Bobby a moment to collect himself. Why had he come here? He’d known Martin would barrage him with questions. They were both lawyers. Martin had gone down the academic route, but that didn’t stop him from being shit hot. It was why he was in his thirties and already in a senior position, which was unheard of in academia. If Bobby had spoken to Ryan, he would have just told him to fuck Gabriel and work his feelings out later. That was something he’d never do. If it was a random guy he had these feelings for, that might be an option, but this was Gabriel. Bobby would do nothing that could hurt him. They’d been spending so much time together, which he loved, and he was working things out in his head. He wanted to be sure before he said anything, but this date with Sergio felt significant. Bobby needed to do something before it was too late. He just didn’t know what that something was.

“Right,” said Martin, sitting back down and putting a bottle of beer in front of Bobby. Martin had a soft drink. “They said it would be a quarter of an hour, so the floor is yours, counsel.”

Bobby chuckled. This was something he and Martin shared. Their love of the law. Where was the best place to start?

“I’m not sure when I started looking at him differently. I’ve always thought he was a handsome guy, but you can appreciate how someone looks. You can see a woman and think she looks beautiful without wanting to do anything about it, right?”

Martin nodded.

“In Vegas, I saw him without a shirt on for the first time. I mean, he’s ripped as fuck, but that’s just admiring another guy’s physique. I look after my body as well, and guys compliment each other at the gym all the time, don’t they?”

“You’re asking the wrong person.”

“Yeah, but you’ve got hollow legs.”

“The timer is ticking, counsel.”

“Right. I think it started when I walked into the bathroom and saw his dick.”

Martin nearly choked on his drink. Bobby waited a second for his brother to stop coughing before he leant forward.

“That thing is fucking huge.”

“I’ll wait until you’ve finished before I have another drink,” he said, putting his glass down.

“Gabriel told me he only bottoms, and then said he likes big, muscular guys to pin him down and . . . well, you know.”

“Fuck him?” said Martin, with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, and it got me thinking, well, I’m a big, muscular guy. But I think it was just because I haven’t had sex since October. Then, over the last month, I’ve spent loads of time with him, and it feels like I’m in a relationship with someone. We just don’t have sex.”

“Wasn’t that what it was like with Alex the last few months?”

“It wasn’t like this. I felt I had to walk on eggshells around her, and with Bobby, it just feels effortless. He even moans at me all the time about not cleaning up after myself.”

Martin snorted. “Some things don’t change, do they?”

“What? I have other qualities that I bring to a relationship.”

“But you’re not in a relationship, Bobby. Yes, you and Gabriel are legally married, but you’re not together. Are you sure your feelings aren’t just because you feel comfortable and it’s like the relationship you wished you could have, so that’s what you’re focused on?”

Martin picked up his drink.

“He told me earlier that he liked to be loud in bed, and I got hard.”

Martin shook his head with a smile and put the drink back down.

“Now he’s got this date with Sergio, and that guy has big dick energy. Gabriel says he doesn’t fuck on the first date, but what if he does, and then he falls in love with Sergio, and I’d have to move out and get a new job?”

“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself. Who is Sergio? It sounds like you know him.”

“He’s a senior associate at work. One of Gabriel’s friends set it up. I need to stop him from going on this date while I work things out.”

“Bobby, you can’t do that. It’s not fair to Gabriel. You aren’t sure of your feelings yet. Would he even be interested in you that way?”