Page 112 of Dickathlon

Ty shrugged. “Did it work?”

I laughed. “Of course it did. I’ll never be able to resist your mouth, I mean, charm. Let me think for a sec.” I tried to think of something weird, but not too embarrassing. “Ah, got it. I had a huge crush on Leonardo Dicaprio growing up. Guess I have a thing for blonds.”

“That’s it? That’s all I get? Your childhood crush?” He looked defeated.

“Well, you didn’t know that, did you?”

“I wanted something a little more personal. I don’t know anything about your past boyfriends. Have you ever dated anyone longer than we’ve been together?”

Whoa…that’s…getting…serious.

“Sorry. I…I didn’t mean to be nosy. I just don’t know much about your past and this was my awkward but hopefully endearingly cute way of finding out.” Ty glanced at me, expectantly.

“Nah. Uh, it’s fine.”

“It’s not. I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. Forget it.” He turned away, but I reached out to grab his hand, regaining his attention.

“No, I can talk about it.”

About Ian.

I took a deep breath and I told him.

“This happens every Christmas?”

“Every Christmas,” I answered.

“And they’ll be there this year?”

I nodded.

A few days before we left Colorado, Ty broached the subject of Christmas. Before I could even ask for anything, he said didn’t want me to miss another Christmas Eve with my parents. The compromise I had proposed was that we attend my parents’ party, and then take a red-eye to San Jose, so we could be there for Christmas Day with his family. Ty’s parents were disappointed when he told them, but understood. It would be the first Christmas Eve that Ty wasn’t home with them.

I was completely aware of that significance.

“Well, if he comes near you, I’m going to tell him to fuck off.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I don’t have to, but I’m going to.”

“You don’t even know what Ian looks like. He could be six-five, two hundred and eighty pounds.”

Ty gave me a skeptical look as I took the exit. We needed gas and maybe some lunch.

“I doubt it. You have a type.”

“That’s ridiculous. I do not.”

“Right. Let’s look at the evidence. Exhibit A. Me. Exhibit B. You just told me about your crush on Leonardo Dicaprio.”

“That’s two examples, Ty.”

“I’m not done. Let’s see, I’ve heard you gush about Drew van Acker, Alex Pettyfer, and Taylor Kitsch. And you’ve never once mentioned Hugh Jackman, or Jason Statham, or Russell Crowe. It’s pretty obvious you like young, athletic men that are shorter than you.”

He had a point. “Okay, so that proves what exactly?”

“That Ian isn’t six-five or two hundred and eighty pounds. He’s going to fuck off.”