Page 5 of Swim Crush

I shrugged. “Well, it seems he’s noticed my body.”

“The entire school has noticed your body. You wear practically nothing in the pool.” Logan had found words again and unlocked our door. “It’s not that hard to notice you’reーwhat’d he say?ーstacked.”

“He might be too,” I said, “though it’s a little unclear. He obviously likes mythology. That wasn’t just a one-off.”

Logan took his shirt off and sat on my bed. “Your powers of deduction are truly staggering.”

“Well, I don’t hear you coming up with any suggestions!” I made for my desk chair, remembering Logan’s pin comment from earlier. Was he trying to say he was bi?

“Let me think.”

I checked my email and socials, then opened my ecology textbook. There was a quiz tomorrow and I hadn’t studied much. After a while, I heard a snore and turned to see that Logan was, of course, asleep. So much for thinking.

I flipped his covers back, then went over to him. Logan was my height, but a little skinnier, so it wasn’t too difficult to move him to my bed.

“Mmm…naked.”

He also talked in his sleep. And this had happened often enough that I knew he wanted his shorts to come off. Thankfully tonight, it was a one step process since he wasn’t wearing any underwear.

Maybe Logan’s your admirer?

He couldn't have put the note on the door. He was at the coffee shop.

After all, he’d just tell me. Plus, when he was naked around me, he was never hard. If I were naked around someone I was attracted to, I’d definitely be aroused.

I went down the hall to brush my teeth and take a piss. A bit later, after continuing my daily streak in Marvel’s Puzzle Quest and fantasizing about the latest Grindr torsos, I drifted off to sleep, but not before reminding myself to scold Logan tomorrow and make him promise me a favor for having to strip him down again.

The ecology quiz went well. It was mostly about the types of interspecific interactions that structure communities. Commensalism was the one I always got confused, but I studied the fuck out of the recommendations from the TA and lo and behold, it worked out.

When I handed in my quiz, Professor Fraser asked if he could ask me a question. I refrained from the obvious joke – that he already had – and followed him when he motioned to the side of the classroom.

“This is kind of silly, I probably could – well, I know I could – find a personal trainer, but I know you’re on the swim team, and well”ーhe gestured at meー”would you ever consider helping me sometime? Or do you know anybody that could show me around the gym? I’ve tried to go, but honestly, it’s intimidating.”

And now that I had a few moments to myself on the way to the dining hall, I had a new theory about my admirer. Professor Fraser could be Hercules.

I texted Logan.

I had already agreed to show the professor around the gym since I figured my grade could always use a little insurance. Honestly though, my theory seemed a little far-fetched. Professor Fraser was handsome, but I couldn’t imagine he’d use notes to declare romantic interest.

Damn it.

Danny hadn’t answered my texts either.

I made my way into the dining hall. It was one of the older ones on campus. You had to descend a wrought-iron spiral staircase to get to the dining area. It was a relic from the seventies and I loved the kitschy architecture. It was also the smallest one, so it was quieter, more intimate. There weren’t many students in line, but I did recognize Hayden from behind. He seemed to be by himself.

“Hayden! How’s it going?”

He jumped a few inches, then smiled when he realized it was me.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s fine. I was just lost in my own thoughts, that’s all.”

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“Honestly? My dog, Aristotle, isn’t doing well. I’m just worried.”

“Aristotle, huh?”