Koby Duvall stepped out into the parking lot at the diner Rocket, feeling the cool evening October air on his skin. He smiled fondly as the last two of his brunch club buddies tumbled out beside him, one slightly more worse for wear than the other.

“I love you.” Chase Williamson pointed at Kris Novak, the man doing his best to keep him upright. “And I love you,” Chase said to Koby, leaning over to give him a sweet kiss on the cheek. “And I also love Gabe and Cas and Hale, but they seem to have already gone.”

Koby felt guilty for not spotting earlier that Chase had possibly had one drink too many. But Chase had been through a rough week with his studies on top of part-time work and looking after his young daughter. So Koby had decided maybe it was okay for him to indulge in a blowout, then called the man’s boyfriend to come pick him up.

“Look, Chase.” Koby hugged him and pointed. “It’s your knight in shining armor.”

Koby watched Chase turn to see his boyfriend Hunter walking over from his car. Chase broke into the kind of smile only people head over heels in love could manage. “He is my white knight,” Chase said dreamily, waving at Hunter.

Koby and Kris shared a fond look, then gently let their friend go so he could fall into Hunter’s strong arms. Koby was almost expecting ex-Marine Hunter to pick up his tiny, tipsy boyfriend. Instead he looked down at him with just as much love as Chase was showing and grinned.

“Have a good time, did we?” Hunter asked.

“Baby, I’m so sorry,” Kris said, twirling his hands. He called everyone baby and honey and sugar. He rubbed his blond hair with purple tips and looked as sheepish as Koby felt. “Brunch became dinner and there were a lot of top-ups. I gave him some water but he might need some more. Maybe an aspirin in the morning, too.”

Hunter chuckled and kissed the top of Chase’s head. “Don’t worry. I’ll look after him,” Hunter promised. “Goodnight, y’all.”

Koby and Kris waved them off. Then Koby took his scarf out of the pocket of his vegan leather jacket and wound it around his neck.

Of course Hunter would look after Chase. All Koby’s friends had loving boyfriends to look after them now.

He smiled, refusing to let his melancholy show, and turned to Kris. As Kris didn’t drink, he was fine to drive himself home. “So you’ll invite Harrison next time?” Koby asked him. They had discussed over brunch (that had then turned into dinner and far too many Bloody Marys) about including Kris’s friend and employee more in their group. Harrison was only nineteen, but he’d been kicked out by his transphobic parents and Koby was eager to make sure he was feeling included.

“Absolutely,” Kris said earnestly. “That baby gay needs to get out and see the world isn’t such an awful place. We can teach him our ways.”

“You mean how to hold a Bloody Mary?” Koby raised eyebrow.

Kris lightly slapped Koby’s shoulder. “Poor Chase,” he said with a giggle.

“Chase will be fine,” Koby said wryly. “He’s got a big strong man to look after him.”

“Speaking of which.” Kris winked.

Koby rolled his eyes. “Go on. Head home.” He shooed his friend away. “Abandon me for your handsome firefighter.”

“Well, I’m not getting any sex from you, am I?” Kris scoffed playfully. “Seriously though, text me when you get home, baby. Sleep tight! Love you! Mwah, mwah, mwah!”

Koby waved him off, chuckling as he ordered himself an Uber.

The parking lot was quiet as he waited. Koby looked through the windows of the kitschy fifties diner. The inside was a glowing beacon in the dark night, showing all the loving families and couples out on date nights. A small smile tugged at Koby’s mouth. He was happy for them.

His place was toward the outskirts of town, but it wasn’t too long a ride back. Koby’s driver didn’t bother him with much chitchat and turned the radio up loud on an eighties station that Koby approved of.

His apartment was in a building that had been converted from a disused textiles warehouse. It stood on the wharf by the river that joined the creek the town was named after. The company who had bought the space had run out of money during the renovation in the recession a decade ago. This had resulted in apartments that might have had big windows and high ceilings, but only basic plumbing and electrics, constant drafts, and that were too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

Still, that just meant Koby could afford the rent.

He jogged up the metal stairs, his black Dr. Martens boots clanging with every step he took. It was early enough Koby hoped he wouldn’t bother his neighbors. When he came home late, he’d either tiptoe or take his boots off entirely.

The apartment was dark when he let himself in. He simply turned on the lamp that lived on the small table by the door where he also dropped his keys. It was a one-bedroom place with an open-plan kitchen and living space. Although Koby had picked up a sofa from the Goodwill and his mom had given him an old TV, he mostly used this main area as a workspace.

Right now, he didn’t feel like looking at the piece under construction in the middle of the floor, so he strode past in the near darkness and into the kitchen. He didn’t bother taking off his jacket, scarf or boots. He needed tea.

He didn’t usually start bigger projects unless they were on commission. But he was so sick of making mice and cars and flowers out of nuts and bolts to sell at the market. He wanted to build something, so there was half a torso made from cogs, hubcaps and old twisted bed frames coming to life on the cold stone floor. Hopefully he would be able to auction it off once it was done. Otherwise, he was going to have an awfully big doorstop or paperweight on his hands.

He looked around his place while waiting for the kettle to boil on the stove. As much as he loved the bare aesthetic of scrubbed concrete floor, red brick walls and black metal girders, it didn’t exactly feel cozy. Most of the time that was fine, but tonight…

He shook his head as the kettle came to the boil, then fetched a carton of almond milk from the fridge to add to his English breakfast tea. The warm mug in his hands made him feel less shivery. He brought his tea to perch on the windowsill, looking out over the dark waters and the lights of the town in the distance.

His friends would never intentionally make him feel left out, but sometimes they couldn’t help but gush over their lovely new boyfriends. Koby briefly considered browsing on one of his dating apps, but he didn’t want just a hookup right now.

Ordinarily, he was perfectly content to spend the majority of his time alone. He worked most hours of the day and appreciated solitude when he was being creative. But every now and again, he felt it would be nice to have some company. Someone to have a cup of tea with.

As if on cue, contact from the outside world came in the form of an email, the notification alerting Koby with a ping on his phone. He blinked and placed his mug down, retrieving his cell from his jeans pocket.

Koby was surprised to see it was from Hidden Creek Community College, his old school. He could have gone farther afield to study, but his dad had just walked out on his mom. Koby had chosen staying home and saving money over somewhere with better facilities. Sure enough, seeing the name pop up on his screen filled him with mild dread. But he told himself it was probably just junk mail.

Except when he opened up the message, it wasn’t junk at all.

‘Dear Mr. Duvall,’ it began civilly enough. ‘I hope you are well. As I’m sure you’re aware, among our school’s alumni is famed Tulsa Harriers linebacker Vincent ‘The Lumberjack’ Russo.’

Koby sighed and took a sip of his tea and almond milk. Yeah, like there was anyone in Hidden Creek that didn’t know that Vinny Russo had gone off to play football for the NFL. Texas was so football crazy that several community colleges, like Hidden Creek, had programs. Having someone like Russo being an alum increased the popularity of the tiny school. Not that Koby begrudged his classmate his success, just…some folks around here treated it like a national tragedy if you didn’t follow sports. Koby wondered why the college was bothering to contact him about an athlete he hadn’t seen since their first year at H Triple C together.

‘You may also be aware that while Vincent is back home recuperating from his recent injury, the school is honoring him with a commemoration ceremony this December.’

Injury? Oh, right. Koby had seen something in the Hidden Creek Horn about Russo sustaining a head injury and being forced to take some time off. It was strange Koby’s brain had stored that information, but it was convenient it had now. It saved him some Googling.

‘The school has decided to name its newly built stadium after Vincent. The board has also agreed it would be sensible to commission a work of art depicting Russo’s career and success outside the stadium.’

“Oh, have they now?” Koby scoffed. Then realization hit him. “Hang on.” He hastily read on.

‘As an HCCC graduate who has also enjoyed a modicum of success-’

Koby frowned. As much as he tried not to feel hurt, pain lanced through his chest anyway. Even after all these years, they still ignored his achievements. He may not have been rolling in dollar bills, but he’d worked in film and television, had exhibitions in Seattle, Chicago, New York and LA, and even had a piece on permanent display at NASA.

‘-we have decided you would be ideal to create something special for the grand re-opening on December 24^th.’

The cheek of it. They weren’t asking him – they were telling him he had to make this statue of his former classmate. The guy who had always been the star of Koby’s year, getting all the corners cut for him just because he was good at smashing into people on a field.

Koby took a deep breath. That wasn’t fair. He was sure Russo was a very good…whatever it was. Linebacker. And smashing into people had been what had gotten him hurt. It was swell the college was making a fuss of him while he was off his feet recuperating. And they may not have been all that nice about it, but Koby did get a kick they were finally sort of acknowledging his work, even in a roundabout way.

At least they were proposing to pay him an advance. Half of the total fee upfront. Not that they were offering him all that much…in fact, it was sort of an insulting amount. Koby almost decided he was going to ask for more, but then he glanced down at who had signed the email.

‘Reuben Galloway, Assistant Dean, Hidden Creek Community College.’

Damn. Old Gallows got a promotion? Koby’s heart sunk. He was lucky to be getting paid at all in that case.

It wasn’t worth fighting for. It was better to look on the bright side. This was at least enough that he’d probably be able to pay all his bills until Christmas, on top of his earnings from the smaller tourist trinkets.

But – two months was no time at all. If he was going to create something from scratch, he usually allowed at least six months to flesh out the concept then begin designing and collecting materials...

His thoughts trailed off as his gaze fell on the sculpture he had already begun constructing. He sat up straight on the windowsill as his heart leaped. The torso had no real definition to it yet, after all. He could easily adapt it. That way he could guarantee it sold and also have a chance of making such a short deadline. Surely it was win/win?

He didn’t like the idea of scurrying around for HCCC, doing their bidding when they clicked their fingers while the sports department got showered with accolades yet again. But then…they were talking about a permanent art feature at the college. Koby’s art. Who knew how many years one of his creations could stand for, inspiring students at the otherwise neglected art department?

Nerves fluttered through him. The last time he’d attempted to display art on campus, it hadn’t gone well. But that was eight years ago. He was certain things would be better now.

Besides, Koby could work from photos for most of the project, simply bringing Russo in for a couple of modeling sessions toward the end. The rest of the time it would just be Koby and his metal, creating something he loved, something that would take people’s breath away. He could forget who was signing the check.

It didn’t seem like too much of a sellout as he typed back a simple reply. He said he was in and he’d be back in touch soon with some concept designs once they’d sorted his advance out. Besides, from what he remembered, Russo was pretty easy on the eyes if you ignored the fact he was a big muscly jock and focused on his smile.

Pity he and Koby would have nothing in common. But together, maybe they could make a beautiful work of art.

Koby picked up his tea, staring out over the river and feeling less downhearted than before. Yes, it would be worth it if they could do that. Maybe this project wouldn’t be so bad after all.