Chapter One

Logan

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“Remind me again why we can’t pull a Big Bang Theory and I can be Sheldon to your Penny and Leonard? Why do I have to move out?” I asked almost petulantly as I looked around the small apartment.

“Because we tried that over the summer and you cock-blocked me every chance you got.” Matt grinned as he looped his arm over Avery’s shoulder.

“Hearing my brother and best friend going at it in the next room can be a little scarring, especially when you’re getting your freak on.” I rolled my eyes.

“I warned you she was a screamer.”

“Yeah, well the filth that comes out of your mouth is even worse,” I shot back.

“You were the one who said you needed your own place.”

“With a roommate I’ve never met?”

“Sorry, Logan.” Avery gave me a somewhat sincere smile as she leaned against Matt. “I know this is going to be weird for you, but maybe it’ll be good to get your own space. You and Matt have lived together for so long, don’t you wonder what it’ll be like to break out of that bubble?”

“I like my bubble.” I sighed and looked around the living room of the apartment again.

It really wasn’t that bad. The living room was a decent size with a couch and a loveseat, and the TV was way bigger than the one Matt and I had shared. There was a separate dining room, which I hadn’t had before, and the bedrooms were the same size and had big closets. There was only one bathroom, but it was updated and looked new and clean. It was a five minute walk to campus and less than twenty to all three of my brothers and their girlfriends’ places.

The price was right and it was furnished. Considering it was a week before classes started I should have signed the lease the moment I walked through the front door and found it wasn’t covered in bloody tarps and cockroaches, but there was a part of me that didn’t want to move.

Matt and Avery having sex didn’t bother me. I could do without hearing the porn-worthy shit that came out of Matt’s mouth or Avery’s screams through the thin walls, but I was happy for them.

Avery had moved in over the summer, it didn’t make sense for her to keep paying rent at her old place considering she spent most of her time with Matt at ours. Her roommate had moved in with her boyfriend so her ties were clean and cut.

The real reason I’d decided to move out was to give them some space. It was awesome living with my two best friends, but they needed their own place, somewhere they could do all that domestic shit without me getting in the way.

That had led to my apartment search and I’d stumbled on this place.

It seemed two grad students had rented it but had transferred at the last second. That had left the owner scrambling to find tenants and I’d gotten on the list early. If I walked away I’d end up in a hovel eating off a hot plate.

It was a no brainer.

“Logan?”

Avery’s voice broke through my thoughts and I turned to her.

“Sorry, just thinking.”

“Made any decisions? There are a few more places we could look. Paige said something about her old building having a vacancy.”

“Nah. This place is good.”

“You like it?”

“It’s way better than I thought I’d find, and it fits my budget so I’d be an idiot to walk away.”

“Are you sure you can afford this—”

“I’m broke, not poor,” I cut Matt off. “If everything is split down the middle then I’ll be fine. I won’t be eating organic or gourmet, but I’ll survive.”

I could see he wanted to say more, but Matt just nodded.

“I’ll go see if I can find the owner.” Avery looked between us. “Tell him he’s got a deal.”

As Avery left the apartment I stared at Matt, daring him to say something.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it—”

“You’re right, I don’t.” I crossed my arms and looked away from him. “I fucked up, I know that. I did the math and I’ll be fine.”

“I still think you should accept Mom and Dad’s—”

“I’m not going to take their money, not for this.”

I was trying not to yell at Matt. He was only trying to help, but I was embarrassed, and when I get embarrassed I cover it up by being angry.

Last year I’d gone a bit crazy with my spending. Matt, Jax and Jay, my three brothers, all had decent scholarships that paid for most of their tuition, and they’d taken out loans to cover everything else.

I had a partial scholarship and had also taken out loans, but last year I’d pissed away more money than I was willing to admit to, and had run up a huge credit card bill. My parents had co-signed a line of credit with me to pay off the card and the crazy high interest rate that came with it. I’d managed to get a decent job over the summer and had paid them back every cent, but that had left me with no nest egg this year.

My finances were tight and I was determined not to fuck up again. The credit card had been cancelled, the line of credit closed, and I was going to live within my means. If that meant eating noodles for every meal and staying in every night, then that’s what I was going to do.

I was never going to go through that again. Standing in front of my parents, admitting what I’d done and how I needed their help had been humiliating, and I’d hated feeling like I failed. Of all the boys, I was the only one who had screwed up that way, and I was the only one they’d had to bail out.

They’d been pretty cool about it, Dad hadn’t even lectured me, but their disappointment was obvious and that made it all worse. I deserved their anger and disappointment, but they’d done what they always did, they’d been there for me and helped me without giving me a free pass.

It was time to put on my big boy pants and suck it up. I was going to be an adult, take care of my shit and deal with the repercussions of my actions.

* * * * *

It didn’t take me long to move my shit into my new place. Since it came furnished I left everything except my clothes and personal stuff at Matt’s, and between my brothers and our two cars it only took one trip.

School was starting in five days and I promised to have them over on Saturday for a little housewarming of sorts, as long as it was cool with my new roommate.

I still had no idea who I’d be rooming with. I didn’t care if they were male or female, but had disclosed to the owner that I was gay in case that influenced his decision at all. I wasn’t expecting some homophobic ass to move in, but it was always a possibility when I wasn’t choosing my own roommate.

Since I was the first to move in I took the bedroom at the back of the apartment. It was the same size as the other one, but the closet was slightly bigger. It had everything I could need including a double bed, desk, hookups for a TV—which I didn’t have the money to buy, and a bookshelf. There was also a footlocker with a lock and key on it, which was both nice and a little alarming.

I hoped I wouldn’t feel the need to lock up my stuff around whomever was moving in, but again, without having a say I wouldn’t know until I met them.

I spent that first night alone in the apartment and realized that I didn’t like living alone.

It was stupid. For the last three years of school Matt had been in and out of the apartment, but he’d still lived there. Even when he was gone his dishes would be in the sink or I’d find a hoodie on the couch reminding me he’d been home while I was at class. Then he’d met Avery last year and it was as though we’d gained another roommate and I was hardly ever in the apartment alone.

At twenty-one it was stupid that I hated being in an empty apartment surrounded by rented furniture and only my things, but being lonely wasn’t anything new for me.

It was something I never admitted to anyone, not even Matt or Avery, but I was afraid of being alone. I hated the feeling of being all by myself with no one to count on or rely on, and I had no idea where it had come from.

I’d been an only child until I was five, then my parents had started taking in foster kids. Jay and Jax had come to live with us when I was ten, and had legally become my brothers when I was eleven. Matt had come to live with us two years later, and by the time I was fifteen my parents had adopted him too. In ten years I’d gone from being an only child to one of four, and that didn’t count the kids we’d fostered but hadn’t adopted.

Maybe it was because I’d always been around other kids, what with school and then all the kids we’d had in our house over the years. I’d been popular enough so I’d never really lacked for friends, but there was a part of me that felt fake.

The only people I was truly myself around were my brothers, their girlfriends, and my parents. When I was with my other friends or strangers, I always felt the need to put on a show. I was the fabulous and flamboyant gay. The out and proud and very loud stereotype, even though that wasn’t really me.

It could be exhausting, but the alternative of being alone was worse.

* * * * *

Logan: I’m bored

Avery: and what do you want me to do about it? :)

Logan: entertain me, duh ;)

Avery: Matt and I were going to go out for dinner. Want to come?

Logan: and be the third wheel on date night? No thanks

Avery: you can come over after, stay in your room if you want to get away

Logan: nah. I should probably stick around and see if my new roomie shows up

Avery: ok. But if you change your mind you still have the key.

Logan: thanks babes

Avery: this is matt-if you come over, KNOCK FIRST. I don’t need you seeing my junk

Logan: ewww

Avery: lol me again. Matt’s just teasing

Logan: tell him his junk is the last thing I want to see

Avery: matt again-even worse than avery’s cooch?

Logan: and I’m out. Thanks for the nightmares asshole

Avery: lololololololol

Avery: sorry about that. Forget Matt. You’re welcome anytime

Logan: thanks babes. Love you

Avery: love you too *kisses*

Logan: *kisses*

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I sighed as I tossed my phone aside. I could always see what the twins were up to, but I guessed Jay and Paige were having their own date night now that Paige’s brother had gone home after visiting for the summer, and Jax had mentioned something about going to a party.

It looked like I was in for another night of eating noodles alone in the apartment watching Netflix on my computer.

I was just standing up to go to the kitchen when there was a knock on the front door.

Before I could take a step forward to answer it, I heard the lock turning and then the door swung open.

“Hey, you’re already here.”

Holy crap on a cracker. That was my new roommate?

The guy who strode into the room was my wet dream brought to life. He was tall, about an inch taller than my own six-foot frame, and cut. His arms were corded with muscles, his torso was trim and his waist was a perfect V with an amazing bubble butt, and all of that was being held up by a pair of sexy and muscular legs.

His eyes were such a light blue they almost look crystal gray, and his face was angular with a pair of full, slightly pouty lips. He was the definition of sexy, and he also looked very familiar.

“Hey.” I managed to look away before he could notice I was creeping on him and smiled in what I hoped was a friendly way. “I’m Logan.”

“Adam.” He grinned and stepped into the apartment. “I guess we’re going to be roommates.”

“I guess.” I was a little shocked when he extended his hand to me, and maybe a little too pleased with the chance to get to touch him.

His hand was a little rough and calloused, and that made me melt just a little bit more.

“Do you need a hand with your stuff?” I asked, noticing he only had a duffle bag over his shoulder.

“You don’t mind?”

“Not at all.”

“Thanks, man. My truck is in the lot.”

“Cool.”

He turned and led the way to the parking lot, and I was impressed to see a relatively new truck sitting in our designated space.

“You have a car? We can alternate parking here and in the visitor’s lot,” he offered as he pulled down the tailgate to the truck and slung an old army issue duffle bag over his shoulder.

“My brother and I share one, he’s keeping it at his place.”

“Pretty good deal for him.” Adam grinned and handed me what looked like a sports equipment bag.

“His girlfriend works at a bar so we thought it would be best if he kept it. That way she doesn’t have to worry about getting home after her shifts.”

“Sensible. You got a girlfriend?” he asked casually as we headed back up to the apartment.

“No.” I glanced over at him and bit my lip. It was the perfect time to tell him I was gay. It wasn’t a secret so I might as well just get it out and tell him now. “No boyfriend.”

He glanced over his shoulder and gave me a surprised look. Then he nodded and smiled. “Cool.”

That one word told me everything I needed to know about Adam’s view on me being gay. It didn’t bother him. Thank fuck.

“What about you?” I asked as we reached the apartment.

“Single as they come. Which room is mine?”

“That one.” I pointed to the empty room and tried not to read too far into his lack of gender specification. Just because he didn’t say he was girlfriend-free didn’t make him gay too.

It took us three trips to get everything into his room, and when we were done I was at a loss of what to do.

I was slightly jealous that he not only had his own TV, but also a PS4 and a stack of games. I was going to miss my gaming system. Considering Matt had bought most of the games and he was trying to teach Avery how to play, I’d thought it was best to leave the system with him. Seeing everything Adam had was making me regret that decision.

“So, I was going to order pizza for dinner. You in?” Adam asked as we kind of stood in the living room staring at each other.

“I’m kinda broke...” I trailed off and glanced at the wall for a second. “I won’t be able to cover my share.”

“No worries. I’ve got it.” He grinned and pulled his phone out of his pocket. “It’s the off season so I’m all about splurging right now.”

“Off season?” I couldn’t help asking as he pulled an app up on his phone.

“Baseball.” He glanced at me. “It’s that rare break right after summer camps and before winter training where I can actually enjoy food and beer without my trainer kicking my ass. I’m going to milk it for all I can before we start practicing again.”

“You’re Adam Donaldson.” Now I knew where I’d seen him before. He was the starting pitcher on the school’s baseball team. “Shit. I’m rooming with a minor celebrity.”

Adam laughed and shook his head. “I’m just a ball player.”

“Right. Just a ball player. You closed out the final game of the season with two consecutive three up, three down innings. Not to mention the fact that your pitching average was six innings per games pitched. Not many players could sustain that and most pull four before they need the reliever to come in. And you pitched two no hitters in two years. Not the average ball player.”

Adam was staring at me, and I knew that look in his eye. He was shocked a gay man knew shit about sports.

“Wow. I didn’t take you for a baseball fan.”

“Because I suck dick?”

“No, um...” Adam’s ears turned pink and I felt a little bad for what I’d said. He wasn’t used to my out and proud ways. Just because he was cool with me being gay didn’t mean I needed to throw it in his face like that.

“Sorry, my humor can get a little...crude.”

“I didn’t mean anything by what I said. A lot of hardcore fans wouldn’t know those stats. It just surprised me that you knew the stats but didn’t recognize me.”

“Well, in my defence you look a little different when you’re not in your uniform.” I grinned. “Plus you don’t quite get the same effect watching a game on TV as you do talking to the guy when he’s right in front of you.”

“I would imagine so.” He chuckled. “You like meat?”

I raised my eyebrow at him and tried not to smirk.

“I mean on your pizza.” He rolled his eyes but was smiling.

“Big fan of meat.” I didn’t add anywhere I can get it, but I’m sure he caught the implication.

“Well, I’m getting a large meat lovers with garlic bread. That cool?”

“It’s great, but you don’t have to cover me—”

“Like I said, it’s not a big deal. I’d order the same if it was just me and have the rest tomorrow.”

“Thanks, man.” I was happy we could get along, even if it was just over superficial conversation.

From what I’d seen of the student athletes around campus they acted like they owned the place. The football players were the worst, but the other teams had their moments. Everyone catered to them and acted like they were gods so they never had to answer for anything.

I didn’t know much about the rest of the baseball team, outside of their stats, but Adam wasn’t what I would have expected from a student athlete.

It looked like I’d lucked out with my new roomie, and not just because he was hot.