- GARRETT -
May, 2015
The whole point of moving was so I could take the next step.
My entire department came out for welcome drinks, and we were all sitting grouped together at cocktail tables on high stools. While I chatted with everyone, I kept trying to come up with ways to casually slip “I’m gay” into conversation, but I was coming up empty.
How did normal, non-fucked-up people come out?
A hand clamped down on my shoulder, and a guy pulled up the chair next to me. “How was the first day?”
When I turned my head, his green eyes glimmered with amusement. Perhaps at my gaping mouth.
“Uh, same shit, different location.” Hello, cocky Garrett.
Mr. Green Eyes smirked and held out his hand to shake. “Derek.”
“Garrett.”
“If I wasn’t in client meetings all day, I would’ve introduced myself sooner.” His eyes raked over me, from my arms to my chest and then back up to my face. “Okay,” he said, leaning in. “We need help settling a bet.”
“Oh, really?” I drawled. If him checking me out had anything to say, I guessed I wasn’t going to have to figure out how to tell them all I was gay after all.
“Yup. You see, I’m constantly losing my money because nearly every new person who’s recruited, I swear they’re gay. Perhaps it’s the optimist in me.”
When I hesitated to say anything, he continued.
“Or perhaps my gaydar is so broken they should recall my LGBTQ membership.”
I laughed and took a swig of my beer, trying to think of a good response. My gaze found his. His chiselled jaw and brown medium-length hair reminded me of Blair, and my mouth quirked.
“Oh, come on, I’m so right this time, aren’t I?”
The rest of the table wasn’t so interested in their conversations anymore and was eyeing me in anticipation. I smiled. “You finally won one, Derek.” I took another sip of my beer.
He stood on the footrest of his stool, making him stand tall above the group. “Suck it, ladies. This one’s mine.”
With a round of laughs, just like that, I was out. If only it was that easy every time.
It could be. At that thought, I told my inner voice to shut up and threatened to drown it in alcohol if it didn’t.
What I’d learned over the years was coming out wasn’t one big event. I’d technically come out five times already, just not to the actual people who deserved my honesty. Blair, Gage, my old workmates, Caity, and now my new colleagues. It was something I was going to have to continually do.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re a HR nightmare?” I asked Derek.
He sat back on his chair. “What, because I hit on the new guys and taunt all the women? Please, everyone loves me. Who wouldn’t?”
“You’re so modest after all.”
“And hot and awesome. The list goes on and on.”
Garrett Erikson, I think you’ve met your match. “Good to know.”
“What’s your deal, anyway?”
“My deal?” I asked.
“Well, Leah tells me she asked you if a wife or girlfriend moved with you, but as she neglected to ask with the correct pronoun, can I assume you don’t have a boyfriend either?”
In retrospect, Leah cornering me today was the perfect time for me to say it, but did I realise that at the time? No, I froze.
I shook my head. “Nah. Truth is, I’m not even out in Queensland. There were three friends who knew. And hook-ups. One secret boyfriend who dumped me for moving to Sydney.”
“Are you shitting me?”
“Nope.”
“Your family don’t approve?”
“It’s a long story I don’t like to get into.” I wasn’t going to tell him I’d never even tried to tell my family. Unless I included the stuttering chats that went nowhere.
Of everyone, I thought my family would be supportive. The only thing preventing me from telling them was fear. Blair thought his mother accepted him, only to find out she hadn’t that whole time. I didn’t want that type of heartache. In my mind, it was better not knowing at all.
“Guess we need to get more beer in you until you spill your guts.”
“That won’t work on me. My friends back home and I are the epitome of Australian drinking culture. To get me drunk enough to talk, I’d be calling in sick tomorrow. I’m not going to let myself do that on my second day.”
He smiled. “I’ll drag it out of you one day. So, where are you staying? You found an all right place to live?”
“Motel at the moment. Will need to find somewhere soon, though.”
His eyes widened and he smiled, as if a lightbulb went off. “I, ah …” His face fell. “Never mind.”
“What?”
“I was going to say I’ve been looking for someone to rent out my second room. I own a flat. It’s two bedrooms, two bathrooms, so you’d have your own space, it’s close to work, and—”
I winced. “I don’t think living with a co-worker is a brilliant idea.”
“Yeah, that was the reason I hesitated.”
“Say I leave the lid off the peanut butter for the millionth time, then you scream at me, and then you have to see me all day at work?” I shake my head. “Bad idea.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be a problem because I’m allergic to nuts.” He held up his hand. “And don’t even joke about the gay guy who’s allergic to nuts. Ha, ha, so funny, and so not original.”
“I was actually thinking that I hadn’t even moved in yet, and I almost killed you by buying hypothetical peanut butter and leaving the lid off.”
“That too. But, if you can live without your precious peanut butter—or any other nuts—and you want a cheapish room, the offer’s there. I’m an awesome roommate. Although, I’ve never shared with another gay guy before. I might be worried about you cutting in on my hook-ups.” He eyed me over once again. “Yeah, you’re right, this was a bad idea.”
I smiled. “I’ll think about it.” Living with the hot guy at the office was a horrible, terrible idea. I knew that. But from my few days of searching, I doubted I was going to get a better offer. All I could find were studio apartments or shared apartments in dodgy areas.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I must’ve had a goofy smile on my face when I saw Blair’s name because Derek raised his eyebrow at me.
“I gotta take this,” I said, standing and making my way out of the bar. I hit answer as I exited the front and was out on the street. “Hey.”
“Please tell me you hate it and are coming home.”
I chuckled. “Sorry. I’ve only been here two full days. There’s nothing to hate yet.”
He sighed. “Was worth a try.”
“So, tell me if I’d be a complete moron to move in with the only other gay guy in my office?”
He was silent for a beat before he asked, “Is he hot?”
“And arrogant, and a little pushy, and”—I let out a loud breath—“yeah, pretty hot. He’s got that whole Ian Salamander thing going on.”
“You mean Somerhalder? Damon from Vampire Diaries?”
“I do not want to know how you know the names of characters in a teen TV show.”
“Caity makes me watch it.”
“I call bullshit.”
“Research? For my screenplay?”
“Bullshit,” I singsonged.
“Fine, I fucking love that show, okay?”
“That’s all I wanted to hear. And yeah. That guy.”
He whistled through the phone. “Don’t move in with him. Big mistake. It’s the same reason I know it’d be a dumb idea to date Caity. Don’t shit where you eat.”
“Moving in with him would probably ensure nothing happened.”
“Maybe.”
“You think I shouldn’t do it?” I asked.
“It’s up to you. Just don’t be messaging me in a few months saying ‘So, I fucked up and fucked my roommate, who I also work with. Help me!’”
“I promise I will never text you those words.”