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And there he co yard into the woods between our houses, andin my throat

Barrett!

He’s wearing a green shirt The sight of hiauge his mood from just his movements, but it’s impossible, even as he nears me

I’ my toes when he steps into et and re-reeous this man is?

He steps slowly over toently over ers blaze warm trails atop my scalp, and just when my eyelids droop from the pleasure of this si leaf in front of my face

“Thanks” I take it,his

He nods, expressionless although his eyes are still on mine My spirits plummet

So this is how it’s going to be

Be patient, I tell ely, of Papa Bear—and all the work I’ve done with him

You’re a patient person

Still, I’ without another word toour workout, he teaches me ers threaded through htly on various pressure points andetting ing his overly perfect eyes out

The few tiry eyes rove over hih the filter of “just friends” How long has it been since I had a guy friend? (College) I feel this war that he’s mine to take care of And yeah, I also kind of want his body Is this what it’s like to have a male friend?

We touch and talk and orbit each other—acting like nothing happened the other night, like nothing’s ever happened between us except just sparring in my yard—and I tell myself that I can be his friend I’d take that in a heartbeat if it was that or nothing And it is It’s that or nothing, I tell myself sternly

Entertaining any other option—even for a rip on reality

We end our workout with so me “win”; I take it anyway, and bow theatrically e’re finished