by A. T Brennan
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 that 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*
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 looked 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 need 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 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 dic
k?”
“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.
About the Author
A.T. Brennan, a native of Ottawa, Canada, enjoys picking up and moving every few years. A former member of the Canadian Armed Forces and current entrepreneur and author, she enjoys spending her days working on her many projects and her nights writing and not getting enough sleep. She currently lives on Canada’s East Coast with her family, enjoys collecting books and exploring the different aspects of romance in her works. A.T. publishes in other genres under a different name.
Visit her online at mandiemillsauthor.com
Dedication
To my family. Thanks for always being there
Acknowledgements
I owe thanks to my BFF and partner in crime, Tiffany, and to my sisters from other misters: Jen, Erica and Angeline
I also want to thank my beta readers: Krystal, Liz, Wendy, Erica and Angeline
Also my editor for finding what I couldn’t.
Coming Soon/Now Available
Seasons
~ A four-part novella series~
Now Available
Book 1 ~ Spring Passion (m/f)
Book 2 ~ Summer Heat (m/f)
Book 3 ~ Autumn Lust (m/f)
Book 4 ~ Winter Connection (m/f)
*Also available as a collected anthology
Wrong Place, Right Time (m/f)
Solitary Soldiers Book One
Now Available
The Way We Were (m/f)
Solitary Soldiers Book Two
Winter 2017
The Long Road Home (m/f)
Solitary Soldiers Book Three
Late Summer 2017
Taking Chances
Robson Brothers Book One
Now Available
Letting Go
Robson Brothers Book Two
Now Available
Only You
Robson Brothers Book Three
Summer 2017
All In (m/m)
The Den Boys Book One
Now Available
Healing Him (m/m)
The Den Boys Book Two
Fall 2017
Breaking Free (m/m)
The Den Boys Book Three
Late fall 2017
Hooked (m/f)
Now Available