3. The Gym

Hunter

Three days after the movie, Hunter checked his phone incessantly for any sign of Logan. A text, a video, a post—anything. He saw him briefly during the match on Saturday and then at a party that night, but Logan and Andrea had left early. Since the fall semester, Logan spent more and more time at her house. Images of Logan and Andrea together invaded his thoughts, leaving him with a sickening feeling each time.

“Hey,” Logan chirped, entering through the door early that afternoon with a duffel bag strapped across his chest. “Did you just work out?”

“Leaving now,” Hunter said, sliding sneakers onto each foot. His heart somersaulted with excitement, even though his face remained stoic.

“Sweet, wait for me. I need a good workout. Saturday’s game was brutal. Coach was pissed,” Logan said, changing out of his pants and into athletic shorts. Hunter’s gaze darted around the room, lingering on the bookshelf, the window, and the poster on the wall—anything but Logan. “Glad to be back, though. That family is … different.”

Before Andrea, the pair usually worked out four to five times a week, spotting each other on weight machines and running the same circuits.

The gym wasn’t as busy that Sunday afternoon as it tended to get during the week. Logan’s lean, athletic body deviated toward distance running and cardio, while broad and muscular Hunter focused on strength training.

Breathe, Hunter reminded himself when Logan occasionally spread his fingers over his hands and down his wrists while spotting him on the bench press, or maintained a soul-piercing gaze while holding his feet during crunches. Hunter was sure Logan had never looked at him that way before.

Lost in steamy thoughts during the post-workout shower, Hunter closed his eyes as hot water ran down his face. Once he opened them, Logan stood one shower head away with a slight grin. One other guy was there, down at the end, facing away from them. Hunter shook his head and cracked a shy smile at the mischievous look on Logan’s face.

Hunter’s large penis, whether hard or soft, gained him plenty of unwanted locker-room attention throughout high school and college. Logan was more of a grower, he’d say, keeping his pubes trimmed to give off the appearance of being bigger than he was. Logan stroked himself under the hot water while watching Hunter lather up.

Stop, Hunter mouthed with an ever-reddening face. The one other guy in the shower dried off. Hunter couldn’t help but get hard watching Logan masturbate to his naked body, hesitant to join him in such a public place. Instead, he turned to Logan and boldly lathered over his own chest and abs, passing over his hung semi-hard dick, loving the way Logan’s eyes lingered on his body.

A group of rowdy guys burst through the swinging doors, and the two quickly faced forward and rinsed off. Panic coursed through Hunter’s veins.

After a short walk past the quad, Hunter browsed the lunch choices in the dining hall. “Mexican?”

Logan nudged him with his elbow. “Please, don’t. Last time you had Mexican, you blew up the dorm.”

Hunter tensed, his breathing still, wondering when Logan’s touches had become so stimulating. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“It was horrible. Let’s get some wraps and protein shakes. I ate like shit all weekend.”

They picked up their wraps and sat down to eat. Just a few bites into his meal, Hunter received a text on his phone. “Mom’s asking if you guys want to go to Aspen for Spring Break.”

“Aspen? Hell, yes! Mountains, snowboarding, snow bunnies—yes, all around. I’d have to ask my folks.” Logan smiled happily, taking a bite of his wrap.

Another text came through Hunter’s phone. “I guess we’re all going. They’ve already talked to your parents.”

“Fuck, yes,” Logan cheered, slamming his hand down on the table, chewing his food sloppily. “Aspen, dude? It’s nice having rich friends.”

“We’re not rich. We live in the same neighborhood.”

“But we’re house-poor just to live in that neighborhood. Let me text Stace.” Logan pulled out his phone to text his sister. “You think Chad might come?”

“Doubt it, he started his new job. I don’t think he’ll have a week off. Besides, he hates family trips.” Hunter’s older brother, Chad, graduated the previous year and landed a junior associate role at a big accounting firm in New York City, courtesy of their mother.

“Shit.” Logan threw down his wrap with a groan and sank his head into his palms dramatically. “I forgot. Andrea invited me to her family’s house in Naples for Spring Break.”

Hunter dropped his shoulders, the weight of disappointment settling in. The weekend without Logan was hard enough, and he couldn’t imagine spending nearly two weeks away from him. His stomach churned, thinking about the moments Logan would share with Andrea instead of him. “I guess it’s just me and Stacy then,” he said with a grimace, repressing his emotions deep within his gut.

“Fuck off. There’s no way I’d leave you alone with my sister for an hour, let alone for ten days,” Logan exclaimed. He immediately pulled out his phone and spoke out loud while sending a text. “‘Sorry, babe … can’t make it to Naples. Maybe next time.’”

A grin broke through Hunter’s stoic features. “So, you’re coming?”

“Absolutely.” Logan’s phone rang; it was Andrea. “Fuck. I can’t deal with this right now.”

A group of lacrosse team members joined them at their table and they greeted each other with head nods. “Hey … hey, man … what’s up?”

“We have practice tomorrow,” a junior named Nathan said. “Last minute. Dylan’s about to text everyone. We just saw him. We heard Coach came down on him pretty hard on Saturday, made him cry.” Hunter belted out a loud cackle, but stopped when realizing no one else laughed.

“Damn, that sucks,” Logan said, ignoring Hunter’s random outburst. “It was only by one point.”

“Hey, a loss is a loss. We’re getting pizza and having a kickback at the house tonight if you want to stop by.”

“I’ll be there,” Logan said, distracted by the messages flooding his phone.

“I’ll pass. Next time,” Hunter told them.

“What’s up with you, man? You alright? You didn’t come by last week either,” one of the guys said to Hunter.

“He had taco shits.” Logan laughed, and the entire table joined in, including Hunter.

“Don’t be gay. Come by tonight. We have plenty of toilet paper,” one of the seniors said. Hunter felt a sudden queasiness, sensing everyone’s eyes on him. Nathan left, and the rest of the team followed.

Logan got up from his chair with a loud scraping sound against the floor, eyes still glued to his phone. “Let’s go before they come back.”

On the way back to the dorm, Logan took Andrea’s ninth call. “You can’t keep calling … I just can’t … I’m going on vacation with my parents. They bought tickets and everything … I just found out and told you about it. I know you planned this for a while. I’m sorry … Tell your parents I’m sorry, too. Want me to call them and apologize? … Where are we going?” Logan glanced over at Hunter, and Hunter shook his head.

“We’re going to Idaho to visit my great aunt. She’s not doing well … No, I don’t think you can come. My parents aren’t cool like yours … Yeah, you’ll meet them at some point … Look, I gotta go, we’ll talk later … Bye, babe … What? No, why are you crying? … What parking lot? … I’m coming now.” Logan hung up, and Hunter shook his head again.

“You gotta go?”

“She’s freaking out. I’ll see you at the Lacrosse House later?” Logan said before walking back across the lawn toward the parking lot.