3. OSCAR

After showering and getting clean, we escaped the cubicles to get dressed. Spence opened up to me in more ways than he realized. I got to check that off my long weekend bucket list at least. But before either of us thought to exchange numbers, we parted outside the gym, both of us heading in different directions.

I didn't realize until I was already a block from my apartment, swigging at the post-work out shake. It was strawberry flavored and remined me of a fruity scent Spence had when I first kissed his neck. The urge to head back to the gym was strong, but I had to get ready to see my friend.

Sam and his boyfriend were both at the apartment. They were sitting in the living room, playing on the console hooked up to the TV. Sam desperate for me to meet his boyfriend like he needed my opinion on him.

"Nice to meet you. What do you do?" I asked.

Sam whacked his arm. "He makes costumes."

"Wait." My gym bag dropped from my arm. "You're the bear guy. The ragh and fuck guy, right?" I held my hands up like bear paws. I'd actually heard about him from Sam when he'd asked me if I'd heard of him before. It took me through some internet searching but I quickly recalled him.

"Yeah," he said. "But you can call me Zander."

"Well, it's nice to actually meet you then," I said.

"You have fun at the gym?" Sam asked.

"Yeah, why?" I drank the rest of the shake, it was clumpy at the bottom, but it was protein so I got it all down.

"You go to the gym to cruise," Sam said. "Or at least you used to. Unless that's changed."

I looked from him to Zander. "I had fun," I told them. "Like you two last night. I forgot how thin those walls are."

"We'll keep it down," Zander said.

"Oh no, you don't have to. I'm glad you're both getting some. Fucking makes the world go around, so keep on fucking," I said, smiling to myself.

The volume on the TV started up again, some type of RPG shooting game.

I went into my bedroom and looked around for lotion. I hadn't taken any with me to the gym. Lathering up after a hot shower prevented my skin from dying out and that helped the skin from getting little stretch marks where my muscles grew, but it didn't stop them completely.

My mind continued going back to Spence, trying to recall the information he'd given me. He was a translator for a law firm, he lived alone, and he wanted to grow muscle to protect himself. I tried to think about whether he'd told me when he went to the gym, or how often. I knew a lot about him, except his last name, or anything that could have me contacting him. I wanted to check-in, maybe not right now, but toward the evening when I'd be looking to find someone to spend the night with, and to make sure his ass was doing ok after the session we'd had.

After moisturizing, I lounged around, mostly naked in my room, letting the creams really settle into my skin. I rarely had this much downtime, so I was making the most of it while I could. The only thing on my schedule for the day was an afternoon lunch date with my friend.

Jennifer Cassidy was a friend from childhood. We grew up neighbors, went to the same schools, and we'd even lived together for a couple months in New York. We both had big dreams, and mine turned into working as a flight attendant, while she went to dental school, actually fulfilling her dream.

We'd agreed to meet at a local cafe, between the apartment her work. It was a vegan spot, there were so many of those around lately, but there was something to be said about vegan food, they knew how to pull protein from absolutely anything.

I was early, something that had been engrained in me from work because being on time or late could mean missing your flight and having a mark against your name.

Jennifer's signature squeal hit as she saw me. I was at a table, looking through some of the specials when she came rushing over. "You're fucking stacked," she said. "Jesus, Oscar."

"Just Oscar, not Jesus," I joked, pushing out from the table to hug her. "It's been so long. Why did they send you to school all the way across the country?"

She snort laughed. "Michigan isn't that far," she said. "So, when am I scheduling you in for a clean?"

I flashed a smile at her. "I figured we could do it this weekend, or today."

"You can't eat like 5 hours before or like thirty minutes after," she said. "But we could do it next week. You need to tell me when you're free." She whacked at my arm, playfully. "Damn. What are you made from?"

"I was always into the gym, you know that," I told her.

"So, how's work treating you?" she asked. "Because you don't have like a Facebook or whatever so I can't ever see you posting."

"I text you," I said. "Should we order before you start at me, acting like my mom when I don't call for a week."

Jennifer sucked on her teeth and shook her head. "You better call your mom as well. She's a sweet woman."

"I did—fine, I will."

We ordered food, something with tofu and some of their homebrew drinks, a kombucha of sorts.

Jennifer was one of those friends who you might not see all the time, but when you do, it doesn't feel like much time has passed at all. And I reminded her that I did message her with pictures from my travels.

"Where are you off to next?" she asked, pouring condiments all over the food in her bowl.

"Paris on Monday, then I'm there overnight, back to New York on Tuesday, then a break before Mexico, overnight there, maybe two, not sure yet. Then to LA, a break, not an overnight. And then back to New York."

"Damn. When do you have time for yourself?"

"Long haul flights usually have enough crew for someone to sleep," I told her. "But I like it. It's not like I'm doing anything. I'm traveling, I'm saving money, and I'm meeting a lot of hot guys."

"Jealous."

"You should be. We could've been doing it together."

"You know I was always going to school for something medical related," she said. "So, let's go back to the hot guys. Are you seeing anyone?"

"No, I'm getting laid, which is enough," I said. "I don't think I could get into a relationship with anyone. New York is my home base, but I don't spend enough time here to get involved with anyone."

Jennifer eyes me, up and down, shaking her head. "Just because you're not here twenty-four seven, that doesn't mean you have to forego finding yourself a man. I know many relationships that work because the couple aren't together all day, every day. Sometimes that's the most healthy for a relationship."

"I'm just—" I caught myself pausing to catch my breath and really think about her words. "I haven't been in a relationship since I was nineteen."

"Seven years is a long time," she said. "But it's your life. You're like one of those people who say collect memories, not money, or whatever."

"Whoa. I love money. It should be collect memories, not phone numbers." I nearly bit directly into my tongue, calling myself out like that, which she had no clue about. I'd only met Spence earlier, and he was beginning to feel like a big regret not getting his phone number when I could. "And what about you? Are you seeing anyone?"

"Yes, I am, actually. His name is Frank, he's purple, and he's a vibrating rabbit toy," she said.

I gave her a slow applause. "And I am very happy for you."

"He's a great lover as well," she added. "But in all seriousness, I'm actively dating, or at least trying. Have you been on some of these apps lately?"

"No, and I'd like to keep it like that." I shuddered at the idea of being on any dating apps. Everyone there wanted the same things as me, to hook up, but I much preferred the sex when it happened organically, like today, in the gym shower room. I couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Boring," she said. "Gimme your phone. I'll set up a profile for you."

"No. I don't want random people around the city knowing my business."

"Nobody wants to know your business, they just want to get laid."

She probably had a point, but I didn't want any part of the online dating scene. Too many talking stages and not enough on your knees giving and getting ahead stages.

Updating Jennifer on my dating life reminded me how I didn't have one. I'm sure it would've been nice to have someone to come home to, but I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by not having someone. I knew people said when you find someone, you'd know, and I just didn't know yet.

"You have something in your teeth," she said. "We really need to get our schedules sorted so I can book you in an repay you for all those times I was broke."

I nodded at her, slowly, sucking at whatever it was had caught between my teeth. "I figured that's the angle you were getting at," he said. "I'll take the free cleaning, but that was years ago. You don't owe me anything, except maybe a night out."

"I'm still pretty broke," she laughed. "So, you'll take the free cleaning or nothing."

"I'll definitely take it," I said. "Wait. Is it true, because I heard that dentists can tell when you've been giving head."

She nodded, stabbing at the leafy bowl of food. "It's all about the bruising of the soft palate. It could be from any number of reasons, but unless you're going ham on a sucker, or really pushing it there, it's usually from oral." She looked me up and down, once more, her eyes filling with curiosity. "So, tell me about your latest hook up."

"I'm a virgin, Jen," I said. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"If you're a virgin, then this is a parallel universe."

"The last guy I had sex with was—" I began, and in that moment, the bell above the door chimed and I glanced very briefly. "Him." A guy walked in, glasses, shirt, folder clutched to his chest all nerdy like.

"Stop playing," she said, kicking me under the table.

"Well, he looked like him," I said.

"That's not your type," she continued, her voice off int he distance at the back of my mind as I looked at the guy. On the outside, he might not have been the Spence I'd seen in his basketball shorts, or spread against the tiles of the cubical, but I never forgot a face, even one hiding behind glasses.

"Spence," I called out.

He turned toward me. I didn't need to second-guess it. Nobody else turned to the name.

"You're serious," Jen giggled, thrashing her feet like horse hooves clopping on the floor. "Damn, Oscar."

Spence approached me, squeezing the files tighter to his chest. "I—I didn't expect to see you again so soon," he mustered. "I actually—" He was pressing at the anxiety in his chest from the way he held that file.

"I forgot to give you my number," I said. "So, you didn't tell me you were playing Superman?"

"Superman," he laughed, getting red in the face.

Jennifer cooed and ahhed like we were on a TV drama and she was the live studio audience.

"I had my contact in earlier," he said. "And then I showered with them in, which is a huge no , and it kinda threw my day out of balance, well, I mean, it happened quick."

"Damn. Yeah, you should've taken those out before we showered ," I said, winking at him.

His flustered face was adorable. "Yeah, so I'm sticking with my glasses for the next couple of days to avoid irritating my eyes."

"Wait," Jennifer came in. "The two of you, c'mon, story time."

Spence shook his head. "Oh, there's no story. I—I—I actually just need to grab lunch and then drop these files off, so I should be going."

"What's your number?" I asked. "Or I'll give you mine."

Jennifer was ready with a pen in hand. "I never go anywhere without one."

Spence smiled. "You know, earlier, I don't usually do that."

"Relax," I said, scribbling my number down for him on a napkin. "Text me, if you think about having some more fun. Maybe not in a shower. Anytime, well today or this weekend. I'm wide open." I winked at him again, trying not to overkill the flirting. It was unlike me, I usually didn't have to try and flirt, it just came off me.

He nodded. "Yeah. I'll—I'll think about it, I—"

"Don't think too hard," I said.

"Yeah," Jennifer added. "Oscar was just saying how great it was this morning. I think he likes you."

"Jen," I said, trying to step on her foot. "Just call, or text. Ok?"

Spence smiled, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I guess if it was great , I'll see what I have planned this weekend and—and fit you in."

I could heard him pant. I knew he could fit me in. I'd already been fit in. Next time, I was going to make a home inside him.