Apartment 1209

didn’t have to go to the restaurant tonight. If I could just get into my apartment.
    “You okay? You look like you’re gonna fall over,” Ryan said, pulling out a chair from his kitchen table. “Have a seat. Want a coffee?”
    I nodded. “Please.”
    Ryan moved around his apartment with confidence and ease, at home in the small, organized space. “So what’s your story, Henry?”
    “Huh?” I asked.
    He grinned. “Are you in school? You look about twenty.”
    “Good guess.”
    “Thanks.”
    “And, yeah, I’m taking classes at Algonquin right now.”
    He nodded, getting the coffeemaker set up and placing a couple of mugs on the counter. “Studying what?”
    “Home care. It’s sort of like nursing.”
    “Good for you. There’s a lot of demand for those services nowadays.” He sat down in a nearby chair. “I don’t know if I could do it.”
    I shrugged. “It’s not that bad. I’ve always liked helping people.”
    He stared at me intently, his grey eyes shining with intelligence and interest. I noticed the laugh lines at their sides, and the seeming softness of his lips. He had nice eyebrows too. “Do you have a student loan or are you working?”
    “I’m getting a bit of money from OSAP but not much.”
    “Then you’re working.”
    “Yep.”
    “Sorry to ask so many questions. It’s just nice to be able to talk to you, finally.” He leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs out before him. “So, what are we gonna do about your keys?”
    “I guess I’d better call the Super. I think I put the number in here.” I said, pulling my phone from my back pocket. I found the number for the building’s superintendent.
    A gruff voice answered. “Yeah?”
    “Mr. Conway? It’s Henry Crocket from 1203.”
    “Yes?”
    “Um, I seem to have misplaced my keys. I was wondering if you could let me into my apartment?”
    “Sure, sure, but I can’t come right now. I’m trying to fix a toilet.”
    “Okay. Well, I’m in 1209 right now.”
    He chuckled. “Visiting with Mr. Holloway are you? Why am I not surprised?”
    “I beg your pardon?” What the hell did he mean by that?
    “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    He hung up, not leaving me any time to ask him about his comment.
    I looked at Ryan curiously as I pocketed my phone. “He… doesn’t seem surprised that I’m hanging out with you.”
    Ryan grinned. “Well, he’s seen me with good-looking young men before.” He winked.
    I was thrown by this response because it meant a number of astonishing things. It meant he was popular with young men (no big surprise there). It meant he was likely gay, as I’d supposed (again, not a big surprise). And it meant he found me good looking (major surprise).
    He cleared his throat and got up. “How do you take your coffee, Henry?”
    “Um, with a bit of… cream.” Our eyes met.
    We stared at each other, and I swear my cock went from semi to full hardness in a nanosecond. I gulped, feeling the red flush into my cheeks.
    Oh, boy.
    “No sugar?” he said with the hint of a smile.
    I shook my head slowly from side to side, my eyes still captured. My pulse pounded in my veins. The truth was, I didn’t need coffee. I needed to get laid. Badly.
    I was, for all intents and purposes, a virgin. Oh, I’d had intercourse with a girl. Stumbling, blind, groping penetration with the expected result. It had left both of us depressed more than anything else. And the entire time I’d been thinking how hot it’d be to come in another guy’s hand or on his stomach or, Jesus, have him come onor in me .
    I knew after that experience I’d only ever be physical with guys. But the opportunities hadn’t presented themselves. And now, I was too busy to think about anything except work and school, and almost too tired to jack off when I was at home. It was a sad, sad, life.
    Ryan came back with our coffees and passed me mine. As we sipped and talked, I wondered at the fact that I felt so comfortable here. Who was this man and why did it feel like he already knew me?
    ****
    We chatted about inconsequential things while we waited for the superintendent to arrive with a key. It was hard to completely relax in Ryan’s presence, but only because I found him so alluring. I almost expected him to make a move on me, and was truly disappointed when he didn’t. And I was too chicken to do anything more than stare and stutter and blush. Really, I was pathetic. What man would ever think of me as a suitable