My new roommate

chapter 5

"So, Brian, what's your roommate slash ex like?" he asked.

"Honestly? I thought he was really nice and sweet. I really trusted him, you know? He said he would never cheat on me." I sighed much louder than I had wanted to. "I feel so stupid for thinking someone like him could love me. I feel stupid for just chatting you up in a bar after my boyfriend and I ended things. You know what," I started. "You probably think I'm so odd."

"I don't, and if we're being honest you're one of the cutest guys I've had to opportunity to be chatted up by. I can't believe your boyfriend would do that to you. I'd never do something like that." He laughed slightly. "I'm glad you're interested in me though. Most guys I like never look my way. When I go to Sven's they must all run from me. You'd think I had the plague. I got laughed just the other weekend when I tried to hit on a guy. It was so embarrassing."

"That's so shitty," I said. "Who could say no to a big cutie like you? You're just my type."

"What?" he asked.

"Well, uh, this is hard for me to say, but I'll be honest, I really like bigger guys." I was just putting it all out there. If I wasn't honest, how did I expect someone else to be? "Like, *** man, I wouldn't mind if you got even bigger. I'm into all that weird sort of shit. You're so cute and tall too. You could probably be a hundred pounds bigger and I wouldn't be able to get enough of you." I saw a blush on his face by the light of the street lamp we were under.

"Thank you." He ran his fingers through his curly, reddish-brown hair.

"Do you want to spend the night?" I asked, soon realizing what it sounded like. "Not like sex or anything. Just sleeping over." I was wounded and I wanted someone to make me feel better. I was feeling shitty about how this must've made Max feel. I had to think about him as a person.

"Are you sure? Isn't he there?" I could see him frowning. "I feel like you don't really like me and I'm the rebound guy," he laughed, but I could tell he was a little hurt. I was worried he'd feel that way.

"I'd be lying if that wasn't a possibility, but damn, you've got me feeling really good. I'm sure if we got to know one another I'd still be into you." I laughed. "That's what this sleepover can be the start of."

"Okay," he said. "Sounds like a good idea." He smiled his gorgeous smile. We came to my building and we went on up to my apartment. We walked in to find a pacing Alex. He was in a pair of pajamas that were a bit too tight and were squeezing his ass in a way that--*** him.

"Where have you been? I really need to talk to--," he paused for a moment, surprised to see Max. He had finally noticed who it was I was with. "Max? Does Mr. McNally need something? You could have just called."

"No, my dad doesn't need anything." Dad? Max McNally? Alex's boss was Max's dad. What luck I had, honestly. My life seemed to be filled with highs and lows, but wasn't everyone's?

"Max," I called quietly. I should have asked his last name. He looked over at me. "My room is this way." I gestured to the hallway leading to my bedroom. He nodded and moved a bit closer to me. "Goodnight, Alex," I called. He looked confused and angry. I was pretty sure he cheated on me. We walked into my bedroom and I was sure to lock the door this time. "You own the restaurant Alex works in?"

"No, my dad does." He smiled. "But one day I might."

"Now it seems like I picked you up on purpose. Well, I did, because I thought you were really hot--no, no, things could not be worse." He gave me a confused look and I sighed. "You're his boss's son."

"So?" He didn't get it. Maybe I didn't get it. I had let Alexander cheat on me for--I wasn't even sure for how long. "What? It doesn't matter." I found myself agreeing, and it was likely out of convenience. Max was right. It was none of Alex's business who I dated and it wasn't like I was going to get him fired on purpose. We had rent to pay.

"Well, uh, I guess you're right."

"I really like you," he said.

"I really like you too."

"Then everything is fine." He smiled again. "My dad is going to love to meet you."

"Why?"

"I have never brought a guy home before, they're starting to wonder if I'll ever find somebody." He looked at me and I could tell he felt embarrassed. "I didn't mean to insinuate that you had to meet him right away," he said nervously. "I just ruined everything, didn't I?"

"You like me all that much? Really?" I smiled. I almost squealed like a school girl.

"Yeah, I do." He was blushing. His face had gone incredibly pink. He was so cute. "I really like you. I just feel so great when I talk to you, and my dad is really understanding of me being gay. Not like my brother Joe. Mike is nice though. They work at the restaurant too."

"Wow," I said, slightly overwhelmed. He grimaced, as if I had insulted him. "We're really doing this, huh? Just jumping into each other's lives." I really felt like I was some teenager. He was still blushing, a nervous half-smile on his lips. We fell asleep together, his large, hulking body providing intense comfort.

I got up the next morning and saw a note from Max with his cell number on it. He said to be at the restaurant at noon. It was around ten so I had a bit of time. Although Alex was working today, I had a good feeling about meeting Max's family. I called him when I was outside and he met me at the door.

I was really glad to be there. He didn't seat me in Alex's section, thankfully. I thought that Max was just more mature than Alex, and hopefully more honest. Max was older than I was, at 27. He said I could get whatever I wanted, but I wasn't a big eater like he was. I got a glass of water with lemon because I ate before I came, which was incredibly dumb. Who ate before going to a restaurant? Max walked over with a huge gray-haired man of about sixty. He was like an older version of Max--a fatter one too. He was about 6'4", because he stood a bit taller than Max. I stood up to greet him.

"Hello, Mr. McNally." I was so nervous. I had never met a guy I was dating's family before. This made our relationship seem like it was going to end up going somewhere. It was exciting in a really domestic sort of way.

"Call me Ron, Mr. McNally is my father." He smiled just like Max. I had heard that joke before, probably a million times, but it was better coming from Mr. McNally.

"Okay, Ron."

"Don't be so nervous. Maxy has been talking about you all morning." Max blushed.

"Maxy?" I smiled. Maxy was a sweet nickname. Max groaned.

"What? You are my little Maxy. When he was just four, he was such a big boy even then, he took his mother's pearls, bless her soul, and hid them in the--."

"Dad, please don't tell him that," Max said quickly. He was blushing like crazy.

"Fine, I'll tell him later." I smiled and he chuckled. "To be honest I'm so glad he found a nice boy like you. He eats so much I don't know how you will be able to put up with him. I guess he gets it from his father." Mr. McNally placed his hand on his own substantial belly.

"Dad!" Max called, noticeably embarrassed. I didn't know what this was like at all. My dad died a little after I was born and my mom followed when I was only in middle school, so seeing a real family was nice.

"Can't we talk, geez Maxy, are you embarrassed by your old man?"

"Yes," Max said with an exasperated sigh. Mr. McNally laughed.

"I can't imagine why," Mr. McNally said while shooting me a wink.

"I like your dad, Max," I said seriously. "He's great. You're both very handsome." Mr. McNally gave a raspy laugh and his face turned incredibly red, just like Max's did.

"See Maxy! Your boyfriend likes me!" Boyfriend. Whoa there, boyfriend? We were only dating, and barely even that, but a large part of me really didn't mind being called his boyfriend. I felt silly, sure, like we were ***ing seventh graders, but that part of me that didn't mind wouldn't let me be put off by how quickly things were moving. "Well, I have to get back to work. I hope to see you again soon." He walked back towards the kitchen and two more big guys walked out.