Page 5 of His Choice

“There are lots of women who don’t see you through a ‘friendship lens’—big surprise since you have no friends but me.” I frowned at that. “Yet they check you out. I’ve seen them do it. Of course, they don’t realize that you’d puke all over them if they took their clothes off.”

My jaw dropped. “That’s so not true. Just because I’m gay doesn’t mean I think women look gross. Honestly, I’m surprised that I’m not attracted to them sexually, because they’re much prettier than men.”

“Must be a dick thing,” he mused, shrugging. “Maybe your parents let you suck your thumb too long as a kid.”

“What?” I shook my head in exasperation.

“Anyway, do you remember that time you and I went to Liam’s Lounge to play pool, and those two chicks were flirting with us?”

“Yeah.” I grinned, remembering that evening well. Aaron had been aroused by the two women. He had asked me to help pique their interest in him, and I was happy to oblige since it meant endearing me further with him. Aaron and I had walked to their table and turned on the charm—or, at least, Aaron had. I recall just laughing like a lunatic at his jokes. After about an hour, Aaron had let slip that I was his gay roommate, which removed what little interest they might have had in me. The women had gushed about how cool and enlightened Aaron was to have ‘homosexual friends,’ which helped him finagle a threesome later in his bedroom. Although he hadn’t cared for the women’s personalities, it hadn’t stopped Aaron from thanking me for a week.

“Until they found out you were gay, they were just as into you as they were me,” Aaron stated.

“Wow. You must have been more wasted than I realized.” I shook my head, wondering how he had misread the situation.

“I wasn’t. You’re just clueless. The point of this trip down memory lane is that you behaved with confidence that night because you weren’t worried about where things would lead. But it showed you can carry some swagger—do that the next time you see that Cliff Walker dude.”

“But in this case, I would worry about where things led. No, correction—I know where they’d lead. Embarrassment. If I tried to attract Cliff Walker’s attention, it would be a disaster.” I sighed. “It doesn’t matter now anyway, does it? He’s going to meet someone on that show.”

One of Aaron’s eyebrows lifted. “And if you stop being so self-defeatist, that someone could be you. Folks around town were saying that if Walker agreed to take the role, the producers would start their search for prospective suitors right after. You could apply.”

“Aaron, come on. Seriously? They’re going to be looking for… I don’t know. Beefcake.”

Aaron jiggled the ice in his cup. Another annoying habit, if it were anyone else. “Says who? And you go to the gym with me. I’ve seen you in a tank and shorts. You’ve got muscle.”

“Not like Cliff Walker muscle,” I countered. “He’s…”

“Your wet dream, yeah, I know,” Aaron finished, though that wasn’t what I was going to say. “Maybe you’d be his if you got yourself in front of him. What do you have to lose by trying out for the show?”

“My dignity,” I replied.

Aaron shrugged. “Eh. You’d never see the producers again. At least you’d know you gave it a shot.”

I shook my head. “You have all this self-assurance because you look like…you. I’m not you.”

Aaron grabbed my shoulder. “From now on, start saying to yourself that you’re a catch. Maybe you’ll start to believe it.”

“And be out of touch with reality?” I joked.

“I’m going to spill the rest of your coffee over your head,” he warned. “Think about interviewing for a part on the show. You’ll have something that no other applicant will have.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

He smiled. “You’ll be the only local. That’s an angle that might appeal to the producers. But most important, you’d have me.”

“You? What are you talking about?”

Aaron assumed a cocky expression. “Best damn personal coach in White Pines. Plus, I know a thing or two about getting someone interested.”

“In you,” I pointed out.

He frowned. “In you, too, if you give me a chance. I would have succeeded by now if there were any other gay men around who weren’t already hooked up. So, Cliff Walker is the target and fortunately, one of the parties is already on board. I just need to help you get him to the same place.”

“You’re crazy.” I appreciated his support, though.

“And you’re a chicken. Don’t come crying to me if you make no effort, then see your cock whisperer hook up with some other dude.”

I wiped a hand over my face, thinking about how Aaron would never let me forget it if I didn’t apply. “Geez. I’ll think about it, okay?”