Page 28 of Dickathlon

I remember only some of the things I confessed to Freddie. The next morning, very solemnly, as he served me scrambled eggs and toast, Freddie said, “I’m sorry to say I judged you from the moment I saw you, but I was wrong. I’m really happy we’re friends.”

I was happy too. And over the next few weeks, Freddie was the best friend I had asked the universe for. It probably helped that I had a heart-to-heart with my coach. Yuri Drakos was a legend at UCLA. It was his decathlon record that I broke in my final NCAA championship before the Olympics. It had stood for over thirty years. It only made sense that we’d stick together after I graduated, though he was still on the school’s payroll as well.

Skipping practice after that night likely tipped him off that I wasn’t normal.

He didn’t even call. He showed up at my apartment less than an hour later. Freddie had already left for his shift, so we were alone when I explained my seemingly hopeless hangup on a guy that had never messaged me back.

He sat still and quiet for the longest time after I finished. I thought I was going to get the biggest reaming of my life. Surprisingly, he was cool, then told me a story about a girl at the local pool where he grew up in Greece.

When I asked him what happened to her, he said, “You’ve met her. She’s my wife. If it’s meant to be, it will be, Declan. Try not to think about it too much and focus on the track.”

I smiled.

“For my sake and for yours. It is very unfortunate what has happened to him, but he has a big family, so you said. He will be okay.”

In the days that followed, now that Yuri knew what was on my mind, training felt a lot lighter. Things were falling into place.

Things got even better when one night, Freddie told me Tyler was out of the hospital and able to go home. I practically leapfrogged over the table to hug him. Yuri’s story had helped my stalkerish ways. Tyler’s Instagram hadn’t had a post since before Christmas and I had lessened my googling of his name to once a week. Thus, why I had missed the positive tidbit Freddie shared with me.

“Glad I could give you some good news.” Freddie sounded disappointed.

“What’s wrong, dude?”

“My roommates are kind of kicking me out. Something about one of their sisters or something. I kind of saw red for a minute when they mentioned it.”

“Didn’t you sign a lease? They can’t do that.”

Freddie shook his head. “I didn’t sign anything. Will you come with me to apartment hunt this weekend?”

“Why don’t you move in with me? You’re already here so much and we get along.”

“True.” Freddie seemed to think for a moment. “And I’ve seen you naked-cry.”

“Hey! Lock that shit up. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He ignored me. “You sure you want me around that much?”

“Honestly? It already feels like you live here.”

“I just don’t want to ruin the gay-jock MTV Cribs vibe you got going on.”

“What’s that? You want me to redecorate? There isn’t enough peen for you?”

“Yeah, that’s it. I want a cropped poster of Michelangelo’s David’s junk right above the TV.”

I put my arm around him and pulled him in for a half-hug. “Well, now I know what I’m getting you for your birthday.”

7

Tyler

“Let’s go, Ty.”

Ugh.

I was already sick of this sling and it had only been a week. Another five to six as theoretically prescribed and I’d be a zombie. It was nearly impossible to sleep with it.

“Do I have to dress you again?” Pierce asked through the door.