Chapter 8
Huxley
“Twenty, twenty-two, twenty-four…okay okay, it’s this building, number twenty-six.” Now to find a parking spot. Someone blasts their car horn behind me, probably because I’m driving at thirty kilometres an hour. Why can’t the impatient fucker just go around?
I flick my indicator on, seeing a parallel park available, and the car screeches past. Louis’s head pops up, and he barks at the sound. “It’s okay, Louis, just a dickhead.”
Louis stands and pats my thigh with his paw, his eyes wide and questioning. Sometimes he’s more human than most humans I know.
“Not yet, Louis. We left too early. Plus, I need a minute.”
With a few pats, Louis settles back down on the passenger seat. Grabbing my phone, I end navigation and open the message thread with Oliver—re-reading last’s night’s exchanges.
Oliver: Huxley, the truth is, I’m not sure who I am anymore. Can we please talk tomorrow?
Me: Sure. Are you okay?
Oliver: Maybe. Can you come over bout 2pm? You could bring Louis to meet Cazaly.
Me: Text me your address – I’ll be there.
Oliver: Thank you Huxley. Sleep well
Me: You too
I could be jumping the gun, but I think Maddie might be right and Oliver is questioning his sexuality.
This is a new friendship so this is freaking me out a bit. And what was with all that I’ve-watched-gay-porn? I slump my head back against the headrest and groan. “I like him way too much. Am I just a stupid bitch?”
Louis cocks his head and whines.
“You don’t have to agree so readily. Let’s see how you do when you meet Cazaly. Maybe you’re gay. A canine closet case! Hmm? Oh, so no clever comeback now?”
Louis blinks, face full of indignation, then turns his head to look out the window.
“That’s what I thought.”
The hug Oliver and I shared on Friday night was way too long to be platonic.
Way too tight. Straight dudes are very careful to avoid groin contact when they hug another guy, and Oliver pressed himself so closely that not a sliver of light could have passed between us.
Not that I’m complaining. That man’s arms around me, his warmth, it was all good. Too good.
But Oliver isn’t the sort of guy you fuck once and move on from, and I don’t want to be his experiment.
Many years ago, I was someone else’s gay experiment. Zac’s. And look how that turned out. Oliver isn’t anything like Zac, but I don’t know if I could handle being with Oliver if he might turn around and say it was all a mistake. A phase. I promised myself I never would never allow that again.
“Okay, I can do this.”
As soon as I attach Louis’s lead, his tail starts wagging.
He’s the extrovert out of the two of us.
“Yep, it’s time to meet Cazaly. You two better hit it off,” I warn, raising one eyebrow.
“And don’t pee on Oliver’s floor.” I adore Louis, but I wish Oliver hadn’t suggested our dogs meet today.
If we’re going to have a serious conversation, I don’t want to be distracted.
Reaching for the car door handle, I halt and my stomach drops. What if Oliver just wants a gay person to talk to about his queer confusion? Here I am assuming Oliver is questioning because he’s attracted to me!
“Oh fuck,” I say, fingers frozen on the handle.
Maybe Oliver just wants a gay BFF to help him navigate the queer community since Koa is in New York.
Images of taking Oliver to gay clubs so he can explore his sexuality with other men appear before my eyes.
“Please don’t let it be that, please don’t let it be that. ”
“Ruff!”
“Oh my God, Louis. At least try to be supportive.”
Louis jumps onto my lap and tries to lick my face. “That’s better. Alright, let’s go then.”
Oliver said his apartment is on the ground floor at the back of the complex, so it’s easy to find. With butterfly wings flapping in my stomach, I press the doorbell.
“Hey,” Oliver says as he opens the door. “Right on time.”
My eyes drift down Oliver’s body—over the pecs and washboard abs that are clearly visible under the skin-tight T-shirt, then down to the grey tracksuit pants. Oh, dear lord!
There is a bulge. An outline. I really should look up at this face.
How am I supposed to concentrate on what this man says?
“Huxley? You zoning out again? Would you like to come in?”
“Yes! Yes of course. Sorry.” I step into the little foyer and Oliver closes the door.
“And who is this little cutie?” Oliver squats down and pats Louis, who is bouncing around, overjoyed at the attention. “Cazaly, come on boy,” Oliver yells over his shoulder.
Within seconds, Cazaly bounds down the hallway, tail wagging.
Louis freezes at the sight of the bigger dog.
“Cazaly, meet Louis,” Oliver says, as the two dogs touch noses and sniff each other.
Oliver stands up, then adds, “You know they’re going to sniff each other’s… oh, there you go…each other’s bums.”
We smile awkwardly, and I laugh this stupid, uncomfortable, fake laugh. Then, the dogs begin to wag their tails, and all seems good.
“Come on in. I’ll give you the tour. Do you wanna take Louis’s lead off?”
“Sure.” I remove the lead and follow Oliver into the apartment.
He shows me the living space and small kitchen, then where the bathroom is and the two bedrooms. It’s a nice apartment, old but fully refurbished, with a new kitchen and bathroom and the original floorboards.
There’s also a cute little courtyard off the living space, complete with a doggy door so Cazaly can go outside. “How long have you lived here?”
“About a year. Since I started at Brighton. It’s only small, but it’s fine for just me and Cazaly. Hey, thanks for coming over. I was feeling...um…yeah, just thanks for coming.”
“I didn’t have any plans. I like hanging out at home or taking Louis for a walk on Sundays.”
“Speaking of walking dogs: I thought we could take them to the dog park for a play. It’s not too far from here, and it’s all fenced, so you can let them off the lead.”
“Sounds good.”
“You want a drink first, or should we head straight out?”
“Let’s go,” I reply.
Is Oliver stalling?
After twenty minutes at the dog park, I don’t know if I should ask Oliver what he wanted to talk about or just wait until he brings it up himself. The dogs are having the time of their lives fetching the balls Oliver keeps throwing.
Watching his muscles flex each time is like a smutty A03 fic come to life.
Louis thinks Cazaly is all that and then some, following him around excitedly.
“They get along great,” Oliver notes. “Maybe we will have a puppy romance on our hands.”
“As the parents, at least we won’t have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy.”
Oliver laughs. “True. That’s a bit sad though—they’d have cute puppies.”
“You think?”
“What? You don’t? Hey, look,” Oliver says, pointing. “I think Cazaly is showing off for Louis.”
The greyhound is running around Louis, stopping excitedly in a crouch, then reversing back around. Louis is almost spinning on the spot, delighted with Cazaly’s antics.
“Well, whatever he’s doing, it seems to be working. Louis is looking at Cazaly with giant love heart eyes.”
Oliver smirks in my direction. “If only it were that easy for people—just show off a bit and have someone fall for you.”
“For some people, I think it is that easy. And, if anyone could do it, I’m sure you could.” My face flushes and I look away. Oliver seems to make me say things that I would normally keep in my head.
“Are you making fun of me, Huxley Sinclair?”
I look back at him and can’t help but smile at his tentative face. He’s really not sure if I’m flirting or not. “I would never do that, Oliver Turner,” I reply, boldly stepping closer.
“So, who would fall for me?” he asks.
Oliver’s cheeks pinken as his eyes lock on mine. “I bet Jennifer would. Maybe old Trudy, too,” I tease.
“Hey!” Oliver bumps my shoulder. “Trudy seemed enamoured by you the other day.”
“All older ladies like the sweet young twinks. Didn’t you know?”
Oliver feigns outrage. “Did you really just call yourself sweet? The arrogance.”
“Maybe,” I say, shrugging.
“Guess you are, though.”
Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck. “Should we head back soon?”
“Yeah sure. Do you wanna stay and watch a movie or something? The dogs will be worn out and probably have a sleep.”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” I say, internally screaming cos this is definitely getting flirty. “But are we really going to let Cazaly and Louis sleep together? It’s only their first date?”
“A first date won’t stop Cazaly from making a move.”
I look down at the dogs bounding around each other. “And, by the looks of it, Louis is a slut.”
Oliver bursts into laughter. “Are you really slut shaming your own dog, Huxley?”
“Is there something wrong with being a slut?” I counter, wanting very much to be a slut right now.
“I guess not. Let’s get going, then.”
Back at Oliver’s apartment, he places two soft drinks on the coffee table next to the bowl of popcorn he’s already put out. Louis and Cazaly have curled up in Cazaly’s bed and are already asleep together.
If only my love life could be as simple at Louis’s.
I can’t believe how well our dogs get along. All those jokes about a puppy romance, and it’s actually happening. Although there’s no humping so far. Thank God.
We still haven’t talked about Oliver’s identity crisis, and I’m not sure if I should try to initiate the conversation. I don’t want to pressure him. “Oliver, should I press play?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
Pressing play on episode one of Interview with the Vampire, I question my sanity. Is Oliver going to be okay with how gay this is? I wanted to go with some silly comedy or even an action movie for Oliver’s enjoyment, but he said he really wants to know why I love it so much.
We’re about halfway through the episode when the gay sex scene happens. My body is on fire, and I dare not glance at Oliver. “This isn’t too much is it?” I mumble, crossing my arms over my chest.
“No. Not at all. It’s…it’s…I like it. The show! I like the show. The two actors have amazing chemistry. I can see why you love it so much.” Oliver leans forward and gulps down the rest of his Coke.
By the time the episode reaches its climax, Oliver is leaning forward, eyes glued to the screen. I, on the other hand, am watching Oliver’s profile. A warmth spreads throughout my chest when he gasps and brings his hand to his mouth.
When the credits roll, Oliver slumps back as if exhausted. “Wow. Oh my God, that was fucking incredible. Why aren’t more people talking about this? They way they spoke. The lines. It was like poetry.” Oliver shifts so he’s facing me. “I’m going to watch all of it. I promise.”
“Really?” I say, eyebrows jumping up.
“Yes, really. You’re gonna have to let me read some of this fanfiction you write. It’s about Louis and Lestat, right?”
Louis’s ears prick up at the sound of his name, but then he snuggles his face straight back against Cazaly’s.
“It is, but there’s no way I'm doing that.”
“And how are you surprised your dog is gay, when you named him after a gay vampire?”
I shrug, and we both turn to look at our dogs curled up together. “Hey, do you mind if I use the bathroom?”
“Course not.”