Chapter two
TWO
Zach didn’t come back to the apartment until the following evening, as far as Cameron could tell. When Cameron got up midmorning, the apartment was still empty. When he returned from the gym, and then the grocery store, Zach was still gone.
Cameron and Zach had known each other for a few years.
They had been accounting majors in college.
They had taken several classes together and joined the same intermural basketball league.
They had talked about how they both wanted to save for a down payment for a house.
When they both received job offers in the city, they had agreed it would be helpful to share an apartment so they could save.
Zach was a great roommate. They went to the gym and played basketball together. They cleaned up after themselves. Zach rarely forgot about wet laundry in the washing machine. Zach had a few friends over from time to time, but no one stood out in Cameron’s memory.
Cameron couldn’t remember if Zach had ever told him he was gay.
Was it possible Zach was gay, and maybe he told Cameron, and he had forgotten?
Or maybe he just didn’t bother to tell Cameron.
Nearly all of Cameron’s guests at the apartment had been men, but no one ever spent the night.
And why was Cameron suddenly spending so much time wondering if his roommate was gay?
Shouldn’t he be minding his own business?
Zach came home after 8pm the day after he had left with Jake. Cameron was back on the sofa with his laptop on his lap again. Zach laughed when he saw Cameron in the same position he had been in the day before.
“Did you move?” Zach asked. Cameron narrowed his eyes. Zach was still wearing the clothes he had been wearing the day before.
“Not a lot,” Cameron replied. He conspicuously looked Zach up and down. “Where’ve you been?”
“What’re you my mom?” Zach asked. He crossed into the kitchen, and Cameron heard the refrigerator open.
“Was that a hookup or something, with that guy? Jake?” Cameron asked. Cameron wanted to mind his own business, but his curiosity was killing him. Zach returned to the living room with a can of light beer. He cracked it open and looked at Cameron.
“Yeah?” It sounded like both a question and an answer.
“Have a good time?” Cameron asked. Zach walked to the sofa Cameron wasn’t on, and sat down. He kicked his feet up onto the cushions.
“Yeah, it was good.”
“I didn’t know you were gay,” Cameron said.
“I could be bisexual,” Zach said. He took a swallow from his can.
“Are you?” Cameron asked.
“No, I’m gay,” Zach chuckled. Cameron laughed.
“I don’t think you told me,” Cameron said.
“I’ve had men here before,” Zach said. “I literally got a guy’s number at the gym in front of you.”
“Oh damn.” Cameron remembered that. He had thought it had been about playing basketball. He shook his head.
“So, are you going to see him again?” Cameron asked. Zach brightened.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Cool. He seemed nice,” Cameron said.
“You barely met him,” Zach said, giving an incredulous face.
“He took his shoes off,” Cameron said. Zach nodded.
“True. He doesn’t at his place, though.”
“Gross. Opinion changed,” Cameron said.