Colin is happy with the way his career has started, but he’d like two things -- to move up the management ladder, and a boyfriend. He hopes he's found the boyfriend when a workmate introduces him to Joel. Joel is good looking, kind, and a wonderful top, but he also has a roommate that he’s very close to. Narendra is also very hot ... but Joel assures him there’s nothing between the two of them.
Colin’s relationship gives him difficulties at work, and getting between two friends has its own problems. Can he find a balance between the two men and success on the job?
“So you’ve been footloose and fancy free ever since?” Joel asked.
“Well, I had a decent relationship my last year in undergrad, but we were both well aware that it wouldn’t last. After graduation, I got my first job, and he headed out to Vancouver for his PhD. There’s been no one serious or long-term since then, and now I’m feeling more of a need to be settled. You?” I wanted to hear what his experiences had been.
“I came out in high school too; I’ve had a number of short- and mid-term relationships but nothing that ever got too serious. I’m not demi, but I like to get to know someone at least a bit before getting physical, so the one-night hookups were never something that I enjoyed. I did try for a while, though.”
“Men and women both?”
“Yeah. Mostly Nar scared them off, I have to admit.”
“Interesting name. That’s your roomie, I think you said?” This was a bit off-putting, to be honest.
“Narendra, he’s Indian, but yeah. My ride-or-die friend. We were paired up as roommates in residence, our first year at university, and we clicked. We’ve stayed together ever since.”
“Is he gay?” I asked, because this didn’t sound promising. Coming between two friends could be very difficult and I wasn’t sure I wanted to make the effort, no matter how hot Joel was.
“Well, he told me he was bi, when I came out to him, but I haven’t seen him date anyone other than a woman since we graduated. I think, like me, that he wants to settle down, but he’s not had a lot of luck finding anyone.”
“Have you two ever, ah ...?”
“Hooked up?”
I nodded, a trifle embarrassed to be asking such a question, but I needed to know.
“No. It’s never even come up. We’re both complete tops, and, like I said, Nar has been exclusively dating hetero for some time. Obviously one or other of us will find someone serious at some point, but until then we rent a condo together very comfortably.”
“Yeah, I know how that can work. I share with Fran and until something better comes along, we’re tight.”
“How did you meet?”
“We had a class together in undergrad, she’s in banking now, and when Alan dumped me, she put the pieces back together. I couldn’t afford a place by myself, so when he moved out to be with his new man, Fran invited me to split an apartment with her near the campus. It worked out so well that when I found my job here in Toronto, I asked if I could share with her again. She’s been here five years, ever since graduation, and she owns her condo; I was real lucky that she agreed.”
“It’s good to have friends like that,” Joel nodded his agreement. “There’s nothing between Nar and me, but he’s my best friend and I know he’s got my back.”
As we finished our second drink, we made firm plans to meet again. There was definitely a spark between us, and if his relationship with Narendra was anything like mine with Fran, well, I didn’t see a problem. I went home looking forward to the next weekend.
We went to see a movie together, and that evening also went very well, then, when I suggested a dinner date Joel said, “Why don’t you come to my place, and I’ll cook for you.”
