Free Boy Crazy by Shay Kassa

Andy pointed out yet another hot looking guy in Speedos, and nudged his friend. “How about him, then? He’s got… I dunno, nice abs or something.”
    Joe rolled his eyes at him. “I don’t pick up dates at work, man, how many times do I have to say it?’ he said from the lifeguard’s chair. “Can you wait half an hour to annoy me about this? I don’t finish until four.”
    “You don’t pick up dates at all,” Andy said under his breath, getting a sharp look from Joe. “Oh fine, I’ll see you in the gym.”
    He returned to the pool and did a few lengths, then left for the locker room.
    He was lucky to have a best friend who could get him into a great fitness center for free, but every time he saw his roommate here, he had to wonder whether Joe had a sex drive at all. He was tall, body-builder strong, half-Latino and very gay, but in the two years Andy had known him, he had never even brought a guy home to their small apartment. Joe was too easy-going to really tell Andy to quit trying to set him up with someone, and besides, he figured he’d hit the mark a few times but Joe just hadn’t made a move for some reason. Whether it was nerves or confidence or something else, Andy was going to get his friend through it. Celibacy was a good way for a man to go insane.
    He started his own workout while he waited. He wasn’t as big as Joe, but he liked to stay in shape. Swimming was his preference, but he had to do some weights to even it out.
    By the time Joe appeared, he had worked up a sweat.
    “Hey,” Andy said, as Joe settled in on the shoulder press. He stood next to him while he adjusted it. “Look, man, I know I keep saying it, but you gotta get laid. Why is it you never bring anyone home? You know it’s okay, right?”
    Joe sighed in exasperation. “Just let it go. I’m not interested in hooking up with random guys, Andy. You know it’s okay to want an actual relationship, right?”
    “Yeah, but you’ll never get into one if you don’t take any chances, and in the meantime, you get no fun. That isn’t healthy.”
    “I’ll be the judge of that.” He started on his reps. “How’s Carla? You and her going out this weekend?”
    Andy knew he was deliberately changing the subject. “Yeah, I’m taking her to a concert. We won’t be back until after midnight. Is that okay?”
    “Yeah, of course. Just make sure you’re not too drunk or anything.”
    “See, that’s the kind of thing you do in a normal relationship, man - but we didn’t get there by just making eyes at each other, if you know what I mean.” He wasn’t going to let it go that easily. “You know, sexual compatibility is a good place to start if you want to turn a hookup into something more.”
    Joe just laughed at him. “Dude, we are not getting into another debate about what makes for long term romance, okay? Just go do your routine, save it for when we’re drunk.”
    Andy lingered instead of going back to his workout. He still wasn’t sure why it bothered him so much that Joe didn’t really date at all. He resisted every effort to get him to enjoy himself, preferring to stay in and watch movies with Andy, even though he certainly did enjoy himself on the rare occasions that he did go out. His dance moves and soft-spoken demeanor could have gotten him enough tail to satisfy Casanova.
    Perhaps that was the problem. Andy didn’t like the idea of anyone missing that much sex.
    Joe finished his reps and stood up. He turned his roommate towards the chest press. “C’mon, Andy, what are you waiting around for? Get going there!”
    “You know I’m not going to shut up about your love life, right?” Andy said, smiling as he started to set it up.
    “Yeah, but I know it’s because you care. Why else do you think I put up with you?”

    *****

    On Friday night, Andy had just pulled his T-shirt over his head when he heard the doorbell. He hurriedly reached for his jeans as he heard Joe answering the door and greeting his