Free Better Than Good by Lane Hayes

muscular physique. Was Aaron seeing this guy? He said he didn’t have a boyfriend, but of course that didn’t mean he didn’t go out with other men. Or maybe they’d just met and were a new item.
    Aaron was dressed in tight black running pants and a black pullover with neon-green trim. His running shoes matched his jacket, which made me smile. He looked good. He didn’t seem winded at all, but his running partner looked a little sweaty. They had probably just finished a run in the park, and I guessed they were heading back toward the bridge.
    I was overcome with curiosity. I kept my pace but adjusted my path to follow Aaron and his friend as discreetly as possible. If he saw me, I would feign surprise. Geez, now I was stalking. Was there no end to my idiocy?
    They kept a steady pace down R Street toward the river, but then turned right onto Cambridge Place. I really couldn’t follow down this street without them noticing. It was a quiet residential street and it was still early morning. I would definitely be in more danger of Aaron noticing me. Plus feigning surprise at running into him most likely wouldn’t be believable. I was about to retrace my path back toward the park, as I had originally intended, when Aaron’s running partner stopped suddenly and Aaron came to a halt beside him. The older man gave a quick glance up and down the mostly deserted street before wrapping his hand around Aaron’s neck and drawing him in for a quick but passionate kiss. Aaron smiled when the man pulled away, then turned to jog up the street, leaving his partner to follow him.
    I felt sick to my stomach, like I’d been punched straight on with no warning and no protection. Ridiculous, I know. I had no claims to Aaron whatsoever. If anything, I was just a creepy stalking voyeur. Chastising myself didn’t help me regain my calm, however. Truthfully, I felt betrayed too. Unreasonable, I know that, but I realized then and there, as I pushed myself running much faster than my normal pace, that I wanted him. I didn’t want to share him either. Since when does anyone get what he wants without working for it? I needed to figure out a plan.
    Simply put, I wanted Aaron. This would suggest I was a bisexual man and not the heterosexual one my family, friends, and even acquaintances knew me to be. Whether or not Aaron would be interested in something more with me was still an unknown, but I could no longer deny that this feeling wasn’t going away anytime soon. My reaction to seeing him with another guy told me this loud and clear.
    Back at home I could barely concentrate on writing the paper, and I’d used my workload to beg off from hanging out with my friends. They could tell something was up with me, but they left me alone. Each one of us had gone through the staggering stress of law school, work, and relationship bullshit. They probably sensed, correctly, that it was my turn. When I found myself in complete textbook overload, I picked up my guitar. Playing always calmed my nerves.
    By the next day, I had gained a little perspective. I knew the first thing I had to do was be honest with Kristin and break things off. If she wanted me to go to the wedding still, I would. I had always considered Kristin a friend, and if possible, I wanted us to remain so. The next step was for me to concentrate on finals, work, and getting through the holidays. I wouldn’t try to contact Aaron until my finals were complete, thinking I could use the extra time to work out how I could approach him without sounding weird or desperate. This was new territory for me. For the first time ever, I wanted to pursue a man romantically.
    I arrived to pick up Kristin at her place later that night for dinner. She opened her door wearing a giant smile and little else. I audibly gulped, I’m sure. She probably figured my reaction to be the opposite of what it truly was. Fuck. This was not going to be easy.
    “Hi, gorgeous,” she purred. Not kidding, she sounded like a