Free Serpentine Walls by CJane Elliott

it’s not lame to actually like someone and want to have more than just a hookup with ’em. Fourteen… fifteen.” John dropped the dumbbells on the floor and rested. “But Aidan doesn’t seem interested in that.”
    “Yeah,” Pete puffed, finishing his set. “Like that book: He’s Just Not That Into You. ”
    “Yep. Or maybe he’s got intimacy issues or something. I mean, it’s kinda weird that he made you leave in the middle of the night.”
    “Yeah. I’m gonna let it go.” He got off the machine and stretched.
    “Good plan, my man.” John fell silent, concentrating on his set, and then let the weights fall to the floor. “Wanna come over? Cleo’s in the photo lab all afternoon.”
    “Maybe later. I’m meeting Professor R to talk about my film. Get this—he wants to meet on the steps of the old amphitheater, not in his office.”
    “Fancy.”
    “Yeah, the guy’s an original, alright. Angie’s got a monster crush on him.”
    “Well, she should watch out. I hear Professor R gets around. Maybe it’s just as well you’re meeting with Sir Rodney in a public place.”
    Pete threw his towel at John, missing by a wide margin, and walked into the locker room.
     
     
    “T ELL me your thoughts on your film, Peter.”
    Professor R lounged on the amphitheater steps next to Pete, his long legs crossed at the ankles. Struck by how handsome Professor R was at close range, Pete started talking about his film, feeling like he was making no sense. Professor R nodded, staring at him intently as he removed the lid from his cup and blew on the hot tea inside, and Pete couldn’t help but notice his full, sensual lips set off by the well-trimmed mustache.
    “Mm-hmm, I see. That’s quite interesting.” Professor R seemed to be undressing him with his eyes. It was unnerving, actually. And Pete’s nerves weren’t helped when he saw Aidan walking by with a cute guy latched onto his side.
    “Well, hello there,” Aidan said, giving Professor R a pointed stare that Pete couldn’t quite decipher.
    “Aidan, good afternoon,” Professor R responded, returning his gaze with one equally undecipherable.
    “Hey,” Pete said, feeling awkward.
    Aidan broke off his staring contest with Professor R to give Pete a brief but blinding smile. “Hi, Pete. Good to see you.” He sauntered off with his boy toy while Professor R and Pete looked after him.
    “You know him?” Professor R asked, still watching Aidan, then turning back to Pete.
    “Yeah. I guess everybody does.”
    “Oh, I’m sure they do,” said Professor R, raising one well-manicured eyebrow.
    Pete shifted on the steps. He didn’t feel like talking about Aidan.
    “But where were we?” Professor R continued, lasering in on Pete again with those big brown eyes. “Your film. You know, I’m finding what you’re saying about this quite fascinating. How about we go get a cup of coffee or a drink and continue our conversation?”
    Pete squirmed at what seemed to be a blatant come-on. His film idea wasn’t all that spectacular. Professor R confirmed his suspicions when he let his hand fall casually onto Pete’s knee.
    “Um. I… that’d be good, but not today, sorry. I’m gonna be late getting back to the apartment as it is. I mean, thanks and all….”
    “Ah, of course,” Professor R said, unruffled, squeezing Pete’s knee before releasing it. “Some other time, then?”
    “Huh? Oh, yeah, some other time.” What the hell am I even agreeing to? Pete was fairly certain it wasn’t to another meeting about his film.

Chapter Four
     
     
     
    P ETE stopped his car in front of Bud’s house.
    “Hey, bro,” Bud said, “wanna hang out since you made me come back?”
    “I didn’t make you. And no, I can’t. I gotta be at home tonight.”
    Bud glared at him. “Did so make me!”
    “I gave you a choice, cuz. You didn’t have to accept my deal.”
    “Jeez,” Bud grumbled. “You could’ve brought my extra crap back on your own.”
    “No way, not