Free Apartment 1209 by Elizabeth Lister Page A

before.
    We walked to 1209 and he keyed the door open. “Come on in. Make yourself at home, Henry.”
    His apartment, like mine, was on the small side, but he had decorated and furnished it so that this was hardly an issue. Although the walls remained the neutral “apartment white”, modern artwork in vibrant hues of blue and yellow hung on the walls, giving the room a sophisticated, cheerful feel.
    I toed off my boots and put down my bag, suddenly feeling exhausted after my long day. Thank God I didn’t have to go to the restaurant tonight. If I could just get into my apartment.
    “You okay? You look like you’re gonna fall over,” Ryan said, pulling out a chair from his kitchen table. “Have a seat. Want a coffee?”
    I nodded. “Please.”
    Ryan moved around his apartment with confidence and ease, at home in the small, organized space. “So what’s your story, Henry?”
    “Huh?” I asked.
    He grinned. “Are you in school? You look about twenty.”
    “Good guess.”
    “Thanks.”
    “And, yeah, I’m taking classes at Algonquin right now.”
    He nodded, getting the coffeemaker set up and placing a couple of mugs on the counter. “Studying what?”
    “Home care. It’s sort of like nursing.”
    “Good for you. There’s a lot of demand for those services nowadays.” He sat down in a nearby chair. “I don’t know if I could do it.”
    I shrugged. “It’s not that bad. I’ve always liked helping people.”
    He stared at me intently, his grey eyes shining with intelligence and interest. I noticed the laugh lines at their sides, and the seeming softness of his lips. He had nice eyebrows too. “Do you have a student loan or are you working?”
    “I’m getting a bit of money from OSAP but not much.”
    “Then you’re working.”
    “Yep.”
    “Sorry to ask so many questions. It’s just nice to be able to talk to you, finally.” He leaned back in his chair, stretching his long legs out before him. “So, what are we gonna do about your keys?”
    “I guess I’d better call the Super. I think I put the number in here.” I said, pulling my phone from my back pocket. I found the number for the building’s superintendent.
    A gruff voice answered. “Yeah?”
    “Mr. Conway? It’s Henry Crocket from 1203.”
    “Yes?”
    “Um, I seem to have misplaced my keys. I was wondering if you could let me into my apartment?”
    “Sure, sure, but I can’t come right now. I’m trying to fix a toilet.”
    “Okay. Well, I’m in 1209 right now.”
    He chuckled. “Visiting with Mr. Holloway are you? Why am I not surprised?”
    “I beg your pardon?” What the hell did he mean by that?
    “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    He hung up, not leaving me any time to ask him about his comment.
    I looked at Ryan curiously as I pocketed my phone. “He… doesn’t seem surprised that I’m hanging out with you.”
    Ryan grinned. “Well, he’s seen me with good-looking young men before.” He winked.
    I was thrown by this response because it meant a number of astonishing things. It meant he was popular with young men (no big surprise there). It meant he was likely gay, as I’d supposed (again, not a big surprise). And it meant he found me good looking (major surprise).
    He cleared his throat and got up. “How do you take your coffee, Henry?”
    “Um, with a bit of… cream.” Our eyes met.
    We stared at each other, and I swear my cock went from semi to full hardness in a nanosecond. I gulped, feeling the red flush into my cheeks.
    Oh, boy.
    “No sugar?” he said with the hint of a smile.
    I shook my head slowly from side to side, my eyes still captured. My pulse pounded in my veins. The truth was, I didn’t need coffee. I needed to get laid. Badly.
    I was, for all intents and purposes, a virgin. Oh, I’d had intercourse with a girl. Stumbling, blind, groping penetration with the expected result. It had left both of us depressed more than anything else. And the entire time I’d been thinking how hot