Flirtmance to Forever (MxM)

Callum stuffed his hands in his pockets, clenching his jaw so his emotions wouldn’t come barrelling out as Vea packed the last of her things. She, on the other hand, was a mess, with tears streaming down her face, and her mascara running.

Callum offered a sympathetic smile. His voice cracking, he chided, ‘I told you if you start, I’ll start.’

‘But this is a huge thing and I hate leaving you, after everything we’ve been through.’

Callum blinked back his tears. 'Vea, my dear bestie, you’re not leaving me.’ He took her hands in his. ‘You are moving out to go live with the man you are marrying.’

‘Yes, but—’

Callum shushed her by placing a finger to her lips. He had once kissed those lips, back when he was exploring his sexuality in college, just to be sure of who he was.

Vea was a striking woman, tall and taupe, with long curls dancing every time she moved. Her eyes were always wide and her smile comforting. And she had been Callum’s friend since they were children.

Dante, Vea’s fiancé, was remarkably handsome with a strong jaw and strong cheek bones, umber skin only a shade darker than Vea’s. He was good to her, and Callum loved him for loving his best friend with all of his heart.

‘No buts, Vea. It’s not like we’re never going to see each other again. You’re moving out. You’re getting married. Be happy.’

‘I am, I swear that I am. I just…’

‘I know.’ Callum wrapped his arms around Vea tightly. ‘I’ll miss you.’ She squeezed more, and heaved loudly.

Callum chuckled, only to repel the onslaught of chagrin and joy mixed together.

Callum and Vea had been inseparable for years. She was one of the sole people he let into the fortress he had built around his heart. They had history, and a trust that went beyond anything he’d known with anyone. Though his love for her was platonic, it ran deep.

As for his fortress, he had built it after too many burns, too many heartbreaks, too many men taking advantage of him. It made dating more difficult because he was unwilling to become vulnerable for just anyone. He had to truly feel something for the guy. Besides, no man he had let in had succeeded in getting past the portcullis anyway.

From his periphery, Callum saw someone appear at the open door. ‘Sorry, is this the place for the new roommate?’

Callum and Vea pulled away. ‘It is.’

Callum had spoken with multiple candidates over the phone to get a feel for them. His new potential roommate was to come over as a trial to see how they could get along – Callum had been so busy, he had not met him yet.

Callum had told him he was gay, to which his future roommate had responded that they were bound to get along. Callum was uncertain if that meant he was an ally or if it confirmed he was gay too.

Callum finally met the other man’s gaze and froze. He stared agape for a moment while the other man definitely roved his eyes the length of his body. He was gorgeous.

The man had green-hazel eyes that went from grey-green to bright green to an amber colour near the pupil. His smile was easy-going, on an ivory face with just a hint of stubble, a square jaw, and dimples that softened his features. He wore handsome stretchy grey sports pants with a shirt that was tight-fitting enough to show off his taut muscles. His straight brown hair fell to either side of his ears, over which he wore a classic grey fedora.

If Callum didn’t know better, he’d say this man was dressed to impress.

He snapped himself out of his admiration. ‘Sorry, my friend here is moving out and we’re a bit…emotional.’ Callum felt embarrassed. ‘She’s getting married.’

‘Congratulations.’

‘Thank you.’ Vea cleared her throat, her kind eyes returning to Callum. ‘We have a lot of history, this guy and I.’

‘Oh?’

Callum chuckled, shaking his head. ‘You must be River. It’s nice to finally meet.’

‘Likewise.’ River offered Callum a lopsided grin, and his hand to shake. If River was gay, there was no indication of it, aside from checking Callum out.

‘I’ll get going.’ Vea patted Callum on the shoulder. ‘I promise to call tomorrow.’

Callum smiled warmly at her receding form as she hurried off, skipping and weeping. He chuckled again. Now there was a void in his heart he hoped to be refilled.

He returned his attention to his new potential roommate.

‘I’m early.’ River took a moment to take a look around, removing his fedora. He was even more handsome when he let his hair fall wildly around his face.

‘You are. Not that I mind.’

Callum helped River get acquainted with the place, making amiable chitchat.

‘So history with your former roommate, eh?’ River prompted after settling in, once Callum had offered him a beer.

‘Vea and I dated back in college. We were already best friends and we later became roommates. She’s been a part of my life for over two decades and was the first person I ever came out to. She’s finally found her happily ever after. While I have yet to find mine.’

‘Bet you the two of you have a lot of nice memories together.’

‘We do.’

As they chatted, Callum tried to assess the other man. They were around the same age, early thirties, and if the coming days led to the two getting along enough to live together, they’d be roommates in this large and comfortable apartment.

Callum found himself entirely captivated by River.

Before long, the two had shared a few beers, were in comfortable conversation, and were making dinner together. It was strange and nice. The void left by his best friend moving out was quickly being filled by River, who, for his part, was eager to help and contribute his weight in their arrangement.

River had also expressed wanting this to work out since the place he was moving out from was going to be demolished. New land owners, new projects, tenants being kicked out.

‘Must be rough,’ voiced Callum.

‘Eh, I kind of waited till the last call, hoping I’d live elsewhere. Being turned down was rough. But I can tell you right now, I feel that you and this place and me, we can be good together.’

Callum grinned. ‘I think so too, River.’

Callum considered himself a masculine gay, and River was masculine enough as well. Callum, for his part, was a bit gruffer around the edges than River appeared to be, dressed more casually, yet elegantly if necessary. His own brown hair was shorter than River’s, coiffed neatly to the side. He had shaved his stubble that morning, though. Perhaps he’d try not to be too lazy around River when it came to his appearance.

River certainly gave off the right signals, yet Callum wanted to be cautious. This man was to be his roommate first and foremost. Callum had been single long enough to have set up not only his protective walls around his heart, but that entire fortress. It would be unwise to allow his protective barrier to crumble so readily for one guy just after a few hours.

Yet he felt a connection with River already.

‘You mentioned you were single,’ River brought up. ‘How? You seem great.’

Callum felt himself blush. He shrugged. ‘I suppose I haven’t found Mister Right yet.’

There was a twinkle in River’s eyes and he grinned, just staring at Callum who was setting some vegetables aside, which made his face feel even hotter and his heart suddenly start to palpitate.

‘You?’ asked Callum, feeling awkward.

A shadow crossed River’s face. ‘Yes, I have a boyfriend but…we’re stagnating.’

It took a few heartbeats for Callum to register the second part of what River had said, the word boyfriend repeating in his mind, and suddenly he felt a pang that River wasn’t available but a thrill that he was gay too.

‘Stagnating?’ Callum stopped and turned to face River, leaning against the counter and wanting to convey sympathy.

River deflated. ‘I don’t know, it’s like one minute we’re hot for each other, the next he’s not calling me back. I never go to his place, I’ve never met his family, he’s always so busy, calls me at odd hours to hook up…’ River looked so forlorn.

Calum nodded knowingly. ‘You feel strung along for a booty call.’

River confirmed with a nod. ‘The reason I’m so late moving out of that place is because I was hoping to live with him and he turned me down.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I mean, we’ve been together six months and he’s never told me he loves me!’

'Do you love him?’ Callum asked, a mix of wanting to comfort and jealousy, jealousy that took him by surprise as it squeezed his heart.

It took River a minute to answer, before he admitted, ‘I don’t know.’

‘Then there’s your answer.’

River pursed his lips, pensive, and gave a few small nods. Then he shrugged and shook his head.

Callum sympathised. ‘It’s your call what to do – continue to explore this with him or not – but in my experience, a relationship that doesn’t evolve, won’t. As your new roommate – potential roommate – I want to see you happy.’

River’s expression softened. He smiled a beautiful smile that had Callum’s heart hammering, but Callum was already putting his walls back up, with difficulty.

No one had melted them away this fast. No, they were still there, but a breach had appeared in the fortifications.

The sound of boiling water spilling from the pot on the stovetop had both Callum and River turning to the stove as the boiling water splashed. Callum lowered the heat, barely avoiding a splash burning him, cursing, as River removed the pot to let it simmer. Callum hadn’t thought of that.

Both of them stood staring at the stovetop and then started laughing.

‘All right, enough about my dismal romantic life,’ said River. ‘You play pool?’

‘On occasion, yeah?’ Callum felt himself perk up.

‘How about, you and me, after we eat, go and knock some balls around.’

Callum chuckled at his cheeky choice of words. Callum knew River was inviting him as a roommate, but he felt giddy. ‘You’re on.’