Carter woke up at 7 am to his alarm. Today he had arranged to go into the studio, Carter was a photographer. He normally worked by himself but once a week he had organized to work for a local studio, just in case he was running low on clients. Not that he was, he’d actually thought about giving up the studio now his name had gotten out there and he was constantly busy with different shoots.

Carter got up and showered before throwing on jeans and a button-down cornflower blue shirt. He plodded into the kitchen and made himself some toast and coffee before slumping down onto his sofa and watching the morning’s news, munching on his breakfast.

Carters mind wandered to the conversation that he had had with Sydney over the phone after she’d left Xander. She had said that they spoke about a lot of things and she wouldn’t tell him any of it because she had promised Xander that the things he told her were in confidence and she didn’t want to break the man’s trust in her. She had insisted that Carter needed to speak to his old friend and they needed to get to know each other again.

Carter sighed in frustration, he still didn’t know why Xander was now the subject of his desires. Carter grabbed a post-it note and made a memo to do some research when he got home from work and stuck it to his laptop so he wouldn’t forget.

After a pretty ordinary day at the studio, with his mind wandering quite often, Carter got home at about 4, although it felt like it had been a much longer day. He checked his phone and saw he had a text from Xander.

Hey dude. How are you today? What are you up to later on?

He quickly replied saying how he was free and what did Xander have in mind. Putting his phone down on the side he noticed the post-it note that he had left on his laptop that morning. Not that he’d forgotten, in fact, it was the reason his day felt so long.

Sighing again he opened up his laptop and typed ‘I’m a straight guy who’s attracted to my friend’ into google. Within seconds his screen was filled with different forums. Carter clicked on the first one which was about a guy who was gay but had a crush on his straight friend. Next Carter found one which was much more like his situation. The guy was straight but was really attracted to a work colleague and didn’t know why. Most of the responses were useless saying things like ‘dude your gay’ or ‘he thinks he’s straight’. There were, however, one or two which mentioned being bisexual or even not having a sexual orientation at all. But Carter couldn’t see himself being attracted to any other guy, just Xander.

Getting agitated Carter shoved his laptop off his lap and onto the empty sofa cushion next to him. Suddenly and unexpectedly there was a knock on the door. Carter strolled over and opened it and to his disbelief there stood Xander with beer and a bag that smelt like curry.

“Thought you could use some dinner.” Xander smiled holding up the bag. “Can I come in?” He asked. Carter realized he was just standing there staring. He blinked and laughed.

“Yeah course! That smells amazing!” He admitted stepping aside to let Xander in.

“Yeah, I got you your old favorite, Korma, and rice. I remember how bad you are with spicy things!” He chuckled and Carter blushed remembering the time he’d ordered an extra hot chicken at Nando’s and how the poor waitress ended up covered in milk sprayed out from his nose!

Xander set the food down in the kitchen and Carter got out some plates and cutlery. “Maybe I can show you how you’re really supposed to eat this food,” Xander said glancing over at Carter who shook his head.

“No thanks man, I heard you use your hands and I’m good with these.” He replied holding up his knife and fork.

“Fair enough.” Xander surrendered shrugging his shoulders. They ate in silence with Carter occasionally glancing over at Xander, admiring him and then getting annoyed at himself. One time he looked over and could have sworn he’d seen Xander looking at him but shook it off because he didn’t want to encourage himself.

“So Sydney tells me you guys have become pretty good friends while I’ve been away,” Xander mentioned obviously trying to spark up a conversation.

“Oh yeah, well I realized how much time I actually used to spend with you when you left! I suddenly had nothing to do with my free time!” He laughed.

“Ah man, I’m sorry! I did feel quite guilty about leaving you actually.” Xander replied putting another forkful of curry into his mouth. “You used to hang around the pub while I worked! I don’t know why they let you stay!” Xander laughed

“Me neither!” Carter laughed back “And it’s what you’d been working so hard to do. I was fine, more than fine I was good, Sydney was… is great!”

“Well, I’m glad you had someone to look after you! She mentioned you guys never… you know. Why’s that? I mean she’s pretty hot huh?” Xander quizzed. This caught Carter off guard.

“Oh well, I think she’s been such a good friend I feel like she’s more of a sister so it would just be weird. But yeah I guess she’s pretty hot if she’s your type.” Carter smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Fair enough,” Xander shrugged. “I don’t really have a type. Anyone else got your attention at the moment?”

“Not really.” Carter shrugged.

“Oh come on, a good looking guy like you?” Xander pushed.

“You think I’m good looking?” Carter laughed, a slight blush spattering his cheeks. This made Xander laugh too.

“I’m your best friend, I have to say that!” He winked.

“What about you? Have you got anyone at the moment?”

“A couple of people have caught my eye…” Xander answered carefully.

“Who?” Carter pressed trying to get more information.

“Oh, I dunno man,” Xander confessed. “I’m not sure they would reciprocate.” He admitted, again carefully.

“Who wouldn’t reciprocate? Any girl would be lucky to have you.”

Tell him now, just slip it in, don’t wimp out! Xander thought but then immediately wimped out.

“Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.” Xander shrugged. Carter took the hint, if only slightly begrudgingly, and got up to go and get another drink bumping his half-closed laptop as he rose from his seat and it faced towards Xander. Xander glanced and swore he saw the word gay on the screen. Leaning a little closer he tried to read what was on there but the screen wasn’t at the right angle and he couldn’t quite make it out. Then Carter came back and noticing the laptop he shut it before sitting down.

“So what car did you get in the end?” Carter asked changing the subject.

“Oh… I got a Jeep Wrangler for £3000, not bad huh?” Xander responded with a smug look on his face.

“Really, that’s pretty good going, well done man!” Carter praised. “What color is it?”

“Oh it’s blue, I like it.”

“Awesome, I don’t suppose you want to go for a drive?” Carter hinted hopefully.

“Sure thing dude!” Xander beamed jumping up, clearly excited to show off his new car. The two of them bounced down the stairs to the car talking about mechanical things, which Xander struggled to understand but pretended to none the less. He was not really a car person, but Carter really was. They got in the car, buckled in and Xander turned over the engine, encouraging the jeep to rumble to life.

“I think I’m going to call him Bobby.” Xander declared patting the dashboard.

“Bobby? And a boy?” Carter questioned, raising a quizzical eyebrow.

“Yeah what’s wrong with that?” Xander laughed a faint blush staining his tanned cheeks.

“Well nothing, just not what I expected.” Carter laughed back.

“Right.” Replied an amused and partially embarrassed Xander.

They drove around for about half an hour before arriving back at Carter's flat. They didn’t talk much, Xander was focusing on driving, as he hadn’t done it in such a long time, and Carter happily sat listening to the radio as the trundled along. The Jeep ran quite well and there wasn’t much wrong with it.

“So I guess you have work tomorrow?” Xander asked as they pulled up.

“Yeah I got a couple of shoots tomorrow, one client wants me to shoot some wildlife for a calendar.” Carter avowed.

“Oh that’s cool, I’m actually working on a commission for a drawing of wolves running through the woods, I’ve got the wolves done but I wouldn’t mind a bit of inspiration for the woods. Is there any chance I could tag along with you?” Xander asked hopefully.

“Err sure thing but it’s going to be an early start and you’ll have to be quiet. I don’t want you scaring away any animals.” Carter laughed.

“I give you my word I’ll be as quiet as a mouse,” Xander replied, miming zipping his mouth closed.

“Alright be at mine for 5 and we’ll see what we can find,” Carter said opening the car door.

“Awesome thanks dude you won’t regret it,” Xander called out.