Knox

Saturdays are hard in a new city. I had a group of friends back home, people who called me for dinners, ball games, concerts. If I was seeing someone (which wasn’t often, but it happened), my weekends would be booked with dates and getaways. But Chicago is tough on a newcomer, especially for those who arrive in the winter. I still have some college friends in the area, but for the most part they’ve drifted away, either to other cities, or to the suburbs. Being the new boss has kept me from making close friends at work, and while the downtown gay scene is fun, it often leaves me feeling ancient, at the ripe old age of thirty.

So I’m feeling sorry for myself on this particular Saturday, walking through the indoor farmer’s market and picking through a display of zucchini when I hear someone shout my name. I look up and see Krys and a very tall guy with a goatee and hipster beanie walking towards me.

“Knox, I didn’t know there was a weekend version of you!” she exclaims, reaching up to give me a friendly hug. She introduces me to Paul Bunyan, whose actual name is Luke, and we do that generic chit-chat that people engage in when they want to be social, but don’t know each other very well. Krys has just suggested that we grab a coffee at one of the kiosks nearby when someone walks up and lays a hand on my shoulder.

“What are you doing here, Pearson?”

I swivel around in surprise, and find myself face-to-face with Jason. At least I think it’s Jason, but it’s a version of him I’ve never seen. He’s dressed in a cycling kit, with a skin-tight jersey and black shorts, and they hug his body like a glove. His sunglasses wrap around his face, which is red from the sun and wind. My mouth goes dry and my mind goes blank, because he looks fucking gorgeous.

“Oh, hey, I was just picking up some vegetables. Obviously.” I gesture to my bag full of tomatoes and onions. 

I’m so, so lame.

“Where have you been, Jase? You've got to stop wandering off like a toddler.  We’re having coffee.” Krys takes over like the drill sergeant she is. “You guys go find us a table, Luke and I have to go pick up some sushi we ordered-we’ll be back in five.” Luke just shrugs and follows her across the pavilion.

“He’s used to her. She becomes quite the little dictator when shopping is involved.” He grins and I’m almost dizzy with lust.

“Let’s get that table,” I murmur, gesturing to a four-top that’s just opened up. I feel a bit steadier after he sits and takes off the glasses, but I have to concentrate on not staring at his shoulders as they stretch the limits of his dark grey shirt. “They sell sushi at the farmer’s market?” I ask with a weak laugh.

“Apparently. Krys knows every food shop in this place. She made us stop for cranberry butter blintzes last time we were here, and they changed my life”

“What the hell are those?”

“I have no idea, but they were fucking amazing. Seriously, I had some kind of religious experience.” He throws his head back, eyes closed, reliving the ecstasy of the blintzes, and I swear I can feel myself getting hard, like some kind of 8th grade pervert.

“I’m guessing you ride,” I say, trying to change the subject. “Either that or your fashion choices are a bit unique.”

“Yeah, I gave up running about five years ago. After three stress fractures of my femur, I knew it was never going to heal correctly, so I switched to biking. I ride most weekends with a club. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What do you do, other that creative directoring?”

“You know I’m not the athlete you are.”

“I didn’t ask if you were an athlete, I asked what you do for fun, outside of work.”

“Oh, well...Hannah and I do a lot of snowboarding in the winter. And I still paint, when I have the time.”

“Really?” He smiles, and I can’t help but smile back.

“Yeah, but I still suck.”

“You never sucked.” He looks down at his hands, then back at me. “I saved every piece you painted for me. Even when I was mad at you, I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of them.”

“Wow. Even the one of Spongebob in drag?”

“Are you kidding? That one I had framed.” We both laugh.

“God, I was so high when I painted that.”

“Hey guys, you haven’t got the coffee yet?” Krys and Luke are back with the sushi, and I think we’re in trouble. “Now is not the time to be dragging ass. We’ve got at least six more stalls to hit, and the movie starts at five. Oh, Knox, you’re coming to the movies with us.”

I give Jason a questioning look, but he just shrugs, so I guess I’m going to the movies. 

Maybe this Saturday won't be so bad after all.