***This Is A Preview***

Pulling my glasses over the bridge of my nose, I stared at the text on my screen for the billionth time. I was already writing another book in my head but I had promised my editors this one first.

All of a sudden, it occurred to me that I had left the poor boy with a completely empty refrigerator and it was well past lunchtime. Should I go and check up on him or could he manage without me?

Fuck it!

I pulled out my phone and saved the unknown number with his name. Should I call or text? I didn’t want to seem old for some reason or like a nagging parent.

A quick Google search revealed which messaging app was most popular with his age group. I impatiently waited for it to install before searching for his newly saved contact. He wasn’t on the App. I tried my usual Messengers and found that he wasn’t on them either.

What about Insta? Nothing! Snapchat? No luck! What the fuck? A nineteen-year-old with no social media presence?

In the end, I gave up and called.

“Hi! It’s Uncle Steven. I just realized that you have no food.” I was scratching the back of my head awkwardly. Why did I feel weird calling him?

“Hey! Don’t worry, I ordered a pizza. I haven’t had a decent pepperoni in forever!” he answered cheerfully.

“Would you like me to drive you to the Fresh Market so you can pick up some stuff?” I asked patronizingly.

“Sure,” he chuckled. “Can we go tomorrow? I was just about to call my parents before they head off to bed.”

“Of course! Say ‘hi’ for me!” Why did I suddenly feel like an idiot?

***

I desperately needed to get laid but the GuyPwr app showed virtually no fuckable guys in my area.

For a second, I thought I saw the hot barista but it was an in-app ad for a paid porn site! What the hell? Did my phone think that I was that desperate?

When I finally found someone that could be considered a “Three” after a few shots of vodka, the doorbell rang. How? I hadn’t even swiped yet!

Isaac was at the front door in a T-shirt and jogging shorts. I definitely hadn’t noticed those arms and legs this morning!

“Hey,” he said quietly. “Can I ask you for a massive favor?”

I looked at him curiously but said nothing. It was very strange but only now did I realize that my gaydar gave me no reading on him whatsoever. Had I lost my best tool after my brain and my...?

“Can I stay here tonight? I really don’t like being alone.” He looked genuinely uncomfortable for having to ask.

I melted under his sincere vulnerability but did something truly horrible with it.

“What happened to the grown-up and independent guy who didn’t need an airport pickup this morning?” I asked sarcastically. I instantly regretted it because he looked at me as if I had struck him.

“That’s my dad’s bullshit. He is making me do things alone to prepare me for university,” he whispered. He had already turned around and was about to walk back to his house.

“Fuck! I’m so sorry. I have no idea why I said that!” I begged frantically. “Please come back! Of course, you can stay here!”

The nipped-and-tucked cougar from down the road power-walked past my lawn and gave me a deep scowl.

She once saw a hookup leave my house and told me that my lifestyle was a bad influence on the youth! I told her that at least I didn’t need fake titties to get laid. She hasn’t spoken a word to me since.

Without warning, Isaac was back and hugging me tightly. I had absolutely no clue why, so I just carefully patted him on the back.

“Have you ever felt completely alone?” he mumbled into my shirt.

Shit! Was this the one I had wiped my “happy juice” on, this morning?

***

Isaac chose the guestroom closest to mine and immediately fell asleep.

I couldn’t really bring a stranger into the house right now, so I watched two episodes of my latest binge addiction before going to sleep myself.

“Uncle Steven!”

I woke with a jolt to find Isaac standing in the doorway in a pair of boxers. He had scared the shit out of me.

“Do you know what time it is?” I mumbled, staring at my phone.

“The jet lag woke me up and I thought you were gone,” Isaac said in his quiet voice.

“Why would I be gone?” I asked, mystified.

He stared at his feet and whispered, “I don’t know.”

“Will you be able to fall back asleep?” I asked, guiltily admiring his strong youthful physique.

“I’ll try,” he said and floated away like a wraith.

***

The next morning, I woke up to the smell of bacon. I quickly dressed and stumbled down the stairs to find Isaac diligently preparing breakfast.

When he saw me he smiled carefully and said, “it's a thank you for letting me stay last night.”

He handed me a cappuccino just the way I liked them and motioned for me to take a seat.

What the fuck! I felt like a VIP guest in my own house. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had prepared a meal for me.

Isaac reached over from behind to put an orange juice on the table. His other hand rested on my shoulder for a moment. He probably wasn’t even aware of it himself, but it felt... nice.

“Can I ask you a personal question, Uncle Steven?” Isaac said, whilst cutting his toast into even squares.

“After waking up to this royal treatment? Anything!” I smiled. Was I wearing a ridiculous foam mustache right now?

“When did you figure out that you liked guys?” Isaac asked unabashedly as if he were conducting an interview for a research project.

I almost dropped my cup and spluttered, “Damn, Isaac. I haven’t even finished my first coffee yet!”

Where the fuck did this question come from? Was he messing with me or...? The thought sent a tingle down my spine. The only reason I decided to answer was to see his reaction.

“I think that I was about fourteen when my dad first took me to his surf club. He was always the ‘work hard, play hard’ type, and Sunday was surf day.”

Isaac was listening intently, whilst preparing small pieces of egg and bacon to fit onto his toast squares.

“Dad was so proud to show me off to his surf buddies. One of them even gave me a beginner’s class!”

Isaac’s expression hadn’t changed at all. I was revealing something deeply personal but he remained completely unfazed.

“At the end of the day, everyone would go for drinks by the beach but first we had to wash off the salt and sand.” I took a dramatic pause.

Did Isaac realize where this was going? Did it make him uncomfortable?

He casually popped a square into his mouth and waited for me to continue.

“I walked into the men’s locker room and was magically transported to a world of wonder. Surfers of all ages stood under shower nozzles attached to a plain white wall. There were no partitions, no curtains and everyone was as naked as the day they were born.”

Isaac had stopped chewing for a fraction of a second before instantly regaining his composure.

Had I managed to crack his facade? Was there a possibility that he had asked out of self-interest?

Fuck! Was this story going to come back and haunt me? Would he tell his parents? I hesitated to continue.

“Anyway, that’s where I figured it out,” I said abruptly.

Then he asked, “Why don’t you write stories like that?”

Had this been the reason for his original question? Was he confronting me over my artistic choices?

“I guess I never felt the need,” I answered arrogantly.

“Why? I'm sure people would love to read them,” he said, standing up to make me another coffee.

Wait! Did he include himself amongst those people?

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