The summer of two thousand and seven came three months after my birthday, I was officially seventeen years old.

My dad had recently inherited from his mother and decided to take his family on a fancy resort vacation.

My stepmother had always dreamed about going somewhere with bracelets that gave access to all-you-can-eat buffets and limitless bar consumption.

No one ever asked what I wanted and my stepbrother only cared about losing his virginity to the first girl that would take it.

On the second day, I found the perfect spot at the in-pool bar and settled down with a book. I wanted to continue reading “Call Me By Your Name” but obviously couldn’t be caught with it in public.

That’s when I first heard his voice. It was deep and raspy, unbefitting someone who seemed to be just in their early twenties.

I couldn’t help but look and saw a strong upper body stretching the white hotel uniform polo shirt. A quick glance down revealed a perky ass in a matching pair of shorts with blue trim.

I’d already had my gay awakening when Kyle kissed me as part of a game of truth or dare, but this guy made my stomach do summersaults. He oozed natural charisma and it was getting him a lot of attention from the ladies at the bar.

Anyone who knew me could attest to the fact that I was NEVER the one to start a conversation, but for some reason, I felt compelled to engage with him.

I rattled the melting ice cubes in my large plastic cup and said, “Can I get a refill, please?”

“Hey there,” he said. “What were you drinking?”

“Diet Pepsi,” I replied, desperately trying not to stare.

“Coming right up,” he said, trying to make a show of preparing my drink.

There wasn’t much you could do with a soda and a slice of lime, however.

“Would you like some french fries and BBQ sauce with that?” he asked, enthusiastically.

I wasn’t sure where he pulled that idea out of, but I decided that I wasn’t going to say “no”. It meant that he would have to engage with me again.

I felt strangely jealous when his attention returned to the other guests sitting around the bar. When my french fries arrived, however, he theatrically put them in front of me and held out his hand.

“Chase,” he said with a stunning smile and a quick wink.

“Tanner,” I replied, putting my book down long enough to give his hand a proper shake.

He was either really good at his job or he was subtly flirting with me.

It couldn’t possibly be the latter... could it?

Chase and I became quick friends. He obviously had to work, but whenever he had a moment, we would talk. First about trivialities and then more personal things.

My brother, Dustin had sex with a girl that he’d been hanging out with for the last few days and he couldn’t shut up about it. I clearly wasn’t interested in sex with girls but I was kind of jealous that he’d had his first experience.

When I confided in Chase, his first question was why I wasn’t looking for summer love. He was the first person I ever met that didn’t automatically specify a gender.

Of course, I couldn’t tell him why I was sitting at his pool bar whilst my family was out shopping; my favorite activity apart from reading.

Instead, I said, “I prefer a deeper connection to a shallow encounter.”

He looked at me sagely but said nothing. The topic didn’t come up again.

When he was off the next day, I honestly missed his presence but I finally managed to finish my book.

The new guy behind the bar was definitely hot but he didn’t provoke the same reaction in me as Chase did. It confirmed that I definitely liked my new friend a little more than I should.

It was passing seven when the phone in my room rang. Not expecting a call, I answered thinking it was for Dustin or maybe even my parents.

“Tanner Mayes?” a voice that I recognized asked.

“Yes,” I said, wanting to make sure it was him.

“Phew, I was worried I might get your brother on the line,” Chase said, his voice sounding upbeat.

“Aren’t you off today?” I asked in surprise.

“Yup,” he said. “That’s why I was wondering if I could maybe convince you to leave your book behind and join me for a little trip.”

He wanted to spend time with me outside of the hotel? What would I tell my parents, what would I wear, how would I...?

“Is that a ‘no’?” he asked, probably assuming I wasn’t interested because of my prolonged silence.

“Where shall we meet?” I asked, trying to keep the excitement from bubbling out too much.

“Can you be at the main entrance in half an hour?”

My heart was thumping in my chest as I hung up the phone. For him this was probably just two friends hanging out... but for me, it felt like a date.

I decided that I would just enjoy his company to the fullest and allow myself to dream that one day, with someone special, it could be more.