I slid my card to unlock the hotel room door and when I opened it I could hear the shower running. I immediately grinned and rolled my eyes. Darren and I are really close. We always joke around with each other and flirt, it’s just fun. I was excited when I found out we would be sharing a room together because that would give us more time together. Even though it’s always silly and harmless, I still get butterflies in my stomach. Once I was in the hotel room the bathroom door opened. Darren had his hand on the door as he posed the rest of his body. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, his head tilted down and eyes staring up at me as he said with a smile on his face, “do you think I’m sexy, Chris?”

“Oh, of course I do. How could I not?” I said sarcastically but meant every word. “Now get out of there, it’s my turn.”

He just smiled, closed the door back over, and got dressed. He came out with his glasses on and sweats. Seeing him comfortable in his sweats makes him so much cuter. I used to stop myself from looking at him this way, but it’s harmless. He’s the one who started the flirting.

After I finished my shower I saw his Michigan Theatre shirt lying next to the sink.

“Hey, Dare?”

“Yeah?”

I walked out in my boxers wearing his theatre shirt. It was an excuse to wear his clothes. “Do you think I’m sexy, Darren?”

He was laying on the bed and he turned around to look at me. His eyes widened and he sat up indian style. He said, almost too softly, “Chris.”

I was expected him to laugh and tell me to hurry up, that’s how this would usually go. It’s just a game we like to play. But he crawled across the bed closer to where I was. “You look very sexy.”

My jaw half-dropped and my eyes gazed into his out of confusion but excitement. “Oh.”

As Darren stood up I felt his soft sweatshirt around me, I hugged him back. It almost felt innocent. He was my best friend, and I didn’t know what he needed. He pulled back and looked at me with his palm on my cheek. I closed my eyes instinctively as he grew closer to me. Then he kissed me. Just once, very softly but for what seemed to be minutes. He kissed me and held me tighter; I put my arms around his neck.

Once he pulled away he just stared at me, happily. “Will you sleep with me tonight?” I smiled and responded positively. We lay in his bed under the blankets and just talked. Once we became quiet, I spooned him from behind and held him close. He let out a deep sigh, as if it were what he was waiting for. He turned around and smiled at me.

“Thank you,” Darren said. I just smiled and nodded positively, though I did not know what he was thanking me for. Maybe for being his friend, maybe for being there for him, maybe for always goofing around with him when he needed someone. But tonight, something felt different. We held each other close in bed as if we’d done it a hundred times before. I kissed his cheek, and felt so lucky that for the first time, maybe things were going exactly how I wanted them to.