I Hate to Love You

Chase watched Xavier go and sighed. His friend, and fellow teammate Ryan plopped down beside him and chuckled.

"Still got it bad for your roommate huh?" Ryan asked.

Chase blushed before turning away from the delectable Xavier and his large ass before staring back down at his plate of food.

"I can't help it. And I've tried everything for two years but he either doesn't notice or doesn't care." Suddenly, a third body joined them.

"Escuchame hombre, Xavier doesn't know because you still haven't told him!" Marco shouted. Ryan nodded.

"I know but-"

"Don't gays have some type of gaydar that can sense when another one of their kind is close?" Ryan asked.

Chase opened his mouth to speak but Marco beat him to it.

"I thought so too, man. But I think Chase's device is broken." At that, Chase growled at them both.

"Stop it. And really? I thought you guys weren't stereotyping anyone."

"I know. But I couldn't help it," Ryan said grinning at Chase. Marco laughed.

Chase loved his friends. They were always there when he needed them, and this time was no different. He thought when his teammates found out after practice one day two years ago when he was on the phone with his ex-boyfriend from high school that they would be pissed or wouldn't want to play with him because he was gay. But it turns out, they didn't care. No one did, not even the coach. As a matter of fact, the coach himself said that he didn't care who his boys were seeing, so long as they showed up for practice on time, passed their exams and played well.

"Whatever any on you choose to do in your free time is no concern of mine," he said before screaming for someone to bring him his water bottle. Shortly after the somewhat encouraging speech, Ryan, a huge man, and perfect linebacker for their team, along with Marco, the kicker became good friends.

They trio made an odd-looking bunch whenever they walked campus together.

Chase was the tall, wide-shouldered classic quarterback. Ryan was the three-hundred pound plus Scottish-American lineman with close cropped red hair, and blue eyes, followed by Marco being the tall lean, handsome brown hair and brown eyed Latino.

Marco thought it was perfect they were friends because he knew if they went out, and Chase came along, he could get the girls by having a gay friend. Ryan wanted Chase with him so he could show, "hot babes," his sensitive side. Chase would pretend to be annoyed but he was secretly happy that he had good people around him.

"Chase, there are small white boys all over this campus. You could have your pick," Marco said bringing him back to the conversation at hand.

"Personally, I think you should get someone like me. We're reliable, and dependable. Plus, you can cook, which just about guarantees the guy will always be around," Ryan added before burping loudly.

"Really?" Chase questioned. Ryan shrugged.

"There are a lot of guys on campus, Marco but they just aren't him. And Ryan, you aren't really my type," he hedged. Marco leaned over and grinned.

"I told you Ryan! I took Chase's phone when he was in practice the other day-"

"Hey!" Chase shouted offended, but Marco continued as if he didn't speak.

"-And I saw his ex. He was a small thing, except he had curly hair. Looked to be Italian."

"He was," Chase said before shaking his head bitterly. "And I thought he was the one until I found him with his mouth on someone else's dick at my going away to college party," he mumbled.

Both Ryan and Marco winced.

"Be that as it may," Ryan stated, "I do think that you should try to date someone else. If you won't tell him, because apparently you think he's got some mind-reading capabilities, you should think of letting that dream go."

"I don't like to say this often, but I agree with Ryan," Marco said. "I think you should date or pick someone else. YOLO man," he said causing Chase to groan.

"Please don't. That saying stopped years ago."

"It's still a classic," Marco muttered under his breath.

Chase knew his friends were right, but he just couldn't stop thinking about Xavier. When he first saw the man, he thought he was stunning. He was small framed, how he liked his men, with long blonde hair. When he first started school, it reached his chin. But as the years past, it has grown and was now reaching the middle of his back. He'd often dreamed of running his hands through it. But his friends were right. If he wasn't prepared to do something, he might as well kiss that dream goodbye.

...

After class and football practice, Chase had been working up the nerve to tell Xavier how he really felt. He jogged up the stairs and used his keys to get in. He was about to call out that he was home, when Xavier came strolling in from his room.

With just a towel around his waist.

"Hey, Chase," Xavier said as he opened the fridge. Xavier felt as if he would swallow his tongue and he had to clear his throat several times as Xavier drank some water.

"Um, hey," Chase finally said voice hoarse. Xavier raised a brow but said nothing. When Chase continued to stare Xavier threw up his free hand before slamming his water bottle on the counter.

"Alright that does it! It's been two years and I'm still at a loss!"

Chase frowned.

"I'm sorry?" he said. Xavier placed his hands on his waist.

"You heard me. I have been wracking my brain, trying to find something, anything on you for the past two years! You don't smoke. You rarely drink. I haven't seen you come home from a party completely wasted or naked. You are a part of so many clubs and organizations. You even have a part-time job as a cashier at the bookstore and you don't have to because you're rich!"

"Um-"

"I've even done a background check on you." Xavier stated, and Chase's eyes

widened.

"Why did you-"

"You don't bring girls around. What are you a serial killer? Why are you so weird?"

Suddenly, Chase became mad. He thought Xavier was going to say how much he liked him and couldn't keep it in any longer. But he should've known better.

"You think I'm weird? At least I'm not trying to dig up dirt on my roommate!" he roared. Xavier's mouth opened in shock because he'd never heard Chase yell before.

And he thought it was hot.

"You think I'm weird for working, which I know I don't have to do but it helps me get used to being around people because I used to have anxiety about it, until my parents thought it would be good for me to work. I want to set a good example for my siblings, so I do things that sometimes make me uncomfortable. I don't smoke because it's bad for your lungs, and as an athlete I need my breathing and wind to be optimal. Why would I drink, because honestly, the taste isn't that great, and I prefer my mama's sweet tea or lemonade. I join clubs and organizations because I believe that we can change the world and get rid of all those people who say we can't, and I don't invite girls to our apartment because I'm gay!"

You could've knocked Xavier over with a feather at that comment. Chase could sense his shock and he laughed without humor.

"That's right, you heard it. I'm gay. I had a boyfriend in high school, but he cheated on me. And I don't see the need to sleep with everything that has two legs and a dick in between them. I don't bring guys here because I like you. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I've fallen in love with my dense of a roommate. But I see that I wasted two years of pining for nothing!" he said before making an about turn and stomping down the opposite hall to his bedroom. He slammed the door hard enough to make Xavier jump before he clutched at his towel.

"What the hell?" Xavier muttered aloud.