I was 28. Towards the end it was a bit of a rocky relationship with my girlfriend, and I think we both knew it was just a matter of time before one of us couldn't take it any longer. She made the decision for us by disappearing one evening with all her belongings before I arrived home.
She worked as a theatrical performer so naturally all of her friends were fun, outgoing, talented and attractive. I had become friends with most of them myself, so they still talked to me long after she decided not to. But one friend who lived in my neighborhood was quick to text me after hearing the news of the break up. I was pretty sure I knew why the texts came so soon and so frequently, however I decided to play it cool and let her friend steer the conversation over the next two days. It was basically small talk mixed with the occasional concern for me and how I was feeling. It wasn't until one particular comment that gave us the opportunity to easily take the conversation in the direction we knew we both wanted it to eventually go.
"That's why I've given up on girls, they're too complicated" Chris texted. After all, most of her theater friends were gay males just as he was. "Maybe you should switch over :)" he said, half joking. I knew this was his way of testing the waters, but to his surprise I told him that I've been down that road already. "You've been with guys before?" he asked. I told him that I've only been with one guy- just a handful of times. "That's hot! Tell me about it" he texted. So I proceeded to text Chris the story of my first experience with another guy.
It was a weekend night about 3 years back, and I was performing as a musician in a club. After the set I was approached by a guy with very similar features as mine- tall, nice build, short brown hair, a bit of scruff. He told me he enjoyed the show and said my next beer was on him. After some small talk, he wrote down his number and said "let me know when you're here again, and if you drink too much you can always crash at my place." He smiled and shot me one last look as he left the club.
The next weekend I was at a different club near my home, but after a few drinks I remembered his number stored in my phone and I decided to text him. "Hey man, at a different club tonight. If you're in the area you should come out." It didn't take long at all to get a response.
"Sure, but if I drink too much I'M crashing at YOUR place ;)".
I had thought about being with a guy before, but never seriously considered it as much as I was this particular night. I knew I would need a little more to drink, so I ordered up a shot and texted back "No problem :)". After about an hour and no text, it was getting late and the bar was closer to closing for the night but at this point I was counting on this encounter happening. I texted one more time, "Getting late, you going to make it before the bar closes?"
He responded right away - "on my way, I was in for the night when you texted me so I had to get ready." I knew that he wasn't coming for a drink at this point, he was coming for me.
So I decided to cut right to it- "You want to just meet at my place?" I said.
