Page 85 of The Tryout

“I think Avery sent it. He asked if I knew a place.”

I’m surprised at this information, although I’m not sure why. Like clockwork, Avery has bought me dinner once a week, usually on Sundays since we’re so hungry from back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. I should probably tell him that this is too much, especially given the meals his dads paid for last week, but I don’t have it in me to be anything but grateful.

Finn Murphy 8:20 PM

Arrived safe, at Jamie and Ethan’s now.

Did you send me pho?

Avery Lawson 8:21 PM

Good

Mayyyyybe. Also spring rolls and tea, right?

Finn Murphy 8:23 PM

Right.

Thanks.

Avery Lawson 8:25 PM

No problem

Your flight was at a tough time, thought you might forget to eat.

Finn Murphy 8:26 PM

I 100% did forget.

Avery Lawson 8:26 PM

Is it any good?

Finn Murphy 8:27 PM

Yes

But not as good as Mr. Tran’s

Avery Lawson 8:28 PM

Of course not.

You’ll have to come to Golden Turtles in Cali sometime

I’m still not sure which I prefer more.

I’m so surprised by the suggestion that I can’t figure out a good response, so I settle for a thumbs up reaction.

I’ve been struggling to figure out what exactly the rules are in this thing Avery and I have going. If you had asked me when it started, I would have assumed it would look a lot more…casual, I guess? I’d assumed I’d been one of many, someone convenient if not necessarily on the top of his list. I mean, when we’d started, friend had been a pretty generous term for what we were, and I’d assumed that would continue to be true.

But here I am, a month later, and none of that has panned out. In October, he was still going out with the guys once or twice a week, probably catching the eyes of half of the hockey fans in Des Moines. Now, he and I head home to watch NHL games while he ices his knee, usually finishing the night with some shared orgasms. As the weeks have gone on, those orgasms have felt less like just getting off and more…

Stop it.

I think meeting his dads has tricked my brain into thinking this is more than it is. This time apart will be good for us – he’ll spend time with other people, and I’ll remember exactly what this is.