Taking Chances by John Goode Read Free Book Online Page A

setting you up for casual sex,” Brad clarified. Kyle and I just gaped at him. “What? It’s not like you’re going to date him for a week.” Neither one of us said a word. “Come on ! Like I am the only one here who knows what a hookup is.”
    I shook my head slowly. “I’m pretty sure my mom is not trying to set me up with a hookup.” Even though the same thought had crossed my mind a few times.
    He shrugged. “Okay, so then what’s your problem?”
    “I don’t know if I should meet him,” I said as Gayle brought them their food.
    “Oh! Hey Tyler, you eating?” she asked, surprised to see me sitting with them. Gayle had run Nancy’s forever. When I was Brad and Kyle’s age, I remembered her working the counter. The only differences between then and now were her hair was a little grayer and there were more lines around her eyes. She seemed like a fixed point that held Foster together. Even though I had never said word one about my sexuality to her, I was pretty sure she knew everything there was to know about my life, sexual preference included.
    “I’m not staying that long, but thanks,” I said, giving her a smile.
    “Okay. Guys, here are your burgers. Holler if you need anything,” she called over her shoulder as she walked to another table.
    As soon as she was gone, I sighed. “I mean, you’re right, I can’t date him for a few days. But God, it sucks being gay here.” I picked at Brad’s plate, eating a fry and making an effort not to get too maudlin.
    “Have you tried online?” Kyle asked, putting ketchup on his burger.
    “Ugh,” I said, eating another fry. “Complete waste of time.”
    “So then meet him,” Brad offered.
    “But what if I like him?” I asked honestly.
    “So then don’t meet him,” Brad suggested, grabbing his burger. I was pretty sure he thought I was going to eat it too.
    “But, God, Christmas sucks when someone’s alone.” I sighed again. God, I sounded like a moping teenager.
    “So then meet him, but as a friend,” Kyle suggested brightly. “There’s nothing saying you have to date or have sex with him. But you can make a new friend and see where that goes.”
    “Yeah, that’s an idea,” I agreed between fries. “Actually, a really good idea.”
    Kyle made sense, a lot of sense, actually. For some reason the option of just meeting Matt as a friend had never crossed my mind. All I had been focused on was “What if I fell in love?” and all that crap. What was wrong with me? “You know? I mean, who said it has to be all or nothing?”
    “Well, you did,” Kyle countered bluntly. I looked over at him and he added, “You did! All your mom is saying is that there’s going to be another gay person in Foster over Christmas. You’re the one imbuing it with more importance than it deserves. To be honest, that says more about you than it does about your mom.”
    I had known he was smart; Linda couldn’t brag enough about her genius son when we went out. This was the first time I had been on the receiving end of Kyle’s intellect. I had always assumed she’d been bragging as parents tended to do. But looking at him staring back at me, I realized he was special. Jokingly I said to Brad, “You date someone this smart? You are a braver man than I am. But you’re right; my mom is just trying to be nice and I completely misread it.” I looked at Kyle and asked him seriously, “Do I seem that lonely?”
    Without a second’s hesitation, he answered, “Yes.”
    That took me aback, literally. I kicked back in the booth, not expecting that quick an answer. Was it that obvious? Was I that pathetic?
    I really hated that the answer might be yes to both questions.
    “Yeah. Maybe meeting this guy isn’t such a good idea,” I said after a while. “If I’m this wound up, I’m just going to mess things up.” Looking at Kyle, I grinned. “Good call.”
    “Thanks,” he said, taking a drink of his tea. “Let me ask you something. Why not go out with