Sniff

I waited patiently in line at the liquor store holding my handle of vodka. I couldn’t believe how long the line was on a Tuesday. It was a hot summer day, so at least I got some time to cool off in the store. I was anxiously awaiting the night with one of my best buds, Eric. We’d become friends during college and ended up finding jobs in the same city. We'd set aside Tuesdays for the two of us to hang out. We’d watch TV, talk, drink, and just forget about life for a while. It was the highlight of my week.

Eric was an amazing friend - and what’s surprising is that we really couldn’t be more opposite in so many ways. He was a complete sports buff and loved working on his ’68 Chevy Impala. I’d often join him in his garage over beers, shooting the shit. I, on the other hand, was such a dork. I loved musical theatre and watching Disney movies. Did I mention I was gay? Well, so was Eric. While out of the closet, he was extremely discerning when it came to who he dated and hooked up with – and he had every right to be picky. Eric stood at 6’2 and 220lbs. He had played hockey in high school and had a beefy, sturdy body. His dark brown eyes matched his tussled hair and he perpetually had a 5 o’clock shadow. He was such a solid man, oozing masculinity but never a chauvinist or passing judgment on more feminine guys.