Ben and Jeremy were close but usually in groups of 3 or more. Their dynamics always became a bit tense and awkward when alone together and Ben knew why: he had the biggest man-crush on him. Sometimes he felt small around him. Other times, he just wanted to become him. Jeremy was always with his hot girlfriend (who changes every 3 months or so). After 3 years of college, it was only this summer when both of them truly started to hit it off. They took the same summer class and moved into the same apartment complex. But there was always a bit of tension and Ben believed it was his fault: perhaps his man-crush was more than that.
Jeremy caught Ben checking him out quite a few times, but Ben hoped he thought nothing of it. And those eyes ... those piercing, icy smooth hazel eyes would stare him down into submission. He’d feel a tremor down the chest as if his invisible eye beams were penetrating his very soul, placing Ben in his rightful place: don’t get too close or there will be trouble. And he’d obey. For 3 years, Ben assumed he thought nothing of it. Nothing of him. And he convinced himself that it was OK.
One night, Jeremy texted him to convince him to sneak into the swimming pool together. And that hot, hazy misty night was the beginning of an intense, beautiful bromance that neither could’ve ever imagined.
