** BRIAN **

AAARGH. I LOST AGAIN!’ I THREW THE JOYSTICK ON the couch next to me.

‘Of course you lost! I told you to play the fifty courses, but your stubborn ass will only play the harder levels!’ Allan was failing very hard at holding his laughter and he looked very inviting, sitting on the floor with his back on the couch. I had the most privileged view from where I was.

‘Hey!’ I pointed a finger at him, ‘don’t you complain about my stubborn ass because you love the things it does to you. Come on, let’s try one more cup.’

‘Only if you promise to point that finger at me again.’

‘Only after I win.’

‘Oh, is that what it will take?’ he sounded too menacing for my taste.

‘Allan Altridge, don’t you dare let me win.’

‘Are we throwing surnames now? All right, Brian Robert Leech, prepare to have that stubborn ass of yours destroyed. Come on. Get the joystick.’

Gosh, he sounded so sexy when he got bossy. Still, I lost. Two hours of slaughter later, I confess I was tired of losing.

‘Admit defeat, Brian. Come crawling and give my prize.’

‘I’m sitting right behind you!’

‘Crawl. You lost. I get the prize.’

‘It’s a prize you want, eh?’ I leaned forward and whispered on his year. I could see him shiver from head to toe. ‘I can crawl all the way to the bedroom if you like.’

‘I’m right behind you, baby.’

Indeed, he was.

Some incredible time later, we were showering together. I was lost in thought as I washed his hair.

‘I want to make a proposition,’ I said as I rubbed the tips of my fingers through his head.

‘Aren’t you supposed to be on one knee for that?’

‘I said proposition, not proposal. Also, when I do get to this one, you will know it.’

‘All right. Shoot it.’

‘After the first time we played together, I did some research about those unboxing videos you mentioned and I found a lot of those.’

‘Yeah. Basically, everyone who gets a game makes a video like that.’

‘I see. There are a lot of gameplay videos as well. Do you people just like to watch other people play? I mean, I like to watch you play, but that’s different. You’re my partner. I love to watch you do the things you like.’

‘Is that why you want a bigger mirror in the bedroom?’

‘Oh my God, Allan!’ I squatted in shame. ‘Why?’

‘It was right there! You’re the one who made it too easy! You know I cannot help it.’

He stood still for a small moment before continuing.

‘Are you going to take advantage of your position?’

‘No!’ I said getting up. He pouted.

‘Okay, we’ll save it for later. But answering your question, it’s not exactly about watching people play like so many guys watch football. It’s more like learning from better players so you can improve your own stance.’

‘Allan, you know I’m probably biased considering how often I lose to you, but I don’t think you have anything to learn from those guys online. I’ve been watching several of them and sooner or later I always see them struggle at one thing or another I’ve seen you ace.’

‘Brian, is there an evil plan forming in that head of yours?’

‘Maybe. Maybe it’s not a plan, more like an experiment. I really want you to have a hobby you love.’

‘What are you talking about? I love playing the piano.’

‘Allan. Say that again, but this time look deep into my eyes and remember you already got the guy.’

He sighed in defeat.

‘How long have you known?’

‘I’ve always known. I guess I always pushed it because I was afraid you might vanish from my life otherwise.’

‘That’s the reason why I insisted for so long as well. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike it. Also, I admire you so much and I feel super happy watching you play, but—’

‘It’s just not for you. Yeah. I get it. That’s why I would like you to try something related to gaming. You are indeed talented and you might have some fun while doing it.’

‘Okay. Let’s do it. Can you help me, though? If we’re going to do it, let’s do it right. I want us to research the best way to make an engaging and entertaining video.’

‘I’ll be happy to help!’

‘Great. Now rewind your words for a second. I want to hear you say I already got the guy again,’ he said that in his sexiest voice, throwing his arms around my neck. We took another hour to leave the shower.

‘Now get ready,’ I said when we left the en-suite towards the closet for clean underwear. ‘We’re going to the mall. I want to get you some gear.’

‘Brian…’

‘Don’t “Brian” me. I am positive you would’ve done the same for me.’

‘In the blink of an eye.’

‘See? Come on. Make sure to dress up nice because I want us to be the cutest and hottest couple at that mall tonight.’

‘Saturday night and I’m strolling through the mall holding my partner’s hand and doing some harmless shopping.’ I said a couple of hours later. ‘I guess I’m finally living the awesome life of luxury my old manager mentioned so often.’

‘Really?’ Allan sounded amused. ‘That’s the life of luxury your manager promised you?’

‘Of course not!’ I answered, steering him towards the music shop. ‘He always talked about queues of naked ladies, a lot of alcohol and coke. Hey! Don’t give me that look! That was his idea of success, not mine!’

‘You know,’ he said matter-of-factly, ‘every time I hear about your manager, I understand why you quit. Don’t you think maybe some other kind of representation could convince you to keep your career?’

‘Oh, I considered that a lot before actually making a decision. I’m not going to say never, but I am confident that I made the right choice at the right time. And for that, the universe has rewarded me the best way possible,’ he pecked my lips quickly in response to my words.

I went to the cashier holding this heavy and high-tech turntable while Allan was a dear and held the records I had chosen. He was already opening his wallet when I saw what he was about to do.

‘Allan, please. Don’t. Let me pay.’

‘Brian. Listen to me very carefully. You have a PS4, an XBox, a bunch of games, a recording camera and a headset in those bags and we bloody well know how often you will actually use any of those things and all along you insisted on paying for everything. Now, I will pay for your turntable and for your records and you will use them as often as possible. Yes, I know they’re not cheap, but there is no way I’m going to let you pay. If you think you want to make it up to me in any way, use the damn turntable. Got it?’

‘All right. In that case, let’s go back. I want to get a few more records, otherwise I’ll get bored of those quickly. But I’ll pay for those!’

We needed an Uber to get us home and I confess that we were feeling our Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman fantasy. It was nice, every once in a blue moon to go on a shopping spree. Allan was quick to assemble all the three consoles we now owned and I was close by making this sweet music installation right behind the piano. We both felt like kids on Christmas morning and would constantly stop to excitedly share a discovery about our new toys. We decided to finally go to bed almost at lunch time on Sunday.