Chapter 12
The snow began falling as the two men walked across campus, holding hands. It was a dark night, but the thick clouds offered a strange glow from on high, reflecting the yellow-orange burn of streetlights and passing cars. They stopped at a convenience store for a fresh box of lubricated condoms—”No pressure, but we’ll have them if we want them,” said Erik, who paid for them.
It was almost ten when Ryan opened the door to his building and led Erik up to his third floor room. He flipped on the light and was immediately ashamed by the mess on the floor—all the dirty laundry from their trip to Duluth, a wet towel, and a pile of desks and paper on his desk.
“Sorry about all this,” said Ryan, swooping down to pick up the laundry and move it out of the way. He opened his closet door
