I spend lunch picking up a few belongings from home. Liam isn't there, thankfully. I know I should get to my afternoon classes, but the exhaustion, both mental and physical, is getting to me. I look at the key that Alex gave me. Maybe I should just call it a day. My brain isn't absorbing any additional information, anyway.

I look up the address on my phone and find out he lives somewhere off campus. Thankfully, it isn't too far off campus. A short bus trip and I am there. It feels weird entering an apartment of a guy I just met. In fact, it feels downright invasive. I don't even know his last name, but since beggars can't be choosers, I put the key in the lock and open the door.

The place is nice and well kept for a guy living on his own. I am forever picking up after Liam. It is a constant struggle to keep our place livable. I wonder how Alex can afford such a place on his own.

It's small, but comfortable. I, however, instantly notice a problem. There is only one other door, which means only one bedroom. William! What the hell did you get me into? Silently I curse him in my mind and then immediately feel guilty for doing so. I sit down on the sofa. "I guess I'll be sleeping here tonight."

My eyes drift over to Alex's bookshelf. He has an impressive number of books, most of which look like Manga comics. I stand up to get a closer look. I come across some titles I recognize. He has the complete series of One Piece, Dragon Ball (of course), and Naruto. He even has a nearly complete series of Astro Boy.

I am even more impressed when I pull one book off the shelf and discover it's written in Japanese. I carefully return it, not wanting to damage a collectible. It is then I see a picture of Alex. In fact, looking around, I see several pictures of Alex. A tad narcissistic, but the outfits he's wearing in them definitely confirm my suspicion of him being gay.

Again, I wonder if he and William have something going on. If they do, it can't be something serious, because William has never mentioned Alex. Of course, William sees himself as the playboy of the gay sector, often saying, 'I have too much love to give and see no reason I should limit myself in my selection to whom I give it to.' Still, it is odd since he said he trusted Alex so much, yet I never heard mention of him before.

I first met William during freshman year. He was going through something. He really wouldn't talk about it, but I noticed him missing time and falling behind, so I offered to help.

He never explained what caused his sadness, but he said he truly believed that without my help he would have failed out of college in his first year and maybe even failed out of life. I can't imagine life without William now. He is my best friend of all time, and I need friends now more than ever.

I call my OBGYN to set up an appointment. It normally takes about a month to be seen, but because I mention being pregnant, they push me ahead in the schedule.

Pregnant... it still feels strange to say. It all seems surreal.

They tell me to pick up some prenatal vitamins, so I set a reminder on my phone. My eyes feel so heavy, I give in and lie down on the sofa. I'm not sure how long I have been asleep, but the most delicious aroma is now beckoning me to open my eyes. I open them and sit up, startled, forgetting where I am for a moment.

"Not used to waking up in strange places, I see."

It takes a second for my brain to catch up as I turn on the couch to find a half-naked man cooking in the kitchen behind me. At least I am hoping Alex is only half-naked, as he is definitely not wearing a shirt, but the kitchen island between us blocks the rest of him.

He fixes two plates and turns to put them on the counter, but stops when he sees me looking at him.

He is a gorgeous, nearly naked man. Who has made me food? Well, that's different.

Alex stares back, grinning. "See something you like?"

"Wha... What?" Oh my God! I am gawking at him. To clear my fuzzy brain, I shake my head. I mean... okay, he's totally stare-worthy, but I shouldn't even be thinking... What am I thinking?

"Do you see something you like?" he repeats. "I wasn't sure what your preference would be, so I made an omelet and spaghetti." He tilts the plates to give me a glimpse of the contents. 

Now looking uncertain, he continues with, "I guess I can make you a sandwich if you don't like either of those." He put the plates on the counter.

"No! I mean yes, spaghetti sounds divine." At this moment, it really does. I suddenly realize I haven't eaten all day, and my stomach growls to add weight to my words.

"Well, all right then. Come on over here and get it while it's hot."

I still don't move. My stomach is protesting that it really wants the food, but the jury is still out about Alex and his state of undress. "Um... Alex?"

"Yeah?" He continues to set the counter with place settings.

"You, um... do you uh..." I tug on my t-shirt, not knowing exactly how to ask what I want to know. After all, this is his apartment and I really have no right to ask him anything, but it seems far too intimate to be sitting and eating dinner with him in his state of undress. I can't even imagine calmly eating dinner with him looking so, so... damn it... I'm a journalist, I should have the words.

Alex looks down at himself and then his whole body blushes. I didn't even know that's possible. "Oh yeah, right? Shit. Okay... one minute." He disappears into the bedroom and comes back a second or two later wearing a YuGiOh shirt.

"Sorry about that. I took a shower when I got in and you were still asleep. You inspired me to cook dinner. It's been some time since I've had a guest over. Guess I just didn't stop to think. I had expected to dress by the time you woke up. Sorry, Cat. I really don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

He's rambling. The words came tumbling out. Although I can't see the rest of him anymore, now hidden under his shirt, his face is bright red, and I immediately take pity on him.

"It's all right. I'm the intruder here." I stand up, stretch, and join him at the counter. We sit side by side on these rather cool stools that swivel so you can actually look at one another.

"Intruder? That's a bit of a strong term. I invited you, after all. Let's start over. Hi!" Alex extends his hand to me. "I'm Alex Bragin. Well, I'm not bragging... that's just my last name. I'm actually quite humble."

I laugh and take his hand in mine. His hand is warm. His are fingers long. So long that my hand disappears in his. "Cat Fischer - journalism major."

"Oh! We're divulging majors now? I don't know if we're ready for that in our relationship, Cat. Cat? Is that short for something? Catherine, Caitlin perhaps?"

I'm not sure what face I give him, but he immediately holds his hands up in surrender. "Okay, no."

"It's just Cat."

"Seriously? You finally arrive in this world and your parents look down at you and the first thing that came to mind is... Cat?"

I shrug. "What can I say? They are not very creative people."

"Guess it could have been worse. They could have given up altogether and called you Baby."

I snort-laugh and a piece of spaghetti goes down the wrong pipe and I immediately start coughing.

"Oh, shit! Sorry." Alex pats my back. "You don't need CPR, or that other thing people do when someone is choking, do you? Because I'm so not equipped for that."

As he says this, I see his eyes drift to my lips and flick back up to my eyes. I can't help but wonder what he is thinking, because his face turns bright red again.

I hold up a finger, pound lightly on my chest, and squeak out an "I'm fine."

"Oh, good." He gets up and gets me a glass of water, and I gratefully take a sip.

"This really is good spaghetti," I say, wanting to reassure him.

"When it's not causing imminent death?" he asks, shaking his head in dismay. "The secret is in the sauce."

"This isn't a Fried Green Tomatoes kind of thing, is it?" I tease, now looking suspiciously at my plate of spaghetti.

"No, no. Nothing that sinister. I just put a little sugar in the sauce."

"It's good. I'm surprised you knew the reference."

"Really? It's a Kathy Bates movie. I mean, I'll grant you it's no Misery, but come on. A good movie is still a good movie."

"Agreed."

"So, we discovered that you're named after a four-legged furry creature, you're a journalism major, and you have a penchant for dramedies. Am I missing anything?"

"Nope, that about sums me up." I say while eating more of the delicious meal he's prepared. "How about you?"

"Well, the parents named me Alexander, meaning - The Defender of People." He does a superhero pose and puffs out his chest. "Or well, men to be more precise, but I like to be more all-inclusive," he adds with a shrug. "I believe I am aptly named. I'm a photojournalism major and my thing is more like this." He points to his shirt, which of course immediately reminds me of what lies beneath it.

What is wrong with me? He's gay! I'm involved and I'm pregnant! This is the last thought I should have right now.

"I have seen your collection," I admit, and he smiles.

"Yeah, my original thought was to be an Art Major. I love Manga art. Well, all comic book art really..." His smile turns sad. "But life happens and things change, you know?"

Thinking of my current circumstance, I nod. "Yes, I can totally relate."

"You can?"

There is something in how he looks at me at that moment. I feel myself wanting to reveal everything to him, but my brain immediately shuts me down, reminding me that one meal together does not make a trusting relationship.

"Yeah. I know something about that." I refuse, however, to elaborate. He looks expectant for a moment, but when I don't volunteer more, he goes back to eating his omelet.

"So, how long do you need to stay?"

I feel bad about not explaining more of my situation, but I push it aside. "Just tonight. I have to get back to straighten things out with my boyfriend, Liam. I'm just not ready to do it tonight." As if on cue, my phone buzzes and a selfie of me kissing Liam's cheek pops up on the home screen. I sigh and send it to voicemail.

Alex nods like he's made his mind up about something. "Well, you're welcome to stay as long as you like. You can take the bedroom."

My head shoots up. "No really, Alex. That's too much. You've been more than generous... offering me a place, making me dinner. I couldn't, possibly..."

He holds up a hand, staying the rest of my words.

"I work nights, Cat. I don't want to wake you up or startle you when I come in." He takes both plates and puts them in the sink. "Besides, that sofa opens up into a bed, so it's no imposition, really." He adds, most likely because of my look of utter disbelief. "It's obvious you're a sound sleeper. You didn't budge an inch earlier when I came in, but I still think it's for the best."

I feel the urge to explain the only reason that happened is that I have not slept in days, but I don't. Instead, I say, "Thank you!"

"No problem." He smiles at me and I smile back.

"Don't worry about the dishes. I'll do them later," he tells me as he clears the countertop. "There's some ice tea in the fridge and bottles of water. I really have little in the way of food, but you're welcome to whatever you find should you get hungry."

He sits down and puts on a pair of sneakers, then grabs his coat and bag that are by the door. "I gotta shove off to work. Thanks for sharing a meal with me, Cat. It was... nice."

"Yeah, for me too. Stay safe out there." 

His smile widens. "Will do. Sweet dreams, Cat."

"Good night, Alex." And with that, he left for the evening.