had dinner. I wondered whether he had, but quickly realized I'd be cooking for someone who views cooking as an art, and not as a means to an end! I thought, about all the local restaurants we could go to, when my mental ramblings were interrupted by a knock at the door.

I answered, and there my new neighbor stood looking absolutely comfortable in a white tank top and some loose fitting cotton shorts. He had on those sandals that have become so popular; the ones with all those little nubs that rub against the soles of his feet as he walks. I couldn't help but notice how big his feet were, but certainly not unusual for someone every bit of 6'6" tall. Anyway, he had a big smile on his face, and I invited him in. "Wow, cool place!" He said.

I said, "Isn't it just like yours?"

"Yeah, the layout, but it's cool the way it's decorated."

"Oh, cool. Thanks. Sorry, sometimes I'm a little dense."

So, I handed him a beer and he sat down. He started telling me about his day at work, and how it had been a long day. We had talked about a half hour when he told me he was starting to get hungry. Figuring honesty was the easiest way out of this mess, I said, "Okay, look, I was going to make myself a Chicken Caesar Salad for dinner. I'm no chef and don't claim to be, but I'm happy to throw it together for us, if you promise to go easy on me."

He looked at me kind of stunned and started to laugh. "Man, will you chill. No worries. I'd appreciate not having to cook anything, to be honest with you."

So, I cooked up some chicken and we had a salad. He had another beer and I could tell he was really getting comfortable. He had kicked of his sandals, not long after he arrived. After dinner, he settled down in the corner of my sectional sofa. Then it happened...

"So, what happened with you and your girlfriend? Wife?", he asked, as if trying to determine exactly what kind of relationship I had ended. I froze like a deer in the headlights. I don't know what expression I had on my face, but he said, "Dude, are you okay? You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to."

I couldn't do it. I hated to ruin a nice relaxing evening, because I was really enjoying the companionship. So, I said, "Well, I need to be honest with you. It was with a guy, not a girl."

He paused for a few minutes, and then said, "So, you're gay?"

"Yeah."

He said, as if it was no big deal, "So, what happened?"

"Well, he didn't get the meaning of 'monogamy'." I explained.

"Yeah, I hear that a lot. A guy at work just broke up with his girlfriend because of that, and then a woman I go to school with divorced her husband for the same reason. That's why I just figured I wouldn't even try while I'm in school. Don't get me wrong, I really miss the sex, but it's just better this way for now."

I understood what he meant. At this point in my life, I figured I'd be taking a break from dating, also. I had ended a several-year long relationship, and admittedly I was showing my age,