Unless Marlo interrupts him, Chris spends the day curled up on the couch reading the Brothers Karamazov. 

It seems like Chris doesn't want to be interrupted; he'll draw. 

Then in the evening Chris will open the drawer full of sex toys, pack up a bag, and leave. 

He doesn't come home that night. 

Marlo has slept alone nearly every night of his life and there is no reason at all that he should be unable to sleep now. After trying and failing for an hour and a half or so he gives up and goes back to drawing. 

In the midmorning, Chris returns home. "How was your night last night?"

"Uneventful. How was yours?" 

"I can tell you if you want but I don't particularly expect that you want to hear about it."

"So it went well, then. Your book is still on the table there are just papers on top of it." 

"It did." He glances at the papers. "Your art is good."

"Thank you." 

Most of what he's drawn so far is more fantasy art — not the knights swearing fealty to fair maidens that are on the walls, but Bradamante in full armor, a sleeping dragon. None of it has colors or backgrounds. 

"You can cuddle me while I read if you'd like."

"— Thank you." 

He moves to be next to Chris; once his head is on Chris's shoulder it takes almost no time at all to fall asleep there. 

That is both cute and moderately worrisome.

Chris reads Dostoevsky and silently resolves to hook up in the afternoon from now on.

He looks different, relaxed. His face softens; he can't be self-conscious about the way he fits himself to Chris. 

He's very cute. It makes it somewhat hard to concentrate on reading.

When he wakes up he pulls away, just a little. "Sorry," he says, not quite sure what he's apologizing for. 

"It's fine."

"Have you thought about the possibility that you might be attracted to men?"

"— I haven't. Why?" 

"I could be wrong, I haven't seen you interact much with other people, but normally when people look at me the way you do they really want to kiss me."

"I don't especially, I just — like being close to you."

"I suppose. Do you want to test it?"

"…not really, no?" 

"Well, tell me if you change your mind. You're very attractive."

"…thank you?" 

Marlo is distinctly less cuddly for the next few days.