“It’s a nice door, but normally, people walk through it.”

 

Lukis blinks as he’s broken out of his thoughts about his column and turns to face the young man behind him.  His skin is the color of rich chocolate blended with milk. His eyes are a deep green like fresh grasses in the beginning whispers of summer. His hair is kept in a high ponytail, a bundle of dreads that are a mix of dark and light browns. A couple of locks have escaped the hair tie, one or two brushing against his face. He’s shorter than Lukis, the perfect height he likes in his men. If they were to kiss, the young man would need to push himself up on his toes to reach Lukis’s lips. The young man’s dressed in all black with little hints of color that make his outfit pop. It’s a simple tank top with tight jeans and a deep red belt, his shoes matching. He wears several colored wristbands on each arm—rainbow, they make up a rainbow, and Lukis immediately makes a pleasant assumption.

 

“I get the functions of a door. Was just pacin’ myself,” Lukis says.

 

“Well, there ain’t nothin’ fun out here unless you like hot girls who give out free energy drinks.”

 

Lukis glances over at the booth where the baggy pants wearing male populace is posing for pictures with the women in halter tops and tight shorts. “No to both of those.”

 

The young man raises an eyebrow, smirking. “Even the girls?”

 

There’s a hint of playfulness in his eyes that makes    Lukis smirk back. “’Specially the girls.”

 

“Careful. I might take that the wrong way.”

 

“Ain’t a wrong way if I like where it’s goin’.”

 

“Damn,” the young man says with a chuckle, “that’s a good line. Too bad you ain’t goin’ inside, otherwise I’d have time to enjoy a few more.”

 

“Or you can stay out here with me. Maybe let me take you somewhere that don’t run on canned sugar and large breasts.”

 

“Oh? And where would that be?”

 

“This is downtown, right? Gotta be a place somewhere.”  Lukis pulls out his phone, already moving his fingers across the screen to find the proper venue for seducing the gorgeous man in front of him. Perhaps an exquisite restaurant for an elegant lunch made of trendy finger foods and handmade pastas. Lukis can worry about this supposed “sports story” later. The tournament is three days, and after being exposed to the crowd around him, Lukis can spare a day for an out-of-town romance.

 

“As temptin’ as that is, I gotta get checked in.”

 

“Checked in? Oh, you mean like a press pass?”

 

“Press? You think I….” Then he laughs. “Naw, man, I’m participatin’, but shit, thanks for thinkin’ so highly of me.”

 

“You actually in the tournament?” It’s another terrible generalization, he knows that, but Lukis had come in assuming he’d be watching bored white kids facing off against Asians—they created these games, right?

 

“One of them, yeah.”

 

“One? How many are there?”

 

The young man smiles. “You new to this, ain’t ya?  There’s a whole bunch of tournaments for different games. I really need to get goin’, though. Maybe we’ll run into each other later, you know, if you ever manage to walk inside.”

 

“Hey! I—” But the attractive young man smiles and walks away. Lukis isn’t sure if the sudden sway in his hips is natural or an intentional ploy to get his attention, but whatever it is, it works. Lukis can’t take his eyes off him as the man’s denim-covered backside moves from left to right.  Soon, he stops at the door and looks back at Lukis. The playful gleam is back in his eyes as he makes a grand show of pushing open the door and stepping into the building.

 

“Well, now I guess I gotta go in,” Lukis says, earlier apprehensions dissolving in favor of a pair of tight jeans and a pretty little smile.