New Year's 2025

"That's great. See you in a bit." Mark hung up the phone and looked over at me, slightly rolling his eyes.

"What?"

"They're on their way. Like, they called from the gate." He looked exasperated. They had said they would show up in a few hours. But here they were, no warning, unannounced. Mark hadn't seen them in person for a few years, but their seeming belief that time was just a random construct that didn't merit close adherence was intact.

"I'll get into something a bit more appropriate." Strictly speaking, I didn't need to; guys like us in Palm Springs were casual year-round, and a tank top, sweat shorts, and sandals were appropriate virtually anywhere. Besides, I was about to hit the gym. Well, okay. I needed to get shoes on. Regardless, I retreated to my bedroom.

As announced, a few short minutes later, Mark's two friends had shown up, and I heard him greet them through the bedroom door. Meanwhile, I was struggling a bit with my shirts. I didn't have many, and even fewer that had actually fit. Over the holidays, my belly had grown, and my shirts now struggled to cover it; if they could, they showed the effort, gathering at my sides and hugging my gut tightly. A few shirts—including the few tank tops that would have been perfect for the gym—now revealed the crescent of my belly as it scooped down over the tops of my shorts. Lifting my arms would have revealed more skin than people at this posh country club gym would have deemed appropriate. If only I was working out at a bear gym, where such skin would have been not only acceptable but welcome.

I found a recently-purchased sky blue shirt and threw it on. Close enough. No hiding my gut, but at least the shirt was long enough to conceal it when I lifted.

I barged out of my bedroom as Mark and his friends were chatting about dealing with the latest rude flight attendant experiences. No hint of his annoyance with their surprise arrival; after all, they were long-standing friends. I waited a second or two for a quick appropriate moment to introduce myself, which wasn't hard, given my sudden physical presence.

Both guys were dressed in graphic t-shirts; one had "Do I look like I fly economy?" stretched across his bulging chest, which elicited a laugh and a compliment from me. After introductions were done, I announced my departure to go to the gym, and by the time the screen door snapped closed behind me, I realized that I had completely forgotten their names.