In search of celebrity dating and hookup stories, I've been asking all the gay men I know, with little luck. But I got a good one last night, from of all places, Ryan H., the college track star I met two weeks ago while driving through small-town Illinois on the way back from a funeral.
Last night we were chatting on Facebook's instant messenger:
Ryan: I have one for you. Me and Harry Styles.
Me: For real, or a fantasy?
Ryan: Real. Summer before last.
I quickly wikipedia Harry Styles. Born 1994, member of the boy band One Direction from 2011 to 2015, five albums, five Brit Awards and four MTV Music Video Awards, "Live While We're Young" hit #3 on the U.S. charts, and "Best Song Ever" #2. Just signed with Columbia as a solo artist.
Me: So summer of 2015. You were...17? Ryan: Right. Just after my junior year in high school.
Me: So how did you meet Harry Styles in your small town in Illinois?
Ryan: No, LOL, it was in Indianapolis [two hours away]. My family goes down for the weekend several times a year. We go to a Pacers game or a concert, go to the Children's Museum, that sort of thing. Well, this time my friend Sam came along, and there were so many of us that we got our own hotel room.
Me: Were you and Sam a couple?
Ryan: Sam? LOL. He's a year younger than me, and straight! I just like older guys. But he's a sweetheart, my cuddly bae. So we had it all planned out. After they were all in bed, I snuck out -- Sam covered for me, right -- and I walked about seven blocks to the Metro [a gay club on Massachusetts Avenue.]
Me: You got in ok?
Ryan: I had a fake id, and besides, look at me! I've been flashing a smile to get whatever I want since I was little.
Me: Well, you are rather cute.
Ryan: Def! So I'm into silver foxes, hot ones like you, and this one really hot guy piques my interest -- in his fifties, tall distinguished, white hair and beard, nice muscular chest. But he's already hitting on this cute, long-haired twink. I don't care -- I go up and flash my smile anyway.
Me: Planning to steal the Silver Fox away?Ryan: I don't know. I thought maybe a three-some -- I never had one of those before. So I flash my smile, and Silver Fox gets that dopey grin -- the one you got when you saw me, right? And the guy he's with looks a little jealous. And I see it's Harry Styles from One Direction. I was never a big fan, but every girl in school was into him, so I recognized him instantly.
The rest of the story is too risque for Boomer Beefcake and Bonding. You can see it on Tales of West Hollywood.