Looking 1.05 Sneak Peek: Patrick Takes a Sick Day to Spend Time with Richie

Following the unexpected break with Richie, Patrick’s fear of opening himself up and being rejected led him to lead a false life with Kevin. He was able to get the connection that he needed without the responsibility and the pressure of being in a relationship; Kevin and he would spend their time together flirting and getting to know one another and then Kevin would go home to his boyfriend, allowing Patrick to get the positive aspects of a relationship without the weight of keeping his end of the bargain hanging over his head. While he might not have been ready for something serious after what happened with Richie, and due to only having one semi-serious relationship in the past, attaching himself to Kevin wasn’t what he needed to do in order to heal emotionally and ready himself for the chance to be with someone.

On the next episode of Looking, Patrick calls in sick and spends the day traveling around San Francisco with Richie. The two found each other again at Stud the night after Folsom and they could no longer deny the chemistry they have, not when Patrick was apologetic about the foreskin comment and the connotation that came with it. Having the day to themselves will allow them to further develop their connection without any distractions while giving Patrick the chance to show Richie who he really is; thus far in their brief time together, Patrick has decidedly not been himself whenever around Richie, often getting too nervous to function and saying things in the way that he doesn’t intend them, and if there’s any hope of the two pursuing something serious, he’s going to have to show Richie that he’s more than what he’s shown and that he’s left the days of fuck buddies and casual sex behind.

Looking airs Sundays at 10:30 on HBO.

Will the trip around San Francisco help to reconnect Patrick and Richie following their time apart? What do you expect to learn about both during their time together? Has Patrick gotten Kevin off his mind enough to be able to devote his attention to Richie?