Magnetic Andrew can’t help but be pleased with himself. Confident in his own skin and happy when others are as well, he’s not afraid to be himself, no matter who is watching. He’s experienced judgment for being different and rejects that totally, choosing to be the change he wants to see.
“‘You know I like you, right?’ he asked. ‘You know you’re important?’ Sweet Andrew. He knew the antidote. What would it be like to feel like him, generous, accepting everyone at face value?”
Andrew’s expansive and generous nature is evident in his love of food, sex, drink, and getting together with friends. He is the glue that holds the group together. He’s also a talented artist who creates organic sculptures in clay, paying the rent on his cramped Koreatown apartment by teaching ceramics at the college. His artistic talent is only one of the many gifts he offers the world.
When I first envisioned Andrew, I knew Celia and León needed someone to provide a bridge between them, and that person needed to contrast the painful growth they’d have to go through. I didn’t realize how much Andrew would end up doing for Celia and León, but he just naturally became their rock. I had to get into his head to find out where he got that natural confidence and joy.
I found a man who grew up black and bisexual in a diverse community in New York City, and who experienced microaggressions and prejudices on a daily basis. His reaction to that was radically choosing to accept everyone as they are, no questions asked. This was a conscious decision on his part, and the origin of his infectious personality. He is gregarious, extroverted, and confident, with a wide grin that lights up rooms.
Despite his extroverted nature, Andrew is discreet and trustworthy. This makes him a valuable, loyal friend, and one who is always willing to lend a hand. When Celia experiences depression, Andrew is there to support her with gentle but firm encouragement, making a plan for her to call him, and following up if she disappears from the group chat for too long. He is also the one who nudges the crew into coming together for (at least) weekly dinners at Celia’s, recognizing that cooking is one of the few tasks Celia still enjoys. It doesn’t hurt that Andrew also gets to eat delicious food as he’s helping out! Why shouldn’t everyone benefit?
Andrew has no hesitations when León asks to stay with him, fresh off the plane from New York City. He’s happy to share whatever resources he’s able to, even if it’s just a sagging couch in a cramped apartment. León turns to Andrew whenever he’s running from something, and that couch is always available along with some plain advice. Having León in the apartment doesn’t stop Andrew from bringing home dates, of course. The trust between Andrew and León was a true joy to write.
Kelsey and Andrew are the happiest in the group, recognizing in each other the easy ability to enjoy life. Perhaps they see that they have too much in common, because they never went out on a single date. Kelsey may have been slightly annoyed by this, initially.
Andrew is actually attracted to Trevor, the last person (besides León) to join their little circle. Trevor is more serious, feeling a little more pressure to succeed – perhaps to prove his parents wrong about him. Trevor often encourages Andrew to challenge himself and do more than teach. Finding someone who thinks he has growth left in him is a surprise to Andrew, and he quite enjoys Trevor’s belief in him. Their relationship stays mostly off-stage in the book because it is a private, important experience for them. Obviously, it’s not nearly the secret they think it is.
I hesitated to let Andrew be as sex-positive as he wanted, worrying about the trope of the promiscuous bisexual friend, but he just kept leading me back to it. Andrew enjoys the simple pleasures of life. It was a part of him, not tacked on, so I eventually let him at it. He’s simply open-minded, embodying the idea of pleasure-positive living, embracing every aspect of life with joy and enthusiasm.
I love Andrew’s infectious spirit and would like to approach life with the same open and accepting attitude that he embodies.
