Spencer drove. Chad was in the passenger seat with a printout of directions. The backseat of the car was full of supplies for the picnic.
“You’re wife does know you’re going to the beach with a bunch of gay guys right?”
“She encouraged it,” Chad replied.
“Who’s this guy you told me about?”
“His name is Aden. He’s a bar-back and sometimes a shot-boy like me. He’s nice.”
“Firm ass?”
Chad raised an eyebrow.
“I’m just asking. You said he had a nice body.”
“I just meant it’s weird he doesn’t like to take his shirt off is all.”
Spencer nodded but kept a serious face.
“Do you think I’m gay?”
“Bisexual,” Spencer said.
Chad sighed before looking away out the window. His body tensed.
“Hey look, I’m sorry,” Spencer said. “I was just kidding you. It’s really none of my business.”
“I know. It’s just that I used to get that sometimes, especially from the other guys on the force. They said I was light in my loafers and they used to joke about the way I sat.”
“I’m sorry, really,” Spencer replied.
Chad let out a nervous laugh before turning up the volume of the stereo. They drove the rest of the way barely speaking to each other except about directions. When they got to the lake they found that parking was easy and that several men were all ready there. The picnic was larger than either of them had believed it would be. Spencer suddenly felt bad for his friend even though didn’t seem bothered.
“Before we unpack maybe we should go say hello. Make sure we’re at the right place,” Spencer said.
“Okay,” Chad replied.
They walked from the car to the group. It was mostly made of men, but there were a few women though they seemed to easily fit into a pairs. Most of the men were shirtless, several of them had tattoos, most all of them were hairless and muscled. As Spencer and Chad approached they began to get looks as if they were trespassers and for a moment they looked to each other, but then Chad caught sight of someone and called out his name, Ron, who broke from the crowd and made his way to them.
He was handsome and effeminate, with a mischievous grin. He introduced himself to Spencer, then moved to Chad and took hold of his arm. It was a familiar touch that didn’t bother Chad though Spencer felt uncomfortable for his friend.
“I see you guys are wearing swim trunks but I don’t see any towels. Will we be going into the water today?”
“If you are,” Chad said.
“Oh honey, I don’t know if I have the stamina for it. I haven’t eaten a thing all day to keep up my form so I look good shirtless.”
“Well, I’ll only go in if you do,” Chad said.
Spencer thought for a moment he was the one being challenged but then thought about Ron as he held onto Chad’s elbow.
“Always talking me into things,” Ron said. “I will if you will. How about your friend?”
“Uh, yeah, sure,” Spencer said.
“For a straight boy Chad here is quite a hit down at the bar. We’re trying to get him to be a dancer at the Unicorn,” Ron said. “We even have a stage name for him.”
“What is it?” Spencer asked.
“Johnny Law,” Ron answered.
Spencer let out a little laugh and looked to Chad who blushed and smiled. He felt compelled to add to the joke even though he felt bad for his friend. He tried to ignore the impulse and think of something else but it was right there on his tongue. He had thought about it so clearly that it just needed to be said.
“Either that or Night Stick,” Spencer added.
Ron and Chad both laughed.
“You’re a funny one. Look, I know you’re a stranger here but I can introduce you to some of the boys. Do you like them rough or like them nice?”
“Actually, I was going to introduce him to Aden. I thought they’d get along.”
Ron looked to Spencer, from head to toe, then back up. He had a judgmental face and Spencer felt like a cut of beef that was being evaluated by a butcher. It wasn’t an unfamiliar evaluation, one that he had done many, many times, but there in front of Chad, at the lake, and with so many strangers, it felt awkward.
“Too bad you didn’t think about me,” Ron said.
“That’s because I want you all to myself,” Chad said.
“Oh, you’re a terrible flirt. You straight boys always leading us on like that, but it does make me feel good.” Ron let go of Chad’s arm, moved to usher them towards the crowd. “Aden and some of the boys from the bar are on the other side of this meat market.”
They followed after him through the crowd. Spencer looked around at the other guys. He noted a few with chains around their necks and piercings. If Aden was a bust then there were still others. The crowd thinned as they got closer to the beach. There were only a few men and a woman in the water who seemed to be there just to swim.
“I don’t see him,” Chad said.
Spencer felt defeated for a moment. There was no treasure at the end of the trail. He thought about going back for a beer when Ron made a noise.
“There he is in the water. Yoo-hoo Aden, over here,” he called out.
Spencer looked to Ron, then looked out into the lake where he saw a head just above the water. The man was handsome, if only by his head, which began to move closer. Spencer watched as broad shoulders, muscled arms, flat pectorals, a defined abdomen, a narrow waist, a small swimsuit, a swimmer’s brief, strong thighs, and finally two bare feet emerged from the water. For someone who is supposed to be shy he doesn’t seem to swim in much, he thought.
“Come here Aden we want you to meet someone,” Ron said.
Spencer felt as if his own body fell to the ground and he was just a head floating there, a head and a heart. Aden got closer. Spencer felt his body as if it were slowly rebuilding itself until he had to accept that it was the same, familiar form it had always been, and not one he felt comfortable showing, but he held out his hand anyway, and Aden took it.
Despite having been swimming it was remarkably firm and warm. Spencer felt the hairs on his arm and the back of his neck raise up. It felt as if a current had traveled through his body.
“I’m Aden.”
When Spencer didn’t speak Chad spoke up for him.
“This is Spencer. He’s not normally this quiet,” he said.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
Ch. 32 Vacations and Relationships
Sweating and shirtless, Triston and Josh sat next to each other in the shade of a park tree, their shorts hung loose from their thighs as they drank bottled water. There was the sound of birds, a jet passing overhead, and traffic on the road nearby.
“Thanks for jogging with me,” Josh said.
“Hey, no problem, it’s just I haven’t been out in a while.”
“You’re still in good shape,” Josh said.
Triston let out a laugh and wiped sweat from his forehead.
“Thanks I guess, it’s more about diet than exercise for me.”
“It would be easy to get some muscle tone,” Josh said.
“Settle yourself down, I just went jogging.”
“Okay, okay,” Josh said.
They both heard someone else running along the path and looked to the source. They were disappointed to see a young woman headed their way. She passed by them and they looked to each other.
“Don’t you wish that did it for you?” Josh asked.
“Not one second,” Triston said. “Do you?”
“I don’t know. I used to think about it. It’s just so much easier.”
Triston raised an eyebrow at his friend but didn’t say anything and decided to change the subject.
“How are things going?”
“Fine I guess,” Josh said. “I stopped talking to my ex. It just kind of got uncomfortable.”
“What about Spencer? How are things at the apartment?”
“Good, it’s okay. We don’t talk much. It’s not weird or anything. He kind of keeps his distance. It’s like we barely know each other. He’s a very private person. I’m thankful for being there and not having to pay him much in rent. I don’t know what I would do if things were different. He goes out with Chad a lot. I think he’s got a crush on a straight guy.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Triston said.
“I hooked up with this guy the other day.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I decided to use an old dating account of mine. He was nice but very closeted, probably some politician or wants to be one.”
“Around this city it’s all politics,” Triston said.
“What about you and Vincent?”
“He wants to go on a vacation to Las Vegas,” Triston said. “I was thinking something more Tropical but he says there are really good deals. I think we’re going to go next month.”
“That’s pretty serious for not being together very long.”
Triston shrugged his shoulders. It was true and yet he felt because of their age, because of their experience, more importantly because of what they knew they wanted out of the relationship it wasn’t such a milestone.
“We’ll see what happens.”
“Are you guys that serious?”
Triston looked off into the trees and thought about Vincent and their relationship. They had a bond unlike any other. It was like an electrical force between them. He could feel it just by being in the same room.
“I really like him,” Triston said.
“I’m not sure if I want to be in a relationship. I mean there are benefits to it but it just seems so complicated. Although it’s been nice living with someone even if we’re not getting along. It’s like he’s there. There’s someone else in the apartment. There’s someone to talk to and watch television with but you don’t have to always be there for him.”
Triston was bothered by what he heard. He wanted Josh and Spencer to get into a relationship. He thought they would be good for each other, but maybe roommates was the best to hope for.
They heard another jogger on the track but this time it was a young man. He was shirtless and muscled, a necklace bounced around his neck. They both looked to him and as he passed he looked over to them. Josh got to his feet and began to stretch with his back to the runner.
“Is he too far gone yet?”
“No, he’s taking his time. He just came to a stop.”
“I’m going to see if he’s interested, maybe he needs a shower buddy to wash his back,” Josh said.
Triston watched his friend turn and jog away. He’d give Josh a few minutes to test the waters before he followed up behind him.
“Thanks for jogging with me,” Josh said.
“Hey, no problem, it’s just I haven’t been out in a while.”
“You’re still in good shape,” Josh said.
Triston let out a laugh and wiped sweat from his forehead.
“Thanks I guess, it’s more about diet than exercise for me.”
“It would be easy to get some muscle tone,” Josh said.
“Settle yourself down, I just went jogging.”
“Okay, okay,” Josh said.
They both heard someone else running along the path and looked to the source. They were disappointed to see a young woman headed their way. She passed by them and they looked to each other.
“Don’t you wish that did it for you?” Josh asked.
“Not one second,” Triston said. “Do you?”
“I don’t know. I used to think about it. It’s just so much easier.”
Triston raised an eyebrow at his friend but didn’t say anything and decided to change the subject.
“How are things going?”
“Fine I guess,” Josh said. “I stopped talking to my ex. It just kind of got uncomfortable.”
“What about Spencer? How are things at the apartment?”
“Good, it’s okay. We don’t talk much. It’s not weird or anything. He kind of keeps his distance. It’s like we barely know each other. He’s a very private person. I’m thankful for being there and not having to pay him much in rent. I don’t know what I would do if things were different. He goes out with Chad a lot. I think he’s got a crush on a straight guy.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Triston said.
“I hooked up with this guy the other day.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I decided to use an old dating account of mine. He was nice but very closeted, probably some politician or wants to be one.”
“Around this city it’s all politics,” Triston said.
“What about you and Vincent?”
“He wants to go on a vacation to Las Vegas,” Triston said. “I was thinking something more Tropical but he says there are really good deals. I think we’re going to go next month.”
“That’s pretty serious for not being together very long.”
Triston shrugged his shoulders. It was true and yet he felt because of their age, because of their experience, more importantly because of what they knew they wanted out of the relationship it wasn’t such a milestone.
“We’ll see what happens.”
“Are you guys that serious?”
Triston looked off into the trees and thought about Vincent and their relationship. They had a bond unlike any other. It was like an electrical force between them. He could feel it just by being in the same room.
“I really like him,” Triston said.
“I’m not sure if I want to be in a relationship. I mean there are benefits to it but it just seems so complicated. Although it’s been nice living with someone even if we’re not getting along. It’s like he’s there. There’s someone else in the apartment. There’s someone to talk to and watch television with but you don’t have to always be there for him.”
Triston was bothered by what he heard. He wanted Josh and Spencer to get into a relationship. He thought they would be good for each other, but maybe roommates was the best to hope for.
They heard another jogger on the track but this time it was a young man. He was shirtless and muscled, a necklace bounced around his neck. They both looked to him and as he passed he looked over to them. Josh got to his feet and began to stretch with his back to the runner.
“Is he too far gone yet?”
“No, he’s taking his time. He just came to a stop.”
“I’m going to see if he’s interested, maybe he needs a shower buddy to wash his back,” Josh said.
Triston watched his friend turn and jog away. He’d give Josh a few minutes to test the waters before he followed up behind him.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Ch 31 Straight Advice
Horsepower doesn’t mean anything when stuck in traffic, Spencer thought as he looked at the lights of the car ahead of him. Chad was beside him in the passenger seat.
“Thanks for coming along to try out my new car,” Spencer said. “Sorry there’s so much traffic.”
“You didn’t make it,” Chad said.
“I know. It’s just frustrating.”
“It’d be nice to take it out West though and really get a chance to drive, or maybe down Florida where that highway is like 80 mph.”
“In my dreams, around here I’d be lucky to do anything more than 60 mph with all of the traffic cameras and cops. How’s the job working out for you?” Spencer asked.
“It’s actually kind of fun,” Chad said.
“Really?”
“Yeah, there’s actually a few straight guys who work there but everyone is nice. I’m actually going to some lake with a few of the guys next weekend.”
“Really,” Spencer said.
“Yeah, they invited me along. There’s going to be a cookout. Would you want to go with me? They said I could invite someone.”
“Don’t you think that would be a little, I don’t know, confusing for them.”
“They all know I’m straight. Although there was that one time, but it was just a little bit of tongue.”
“Now you’re just messing with me.”
“Of course I am. Yes, they all know I’m straight but we get along. It’s kind of like being in college or something. Some of the guys can be a little dramatic but there’s no bullshit, you know. I mean on the force it was like all this macho crap. I mean some of those guys I wouldn’t want around my daughter and they have kids of their own but the guys at the bar are nice.”
Spencer let off the brake and drifted for a bit before stopping the car again.
“And there’s someone you should meet.”
“Is he one of those drama people?”
“No, not really, he’s kind of low key. He works the bar. I think he’s kind of shy. It’s rare that he takes his shirt off. He’s got a nice body though.”
“Checking out your workmates? Something I should know?”
“What? I’m allowed to evaluate. He’s handsome, blonde hair and blue eyes.”
“Is he crazy? Because my last boyfriend was crazy. He threatened to post our sex tape on the internet, luckily he backed off. I think he was worried about his grandmother finding out.”
“Sex tape?”
“Don’t ask,” Spencer said.
“I have to ask. Why would you?”
“It was an impulsive thing, supposed to stay private.”
“Did you ever watch it?”
“You know, actually, we didn’t. It always felt more like some secret thing.”
“How about it? I’d introduce the two of you.”
“What? The guy, I guess, I mean nothing is happening in my love life,” Spencer said.
“Did you talk to your roommate?”
“Josh? I haven’t yet. It’s kind of, I don’t know, fizzled. Sometimes Triston tells me what’s going on with him, said he’s not going back to his ex any time soon but that’s it.”
“You should do it,” Chad said.
“I don’t know. I mean it’s weird but it actually seems more difficult than coming out. It kind of feels the same. I mean it’s like this secret that if I say it I leave myself vulnerable to him. I don’t like that feeling.”
“How did you feel after you came out?”
Spencer looked to him. Coming out had been relatively easy given all of the horror stories he had heard. He told his parents one evening and they just kind of accepted it. No, not accepted, but they didn’t fight it. There was no yelling, just silence, and they didn’t really talk about it again, not in any real way. He felt silly for having thought it would be some drastic, life changing event. And yet, really, he did feel different, because he decided he didn’t need their approval.
“I felt lighter,” Spencer said.
“See, it wasn’t easy. How did feel before?”
“Like I wanted to sink into the ground.”
“I’m not saying you’re going to be best friends, or boyfriends, but you owe him a real apology. You need to tell him where you were coming from, and you need to stop thinking of him as a sex object.”
Spencer blushed at the last sentence. He gripped the wheel tighter. He was getting advice from his straight friend about another guy. He let out a small laugh and shook his head. Times really have changed, he thought.
“What is it?” Chad asked.
“I just never thought I’d be sitting here listening to a straight man give me advice about dating another guy, much less inviting me to some cookout to meet someone.”
“Just don’t try and kiss me. I’m married. It’s a monogamous relationship,” Chad said.
Spencer looked to him, his eyes went wide but Chad only smiled back.
“Thanks for coming along to try out my new car,” Spencer said. “Sorry there’s so much traffic.”
“You didn’t make it,” Chad said.
“I know. It’s just frustrating.”
“It’d be nice to take it out West though and really get a chance to drive, or maybe down Florida where that highway is like 80 mph.”
“In my dreams, around here I’d be lucky to do anything more than 60 mph with all of the traffic cameras and cops. How’s the job working out for you?” Spencer asked.
“It’s actually kind of fun,” Chad said.
“Really?”
“Yeah, there’s actually a few straight guys who work there but everyone is nice. I’m actually going to some lake with a few of the guys next weekend.”
“Really,” Spencer said.
“Yeah, they invited me along. There’s going to be a cookout. Would you want to go with me? They said I could invite someone.”
“Don’t you think that would be a little, I don’t know, confusing for them.”
“They all know I’m straight. Although there was that one time, but it was just a little bit of tongue.”
“Now you’re just messing with me.”
“Of course I am. Yes, they all know I’m straight but we get along. It’s kind of like being in college or something. Some of the guys can be a little dramatic but there’s no bullshit, you know. I mean on the force it was like all this macho crap. I mean some of those guys I wouldn’t want around my daughter and they have kids of their own but the guys at the bar are nice.”
Spencer let off the brake and drifted for a bit before stopping the car again.
“And there’s someone you should meet.”
“Is he one of those drama people?”
“No, not really, he’s kind of low key. He works the bar. I think he’s kind of shy. It’s rare that he takes his shirt off. He’s got a nice body though.”
“Checking out your workmates? Something I should know?”
“What? I’m allowed to evaluate. He’s handsome, blonde hair and blue eyes.”
“Is he crazy? Because my last boyfriend was crazy. He threatened to post our sex tape on the internet, luckily he backed off. I think he was worried about his grandmother finding out.”
“Sex tape?”
“Don’t ask,” Spencer said.
“I have to ask. Why would you?”
“It was an impulsive thing, supposed to stay private.”
“Did you ever watch it?”
“You know, actually, we didn’t. It always felt more like some secret thing.”
“How about it? I’d introduce the two of you.”
“What? The guy, I guess, I mean nothing is happening in my love life,” Spencer said.
“Did you talk to your roommate?”
“Josh? I haven’t yet. It’s kind of, I don’t know, fizzled. Sometimes Triston tells me what’s going on with him, said he’s not going back to his ex any time soon but that’s it.”
“You should do it,” Chad said.
“I don’t know. I mean it’s weird but it actually seems more difficult than coming out. It kind of feels the same. I mean it’s like this secret that if I say it I leave myself vulnerable to him. I don’t like that feeling.”
“How did you feel after you came out?”
Spencer looked to him. Coming out had been relatively easy given all of the horror stories he had heard. He told his parents one evening and they just kind of accepted it. No, not accepted, but they didn’t fight it. There was no yelling, just silence, and they didn’t really talk about it again, not in any real way. He felt silly for having thought it would be some drastic, life changing event. And yet, really, he did feel different, because he decided he didn’t need their approval.
“I felt lighter,” Spencer said.
“See, it wasn’t easy. How did feel before?”
“Like I wanted to sink into the ground.”
“I’m not saying you’re going to be best friends, or boyfriends, but you owe him a real apology. You need to tell him where you were coming from, and you need to stop thinking of him as a sex object.”
Spencer blushed at the last sentence. He gripped the wheel tighter. He was getting advice from his straight friend about another guy. He let out a small laugh and shook his head. Times really have changed, he thought.
“What is it?” Chad asked.
“I just never thought I’d be sitting here listening to a straight man give me advice about dating another guy, much less inviting me to some cookout to meet someone.”
“Just don’t try and kiss me. I’m married. It’s a monogamous relationship,” Chad said.
Spencer looked to him, his eyes went wide but Chad only smiled back.
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