Ch 35 - Vegas

A cup of tea in his hand Triston walked the store fixing items, picking up dirt, and anything else he could think to distract himself.  It was four hours until his flight out of D.C. to Las Vegas and he was worried.  He had passed Cheryl for the third time when she caught his eye.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

He stopped in the doorway of the office, turned his head.  He had never been one to hide his feelings.  He had always been open and shared too much.  That’s why he couldn’t work anywhere else, but somehow this felt different.  He felt a shame unlike any other.  She continued to stare at him until he felt drawn into her confidence.

“I need to talk,” he said.

“Come in and have a seat.”

“I’m just, it’s this vacation.  I’m having some anxiety.  I’m worried.”

“Because of the relationship?”

Triston shook his head.

“Because of Vincent’s health?”

Triston shook his head.

“Well, you’re going to have to help me honey because I can’t think of anything else.”

“I’m worried about traveling with him.  It’s one thing to be gay.  It’s another to be a gay couple, and it’s even more when you go out in public, especially places where you don’t know how people will react.  It’s one thing around here in D.C. but out there...”

“Things are changing,” she said.

“Not fast enough to keep me safe.  I mean it’s like there are places where you know what you can and can’t do.  Bars, certain restaurants, and even certain streets it’s like there’s this safe place but I’ve never traveled with a boyfriend.  I mean I’m not much on PDA but still, just one look and it’s just the excuse someone needs.”

“It’s not going to be that bad,” she said.  “You’ll figure it out.  What would be different than being here?”

“D.C. is just such a progressive place.  I mean I know when I leave the city limits.  I know when I’m out of my element.  And I don’t want to just act like we’re friends.  I don’t want to act like we’re just two guys hanging out.  I’m a proud gay man.  I’ve marched.  I’ve come out to anyone who showed interest and some people who didn’t.”

“Have you looked up Las Vegas?  Have you done some research?”

“Not really,” Triston said.  “It was Vincent’s idea and I guess I just thought he’d do all the planning.  He talks about it with this kind of excitement.”

“I’m going to send you some links.  When I was there I saw a drag show and a production of Naked Boys Singing that was a lot of fun.”

“Really?”

“You haven’t done your homework.  Wait a minute.”

Cheryl turned to her computer, pulled up her email, and began to work on a list.  Triston watched her for a moment and smiled to himself.  He really hadn’t thought about it.

*****

Twenty-four hours later, Vincent and Triston were poolside at their hotel, side by side in matching swimming briefs, covered from head to toe in sun-tan lotion, and wearing sunglasses.  The backs of their hands comfortably rested against each other, some subtle connection that could have been an accident.

The only other person was an old woman who sat on the opposite side of the pool looking away from them with a cigarette in one hand and a book in the other.  It was comfortable, sunny day. 

Triston had his eyes closed when he felt Vincent move, his hand was gone.  He opened his eyes and looked up to see Vincent putting on a robe. 

“I’m going for a drink.  Do you want something?”

“Maybe I should dry out,” Triston said.

“This is Vegas.  I’ll get you what you had before.”

“Thanks,” Triston said.

He closed his eyes and raised his chin again into the sun.  He listened to Vincent pad across the concrete to the bar where a lonely server sat transfixed with his cell phone.  For once he felt comfortable, until he heard someone approaching who wasn’t Vincent.  He opened his eyes to see a middle aged woman at the foot of his chair.

“Is that chair taken?”

“Uh yeah,” Triston said.

He looked to the woman and he suddenly felt uncomfortable because she was so much like his mother.  She wasn’t dressed for the pool but her clothes were loose and open.

“We’re just trying to get some chairs together for the family,” she said.

Maybe it was the mention of family, maybe it was the presumption of them being heterosexual, maybe it was all that fear he had felt all of his life, and maybe it was a revolt against shame but his lips began to move faster than his brain.

“Sorry,” he said, “it’s where my boyfriend was sitting.  He’s over at the bar.”

She smiled at him, then looked to the bar, and back.  It was a sincere smile, though he feared it would turn cruel at any moment.  He forced a smile of his own.

“He’s cute,” she said.  “You know my son just came out recently.  He’s in the armed services so it had to have been after they got rid of that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy.  Don’t even get me started on that.”

Triston stopped himself from a nervous laugh.

“He’s here in town with the family but there’s a big difference in age between him and his younger brother.  Well, big enough that I know he needs to get out an do adult things.  He doesn’t have any friends here, maybe I should introduce you to him.”

Triston looked back to the bar where he saw Vincent walking away with a tray of drinks and snacks, but he wasn’t moving fast enough.  Triston wanted rescued from this situation, but he looked back to the woman who moved to him and offered her hand.  They shook.

“I’m Maggie,” she said.

“Triston,” he replied.

“When he gets here do you mind if I send him over to say hello?”

“No, not at all,” Triston said.

She walked away and moments later Vincent arrived.  He placed the tray on the small table between them, scratched at himself.

“What was that about?”

“She wants us to meet her son.  He just came out as gay and he’s here for the weekend but he doesn’t have any friends, and he’s in the armed services.”

“Is he cute?” Vincent asked.

“You know, that didn’t come up,” Triston answered.

Ch 34 Early Bird

“Oh, hi there.”

The surprised, familiar voice woke Spencer from his morning sleep.  It had been distant, barely audible.  He was face down in his bed, dressed in boxer shorts and an undershirt, no sheet covering him, which was unusual, because he always slept with at least a thin sheet.  He flexed his hand to bring about more circulation as he shifted from one shoulder to the other.

“Hi, I’m Josh.”

“Hi, I’m Aden.”

Spencer groaned at hearing the two men introduce themselves to each other, and at such at an early time, when it was obvious why Aden was still there.  Spencer grabbed hold of his scalp and began to massage it.  He could barely open his eyes.  He felt too tired to deal with anything.  He rolled onto his back to listen for further conversation but he couldn’t hear it.  Were they whispering?  Did they think he was asleep or because they didn’t want him to hear?

He thought about getting up out of bed but the idea of finding them in the kitchen wasn’t something he liked so he waited.  It wasn’t long before his bedroom door opened and in walked Aden, completely naked and carrying a bowl of cereal.  He closed the door and moved to the foot of the bed where he ate a spoonful and looked down at Spencer who looked back at him with furrowed eyebrows.

“Your roommate seems like a nice guy.  He let me have some cereal.  I don’t usually do carbs in the morning but after last night I’m starved.  Do you want some?”

“No, I’m fine,” Spencer said before sitting up in bed.  Even though the answer was obvious Spencer felt like asking the question, “Were you out there naked?”

“Yeah, I didn’t know you had a roommate,” Aden said.

“He’s more like a guest.  Though he does pay rent, but it’s more like a temporary thing I guess.  It’s a long story.”

“No problem, he’s cute.”

Spencer thought about Josh in the early mornings, sometimes he walked around in a pair of boxers and once a pair of briefs.  He smiled at the thought.

“What?”

“Nothing, just get back in bed,” Spencer said.

Aden put another spoonful in his mouth before setting the bowl down and walking to the bed where he got in on his knees, moved to Spencer.  They kissed.  They groped.  But then Spencer had second thoughts.

“My roommate,” he said.

“Don’t worry about,” Aden replied.  “Unless you want him to join us.”

“Don’t be silly,” Spencer said.  “Let’s wait until he goes jogging.”

“I can’t,” Aden said.  “We’ll just be quiet.”

Spencer rolled over onto his chest, readied himself to bite into the pillow.

*****

Hours later at work Spencer checked his cell phone for messages but there were no replies from Aden.  He thought about sending another text but stopped himself and put the phone in his desk drawer, then turned to his computer and tried to focus on work.  It was a long day, but no messages from Aden until he was headed out of his office.

<Sorry been busy at gym. personal training with clients> - Aden

<No problem> - Spencer

<We should hang out some time. Maybe do some training or go on a date. How about tomorrow?> - Aden

Spencer looked at the message, read it through several times.  Don’t get too excited, he told himself, don’t expect too much.

Ch 33 Johnny Law

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.