stuff together and got ready to leave.
“Happy birthday, old man, and many, many more,” I said.
“Thanks. It’s been a great one and I appreciate you taking me out. I have Jason this weekend and he’s got something he made for me, so I don’t know what to expect.” He laughed.
“I’m sure whatever it is, you’ll love it. Call me if you two decide to go to a movie or something. Brian and I’re having dinner with my dad on Saturday night, but Sunday is mostly free.”
“Will do. Drive safe.” He always told me that before I left. He walked behind me to the door, and before I reached out to open it, I turned around. I looked him directly in the eye and pulled him into a hug and kissed him. On the cheek.
“Sweet dreams,” I murmured into his ear, then went out and closed the door behind me.
W HEN I got home, Brian was propped up in the bed reading a magazine. He loved reading about sports cars and mechanical shit like that. I knew how to put gas in a car, and could usually find the dipstick to check the oil in an emergency. But that was what was good about us; we both had different interests and didn’t mind that the other wasn’t so much into them.
“How was your night?” he asked, patting the bed beside him.
I pulled off my clothes and put on a pair of sleep pants. I could never manage to sleep in the nude. In the back of my mind, I was always afraid the house would catch on fire and I’d be running around outside bare-assed. I’d actually had a dream like that one time when I was a teenager, and it still scared the crap out of me.
“It was pretty good. I took Antonio out to The Colonnade, then to see that new Hugh Jackman movie. We sat and talked for a while afterwards. Got a good massage and then home to you,” I told him. “How was your night?”
“Not bad. I took a nap, watched some TV, and talked to your sister on the phone. They’re all good, just checking in. She said to call her this weekend.”
I crawled into bed and bunched my pillows up against the headboard next to him. I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed. It was good to be home and in the bed. I could relax and think over what happened earlier.
“You going to tell me what’s on your mind, or do we have to play twenty questions?” he asked. I never knew how he knew when something was bothering me, because I know I didn’t show it. “You always sigh and all that shit when you have something you’re thinking hard about. You know I’ll listen and help if I can.”
I breathed out a sigh and caught myself. Shit, I did do that. “That’s just creepy that you can do that. Something happened tonight and I don’t know what to make of it.”
“Um hum. And what was that something?” he asked and put his magazine down. He pulled my head down from his shoulder and into his lap. “Mmmm, you got a massage again. I love the smell of that almond oil he uses. So good. Makes me think of cookies.” He laughed.
“Antonio kissed me,” I blurted. Jesus, where did that come from? I’d planned to ease into this conversation, and here I practically shouted it at him.
“Is that all?” he asked while he stroked my hair.
I was fucking stunned and didn’t know what the hell to say now. “What do you mean, Is that all ?” I choked out. “Isn’t that enough?”
“Okay, I’ll play along here. Did you ask him to?” he sighed.
“No, of course not,” I huffed.
“Did you kiss him back?” That one stopped me. Because I didn’t. At first. But then I kinda sorta did. “And was that all that happened?” he asked. Shit, I’d said all of that out loud.
“Of course it is! I’d never cheat on you, you know that.” I did shout that time.
“Hush. I know you wouldn’t. I’m the one who did that. And you forgave me. Best day of my life,” he said as he leaned over and kissed my ear.
“Brian, that’s not what I meant—”
“Shh. I know that. But nothing bad happened, did it? All you did was give each
“Happy birthday, old man, and many, many more,” I said.
“Thanks. It’s been a great one and I appreciate you taking me out. I have Jason this weekend and he’s got something he made for me, so I don’t know what to expect.” He laughed.
“I’m sure whatever it is, you’ll love it. Call me if you two decide to go to a movie or something. Brian and I’re having dinner with my dad on Saturday night, but Sunday is mostly free.”
“Will do. Drive safe.” He always told me that before I left. He walked behind me to the door, and before I reached out to open it, I turned around. I looked him directly in the eye and pulled him into a hug and kissed him. On the cheek.
“Sweet dreams,” I murmured into his ear, then went out and closed the door behind me.
W HEN I got home, Brian was propped up in the bed reading a magazine. He loved reading about sports cars and mechanical shit like that. I knew how to put gas in a car, and could usually find the dipstick to check the oil in an emergency. But that was what was good about us; we both had different interests and didn’t mind that the other wasn’t so much into them.
“How was your night?” he asked, patting the bed beside him.
I pulled off my clothes and put on a pair of sleep pants. I could never manage to sleep in the nude. In the back of my mind, I was always afraid the house would catch on fire and I’d be running around outside bare-assed. I’d actually had a dream like that one time when I was a teenager, and it still scared the crap out of me.
“It was pretty good. I took Antonio out to The Colonnade, then to see that new Hugh Jackman movie. We sat and talked for a while afterwards. Got a good massage and then home to you,” I told him. “How was your night?”
“Not bad. I took a nap, watched some TV, and talked to your sister on the phone. They’re all good, just checking in. She said to call her this weekend.”
I crawled into bed and bunched my pillows up against the headboard next to him. I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed. It was good to be home and in the bed. I could relax and think over what happened earlier.
“You going to tell me what’s on your mind, or do we have to play twenty questions?” he asked. I never knew how he knew when something was bothering me, because I know I didn’t show it. “You always sigh and all that shit when you have something you’re thinking hard about. You know I’ll listen and help if I can.”
I breathed out a sigh and caught myself. Shit, I did do that. “That’s just creepy that you can do that. Something happened tonight and I don’t know what to make of it.”
“Um hum. And what was that something?” he asked and put his magazine down. He pulled my head down from his shoulder and into his lap. “Mmmm, you got a massage again. I love the smell of that almond oil he uses. So good. Makes me think of cookies.” He laughed.
“Antonio kissed me,” I blurted. Jesus, where did that come from? I’d planned to ease into this conversation, and here I practically shouted it at him.
“Is that all?” he asked while he stroked my hair.
I was fucking stunned and didn’t know what the hell to say now. “What do you mean, Is that all ?” I choked out. “Isn’t that enough?”
“Okay, I’ll play along here. Did you ask him to?” he sighed.
“No, of course not,” I huffed.
“Did you kiss him back?” That one stopped me. Because I didn’t. At first. But then I kinda sorta did. “And was that all that happened?” he asked. Shit, I’d said all of that out loud.
“Of course it is! I’d never cheat on you, you know that.” I did shout that time.
“Hush. I know you wouldn’t. I’m the one who did that. And you forgave me. Best day of my life,” he said as he leaned over and kissed my ear.
“Brian, that’s not what I meant—”
“Shh. I know that. But nothing bad happened, did it? All you did was give each
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