by J. P. Scott
He was a mix of emotions. He was worried about his father who was still grieving for the lost of Jacob, and probably living with a ton of guilt about the affair and being an absent father all of these years. He wanted to help, but doubted his father would be willing to talk right now, even if they found a more private place.
He also knew that he was not Aaron’s step-brother. Well, he was highly confident. He was relieved and anxious to get in contact with Aaron. He pulled out his phone and sent a text, “Just had lunch with my dad. Call me. I have good news.”
Good news for them, at least. And Patrick felt more at ease about their situation.
What was happening with Aaron and his mom? Was he finding out the truth about his dad, whoever he was? Patrick hoped Aaron was getting the answers from his mother that he needed, but he was sure it was an emotional chat. Patrick wished he was there to hold Aaron’s hand or put his arm around him in comfort. He wished Aaron was here to do the same. Patrick felt exhausted from the constant churn of his emotions and the thoughts running through his head. He could not remember a time when life felt more chaotic or out of control.
Why couldn’t life be more like a good workout? A certain number of sets and repetition. The slow and steady motion. Even if it was extra weight and added difficulty, Patrick could just concentrate on his form and breathing to make it through. If needed, he had a spotter to grab the bar and help him make it through a motion.
Right now, he felt alone and unsure of what to do.
Learning about his father’s affair had been a big deal. Knowing that Aaron was not the product of that affair was a big relief. But what he was he to do with the knowledge that he did have a brother, but that he was dead? Should he find the profile his father had shown him and try to learn more about his life? Should he find the mother and ask to learn more about the kind of man he was?
Sixteen
“Holy shit, Patrick. I never saw all of this coming.”
When Patrick had cleared his afternoon appointments, it instantly made Ollie suspicious. Patrick never cancelled. He had sent a text asking if everything was okay. Originally, Patrick had said that it was, but after lunch with his father, he asked if Ollie could meet.
Ollie had not eaten yet after spending all day in meetings about upcoming training and was looking for a bite to eat. He suggested a small bistro where they could get a drink as well.
Patrick arrived to find Ollie already working on a glass of wine and some bruschetta as an appetizer. While he ate, Patrick launched into the whole story.
“You had a brother all this time and your father never told you about him?”
“I still can’t believe he ever slept with anyone besides my mom. Knowing that I had a brother out there and that he is dead is blowing my mind.”
“At least it wasn’t what you thought. Aaron is not you brother.”
Until Patrick could talk with Aaron, he did not have a total sense of relief. Sure, he didn’t have to be worried about falling in love and sleeping with his brother, but that didn’t mean everything was okay. Both of their worlds were being upended by finding out secrets from the past.
“It’s so weird that the two of you look so much alike. But I was reading that it happens a lot.” Ollie pulled up his phone and flipped through his open web pages and found an article. He slid closer to Patrick in the u-shaped booth. “I guess it happens more often than you think that two people will look almost identical without having any close genetic ties.”
They scrolled through the article that explained the phenomenon. There were half a dozen phots of people who weren’t related, hadn’t grown up together, yet looked like they could be twins. They had similar hairstyles and fashion sense. By accident they ran into each other and were shocked to find it was if they were looking in a mirror.
“What a creepy experience that must be. At least there are some differences between Aaron and you.”
And maybe there were more differences than what everyone else claimed to see? There could be a few prominent features that looked similar, but maybe that’s where it ended. Over time, people would focus less on the similarities and more on what makes them different and unique.
“I just don’t know what to do with this brother thing. It wasn’t who I thought it was, but that doesn’t change the fact that I have family out there. Well, had family, I guess.”
“What do you know about him?”
“Not much. His name was Jacob. I briefly saw his profile online. He died after high school in some sort of accident on the lake.”
“That’s awful.”
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with that information. Do I try to look him up and find out more about him? Find his mother? Or am I just supposed to forget about him now that he’s gone?” Patrick had never known about him. Would his life be any different now if he let this nugget of information slip past him and slide into obscurity?
“Do you think you can do that? “
Patrick shook his head. “I don’t think I can. I think I will always wonder who he was. Did we have anything in common?” Would they have been friends and done stuff together? Or were they opposites that would have fought and competed with each other?
Either way, Patrick wondered what it was like to have a brother and not be the only kid in the house. Patrick had always been jealous of friends who had sibling and their stories of teaming up together to cause havoc at home and driving parents crazy. There was something about having a brother—or even a sister—that Patrick was missing in his life. Friends like Ollie and Cam could just not replace that.
“Do you know anything else about his family?”
“Not much. I’m hoping my dad will talk more, given time, but I’m sure I can track down his mother and any stepfather or siblings through his profile.”
What would their reaction be to Patrick reaching out? Would they being will to talk to him? Would it all just drudge up old feelings of pain and loss for them?
The better question: did they even know Patrick existed? It shouldn’t come as too much of a shock that his father had other kids. He was two when the affair happened. Surely his dad had mentioned him.
“Well, I say to wait a bit before you take any action. Have a clear idea of what you want out of all of this. Is it just to find out more about your brother? Or do you want to know more about the rest of his family as well? Do you want to get to know them?”
Ollie was right. He needed to know what he wanted and needed from contacting Jacob’s family. Did he just want to learn about his brother? If so, what he found online might suffice. Reaching out to the family might lead him to build relationships he wasn’t ready for. And how would it affect his relationships with his dad and mom?
Patrick could only imagine the drama that come from his mom if he was spending time with Jacob’s family. She would most likely feel that he was trying to replace her with a new family. That was a ridiculous sentiment, but Patrick knew his mother well and how her emotions flared up and muddied her logic.
“You’re right. And I appreciate you helping to think this through.”
“What are friends for?” It was definitely important to be surrounded with good people who would listen and give good advice. Again, Patrick felt grateful for his circle of friends and their experience.
He also longed to talk to Aaron. He wanted to have these conversations with him and make a plan together. Patrick looked at his phone. Aaron had still not responded to any of his texts or called to check in. Patrick was starting to get worried about what was happening to him up in Flagstaff.
Seventeen
It was late when he finally heard from Aaron.
“Sorry. It’s been a rough day. Can’t talk. Headed to bed.”
That didn’t bode well. Patrick wished he was up there to be with Aaron and to hold him and let him know it was all going to be okay.
It’s all going to be okay. He repeated it to himself over and over again as he lounged on the couch, ignoring the TV t
hat was on and playing something mindless. He wished Aaron was here with him to say it to him and provide him some comfort.
He wondered if all couples go through things like this. Bombarded by fears and worries while being apart. How did they survive it?
At some point, he drifted off to sleep while still on the couch. Sleep was restless and filled with images. Aaron at his parents’ party, talking to his dad. His dad at the restaurant, fidgety and looking for an escape. Jacob’s smiling face.
Patrick woke in a darkened apartment, jerking to a sitting position. His body was drenched in sweat and shook as blasts of air conditioning hit his body. He checked the time and saw that he needed to get u p in a half hour anyway to get ready for work.
He made his way to the bathroom, stripped, and started the shower. The hot water felt good and he stayed beneath the flow, letting the heat and the steam relax his body from a night of tension and tossing back and forth with his dreams.
He sent Aaron a text with a kissing emoji and left his apartment armed with a protein shake that he hoped would help perk him up for his day. The front desk crew asked if he was feeling better when he clocked in on one of the computers. He nodded and hurried to get set up for his first client.
It felt good to fall into the rhythm of the day. Each client got a half hour or hour of his time. There was a set plan for the type of workout each client was expected to do. Patrick began each month mapping out the routines based on each client’s progress and filed them away for easy access at each session, making minor tweaks on the spot if he found that a client was struggling or had missed a session. Regardless of the routine, they all had the same pattern. Patrick demonstrated how to use a machine or a particular exercise with some free weights, explained how the sets would go, and then he would count and make notes.
Most of his clients were regulars and knew the routine. They needed only a little bit of guidance on proper form. Patrick observed, helped with the counting, said a few words of encouragement, and helped to adjust the weight for subsequent sets. He knew his clients well enough that if there was someone who did not like small talk, he could just stay quiet. For those that needed more interaction, he revved up his energy and engaged.
The morning rush transitioned to a slower period where his clients were retirees or stay-at-home parents. He had a few breaks without clients and holed up in the breakroom, trying to avoid much interaction with the other staff. He would explain it away as still recovering. Normally, he would be joking around with people by the front desk or in the shared office used by all the trainers.
It was noon before his phone buzzed with a text from Aaron. “Headed home. Sorry that I haven’t been communicating.”
Patrick was relieved that Aaron finally answered.
Flagstaff was around a three-hour drive, depending on traffic. An accident on the I-17 freeway coming down into Phoenix could cause delays because there were few alternative routes. People drove fast and reckless as the road descended in elevation through twisting turns. Accidents were frequent and could shut down the road for hours. On weekends, driving on Sunday was also rough as people returned from cooler weather in upper elevations. Northern Arizona was a wonderland of outdoor activity, higher and cooler elevations, vacation cabins, resorts in Sedona, and wine tasting in the Verde Valley. Residents of Phoenix and other parts of the Valley frequently made good use of the weekends to get away and explore the state.
Patrick continued to avoid his coworkers, dashing out for lunch at a local restaurant known for its good and inexpensive salads. He made it back in time to clock in and meet the next client, setting off an afternoon of work.
Between clients, he texted Aaron, “Can we do dinner tonight?”
“I’m at the store now picking some things up. Any requests?”
“Whatever looks good to you.”
“What time are you done? I can swing by when you think you’ll be home.”
Patrick told him that he would be done with his last client at six. Tuesdays typically were a slower day for clients looking to work out. Patrick knew he could leave at a decent hour.
The drive home found him with a stomach full of butterflies, anticipating seeing Aaron again. Was this love? It seemed too early for that, but he knew that he wanted nothing more than to see Aaron. He wanted to hold him, to kiss him, to touch his cheek. Tonight’s conversation was going to be mor serious, but he imagined that soon he would be coming home from work and they would just talk about their day as they worked on dinner. He imagined they would laugh and talk as they worked on the night’s meal, each sharing about their day and some funny or interesting moment. No doubt, they would also find days when one or the other was really struggling and would lend an ear to the complaints and gripes.
There was no one else in the world that Patrick wanted to hear gripe and complain than Aaron.
Previous relationships? Patrick had dreaded hearing about anything negative. He would roll his eyes and suffer through, but he knew he didn’t really care. He always thought they were complaining, especially Ryan. Ryan was the biggest complainer about nothing.
Something told him that Aaron’s complaints would be based on actual problems. If he offered advice, it might actually be listened to.
He was only home enough time to change clothes and sort mail when there was a knock at the door. His heart began to beat faster knowing that it was Aaron. He skipped to the door and opened it to find his man standing with a grocery bag in hand and a backpack over his shoulder. Patrick reached for the groceries and helped usher Aaron in. He set the bag down on the first surface he could find and then turned to pull Aaron into his arms.
Their lips met and a gentle kiss quickly turned into a furious and impassioned kiss. Their tongues fought to explore the other’s mouth and their heads moved from side to side, trying to find the angle that would get them as close to each other as they could be. Hands gripped the back of each other’s heads and shoulders, attempting to pull the other closer, to make their bodies one.
“Fuck, I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
They separated only long enough to speak and take a deep breath before joining again. Their hands began to explore each other. Patrick’s hands moved down to Aaron’s waistline and slipped his fingers beneath the fabric of Aaron’s shorts, finding the band of his underwear. He played with the fabric and then reached in to feel the smooth skin of Aarons ass. He grabbed it with force and slammed Aaron into him.
“I have so much to tell you,” Aaron said as he gasped. “But first, I want you inside me.” He undid the button and zipper on the front of his shorts and pushed them down. Patrick helped to slide his briefs down past his cheeks.
He could feel his cock swell and press against his own clothes. He worked to get out of his shorts and underwear and his cock popped out in a firm salute. Aaron dropped to his knees and took Patrick in his mouth, working the tip of his cock with his tongue before plunging down the shaft. Patrick wanted Aaron to go deeper, to take him further into his mouth. He grabbed Aaron’s hair and held his head in place as he began to push his hips into Aaron’s face.
Patrick’s body was filled with desire. He wanted to fuck and to fuck hard, claiming Aaron for his own. He felt Aaron’s body spasm and heard gagging sounds as his cock reached far back in Aaron’s throat. He looked down to see Aaron’s reddened face, tears wetting his cheeks.
He pulled back and Aaron gasped. Aaron looked back up at him. “More,” he whispered before locking his lips around Patrick’s cock again. Patrick began to thrust again, as hard as before, turned on that Aaron was loving it as much as he was.
After a minute of getting sucked, Patrick tapped Aaron on the shoulder and helped pull Aaron to a standing position. They kissed again. The kiss was wet and sloppy because of the saliva that had developed in Aaron’s mouth. He put his arms around Aaron and squeezed him and lifted him off the ground. Patrick shuffled them towards the couch and let go of Aaron so that he fell back into the
cushions.
“Put your legs up.”
Aaron complied, grabbing each leg underneath the knees and shifting on the couch to angle his ass towards Patrick to give him the best position possible. Patrick worked saliva in his mouth, trying to build up a large amount. He leaned down and aimed his spit at Aaron’s hole. He repeated the process and spat again. Then he kneeled down on his knees and pressed his cock against Aaron and slowly slid in.
“Oh, fuck. Oh, yeah.” Aaron arched his back and closed his eyes.
Patrick began to pound into Aaron, grunting as Aaron’s muscles squeezed around him. Pleasure pulsed through his body. He was only able to last a few moments before he erupted inside of Aaron’s body.
When their rapid breathing subsided, he looked at Aaron and winked. “Welcome home.”
Eighteen
Patrick and Aaron spent the night using and taking pleasure with each other. Aaron’s first turn with Patrick had been equally forceful and full of raw desire as Patrick’s go at Aaron. They will each filled with passion and hunger for each other. Each had missed the other when they were away, even if it was for a short time.
They did break to take a quick shower and to fix dinner with the groceries that Aaron had brought over and were still sitting on the dining table in their bags. They worked side by side in the galley kitchen wearing only sport shorts. As they chopped and mixed and cooked, they found every excuse to bump into each other, brush past one another, and reach across. Each touch brought smiles to their faces and made them laugh.
Patrick wanted to hear about Aaron’s day in Flagstaff and the conversation that he had with his mom. Had he found out anything about his actual father? He also wanted to share his news and begin to sort out what he should do with the knowledge. But he was also enjoying this time with Aaron to just be silly and not very serious about life.
