by John Charles
And the sex! Just the thought made his pants tight. Forrest was an amazing lover, a lover who did his best to make his partner feel wonderful, a lover who gave without seeming to want in return. Lance was getting harder causing him to squirm in his seat. He had to think of something else or his mother would see his excitement. Though he and Emily were close, he didn't want to give her anything to tease him with.
By the time he arrived at Harold Alberts' home, Lance had finished eating, stayed clean, and was close to being relaxed. He had a chubby, but he was no longer hard as steel. His mother however, saw something different when he entered the house.
"Oh my, you look like you had a great dinner with Forrest." Emily could always read her son. They were close and she used that closeness to tease him when appropriate. She also used that closeness to help him when things didn't go well. Emily was an amazing mother, but sometimes Lance felt as if she was just too nosey.
Lance attempted to keep the conversation G rated. "We had dinner at Mamas and yes, I had a good time." He looked around as he spoke wondering where the other workers were hiding. "Where is everyone? The line is already growing."
Emily was not going to be swayed. "They'll be here shortly. So did you and Forrest do anything after dinner?"
"Mother, when will you learn to stay out of my private life," Lance said smiling at the nosey woman.
"You know I care. I'm not prying into your personal life." She swatted his arm as she spoke. "I just want you happy, that's all."
Lance was laughing now seeing his mother trying in vain to get what she wanted. "I'll be in the garage if you need me. Oh and yes we did something after dinner, but that's all you're going to get so stop prying." He walked away knowing that Emily would not be satisfied with that answer. They played this game since he was a baby and she was persistent. He had learned how to manage her insistent yearning to know everything in his life, but it was taxing. This is going to be a hard day.
Chapter 7
Monday morning met Forrest like a sledgehammer. He overslept again, didn't get his run in, and the office was unusually busy at 7 AM. Normally he had a good hour before the rest of the crew arrived. On this day, however, he found everyone already there. Some were around a coworker's desk; others were standing near the conference room door. All were involved in animated conversations.
"What's going on?" he asked Eyanna as he passed her desk. Had anything bad happened she would have called him over the weekend.
Eyanna in her typical Jamaican way, smiled, stood, and took Forrest by the arm. They walked into the conference room where several staffers were already assembled. "This is what's going on," she said pointing to several newspapers lying open on the conference table.
Each paper had a full spread of the three contenders in the City Center Contest. Forrest Dentren's face was neat and center on the front page, of one paper, next to his rendition of the planned center. The two other contenders were shown on page two and three. The headline above Dentren's image read: City Center Decision To Be Announced Next Week
"Well, we knew this was coming. I'm proud of everyone in this company." Forrest was happy for his staff. They had put in a warrior effort to bring this to fruition. He hoped they could handle the let down if one of the other entries took first prize. He picked up the Monroe Herald and scanned the article beneath his picture. Nothing new, just a recap of the entry details and the criteria for winning the contest. What the article didn't say was the amount of business his firm had already received, just from being selected as a finalist.
"I think we need to start an intern program with a couple of colleges, boss," said one of his designers. "We could select the best architecture students to work here and get some insight to the younger labor market."
"Not a bad idea, but don't put the cart before the horse. We haven't won yet and I don't want to staff up for a presumed influx of new business that may not happen." Forrest was a conservative businessman. He took chances when necessary, but rarely allowed his ego to influence his business decisions.
Eyanna laughed at his comment. "We already have an influx of work, Forrest. These guys are going to revolt if you don't bring on some help." She talked to him like a friend and sometimes like a mother knowing he would listen. "And you could use some time off yourself. When was the last time you left this place before ten at night?" She crossed her arms and gave him the look that said don't cross me.
Forrest knew defeat. "Okay, let's look into the intern programs and see what it takes to set one up. Also, Eyanna, please contact the recruiter we used last time and see if they have anyone looking for a position. You still have that profile?"
"I'm on it," She said as she left the conference room.
Forrest stayed a few minutes to chat with his staff. They were excited and rightfully so. "We have five tickets for the press conference next Thursday. Those five people will be seated in the front of the auditorium. Anyone else who would like to go to the announcement can, but will have to stand or sit in the audience. I'm not going to pick the five, you are. So do a raffle or some non-partial way to choose and let Eyanna know the names." He left them discussing the contest and walked to his office.
"Can you make arrangements for the answering service to monitor our phones next Thursday? I'm going to close the office. It's only fair that everyone be able to attend the event. You and I will be on the podium and five of the staff will be in the front of the audience. Everyone else will be sitting or standing where they can." Eyanna already knew the details, but listened to her boss remind her again. She nodded then picked up the phone and called the service.
Forrest was beside himself when he sat at his desk. This was what he worked for, put in all those hours for, scrimped on free time and personal pleasures for. Now it was happening and he was scared for the first time in his life. When he started Dentren Designs, it was just him. If things got fucked up, it was only his neck. Now he employed a dozen people, people with lives and families. It was no longer just him. He sat at his desk, staring out the window.
"You can stop worrying Forrest. They all understand." Eyanna knew her boss. She knew his fears, knew his highs and his lows. While everyone out there was celebrating, Forrest was worried, worried for them. That was the kind of person he was.
"How will they react if we don't win? Will they still be celebrating if we come in second or third?" He turned to look at his trusted assistant. "Will they still want to put in the extra hours or will they feel defeated?"
Eyanna took a deep breath letting Forrest wait for her. "You know the answer to that question. Sure, they will be disappointed, but they'll not only get over it, they'll work harder to make sure it doesn't happen again. This is more than a business, Forrest. We are a family, a family that you started, that you built from the ground up, a family that loves working with you and loves working here."
She placed a folder on his desk, turned and walked from his office. At the door, she asked, "Did you buy the hutch you wanted?"
Forrest looked up, smiled, and nodded. "Yeah, I bought it and found a great guy to restore it, too."
"I'm glad. Now get to work." She laughed as she went to her desk.
Forrest's thoughts migrated to the weekend. Yeah I bought the hutch, met the guy who manhandled me on Thursday night, got laid, and spent the most sexually rewarding night of my life; all in one day.
The phones never stopped ringing. Well-wishers called, reporters from the surrounding towns wanted interviews, new clients wanted Dentren to design their building or handle their renovations, and existing clients needed more work done. At seven he had Eyanna order pizza and drinks for the staff as everyone worked late, knowing their schedules were suddenly destroyed.
He was exhausted by the time he left at ten that night. When he checked his phone, he noticed several missed calls, one of which was from Lance. He really didn't want to talk to anyone, but felt he had to say hello to him. He pressed the return call button as he walked to his car. Lance answered on th
e third ring. "Sorry I missed your call. It's been a crazy day."
"Are you still at work?" Lance sounded shocked that Forrest might still be at the office.
"Just walking to my car. So how are things with your mother? Is my ass still intact or is she planning to take a piece from it?"
Lance laughed at Forrest's question. He loved how this man could be so tired after an extremely long day at work and still remember trivia they had discussed two days prior. "It's not your ass she wants to tan. I wouldn't give her the gory details about our date so now she's mad at me."
Forrest laughed. "Really? She wanted the details?"
"Oh yeah. She still thinks I'm fourteen years old and experimenting with my soccer buddies. Back then she wanted to know everything and never let me off the hook."
Forrest moaned. "Thank God my parents were not like that. My father gave me the talk, told me to watch my ass and my heart, and never crossed that line again. When I came out to them, he and my mother took quite a long time to 'get used to it' as they told me."
"I'm sorry that you had to go through that. Did they ever 'get used to it?'"
"Well, let's just say that they are over the shock. My love life is never discussed and they have accepted that I won't be bringing a beautiful girl home for Thanksgiving dinner." Forrest opened his car door, started the engine and sat with his head against the rest. He was tired, emotionally drained, and normally wouldn't be on the phone with anyone. But Lance was different. Even in his post work stupor, he wanted to hear Lance's voice.
"You fall asleep?"
Forrest groaned, sat up and looked around the near empty parking garage. "If I did, no one would even know I'm here. This place is deserted." He put the car in reverse and pulled from his spot. "Let me pair with my car and I'll call you back." When the Bluetooth paired successfully, he pushed the button on his steering wheel and said, "Call Lance." Not even thirty seconds later Lance was back on the call, with his voice coming from the radio speakers. It felt as if Lance was embracing him as he drove home. "How was the estate sale? Did Alberts' stuff sell?"
"Oh yeah. People wanted a piece of their presumed star. Frankly I don't get the attraction, but my mother does and she has made a great living doing this for a long time."
"You get any more work or were you just schlepping stuff yesterday?"
"Mostly worked as a gofer, but I did get a few smaller jobs. Oh, Matthew stopped in and bought the buffet in the second dining room. He said Grace was happy with that and didn't need the hutch. So I'll be restoring it for him after I do your hutch."
Matthew had been a friend of Forrest's for several years. They met at a fundraiser for the local fire department where Matthew worked as a paramedic. Ever since that day, he and Matthew had bumped into each other at estate sales, worked together at fundraisers for a variety of good causes, and even went to dinner on rare occasions. "Did he bust your butt about doing my hutch first?"
"As a matter of fact he did. He said you stole it from him and I should make you wait until his buffet was completed. He's a nice guy." Lance stilled for a few seconds. "I wish he'd loosen up and let someone love him. I know it's tough being a single dad and all, but damn he would be a perfect match for someone."
"Yeah, well if you value your hide, you won't bring up that topic with him. Matthew has two rules that he touts whenever someone even hints of matchmaking. He doesn't do relationships and he doesn't date anyone from work." Forrest drove the streets of Amity slowly knowing he was tired and probably not at his best.
They sat in silence for a minute when Lance said, "I know it's late and you are tired, but I would love to be waiting for you when you got home. I could make you feel great and help you forget about work."
Forrest laughed at Lance's comments. "Right now, I'd fall asleep in your arms. No, what I need is a hot shower and a warm bed. This will be an extremely hectic couple of weeks. But I do think we might find a way to make your offer work out this weekend. You game?"
"Oh yeah, I'm game. Thinking of all the things I can do to your hot body has me hard right now. Ever do phone sex?"
"Not while I'm driving, no! You want me alive this weekend or what?" Forrest pulled into a spot near his home, unpaired his phone from the car and walked to his front door. "Listen, I'm home and while I'd love to continue this, I do need to get my ass in bed or I'll be worthless tomorrow." He unlocked the front door, climbed the stairs to his apartment and leaned against the wall. "Lance?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for understanding. I like you and it would be so difficult if you didn't understand my life." They ended the call as Forrest opened his apartment door. Damn, I really like that guy.
Chapter 8
Forrest and Lance texted everyday and spoke on the phone each night. Forrest looked forward to hearing Lance's voice on his way home from work. It became their daily ritual. They found a common desire to see the new Star Wars movie and planned an outing for Friday night. "I'll do my best to leave the office early. We can meet at the theater, go to dinner after the movie, and if you are up to it, I'd enjoy you coming back to my place."
Lance thought for a minute than said yes. "I'd like that and I don't have anything to do on Saturday so if you want, I can spend the night."
"That is exactly what I was hoping to hear." They told each other how much they anticipated being together and closed the call.
Lance felt nervous. He liked Forrest and it certainly seemed as if Forrest liked him. But there was a knot in his gut about the different lifestyles they led. He felt little next to Forrest, not in body size, but in social status. He was nothing more than an ordinary laborer compared to Forrest the professional. What does this man see in me?
Forrest kept to his schedule and had accomplished more work than two people by Thursday. At four on Friday, he shut down his computer, cleared his desk and closed his office door. Eyanna looked up from the pile of invoices she had been sorting when she heard his door close. When Forrest stood next to her desk, she did a double take. "It's only four o'clock, what's up? Did I miss an appointment on your schedule?"
Forrest saw the concerned look on her face, bent down to speak quietly and said, "No you didn't miss anything. I didn't tell you I had something planned for tonight. And don't ask cause I'm not telling you anything." He smiled as she pouted looking offended but knew she was happy to see him leave the office early for a change. "I'll see you Monday morning. And I don't want to hear from anyone unless something crucial happens this weekend." He walked from the office smiling as he went.
The new Cineplex was located on the boarder of Amity and Monroe affording locals from both towns the convenience of a 10-screen theater. Until it was built, people had to travel over a half hour to watch a movie. Lance was not in the lobby when Forrest entered so he bought two tickets and waited off to the side.
Lance looked around the lobby and smiled when he spotted Forrest walking toward him. He felt a rush in his chest. He was falling for this guy, something he never would have expected. Though he wanted to give him a hug and kiss, he affectionately touched Forrest's shoulder instead. "I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie. It's been on my to-do list but something always got in the way."
"Same here. My work schedule is so intense that I usually just go home and crash, but I planned for today. I already bought the tickets so let's go find good seats." He saw the look on Lance's face. "You can get it next time."
Though the building had ten screens, each hall was smaller than those found in larger, single screen theaters. With the publicity for this movie, and being a Friday, the hall filled up fast. They chatted quietly until the previews started. Neither even whispered a word until the movie finished. "Wow that was amazing. I'm so glad you suggested we do this," said Lance as they walked to the exit. People all around them were sharing their excitement, recalling scenes and battles as they did.
Across from the Cineplex was a strip mall with a couple of chain restaurants and a locally owned diner. All had lines,
but they decided to support the local diner rather than the corporate national chains. Waiting for a table, they continued to discuss the movie when a well-dressed woman approached Forrest and said, "Aren't you Forrest Dentren the architect?"
Forrest was somewhat startled by the sudden interruption in his conversation with Lance. "Yes I am," he said maintaining his professionalism.
"Wonderful. I recognized you from the picture in the Herald. My husband and I have put in a good word for your City Center design. We think yours is best and your company is local so we felt it appropriate to give you our support."
"Well I appreciate that. Please give your husband my thanks as well." Forrest was not new to publicity, but this certainly was different. The woman said she would, turned and walked from the diner with two other very well dressed women.
Lance's mood had gone from excited to feeling small in seconds. He was standing next to a celebrity, a man who people noticed, a man whose mere presence brought attention. "That was bizarre. No one has ever approached me in public like that." Forrest was still looking at the lady as she walked away. When he turned to face Lance, he saw anger, fright, and alarm. He looked as if he didn't know what to say or do. "What's wrong?"
Lance looked down at his feet, then into Forrest's eyes. "I am not what you want. There is no way I can compete with that," he said nodding to the back of the lady.
