by AnDerecco
Dennis moaned out.
DENNIS
AHHH MARRRRRYYYY MEEEE NIIICCCAAA, AHHHHHH TAKE DISSSS NUTTTTTT, AAAAAAWWWWW SHYYYYYTTT!
JACOB
YEEEEAAAA NICCCAAA, NICCA WHAAATTTT, NICCCAA WHHHHATATTT!
And his manhood splashed off, hitting Dennis in the eye, on his shoulder, and spraying the wall over them. They collapsed on each other, drained, sticky, holding each other. Dennis’s manhood slid out of him. They didn’t fret. They were too tired to get up and clean.
DENNIS (breathing hard)
I love you, Ace.
JACOB
I love you too, Puppy.
Jacob breathed back, holding him close. Just then they heard the sound of a cell phone ringing. They looked up at each other and laughed weakly.
DENNIS (laying his head on Jacob’s chest)
And they expect us to answer a phone now?
Jacob laid back and listened for a minute.
V
Jeremy was disgusted with the accusation that Ian made. He decided that he would stop by the liquor store to pick up a pint of gin. Once he made his purchase he called Eric to check on his location. Eric was the type of person that would talk out of both sides of his mouth but Jeremy was always there to defend Eric when he heard people talking about him.
Jeremy dialed Eric’s number. Eric picked up on the third ring.
ERIC
Sup Jay?
JEREMY
Nothing much man, I need to talk.
ERIC
Well stop by dude. I am here at home drinking on some moonshine.
JEREMY
You and that rot-gut. Get messed up here.
ERIC
Dude; bring your ass over here.
JEREMY
I will be there in ten minutes.
Jeremy was listening to “Incredible”. He was drinking the gin straight from the bottle. As much as he was in love with Ian, he could not get it out of his head that Ian accused him of cheating.
Soon Jeremy arrived at Eric’s apartment. He stepped to the door and before he could knock, Eric opened the door with just a towel wrapped around his waist.
JEREMY
Man would you please put on some clothes!
ERIC
I was just getting out of the shower. Plus this is my house.
JEREMY
Whatever get dressed.
ERIC
Why – are we going somewhere?
JEREMY
Naw. I just needed to get away to clear my head.
Eric went to the back to put on some clothes. He yelled from the back.
ERIC
So what’s going on?
JEREMY
Ian, man. He found a condom in the toilet. I told him that it wasn’t mine. I figured you had to leave it in there when you bought me from therapy.
ERIC
What?! Are you serious?
JEREMY
Yeah.
Eric had on a pair of basketball shorts and was pulling a blue colored wife-beater over his head. He noticed Jeremy sitting on the caramel colored couch by the panoramic window. The blinds were open just enough so that the sun light was not blinding. Eric walked into the kitchen to refresh his glass.
ERIC
Why would I leave a condom in your bathroom?
JEREMY
I don’t know man. But I know that I didn’t use one. We were the only two at the house. Ian came home, it was in the toilet. No one else had been there.
ERIC
Look, I did put it in there.
Eric walked over and sat in the recliner with a smile on his face. Jeremy was beginning to heat up. Drinking that gin was not going to make this situation any better.
JEREMY
WHY!?
ERIC
I was hoping that you would have found it before Ian got home.
JEREMY
You still haven’t answered my question.
ERIC
Just a joke man. I didn’t mean cause this issue.
JEREMY
Well you did. Now Ian thinks that I am cheating on him.
ERIC
Do you want me to call him and tell him what the deal is?
Jeremy didn’t waste any time passing him his phone. Eric located Ian’s number and pressed it. Ian answered it harshly. Eric explained everything to him. Ian stated that he appreciated the phone call and the explanation. Eric and Ian exchanged a few friendly jokes and then ended the call.
Eric tossed the phone back to Jeremy. Jeremy’s mind raced with what was really going on in Ian’s head. Jeremy loved Ian with all his fiber. He didn’t want anything to come between them – not even a friend.
As the night went on Jeremy had long finished his pint of gin and was now sipping some moonshine with Eric. Jeremy mentioned that he was hot and they needed to turn the air conditioner on. Eric went to the thermostat and turned it down to seventy degrees. The air immediately came on. Eric noticed that Jeremy was nodding off. He wasn’t going to allow his friend to drive in the state that he was in. He helped Jeremy get situated on the couch. He turned the volume down on the TV and turned off the lights.
He walked to his bedroom, took off his clothes and got in the bed. He suddenly remembered that he hadn’t taken his medicine.
______________________________________
Four years ago Eric went to have his bi-annual checkup. One day while at work, he got a phone call from his doctor’s nurse telling him to come in that afternoon. He told the nurse that he would come in now.
His nerves were wrecked in fear of what they were calling him in for. Normally they would mail him a letter telling him that everything was clear.
Once he arrived at the clinic he went straight to the nurse’s station. Nurse Lauren brought him on back and told him that Doctor Keyton would be in soon.
Eric sat on the table shaking. Ten minutes later there was a knock on the door.
DR. KEYTON
How are you today?
ERIC
I don’t know until you tell me.
DR. KEYTON
Well, Eric your test came back positive for HIV.
ERIC
Really?
DR. KEYTON
Yes. We did three different runs of your blood. They all came back positive.
ERIC
So you are telling me that I am dying?
DR. KEYTON
To be honest with you we all are going to die. HIV is not what it used to be. I want you to know that HIV does not mean that you have AIDS. Let’s get that clear. Currently, people can live much longer - even decades - with HIV before they develop AIDS. Some people never develop AIDS. This is because of “highly active” combinations of medications that were introduced in the mid 1990s. I am going to start you on a therapy which is one pill a day – not the old cocktail of 20-30 pills a day. I want you to take this and a multi-vitamin a day.
ERIC
OK. I am so lost right now.
DR. KEYTON
Don’t be. You can still live the life that you have always lived. You just have to be more careful with your sexual life. Take care of yourself, eat healthy, exercise and all of that.
ERIC
I feel like going home and blowing my brains out.
DR. KEYTON
Wait a minute. Now I will not let you leave here in that frame of mind. I am here to talk with you. If you don’t want to talk to me, I have a friend who is a therapist that will be more than happy to talk with you.
ERIC
Dr. Keyton, I am just talking out of frustration. I can’t kill myself. I will be ok. How much will this medicine be?
DR. KEYTON
It can range from $1500 to $2400 for a 30-day supply.
ERIC
DAMN! Are you serious?
DR. KEYTON
Yes. But you have insurance right?
ERIC
Yes.
DR. KEYTON
OK then. You will just pay your co-pay.
ERIC
WOW! OK! That sounds better. Thanks Doc.
DR. KEYTON
No problem. I want you to come back in three months. We will run more blood tests to see how things are and where your numbers are. If you do like I have instructed you, you will be fine.
Eric took the prescription and walked out of the office. He sat in his car for a few minutes to gather his thoughts. He started his car and drove off. Now, four years later he was doing great.
VI
Jeremy woke up and realized that he was still at Eric’s apartment. He searched for his phone to check the time. 6:43. “Man I have got to go. I got to be at work at 7:00.”
Jeremy eased his way to find all of his belongings without waking Eric. He placed his shoes on and walked to the door. He slowly unlocked the door and opened it. He locked and closed the door.
He drove quietly home until he realized that he needed to call his supervisor. He told his supervisor that he would be running a little late but he would be on as quickly as he could.
Once he ended that phone call his thoughts went to Ian. He arrived at the house and spotted Ian’s car still in the driveway. He figured that Ian would have already left for work.
He entered the house slowly. Ian was sitting at the kitchen table. The same spot he was at when Jeremy left on yesterday. Jeremy went to him to give him a kiss. Ian immediately pulled back.
IAN
Where have you been?
JEREMY
When I left here I went riding, went by Eric’s, got drunk, slept on the couch, and came home.
IAN
Is that all you did was get drunk and slept on the couch?
JEREMY
Yes.
IAN
Well I got a text from YOUR phone saying, (holding up his phone) “I enjoyed that hot tight azz. We will have to get together again soon. Headed by Joshua’s house.”
Jeremy was shocked by what Ian was reading from his phone. He thought his ears were deceiving him. Ian could not be serious.
JEREMY
Let me see that.
IAN
Here…it is right there.
Jeremy read the text. He looked at everything on the phone. The time and whose number the text came from. True enough it came from his phone. He then pulled out his phone to see if it matched his outbox. He didn’t see the outgoing message. This shocked him even more. Jeremy knew that he had quite a bit to drink. Gin and moonshine together don’t mix.
JEREMY
Baby, I didn’t send this. You can call Eric and ask him. I slept on his couch.
IAN (jumping up from the table)
I am so sick of Eric. And that pitiful ass apology he said on yesterday. I have never trusted that bitch.
JEREMY
Don’t talk about him.
IAN
So now you are taking up for him again. Just like in high school.
JEREMY
It’s not that. Eric was playing a joke on me with the condom in the toilet.
IAN
OK. Well while you were “sleep” on his couch, maybe he got your phone and sent this text to me.
JEREMY
Why would he do that?
IAN
Jealousy. Envious. Stupid. Crazy. Idiotic. Any other adjectives you want me to pull out my ass.
JEREMY
C’mon baby. Naw. He wouldn’t do that.
IAN
I am done. I am through. This conversation is over. You are going to take his side. OK. I got to go to work.
JEREMY
Baby I need you to believe me.
IAN
This text is from your phone. There was a condom in our bathroom and you said that he was the only one over here with you. I have always trusted you. Believed everything you told me. But this is two things in a day’s time. If I get one more thing ….
JEREMY
What? Are you saying we are finished?
Ian grabbed his attaché bag, cut his eyes at Jeremy and walked out of the door. Jeremy stood there in disbelief.
VII
Dennis was in his office working on an upcoming project when he received a phone call from Monique. She was working as a program examiner where she was the core source of expertise on all matters pertaining to the programs and operations of Federal departments and agencies.
Monique made many connections in her short time there. She mentioned that she met a guy that knows Jacob from way back.
DENNIS
Really? That’s cool.
MONIQUE
Yes. His name is Matt. He is a dean at a college here. He is a great guy, very outgoing, conservative and easy to talk to.
DENNIS
Very descriptive, does this mean that you have an interest?
MONIQUE
OH NO! He is old enough to be my dad.
DENNIS
Thanks for calling us old.
MONIQUE (laughing)
You know what I mean. Anyway, I told him about you and Pops doing workshops on a variety of topics. He said that he would like for you both to come and do a workshop on diversity in the workplace.
DENNIS
Cool, I think we can handle that. What is the budget, how many people, and how long does he want this to be?
MONIQUE
I don’t know all of that. I will give him your contact information and he will talk with you.
DENNIS
Cool. I look forward to speaking with him.
MONIQUE
I will tell him to call you and I will call you later this week. I love you.
DENNIS
I love you too.
VIII
Monique decided to meet Matt at Mama Estee for a patio lunch. She wanted to catch up with him and discuss her conversation with Dennis.
Monique was wearing a red pencil skirt with a white camisole that was covered with a black peplum jacket. Her sandy red hair was free flowing past her shoulders.
She sat there nursing a cocktail while reading over some papers. Monique did not notice when Matt walked up to the table. He stood there for a moment hoping that she would look up but she was too engrossed in her work.
MATT
Good afternoon pretty lady.
Monique looked up and gave him an illuminating smile. She stood and gave him a hug and two pats on the back. In the embrace Matt seized the opportunity to caress and to smell her hair. Matt stepped around to help Monique with her seat.
MONIQUE
So how is your day going?
MATT
Great, great and yours?
MONIQUE
Wonderful. I spoke with Dennis about the workshop. He told me to give you his contact information and you two would discuss the details.
MATT
Sounds good. So what are we eating?
MONIQUE
A chef salad for me would be great.
MATT
You need more than a salad to keep up your strength.
MONIQUE (flashing that smile again)
I am good. I need to lose about 3 pounds anyway.
MATT
Ah come on now. Since this is our first meal together, why don’t you have a big lunch and a small dinner? Do it for me?
MONIQUE
OK, this one time.
Monique picked up the menu to scan it again. She wasn’t sure as to what she would eat but since he insisted, she would oblige. Matt was also scanning his menu but he lowered it just enough to look over the top of it at her. He thought about how silky smooth her skin looked, her fragrance that danced off of her as the wind passed by, the way she took her finger to get the hair that tickled the side of her face. Matt was lost in thought when the waiter came to the table.
MATT
So Monique, tell me something about you?
MONIQUE
Well, I am from Alabama, my mom died in childbirth with me; I was being reared by my two fathers until my dad died.
MATT
Oh wow! I am sorry to hear that. How
did he die?
MONIQUE (tossing her head to the side)
He was shot. My Pops and I moved to Mississippi, his home state. I got married, pregnant, lost my baby, my husband died, and now here I am, trying to start over for myself.
Matt sat there with a blank stare. He was in shock by all that she had been though in her young life.
MATT
May I say something – I don’t want to be insensitive but death seems to surround you.
MONIQUE (letting out a hardy laugh)
You know I was lying in my bed the other night and had that had exact thought. I don’t know what it is.
MATT
Well you can’t say that you haven’t lived.
MONIQUE
So tell me about you? Are you from D.C.?
MATT
No I am not from here. Actually I am from the south also. I moved here about 18 years ago. I had some things to happen to me that changed me forever. I lost my family, myself, and some friends.
Matt could see the curious look on Monique’s face. She was not the one that would come right out and ask what was on her mind. Her face did majority of the talking.
By this time Matt and Monique had finished their lunch. They exchanged more conversation and decided that they would meet later in the week for dinner.
Matt certainly had an interest in Monique. His desires were to have her in his life, but he could not take the chance of exposing those thoughts.
IX
Jacob was sitting on the couch when the doorbell rang. He was curious as to who it was because everyone usually called before coming over. Jacob grabbed his glass of wine and walked to the door. When he opened it there stood Ian with tears rolling down his face. Jacob’s look changed from curiosity to concern. He beckoned for him to come in.
Jacob offered him something to drink, but Ian quickly declined. They went into the living room and sat down. Before Ian was allowed to start talking, Jacob refreshed his drink. He came in and sat in the recliner.
