May the Best Man Win

by M. T. Pope

  “And tell me how I am supposed to do this?”

  “I don’t know. Get him drunk, take him to a gay club, and take some pictures of him getting it on with a guy or something. And then send the pictures to her anonymously. I don’t know. I know you’re smart enough to get it done.”

  “I’m going to need two or three rounds with you for all of this work.” He laughed. “You lucky I didn’t really like him like that anyway. He was an obnoxious little fucker.”

  “Okay, then that should make it a little bit easier,” I added.

  “So let’s go so I can bust them guts open. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately, and who would have thought that I would have caught up with you the way that I did?”

  “So you have, have you?” I looked at him salaciously. I was horny too. I might as well get me some before I start my new journey with Mateo.

  We made it to my house in less than a half hour. We were fucking within fifteen minutes of our arrival to my house. My phone rang but I didn’t answer it because I knew it was my mother making sure I got home safe. Ronald’s phone rang too. I guess we both will have some explaining to do in the morning.

  Chapter 22

  Lewis

  Men At Work

  I was a little groggy when I woke up from my slumber this morning. I jerked off twice before I went to bed last night just thinking about Mateo’s hard body pressed up against mines in the near future. He looked like he could passionately make love to me for hours, unlike the losers I had dated in the past.

  Now I was back at work and feeling myself for sure. I walked around with my head in the clouds. Everybody got a smile and a hug today. I got some strange looks back, because I wasn’t the touchy-feely type on the regular. But today was a new day. I was going to enjoy the prospects of my future. Mateo had texted me this morning, wishing me a great day and that he was looking forward to touching my soft skin and looking into my hypnotic eyes. I blushed and almost giggled as I texted back that I couldn’t wait to see him again as well. I was falling for him I was sure. I didn’t want to and I knew that it could possibly end up like the others before him, but I was very optimistic and looking forward to a future I knew I was going to spend with him.

  “Lewis, I need you in my office for a quick meeting about Mr. Lopez’s advertising campaign,” Mr. Spencer said as he walked into my work area. I was just sending another text to Mateo as he walked up and startled me.

  “Okay, give me a sec,” I said as I placed my phone in my front pocket. He walked away. I then got my work folder for the project and made my way to his office.

  When I walked into the office I found out that I wasn’t the only one in the office. The love of my life was sitting at a table looking fine in his well-tailored suit. I could say that I was kind of shocked that he was sitting there and didn’t tell me he was coming to the office today. I assumed he was just here on business and not on a pleasure call, even though it was my pleasure to see him. He smiled when he saw me and I sat down at the table across from him. I had to practically force myself from smiling so hard.

  Kardell was sitting next to me and two other office workers were sitting on opposite ends of Mateo. We had meetings like this all of the time, but this one was different; it was one when I was going to have to really show off and show Mateo that he was getting a hardworking guy to share his bed and life with. I didn’t want to be just a piece of eye candy to him. I wanted to be someone who he could trust and come to about business.

  “Good morning, everyone.” My boss smiled as he looked at everyone at the table and lingered a little too long on my man. Mateo smiled and nodded his head. He was so smooth. “I just want to open up the meeting and thank everyone for their hard work on this campaign, and I know for myself that this is one of my favorites. I hope that Mr. Lopez will enjoy working with us and getting the best out of us. I am sure we all will do a fabulous job because it is all about teamwork and we are a wonderful team.”

  Everyone at the table was smiling brightly, mainly because we knew that Mr. Spencer would be handing out some nice bonuses if the campaign was as successful or even more successful as former campaigns.

  The whole meeting went by so smoothly and even during the meeting Mateo was texting me messages about my smile and appearance. I tried my best not to smile too hard but it was hard. My boss’s phone chimed a few good times and he would momentarily glance at Mateo and then everyone else in the room. It was probably his mama texting him since he was a mama’s boy. He needed to get a man like I had and I was pretty sure he would have a smile for all the right reasons.

  “Well, everyone, let’s call the meeting to a close, since I see that everyone is bringing their A game to the table. Mr. Lopez is looked forward to billboard placements in a week or two and we will start filming your television spots in the next couple of days. Everyone have a great and productive day.”

  Everyone got up and filed out of the room. I made sure I was the last one to leave so I could get to give my man a handshake and a sweet word.

  “Mr. Lopez, I’m so glad that you chose to use this company to work with to get a boom back into your business. I will do all that I can to make this a huge success. Just let me know what to do and I will do it. And I do mean anything.” I knew it was a little shameful but I had to show off a little bit in front of Kardell.

  “I sure will.” He smiled and then shook my hand. “Thank you for your hard work.”

  I smirked as I looked at my boss and then walked out of the door. I almost said, “Who gon’ check me, boo,” to my boss but that would have been too much. I walked back to my desk and prepared the rest of my day. I am going to have dinner with my bestie Dennis tonight and I’m going to be looking fabulous tonight.

  Chapter 23

  Kardell

  Spoiled Rotten

  During the whole meeting I couldn’t help but notice how strange Lewis was acting. His random texting and giddiness was a small distraction and I tried to pay it no mind because I was beaming with pride and excitement because the man I was dating secretly was in the same room with me sending me love notes via text. I was so glad I had everyone talk about their progress so I could text in between nods and “excellent work” comments to each individual after they spoke. I had to admit I wasn’t truly there in total capacity. I was stealing glances at Mateo every chance I got. I thought I was falling for him. We were having our second date tonight and I was so excited. Work was the furthest thing from my mind. I just knew that Mateo was going to surprise me and spoil me rotten again like he did on the first date.

  After everyone had left, it was just me and Mateo in the office. I wanted to run up to him and shower him with kisses, but I had to keep it professional in the office. The people you set rules for can’t see you break the rules because then they will lose respect for you and the rules.

  “It was so nice to have you come by today.” I shook his hand and then walked over to the area where my desk was. I sat down and watched him come and take a seat in front of my desk. He looked so distinguished. His body language was poised with confidence. He sat up straight and he didn’t slouch and I never saw his hand go limp, if you know what I mean. I really didn’t care about it, but it was just something I noticed.

  “Yes, I can say that I enjoyed the meeting and all of your staff.”

  “We aim to please.” I smiled again. I couldn’t help it. I was ecstatic about the possibilities of finding love once and for all. No more looking. No more dating losers. No club hopping. I’d have a true love life.

  “Can you come over here for a minute?” he asked. I had to admit he threw me with the question, but I got it together and made my way around the desk. He got up at the same time.

  He gently pulled me close to him with one arm around my waist. I almost went limp.

  “You smell so good.” He sniffed the side of my neck. “What do you have on?”

  “I . . . I don’t have anything on but my bath soap,” I answered.

  “Your
skin is so soft . . . so smooth.” He looked at me in the eyes as he rubbed the side of my face with the back of his hands. He was so gentle.

  “Excuse me, Mr. Spencer, but. . .” Janice walked into my office. She usually knocked but she must have forgotten today. Out of all of the days to forget today is the day she forgets to knock. I jumped out of Mateo’s embrace as fast as I could, but I was sure she saw us. I was so embarrassed.

  “Oh, I’m so very, very sorry. I forgot to knock. I’m so sorry, sir.” She turned and hurried out of my office.

  “I’m sorry . . . I just couldn’t help myself,” Mateo apologized.

  “It’s no problem. She won’t tell anyone. She is very professional, unlike me right now.” I nervously chuckled.

  “I’m sorry for this. Let me get going. I will see you later?” he asked.

  “Yes, most definitely,” I answered and then walked back behind my desk.

  He didn’t linger long, but I could still feel his arm around my waist like it belonged there. Like in his arms was where I was supposed to be and stay. There was no way I was giving him up now. Any man who wanted him was going to have to climb over my cold, dead body.

  Chapter 24

  Lewis

  Questions

  “You sure you don’t just want to get fucked really good?” my best friend asked me as we sat in a nice quaint restaurant on Charles Street in Mount Vernon. I was shocked, and for me that was hard to do. “I mean if he is all of that why hasn’t he made a move on you yet? He didn’t try to finger you or anything?” He looked at me in all seriousness.

  I’m not going to lie, he made me think. Why didn’t Mateo ever make any advances toward me? I mean he’d pampered me physically without any advances of a sexual nature. It felt good, but it made me wonder why he hadn’t tried to get in my pants. I had just chalked it up as him taking his time and wanting to get to know me first.

  “I am trying to build a friendship before it goes that far and I am sure that he is doing the same,” I said and then sipped on some chai tea I ordered.

  “Okay, so what do you know about this guy, besides the fact that he has money and owns a few businesses?” He looked at me curiously.

  “You don’t want me to be happy do you?” I asked. “You want to be the only one of us to be happy and well off.”

  “See, you are being stupid right now, and coming for me is not going to solve the fact that you don’t know anything about this man you are seeing. The fact that I am asking you these questions should let you know that I care and that I want you to be happy. How can you say such a thing to me?”

  “I’m sorry.” I apologized and then looked out of the window for a few seconds. There were a few tears threatening to fall but I blinked them back. I was embarrassed for acting so stupid. I was going to be strong and keep my head up.

  “I don’t know what you about to cry for because you know I’m right and if you don’t remember you gave me this very same speech more than once, especially when I met Charles.”

  I silently nodded my head because words escaped me right now. I was being haunted by my own words at the most inopportune time. I hated that.

  He continued, “Just promise me you will get more information on this guy and I don’t mean his dick size.” He laughed after he said that and I chuckled a little. He was trying to lighten the mood and he did for a second.

  “You know what, you are right and I didn’t think about any of that,” I admitted.

  “That’s because you are used to getting in bed with anyone and then letting them walk off in the morning. You didn’t want to get to know them. Now that you are trying something different you need to work smart and get as much information about him as possible. I’m not saying do a full background but get to know him and his family. Things like that.”

  “Okay,” I said as I made some mental notes. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t think of this myself. I couldn’t even say that I didn’t hear this before, because the counselor I met in Starbucks awhile ago said some similar things. I guessed I didn’t really let it sink in.

  “I’m proud of you for even trying to do something different, so don’t even think in the tiniest part of your mind that I’m not. You deserve happiness. You know I knew tons about Charles before I even let him hit it and he wasn’t having it. We had many a fights over this here booty.” He laughed as he tapped the side of his butt cheek. “But I held firm and now look at us, we are going strong as ever. You can do the same.”

  “Thank you.” That was all I could say as all he said sank into my head.

  “Don’t thank me . . . pay me, bitch.” We both burst into laughter. “Shit, or at least buy my food. I’m not a starving artist but I will play the part for a free meal.” We laughed together again. We did that all evening until it was time for him to go home to his man, and me to my list of questions for Mateo.

  Chapter 25

  Kardell

  Check Yourself

  “Hello,” I picked up the phone. It was a Saturday morning alone in my bed and I was extremely happy from the date that I had with Mateo the night before.

  “Are you asleep?” she asked. It was my sister, Angela. I didn’t know why she was calling me this early in the morning or at all for that matter. We didn’t talk on a regular basis and she was always insulting my lifestyle in one form or another and today I wanted no part of it.

  “I was,” I answered dryly.

  “Oh.” She paused for a few seconds.

  “Did you need something . . . some money?”

  “I need . . . I need . . .” She burst into tears before she said anything else. I mean she was crying like somebody died. I quickly sat up in bed with a nervous energy running through my body. I was scared of what she might say next. Like somebody had died.

  “Angela, what’s going on?” Legitimate concern filled my voice.

  “Alex is on the DL . . . He’s fucking a man.” She burst into tears once again.

  It didn’t take a genius to tell me that Ronald did what I asked of him. I had to admit a small piece of me wanted to enjoy her pain when I thought about her finding out. But now that it was happening I didn’t feel a twinge of excitement or joy. All I felt was her tears and sobbing as she cried into the phone. It was gut-wrenching as I sat on the side of the bed and heard her mourn a loss.

  “I can’t believe it.” She finally calmed down and spoke. “How could he do this to me? . . . To us?”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Yes, somebody sent me some pictures in the mail this morning. I got them spread out all over the kitchen table. I’m so glad Jonathan is in school and not home. I don’t know what I would do if he was here and I opened these pictures up in front of him.”

  “Yes, that would not be good,” I agreed.

  “Kardell, did you ever think that Alex could be this way? Did he ever exhibit any signs?”

  “Angela, being on the down low is just that, down low, people are good at keeping their business their business.” I purposely answered the situation but not her question. “No one really knows what someone else is doing until they find out. Gaydar is a myth and a lie, honey.”

  “I mean he just loved . . . um . . . pussy,” she almost whispered. “He was good at it. I just don’t understand.”

  “Angela, it’s not a science, he could actually love both, but only exhibit the thirst outwardly for one and secretly for the other. And just for the record not all men are like this. That’s the problem, people put it in a box and paint pictures of DL men when in truth it could be anyone. You find out when you find out. Sad but true. It’s a cruel, cruel world out here. Not everyone is who they seem to be.”

  “Wow, I’m just so out of it right now. I don’t know if I’m going or coming. And he’s upstairs, asleep. I’m in the basement talking to you.”

  “So what are you going to do?” I asked out of extreme curiosity. “Don’t do anything that you will regret.”

  “Actually, I’m going to post this pictu
re to his Facebook page and then put him out.” I could see a big, bright smile on her face on the other side of the phone.

  “That’s a little extreme don’t you think? With social media being what it is today you could go to jail for that.”

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Yes, sweetie, you don’t want to do that. Just ask him to leave and then you go get yourself tested for STDs,” I counseled.

  “Right. I can’t believe this. I just can’t. How can I make him pay for this though?” she asked.

  “By truly letting him go and treating him like a man in the process. Kill him with kindness. Guilt will eat him alive,” I answered.

  “Very true . . . That is very, very true. I never thought of that.” She seemed surprised. “Not to change the subject . . .” She paused for a minute. “But I’m sorry for not treating this sensitive subject with sensitivity until now. I guess it takes something like this to gain perspective.”

  “I accept your apology and I understand because I do it as well,” I stated matter-of-factly.

  “Can I ask you something?” she began. “Have you ever been in a situation like this before, where you thought you knew someone but it turns out that you didn’t know, but it was too late before you found out?”

  “Well . . .” I paused and thought for a second because I really didn’t know. “I really can’t say that I have, but it’s not a situation that I want to be in either. This is kind of crazy for you to go through this.” “Are you dating someone right now?” Angela asked.

  “Yes, I’m seeing someone right now,” I answered.

  “Do you know everything you need to know about them?”

  “To be honest I’m just starting to see this person and I’m not really sure where this is going to go, but I want it to go somewhere.”