by GA Hauser
“He still has to touch a man, Sandy.” Ron gulped his water as if it were vodka.
“Isn’t that my problem?” Keith asked. He had no idea his father was a homophobe. It simply had never come up before in the household. Since he had been straight, and his sister dated men, Keith didn’t remember ever discussing the issue of gay relationships with either of his parents. This was a rude awakening. Keith was not pleased with his father’s attitude about it. “Besides, Dad, what’s the big deal? Since when do you have a problem with gay men?”
“I don’t have a problem with gay men,” he snapped. “I have a problem watching my own son kiss a man.”
The rage in him growing, Keith asked boldly, “Oh? So if I were gay you’d hate me?”
Sandy intervened. “You’re not. So why are we discussing this? Change the topic.”
Ron pointed a warning finger at Keith, “Don’t even think about it.”
Keith let out a sarcastic laugh. “Don’t think about it?”
“Please, can we change the subject?” Sandy pleaded.
“No.” Keith sat up taller in the chair. “We can’t.” Addressing his father, Keith said, “What if I told you I was gay, Dad? Huh? What would you do? Disown me? Punch me?”
“Keith, why are you antagonizing your father?”
Staring at his dad’s steel blue eyes, seeing a side of him he never had before, Keith finally understood the depth of prejudice gay men, or for that matter, any minority, faced. It was a rude awakening. “I cannot believe I am hearing this from my own father.”
“And I don’t understand why you are making this an issue,” Ron replied.
Grinding his jaw, Keith leaned over the table towards him. “Because I like touching Carl.”
“Keith!” Sandy scolded. “Stop this. Behave.”
“You know what, Dad?” Keith’s words were dipped in spite. “I always admired you. I thought you were awesome in so many ways. But now? I think you’re an ignorant pig.” Keith threw his napkin on the table.
“Keith!” Sandy chided. “What on earth has come over you? This is so unlike you.”
“What’s come over me is the realization that love is never wrong. It doesn’t matter who the hell you love. And the fact that people do love each other shouldn’t fucking matter to anyone else. It’s no one’s fucking business but their own. You get that, Dad?” Keith stood. “I can’t sit here anymore.”
“Keith,” Sandy implored, “please stay.”
“No. See ya, Mom.” He turned his back on them and left the restaurant. “Son of a bitch,” Keith mumbled as he unlocked his car. “I had no idea you were a fucking asshole, Dad.”
~
Carl stuck his sunglasses on as he stepped out of his car. He walked to the front door of Hugh’s home and rang the bell.
The door opened and Hugh shouted, “Carl! Come inside.”
“Hey, Hugh.” He stepped into the cool interior and found everyone lounging in living room drinking beer.
“Carl!” Trevor shouted as the other three men waved their greeting.
“Want a beer?” Hugh asked.
“Sure.” Carl moved his sunglasses to the top of his head. “Hey, guys. How you all doing?”
“You ready for a game in the heat?” John asked, his legs straddled, his long army print shorts almost covering his knees.
“As long as we can jump in the pool after,” Carl replied, laughing. When Hugh returned with his beer, Carl took it, sipping it. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” Hugh picked up his own beer from the coffee table.
“How are we split up?” Carl asked.
Trevor pointed, “You, me and Bob, against Hugh, John, and Dick.”
“Ouch!” Carl laughed, “Who the hell decided that? We’ll slaughter you.”
“Yeah, right,” John shook his head. “We’ll see about that.”
“What are we waiting for,” Carl asked, “the fucking afternoon heat?”
“We were waiting for you. Let’s go.” Hugh signaled.
As he followed Hugh out of the back of the house, Carl drank another gulp of his beer, setting it down in the kitchen as they passed through it to the backyard.
Slipping his sunglasses back onto his nose, Carl admired the large, finely trimmed garden, built-in pool, tennis courts, and the basketball court. Even though it was only eleven, the heat was already noticeable.
While they waited for Hugh to get the basketball out of a large storage shed, Dick leaned against Carl and asked, “Why did they turn your character gay? That must suck.”
Knowing it was only a matter of time before he got teased by these men, Carl told himself he would laugh it off and not take it personally. “Yeah. It does suck. But that’s life.”
John overheard and walked over. “I wasn’t going to bring it up. But since Dick has, how the fuck do you do it?”
As the crowd of men gathered around him suddenly, Carl felt like he was a victim of the inquisition. “It’s acting. I do my job and go home.”
“Do they make you guys do more than just kiss?” Trevor asked, his nose curling in disgust.
“Yes. Unfortunately.” Carl tried to keep calm. The last thing he wanted was to be outted in front of his macho drinking buddies.
“Sick!” Bob cringed. “Like what?”
“You don’t want the gory details.” Carl looked over their shoulders trying to hurry Hugh up. It seemed he’d been delayed and was crouching down pumping the ball up with air.
“Please tell me you don’t have to touch the guy’s cock.” Trevor winced in revulsion.
“Fuck no. It’s just a cable drama, not porno, you idiot.”
“How far do they make you go?” John asked.
“It’s all just hype. They just make it look like we’re really doing things.”
“Yes, but you actually had to kiss him.” Dick’s intense stare was unnerving.
“I just close my eyes and pretend it’s Cheryl Jones.”
“Now, she’s hot!” Trevor exhaled.
“Have you asked her out, Carl?” John nudged him.
“She’s going out with someone already.” Carl watched Hugh bounce the ball, finally coming their way.
“Okay, men!” Hugh shouted. “Let’s play!”
Hoping that was an end to the topic, Carl engrossed himself in a game of hot, sweaty basketball.
~
Keith checked his watch as he climbed the stairs to his apartment. Patty was home, sitting out on the open deck reading a magazine. After he tossed his keys on the counter he opened the sliding screen door. “Hey.”
“You’re back early.”
“I know.”
“Let me guess. You’re dad and you had a fight about the gay character.”
Keith pulled the second plastic chair around to straddle backwards, resting his head on his arms as they lay on the seatback. “Yes.”
“Well, you had a feeling.”
“I don’t get it, Patty. It’s just a stupid acting job. What’s it to him?”
She flipped the glossy pages as she replied, “It’s embarrassing for a dad to see his son kiss a guy. Period.”
“I suppose.” Keith sighed and lay his head down on his arms, closing his eyes. “Anyone answer the ad yet?”
“Nope.”
“Well, it’s only been in the paper one day.”
“Where are you going to live?”
“I don’t know.” He wanted to move in with Carl.
“You can’t move back home now.”
“I never wanted to move back home.” Keith felt the warmth of the sun on his skin and it made him want to sleep.
“Keith.”
He forced himself to raise his head to meet her eyes, though he was very comfortable with his head down. “What?”
“Why don’t you just tell me you’ve met someone else?”
“Because that’s not the reason why I’m moving.”
“Then what is?”
“I just need my own space.”
“I know. But think how awkward it’ll be when you start bringing other guys home.” He smiled sadly. “I’ll get jealous.”
“Do you know how expensive apartments are? Have you looked?”
“I have.” He dropped his head back down and closed his eyes again.
“Big spender suddenly? Are you rolling in money?”
“Not hardly. But I think I can afford a studio apartment somewhere.” He was looking for something within walking distance to Carl’s condo with a little luck.
“Was it weird having to kiss a guy?”
Keith inhaled deeply wondering if he was going to get asked that question eternally. “Yes. But I’m getting used to it.”
“That Carl Bronson is so damn good looking. At least you’re kissing a hunk and not some ugly fucker.”
“I suppose.” Keith wondered how long Carl was going to be playing basketball. He wanted to snuggle up with him for a nap…after some hot sex.
“Is he a good kisser?”
Smiling to himself, Keith knew what he wanted to say. He just didn’t think it was wise. Sitting up again to see her expression, Keith found she was fascinated with the topic. “Do you get off on two guys kissing?”
“A little. It was pretty hot watching you two in the premiere episode.”
He chuckled softly. “Amazing. I had no idea women liked that.”
“Why? Guys get all horny about two women.”
“True.” He stood and moved the plastic chair aside. “I have to take a nap. I’m wiped out.”
“It’s the heat.”
“Probably.” He waved and walked to the spare room. After he kicked off his shoes he stretched out and yawned. Finding his mobile phone, he dialed it and held it to his ear.
“Hello?”
“Hey. You still at your friend’s place?”
“Yes. Hang on.”
Keith waited for a moment. Listening intently.
“You there?” Carl asked.
“Yes.”
“I just wanted some privacy. Where are you?”
“Home. I was about to take a nap and I got horny thinking about you.”
“Well, to be honest, I was about to head home. We played for about an hour and a half, and now we’re all just hanging around Hugh’s pool. I’m exhausted.”
“Are we getting together later?”
“If you want, you can meet me at my place in about an hour.”
“Oh! Cool.” Keith sat up.
“See ya then?”
“Am I staying overnight?” Keith wanted to.
“Sure.”
Smiling excitedly, Keith replied, “See you soon.”
“See ya.”
Keith hung up, hopping off the bed, feeling more motivated than he had a minute ago. As he found some clothing to take with him, Patty stepped into the room.
“You’re packing your backpack? I thought you were taking a nap.”
Keith froze. “Uh.”
“Keith, just tell me you’re dating someone else. What’s the big deal? We’re not exactly a couple anymore.”
Turning to face her, Keith hated the idea that anything he did could hurt her. “I’m just staying at Carl’s place. We practice learning our lines until late, and I end up crashing in his spare room.”
“Oh?” She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.
He avoided looking at her. “So…I’ll see you sometime tomorrow night after your shift.”
“You think it looks good? You sleeping with the guy?”
“We’re not sleeping together so don’t say stupid things.” Keith felt a sick sensation creep into his stomach as he continued to gather what he needed.
“It still looks like you are.”
“Now you sound like my dad. Cut it out, Patty.” He glared at her and tried not to worry.
~
Carl disconnected the call and dropped the phone into his shorts’ pocket. Walking back to the pool where the rest of the group was splayed out on chaise lounge chairs, he looked down at them.
Hugh shielded his eyes from the glare and asked, “Everything okay, Carl?”
“Yes. But I was thinking of calling it a day, boys.”
A rumble of protests surrounded him.
“We were going to have a barbeque for dinner,” Trevor announced. “Where do you have to go?”
“I’ve got to learn the new script. It’s a very tight schedule. I only have a few days between each shooting.”
“Ahh, the glamorous world of an actor.” John rolled his eyes. “Kissing a man for a living.”
“Come on. Cut me some slack, John.” Carl took his car keys out of his pocket.
“Yeah, John,” Dick replied. “Don’t rub it in. Pity the poor schmuck.”
Carl hid his cringe at the comment. No one should pity him for kissing Keith O’Leary. Not by a long shot. “Right. Thanks for including me in the game. I appreciate it.”
Trevor hopped off the lounge chair. “I’ll walk you out.”
Carl waved, “See ya!” to the rest of the men and slid back the sliding door to walk through the house to the front door. Just as he stepped outside, Carl felt Trevor’s hand on his shoulder. He peered back at him to say goodbye. “See you soon?”
Trevor smiled at him, holding out his hand for a shake. “Yes. We’ll most likely get together for a beer next weekend.”
“I’ll try, but I can’t make any promises until the season ends.” Feeling the grip on his hand tighten instead of release, Carl studied Trevor’s eyes curiously. “What?”
“You sure you can handle all the crap you’re going to be hit with?”
“Crap? What crap?” Carl took back his hand.
“The tabloids. I read in that weekly rag at the check-out line that you and the dude who plays Dennis are a couple.”
Carl felt his blood go cold. Keeping his exterior composure, Carl sighed, “Well, don’t believe any of the shit you read in those things.”
“I don’t. I just feel really badly you have to be labeled like that. It’s not fair, Carl.”
“I’ll survive. Besides, the producers will love the publicity.”
“I’m surprised you’re taking this so well.”
“What am I supposed to do? Shoot myself?”
“I’d hitch up with a girlfriend if I were you and get yourself seen in public. You don’t need that fucking stereotype, do you?”
Shifting his body weight uncomfortably, Carl answered, “To be honest, Trevor, I don’t give a fuck. I won’t be the first actor to be put through it in the press. You just have to ignore it.”
“All right, buddy. Just giving you the heads up.”
“I appreciate it, Trev. But don’t worry. I let that shit roll off my back.”
“Right. So, see you soon?”
“You will.” Carl waved and continued his walk to his car with a heavy heart.
~
Keith sat in his car waiting. Finally seeing the Corvette pulling up to the gate, Keith grabbed his backpack, got, out and pocketed his key as he walked past the gate to meet Carl.
Standing back as Carl parked in his garage and used a remote to close the door, he approached him and noticed Carl had a newspaper tucked under his arm. “Hi, Carl.”
“Hey.” Carl handed him the paper. “It’s already started.”
“What has?” Keith took the newspaper and found it was folded to a specific page. As Carl unlocked the door to the lobby, Keith read the headline. ”Forever Young’s Newest Gay Couple an Overnight Sensation.”
Once they were standing in the elevator together, Keith asked, “So? What’s it say? Give me the gist of it.”
“It’s mostly about us as the characters, not as real people. But there is some slight innuendo that we may be attached outside work.”
“Should I not be staying over?” Keith handed him back the paper.
Carl shrugged. “I don’t fucking know.”
/> Once Carl had opened the door and they were inside his condo, Keith set his pack down by the door, in case he wasn’t staying.
“I have to shower.”
“Okay.” Following Carl as he headed to the bedroom to strip, Keith picked up the newspaper Carl had set it down on the kitchen table. Reading it as he loitered in the bedroom with him, Keith scanned the article quickly. “It doesn’t say we’re together outside the show. Where does it say that?”
Carl stood beside him and read through the print.
Realizing he was naked, Keith caressed Carl’s low back, running his hand over his tight ass.
“Here. Just one line. It says, ‘The two actors have shown instant chemistry and animal attraction giving their sex scenes a touch of realism.’”
