Chasing the Horizon

by Scotty Cade

  “Ouch,” Hawk whined. “What in the hell was that for?”

  “That was for not telling me you were going out sailing with a very handsome man,” Justin said.

  “In Hawk’s defense,” Garner offered, “we just decided at the last minute.”

  “We?” Justin questioned. “Did y’all spend the entire day together?”

  “As a matter of fact we did,” Garner said, looking over at Hawk.

  Hawk offered Garner a weak smile and then turned to Justin. “Enough, Butt-rah,” he said. “I’ll fill you in later.”

  “Hawk, I do believe you’ve been keeping secrets from me.”

  “Enough,” Hawk said again.

  Hawk turned to Garner. “Do you need me to help you hose down the boat or anything?”

  “Na, I can manage,” Garner replied. “You two go along and catch up. Oh Justin, I have friends coming in for the weekend, and Hawk has agreed to let me charter his boat for a fishing trip on Saturday morning. You’re very welcome to join us if you like.”

  Hawk started to feel a bit nauseous and wanted to crawl into a hole and bury himself.

  “I might just do that,” Justin said. “Thanks for the invite.”

  Hawk offered Garner another weak smile. “Thanks. I’ll see you in a little while.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  HAWK TOOK Justin back to his boat and waited until they got inside the cabin before he tore into him. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “Nothing,” Justin said. “Just being nice to your new boyfriend.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend,” Hawk insisted.

  “Your new fuck buddy, then.”

  “For fuck’s sake,” Hawk said, running his hand over his shaved head as he quickly contemplated how much he should tell Justin. He finally threw himself down on the couch and ’fessed up. “If you must know, after I walked you home last night, we hooked up again, and yes, I spent the day with him.”

  Hawk watched Justin’s eyes widen with disbelief.

  “OMG, Hawk,” Justin screeched. “In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never, as you say, tapped the same thing twice, never mind spent the day with him afterwards.”

  Hawk had to laugh at that one. “Whoa! Now don’t be getting ahead of yourself,” he said. “This is nothing more than a fuck-buddy thing. He hates relationships, and you know my feelings on that subject.”

  Justin jumped on Hawk’s lap and threw his arms around Hawk’s neck. “Well, I’m just happy you’re spending time with someone.”

  Hawk wrapped his arms around Justin. “Thanks, Butt-rah.”

  “I’m so happy I’m not even going to kick your ass for your poor taste in nicknames.”

  “In your dreams, pocket gay.”

  “That one either,” Justin added. “Oh and just for that, tell Garner I’d love to join you guys on the fishing trip.”

  “Oh great,” Hawk said rolling his eyes. “I’m looking forward to that trip.”

  “Do you realize you roll your eyes all the time?” Justin said, raising his leg and stomping on Hawk’s bare foot.

  “Fuck,” Hawk hissed. “What was that for?”

  “Not wanting me on your fishing trip.”

  Hawk threw Justin off his lap. “You get one of those in a lifetime, dude, and you just used your free pass,” he said, lifting his foot up onto the couch and looking at his aching toes to make sure he wasn’t bleeding. “The next time I kick your ass.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Justin said. “I’m shaking in my Nikes.”

  Justin looked at his watch. “Oh, gotta go. I have a cyberdate with Jeremy at eight, and I have to get lubed up.”

  “Christ, dude,” Hawk said, still rubbing his toes. “I really don’t want to know about that stuff.”

  “What time on Saturday?” Justin asked.

  Hawk stood and limped over to the door. “I have to check the weather and the tides, but we’ll probably pull out around first light.”

  “And what time would that be?” Justin asked sarcastically.

  “I have no idea. You have a smartphone—look it up.”

  Justin frowned. “Just call me when you know,” he said as he stepped through the glass door.

  Hawk shook his head and waved as Justin hopped off the boat and ran down the dock.

  Hawk limped over to the galley and rummaged through the refrigerator to see if he could scrounge up dinner for two. He pulled out a pork loin and a package of brussels sprouts. He found some quinoa in the cupboard and figured he had enough to work with.

  He dug his cell phone out of his pocket to call Garner, but quickly realized they hadn’t even exchanged numbers. He climbed off his boat, walked over to Garner’s, and tapped on the hull.

  A few minutes later, Garner popped his head out of the companionway door. “What’s your cell?” Hawk asked.

  Garner recited it, and Hawk plugged it in his phone.

  “Here’s mine.”

  “Wait,” Garner said. “I don’t have my phone with me.”

  He disappeared and returned a minute later, waving his cell phone in the air. “Shoot.”

  Hawk recited his number, and Garner plugged it in as well. “You hungry?” Hawk asked.

  “You mean you didn’t fill up on those apps I put out for the sunset sail?” Garner teased.

  “Ah… no,” Hawk replied. “My boat. One hour.”

  “I’ll be there. What can I bring?”

  “Bring wine if you have it.”

  “Wine it is.”

  Hawk walked back to his boat with a bounce in his step. Even with a tender foot, he was truly excited about cooking for someone, with no strings attached. Well, maybe some strings. But only the good kind of strings.

  Chapter 9

  GARNER PRESSED the End button on his phone. “They’re around the corner,” he yelled, sticking his head in the shower. He and Hawk had spent the day together at the beach and timed it so they would get back to the boat in plenty of time to shower and get dressed before the boys arrived. But when they decided to shower together, one thing had led to another, and now they were running seriously behind.

  Garner was standing in front of the mirror drying his hair when Hawk stepped out of the glass-enclosed shower. Garner kept one eye on Hawk’s reflection in the partially steamed mirror. His piercings glistened from the moisture as Hawk reached for his towel and started drying off slowly, stopping every now and then to look up and lock eyes with Garner. God he’s hot!

  Hawk stepped up behind Garner and slipped his arms around Garner’s waist. “That felt really good.”

  “Yeah,” Garner agreed. “A hot shower always does the trick for me too.”

  “Dude, I wasn’t talking about the shower.”

  “I know,” Garner said with a wink. “It was so worth it. Even if we are running very late.”

  “I’ll be ready in five,” Hawk said, stepping out of the head into the stateroom, still drying off.

  “I’m right behind you,” Garner said, turning the blow-dryer off.

  Hawk slapped Garner’s ass hard. “I hope you’ll be behind me later,” he teased.

  “Ow!” Garner said. “That stung.” He stepped into his jeans and scowled at Hawk, trying to look fierce while fighting off laughter. “And after that move, you can count on it.” They’d spent the last two days and nights together on one boat or the other, and so far, so good. Garner wasn’t feeling any pressure, and it didn’t appear that Hawk was either. Their conversations were getting easier, and each time they talked, Garner learned a little more about what made Hawk tick. Garner realized he’d thought it a million times, but Hawk really was a contradiction of himself. Take away the tats and piercings, and there was a smart, handsome, and witty man struggling to get through life with childhood wounds that never seemed to heal.

  Garner wasn’t the least bit nervous about introducing Hawk to Thompson and Hank because they would eventually see exactly what he saw, but he wished he’d given them a little
warning. Hawk’s appearance could be a little intimidating at first, as he well knew, but of course the circumstances surrounding their introduction were going to be very awkward.

  Garner slipped into his flip-flops just as he heard Thompson’s voice. “Anybody home?”

  “Be right there,” Garner yelled.

  Hawk was buttoning his jeans, and he looked up, appearing to be a little nervous. “Is this shirt okay to wear?” he asked, holding up a red Henley.

  “Absolutely. And don’t be nervous; they’re great guys.”

  Garner kissed Hawk on the lips. “I’ll see you out there.”

  Garner stepped out of the cabin and picked up his pace when he saw Thompson standing in the companionway looking down into the salon, his sun-streaked blond hair falling over his shoulders and those emerald green eyes every bit as gorgeous as ever. “Permission to come aboard, Captain.”

  “Permission granted, you asshole,” Garner replied. “Now get down here.”

  Thompson stepped down the stairs with Hank on his heels. My God, these guys are as gorgeous as ever. Hank’s jet-black hair was shimmering, and his piercing blue eyes were sparkling like the Gulf of Mexico on a sunny day.

  Garner hadn’t realized how much he’d missed them until he saw them face to face. “My God. You two are a sight for sore eyes,” he said, throwing an arm around each of their necks and pulling them in to hold them tightly against him.

  After a solid hug, Garner released them and stepped back. “Let me get a look at you both. You look terrific. Love really agrees with you.”

  “Thanks to you,” Hank said, punching Garner in the arm.

  “Hey, I only put you on the right path. You made the road trip.”

  Hawk stepped into the salon and cleared his throat. Thompson and Hank both looked up.

  “Hey, I want you to meet a friend of mine. Hawken Bristol, meet Thompson Gray and Hank Charming.”

  Hawk stepped up and shook their hands. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. And please, call me Hawk.”

  Garner threw an arm over Hawk’s shoulder. “Hawk has the fishing-charter boat we’re going out on tomorrow.”

  “Great,” Thompson said, looking Hawk over. “Man, those are some seriously cool piercings.”

  “Thanks,” Hawk said.

  “They really are,” Hank said, stepping closer. “I almost got my ear pierced once. I’ll never forget the place had a sign hanging in the window that said, and get this, ‘Ears pierced while you wait.’ I mean, really? What are you gonna do, drop your ears off and pick them up later, pierced and ready to go?” Hank shook his head, apparently still in disbelief. “Anyway, I chickened out at the last minute when I heard the woman ahead of me scream bloody murder.”

  “Can I?” Thompson asked, raising his hand to Hawk’s ear.

  “Sure,” Hawk said, tilting his head to give him better access.

  “Now that had to hurt,” Thompson said, touching the half-dollar-size black disc filling Hawk’s earlobe.

  “Not really…,” Hawk started. “Well, that’s not exactly true. You start with a normal piercing, and then as the piercing heals, you increase the size of the discs until you get to the size you want. It smarts a little when you put the larger disc in for the first time, but your earlobe quickly adjusts and after a few hours, you don’t feel a thing.”

  “You’re more man than I’ll ever be,” Thompson said, shaking his head.

  “Show them your tongue,” Garner suggested.

  Hawk stuck out his tongue and waved it around, showing off the silver bar piercing the tip of it.

  Hank winced and looked away. “Oh man, now I could never do that. The anticipation of waiting for the poke alone would kill me.”

  Thompson piped up. “Damn, Prince, I thought you liked the anticipation of the poke?”

  “Really?” Hank asked, glaring at Thompson. He turned to Garner and pointed an accusing finger. “I blame you for all of this. Thanks to you, this is what I’ve got to live with.”

  Garner covered his mouth with his hand, choking back laughter. He was absolutely amazed at how far Thompson had come in such a short time. He was like a new man, and Garner attributed it all to Hank’s love and support.

  “Prince?” Hawk asked.

  “My last name is Charming,” Hank said. “I got the nickname when I was a kid.”

  “Prince Charming?” Hawk said. “I get it.”

  “And I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Hank said, then kissed Thompson before swinging hard and smacking him on the ass.

  “Oooouch,” Thompson whined, rubbing his ass and looking back at Hank. “You said to be my witty and charismatic self.”

  “Yeah, but that was supposed to be at Garner’s expense, not mine,” Hank clarified.

  Garner started to laugh and then realized what Hank had said. “Wait! What?”

  At that point, all four of them lost it and roared with laughter.

  When the laughter finally dissipated, Garner threw his hands up. “Let’s get you guys settled so we can grab some beer and head topside and plan our weekend.”

  “We’ll get our things out of the truck and be right back,” Hank said, gesturing for Thompson to lead the way.

  Thompson climbed the companionway stairs, mumbling to himself and still rubbing his ass. “I still think that was funny.”

  “It was, baby,” Hank said, looking back over his shoulder and winking at Garner and Hawk.

  “Well,” Garner said, wrapping his arms around Hawk, burying his head in Hawk’s neck, and kissing him. “Those are my boys.”

  Hawk raised his shoulder and bent his head against the ticklish assault. “They seem like really nice guys, and neither of them seemed the least bit afraid of me.”

  “It was early in the morning and you were half-naked,” Garner said, stepping back and smiling. “Am I ever going to live that down?”

  “Probably not.”

  Garner looked toward the door when he felt the boat tip from the weight of Hank and Thompson climbing back on board. Hank appeared in the companionway first and awkwardly stepped down the stairs, balancing two bottles of wine and a bottle of Scotch on top of a case of beer.

  “Let me help you with that,” Hawk offered, taking the wine and Scotch bottles and setting them on the counter.

  “Thanks,” Hank said. “Can you fit any of this beer in the fridge?”

  “I have plenty, so we’ll ice that down when we need it.”

  They all turned when they heard a thump as a duffle bag landed on the floor of the salon and then another and Thompson barreled down the stairs behind them.

  “Gentlemen, you get the V-berth and the forward head,” Garner said, pointing up the hallway. “Unpack, get comfortable, and meet us topside when you’re through.”

  After a few minutes, Hank appeared in the cockpit barefoot, wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a royal blue T-shirt, which made his eyes bluer, if that was even possible.

  He looked at the beer bottles in Hawk’s and Garner’s hands. “Excuse me? Why am I the only one up here without a beer?”

  Garner reached into the cockpit fridge and pulled out a longneck, then twisted off the cap before he handed it to Hank.

  “Whoa!” Garner said when he turned back and saw Thompson standing in the companionway in a bright pink, blue, and lime green, short-sleeve, button-up flamingo shirt and cutoff jeans.

  “Nice, huh?” Thompson said, resting his hands on his hips and turning from side to side so that everyone could get a good look.

  Hank rolled his eyes and took a pull off his beer and swallowed hard. “He spent hours in the basement looking for that shirt, digging through storage boxes that he still hasn’t unpacked since he moved in.”

  “It’s… colorful,” Garner stammered. “Yeah that’s it, very colorful.”

  “Nice shirt, dude,” Hawk said, giving Thompson the once-over. “I like it.”

  It was Garner’s turn to roll his eyes. “Honestly, Tommy boy, that’s got to be
one of the ugliest shirts I’ve ever seen.”

  “What are you talking about?” Thompson said, the shock and disappointment evident on his handsome face. “It’s perfect. Come on, we’re in Florida, and everyone knows flamingos go with Florida.”

  Garner looked over at Hank as he handed Thompson a beer. “God love him,” Hank said. “There’s always gonna be a part of him that’s straight. I guess it could be worse.”

  “What’s wrong with you people?” Hawk asked. “I think it’s very cool.”

  “Thank you!” Thompson said, taking a seat next to Hawk and tapping the neck of his beer bottle against Hawk’s. “At least someone here has taste.”

  After a few beers, they decided to take a cocktail stroll and check out all the other boats in the marina. In addition, Thompson and Hank were anxious to see if there were any good ideas they might be able to pick up and apply to their marina.

  When they got back to AquaTherapy, satisfied they hadn’t come across any obvious ideas or improvements they could steal, all four of them were starting to feel the effects of the beer. So because of Thompson and Hank’s long drive and the fact that they had a very early morning ahead of them, they’d all agreed to stay in and order pizza. Besides, they figured they had two more nights to go into town and blow it out big time.

  Since Hawk and Garner had already provisioned and fueled ReelCrazy, ordered an ice delivery for five thirty, and called Justin to give him a six o’clock departure time, they were all set there.

  Garner ordered the pizza, and Thompson and Hank set the table while Hawk threw together a salad from ingredients he’d confiscated from both boats without touching tomorrow’s provisions.

  When they pushed away from the table, all of them were stuffed. They moved to the salon and sprawled out, Hank taking one end of the couch with Thompson on the floor leaning back and resting his head between Hank’s legs, and Hawk and Garner on the other couch, Hawk stretched out with his head in Garner’s lap.

  “So?” Hank finally asked while gently running his fingers through Thompson’s sun-streaked locks. “When are you two gonna tell us what’s going on?”

  “Going on?” Garner asked.