Tackling the Subject

by Jon Keys

  “About the same. We were out celebrating Sam’s grade in bio.”

  “Oh, man. I took three times to pass that damn class.” He winked at Sam. “I wish I’d had the big lug as a tutor.” He glanced between the two of them. “Hey, do you mind if I crash your party? I’m kind of batching it. The wife has a final on Friday.”

  Sam hid a smile at Gordy’s sigh, but Nate seemed oblivious. “Sure, Nate. Pull up a chair. We’ve been working on an order of cheese fries.”

  “Cool!” Nate hooked a chair from a neighboring table.

  Gordy stared at him for a minute and shook his head. “You couldn’t get one glass and then get another? The first beer’ll get warm.”

  “Nope!” Nate tipped the glass to his mouth and chugged it down. It didn’t take long before he set the empty glass down on the table. “Damn good!” He ordered a pitcher of beer and another order of cheese fries before turning back to the other two. “What’s going on with you two?”

  “Just celebrating Sam passing biology,” Gordy said.

  Nate grabbed Sam’s shoulder in a companionable way and squeezed it. “That’s right. Great job, man.”

  Sam tensed, trying to prepare for his unavoidable reaction of panic. Instead, there was nothing. No panic. No sense of suffocation. But also no attraction to this man. Nate seemed like a nice enough guy if a little socially challenged. There was nothing. He glanced over and saw concern on Gordy’s face. After deciding to sit back and enjoy the evening, Sam didn’t even bother to move Nate’s hand. He drank some of his beer and relaxed.

  Several hours and more beer than he wanted to consider later, Sam had a nice buzz. “Hey, guys. I’m calling it a night before I’m crawling to the dorm.”

  Gordy nodded. “I’ve had enough, too. I can take you home.”

  Nate emptied their last pitcher into his glass and grinned at the other two. “Weenies! Can’t handle your beer.”

  Sam stood and shook his finger at Gordy when the room seemed to swim. “Whoa! What was that?”

  Gordy glanced at him, then stood and grabbed his sleeve. “Let’s get you home. You’ve had enough.”

  The room wobbled a second time and Sam swallowed hard. “Yeah, big guy. That might be a good idea. Just a fucking great idea.”

  The next thing Sam knew, Gordy was almost carrying him up the trailer steps. Sam leaned against him while he shut the door. The small light over the sink flipped on and he found himself lost in Gordy’s scruffy face. Without thinking, he reached up and caressed his rugged face. “You’re fucking good-looking. Did you know that?” Sam waved his hand and chuckled. “Of course you do! Good-looking studs know they’re hot.”

  “Come on, Romeo. You need sleep.” He helped Sam to the bedroom and waited for a minute when he realized Sam couldn’t undress himself.

  “Hold still,” he told Sam. “I’ll help you get ready for bed.”

  Sam lifted his arms so Gordy could pull off his shirt. As it cleared his hands, his arms fell around Gordy’s neck. Their eyes met and Sam leaned forward until their lips touched. Their heat lit fireworks inside Sam. He trapped Gordy’s head and pressed his tongue against his lips. A second later they opened and Sam slipped inside. Gordy met it with an equally passionate kiss. Gordy tasted of beer and his own alluring scent. By the time they separated, Sam’s cock was rock hard and he wanted Gordy in the worst kind of way. He kissed down Gordy’s neck while he unbuttoned Gordy’s jeans. Gordy stiffened then took Sam by the wrists.

  “Sam, I can’t tell you how much I want to do this, but you’re drunk. If we’re doing this, you’re going to be sober.”

  Sam tried to grab his crotch again but Gordy stopped him. “You sleep tonight. I want no regrets. Okay?”

  Sam experienced an unsettling combination of disappointment and nausea. Then another wave of nausea washed over him. “Oh, Gordy.”

  There was soft laughter as Gordy shuttled him to the bathroom. “Come on, lover boy. In a few seconds, you won’t be worried about sex.”

  * * * *

  Gordy glanced down the hallway when he heard a low groan. He chuckled and shook his head as he went back to reading his novel. There was rustling in the bedroom and he heard Sam.

  “Gordy?”

  He set aside the book he was reading and looked over to see a tousled headful of red hair and a cute face scowling at him. “I don’t feel good.”

  “You drank too much last night. You can thank Nate the next time you see him.”

  “Gordy…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I seem to remember…uh…something—”

  “Nothing happened. You got sick.”

  “Sorry I acted like an ass. I didn’t—”

  Gordy waved him off. “Don’t sweat it. Everyone has drunken monologues they regret later.”

  The silence stretched on for several minutes before Sam spoke again. “It wasn’t a drunken monologue. I wanted you.”

  “I refuse to have sex with someone who’s drunk, and that especially applies to you.”

  Sam dropped his chin to the mattress and appeared forlorn. “That’s what I was afraid of. No one wants to deal with my junk.”

  “Nope. You’re wrong.”

  Sam had tears forming in his eyes. “How am I wrong? Even you don’t want to mess with someone as fucked up as me.”

  “You’re wrong for several reasons. First, I won’t take advantage of anyone who’s had too much to drink. Second, I want to get to know you better. I can’t guarantee how it will work out, but I like you.” He smiled sheepishly. “Besides, you aren’t the only one who has baggage.”

  Sam started to reply but cringed and lay back on the bed. “Oh God. My head is killing me.”

  Gordy laid his book on the table, retrieved a few aspirins and a glass of water. His sock-covered feet were silent as he walked to the bedroom door. “Here, take these. Some aspirin should help.”

  “I might puke.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time in the last twenty-four hours.”

  Concern washed across Sam’s face, then panic when he glanced under the covers. His voice had a squeak when he turned back to Gordy. “I’m naked.”

  “It’s better this way. Trust me. Your stuff is in the washer. And don’t worry, I slept on the couch.”

  Sam covered his face with his hands. “Oh shit. I can’t believe I got sick.”

  “Well, it wasn’t all your fault. I should have warned you that Nate drinks like a fish. No one on the team can compete with him.”

  Gordy grinned at Sam but said nothing. His stomach growled and Sam’s face contorted. Gordy walked back into the kitchen, pulled a bottle of sport drink from the fridge and gave it to Sam. He stared at it for a minute with a questioning look on his face. “Won’t this make me puke?”

  “Maybe, but I’d guess you’re dehydrated. If you can keep it down, you’ll feel better.”

  “What if it makes me sick?”

  He sat a plastic trashcan beside the bed. “Try to hit it this time.”

  Chapter Ten

  Gordy paced the floor as he listened to his mother having their typical conversation. Any phone call with his family consisted of a monologue, but he would have liked to get a word in also. It wasn’t destined to happen.

  “Okay, Mom. Well, you guys have fun. I’m sure you’re right. It’ll be warmer in Houston than Ardmore.” Gordy sighed as he hung up his phone and tossed it to the couch. Disappointment washed over him. He glanced over to see Sam watching him.

  “What’s wrong?” Sam asked.

  “My family. They’re oblivious to anyone but themselves.”

  Sam shrugged. “Most people are. What’d they do?”

  “The whole family is going to Houston to my sister’s house for Christmas. Her kids are little and she doesn’t want to travel. So everyone is driving across the damn state of Texas.”

  “It sounds like a pain, but you can go, too. Am I missing something?” Sam asked.

  Gordy looked even more dejected. “Yeah, one
little thing. I have to be back at school the day after Christmas. Practice starts that day and with Coach being an ass, I don’t dare skip practice.”

  “Come home with me. I have to work the day after Christmas, so I have to be back, too. I’m in the same situation. If I’m not back, I don’t have a job. It’s a huge retail day. And Tulsa is close. We can save gas money.”

  “I don’t think your folks would want a stranger for the holidays,” Gordy said.

  Sam laughed and shook his head. “Some years, my parents have an outlaw’s Christmas and invite everyone who can’t be with their family to our house. It’s a blast. So, it won’t be a problem.”

  “I don’t know, Sam. I think that’s pushing my luck.”

  Sam pulled out his phone, tapped it a few times then put it to his ear before looking at Gordy. “We can settle this and you won’t have to spend the holiday alone in your trailer eating a TV dinner.” Before Gordy could argue, Sam’s attention went to his phone.

  “Hey, Mom. How are you?” He listened, then, “No, there’s no problem. I call all the time, not just when something’s wrong.”

  With another long silence, Sam listened again and rolled his eyes at Gordy. “Anyway, Mom, a friend of mine is going to be alone for Christmas and I told him he should come home and spend the holiday with us.”

  During the quiet Sam’s face turned bright red, and he turned away from Gordy. “Yeah, Mom. It’s Gordy, the guy who tutored me. Yes, Mom, he managed a miracle.”

  Gordy chuckled at Sam’s expressions. The exchange entertained him more than anything in weeks. Sam’s face looked hot enough to fry eggs. He cut his eyes to Gordy then his focus snapped to the phone.

  “Mother.” Then, “Mother! You’d better not.” Again, a pause. “Okay, but remember that I’m the one who will put you in the home when you’re old.”

  Sam took the phone and held it out to Gordy. “She wants to talk to you.”

  Gordy took it, holding it like a baby skunk. He shot Sam a questioning expression, but Sam just shrugged. He lifted the phone to his ear.

  “Hello, this is Gordy.”

  “Hi, Gordy. This is Carolyn, Sam’s mom.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Nice to visit with you.”

  “Nice to talk with you, too, Gordy. I wanted to tell you personally that you are welcome in our house.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am.”

  “And Gordy…”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Don’t hurt my baby. He’s had some rough times in the past few years.”

  A knot formed in Gordy’s stomach. He’d hit a sensitive area for Sam. He realized Carolyn was still talking.

  “Is there anything special you’d like for the holidays, Gordy? We don’t have what most people would consider the traditional Christmas dinner.”

  Gordy thought for a minute before answering, “Pie? I love pie.”

  “Any favorites?” she asked.

  “Ahh, pecan—and coconut cream.”

  “Pecan and coconut cream. No problem. I look forward to meeting you next week. We’re casual around here, so don’t worry about dressing up. Talk to you later.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Here’s Sam.”

  Gordy held out the phone. His cheeks were still flushed as Sam finished up the call to his mother. Once Sam had closed the connection, he turned to Gordy.

  “Sorry. I didn’t know she would get so personal. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I always am.”

  Gordy chuckled. “She was fine. Actually, she was fantastic. Now I get homemade pie for Christmas.”

  “Don’t get too excited. It won’t be a turkey and dressing kind of holiday. One year, we had tacos. But you can never say Christmas dinner at our house is boring.”

  “Pie. That’s what I’m focused on.”

  Sam shook his head and grinned. “She makes good pie. I have to agree with that.”

  * * * *

  They turned onto the unassuming residential street with its two-story houses and mature oaks. Gordy’s case of nerves had built over the entire hour drive, and now that the destination was close, his stomach was filled with knots. As Sam wheeled his beetle down the street, Gordy realized one of the houses had two flags, the stars and stripes and the rainbow flag. His gaze darted to other houses in the vicinity and many had smaller versions of the rainbow flag around their entries. He wasn’t terribly surprised when Sam turned into the flag-festooned home. He looked at Sam with raised eyebrows.

  “A rainbow flag? Is that just for us?”

  Sam seemed confused for a few moments before he realized what Gordy was talking about. Then it was Sam’s turn to grin. “No, they’re up all the time. It’s a fairly liberal neighborhood. A few same-sex couples have bought houses in the last few years.”

  Another thought came to Gordy, but he wasn’t certain how he wanted Sam to answer. “Does your family know we’re together?”

  “No! Absolutely not. You asked me not to tell anyone, and I didn’t.” In spite of his proclamation, he refused to meet Gordy’s gaze.

  “But?”

  “Well, my mother might have figured it out. If she did, I think she’d tell Dad. Mark probably won’t know. But, regardless, everyone is eager to meet you.”

  “Great.”

  Gordy truly wasn’t sure if he was relieved or upset. Before the conversation could go any further, a crowd of people started boiling from the house. The welcome crew consisted of several folks who had to be related to Sam as they displayed their Irish heritage plainly. From his dad, who Sam favored with his auburn hair and slender body, to his mother, whose strawberry-blonde hair was at the other end of the spectrum, he followed the family traits. The third redhead had to be Sam’s brother Mark, and attached to one of his arms was a white-blonde girl whose skin was a match for the others in the family. The last person was an anomaly who seemed comfortable with the rest of the bunch in spite of his Mediterranean features. After hugs and handshakes were distributed, Sam set about repeating introductions to make certain Gordy had met all of them.

  “Gordy, let me introduce you to the herd. This is my mom, Carolyn, and my dad, Tom. This whole mess is their fault.”

  Gordy exchanged a firm handshake with Sam’s dad then got a huge hug from his mother. Sam continued with the remaining people.

  “The guy who is almost as good-looking as I am is my little brother, Mark, and the Nordic beauty who puts up with him is Megan.”

  Gordy was a little surprised to get hugs from both of them, but it left him with a warm feeling. But Sam wasn’t finished.

  “This is Ahmad, who is the last member of the family.”

  The darker-skinned man shook Gordy’s hand and winked at him,

  “Yes, I’m from the Lebanese side of the family. You know…Southern Irish.” The family all laughed politely before he continued. “Actually, I work with Doug and he and his family are kind enough have me over on holidays when I can’t get back to see my family in Michigan.”

  There was a moment of silence before Carolyn took over. “Supper’s ready. Let’s get at it before it gets cold.”

  They settled around the table and started passing the food. Various dishes were packed onto the tabletop until Gordy began to wonder. He leaned to Sam. “Does your family have their big meal on Christmas Eve?”

  Sam grinned at him. “No, this is Mom’s idea of a light dinner. Wait until tomorrow. She’ll knock your socks off. But make sure you get your precious pie tonight. She doesn’t make more of those.”

  She wagged a finger at him. “Now, Samuel Evan. You don’t know that for sure. I might have more pies hidden away for Gordy.”

  Mark leaned in. “Ohh, you got almost the whole name. You’re on thin ice.”

  Carolyn shook her head at them. “You better eat before Gordy and I get everything.” She winked at Gordy.”

  At that point, the teasing came to a stop as everyone finished filling their plates and started enjoying the good food. Sam had been right. The mix of dishes was d
ifferent. He was glad Sam had introduced him to all the new foods over the past months. But everything was good, and it didn’t take long for Gordy to stuff himself.

  Sam’s dad groaned, pushed back from the table and rubbed his stomach. “Oh my gosh. That was delicious. Best meal I’ve had in a long time.”

  Gordy nodded in agreement. “It was amazing, Mrs. Doherty. The pies were wonderful.”

  “Glad you liked it, Gordy, because I’m sending enough with you and Sam to keep you fed for a week. And please, call me Carolyn. Mrs. Doherty is Tom’s mother.” Her smile welcomed Gordy. The group all sat appearing content for a few minutes then Sam’s mother motioned them into action.

  “All right, who’s helping clean up? Then we can all relax.” The family swung into an obviously well-practiced routine. They soon had everything back where it needed to be, and the dishwasher humming as it cleaned the first load. They all made their way to the living room where pillows and blankets appeared from storage. It didn’t take long before it sounded as if everyone was asleep. About the time he reached that conclusion, someone shook him.

  “You asleep?” Sam asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Come on. We can go to my room and play video games…or something.”

  “There better not be any ‘something’ happening, young man.”

  They both turned to see Sam’s mother looking at them through half-closed eyes, but she smiled. When they lay still too long, she motioned them to go on. They went down the hallway to Sam’s room.

  Sam opened a bedroom door, and with a glance inside, there was no doubt it was his. Every square inch of desk and screens, televisions and other electronics covered the walls. Controllers and remotes spread out everywhere. It was obvious Sam enjoyed his toys. He’d shoved his bed and one small table into a corner. Otherwise, it was an unremarkable room. Even with the abundance of computers and video games, Gordy found it similar to the rooms of guys their age—even some older than he and Sam.

  There was movement in the hallway as Mark and his girlfriend entered the bedroom next to them. Gordy grinned as Mark closed the door with an almost inaudible click. He turned to Sam with the smile still covering his face. “Will your parents let them stay in his room with the door closed? Mine would have a cow.”