by Jacki James
I found a comfortable spot on a couch that gave me a view of the front, so I could watch for Alex. A little black and white kitten wandered over. I reached my hand down for her to check me out, and she very slowly approached it. Then she rubbed her little body under my hand wanting me to touch her.
“Well, now, aren’t you just the sweetest little thing ever?” I reached down and gave her what she wanted. Once it seemed she had decided I was okay, I picked her up and placed her next to me on the couch, but she wasn’t having any of it. She climbed into my lap and turned in a few circles. She kneaded my legs until she was satisfied with their position, and then laid down curling into a little ball. I was completely charmed.
“It looks like you found a friend.” Alex smiled as he placed the food on the coffee table in front of me.
“She’s so sweet. I’ve always wanted to get a cat, but I’m gone so much with my twelve-hour shifts. We had lots of cats on the ranch, but they were all barn cats since Kayla, she’s the baby of the family, is allergic to cats,” I told him as I gently petted the little ball of fur in my lap.
We ate and played with the cats while we talked about nothing and everything. My new little black and white friend never strayed far away, coming back and climbing up in my lap if she did venture off. There were these amazing walkways around the room for the cats, and we watched as they were just running and playing. It was amazing. We were getting ready to leave when a lady with a cat cafe t-shirt came over to us.
“This little girl is up for adoption, you know,” she said as she reached down and scratched my little friend behind her ears.
“I’ve always wanted a cat, but I’m not sure about how long she would be alone with the shifts I work. I’ll think about it though.” I really wanted to take her home with me. “Oh, and I guess I should probably talk to Linc first.”
Alex laughed before he replied, “I doubt he would be able to deny you anything if you look at him with those puppy dog eyes. I know I couldn’t."
As she walked away, I slid a little closer to him and said “Really, anything? Because I can think of something I would really like to have that you’ve been denying me.”
He leaned over and kissed me quickly and then said “Not denying, delaying. That’s different. We’re sticking with the plan. Now let's get you back home.”
Once we arrived at the house, I wasn’t sure what was next, but I hoped he’d come in for a while. Then I decided instead of hoping, I would ask.
“Do you want to come in for a while? I promise to be good.”
“Sure, sounds good. Will Lincoln be home?”
“No, he’s on a twenty-four-hour shift today. We’ll have the place all to ourselves. Do you want coffee? I'm going to make a pot,” I told him as we walked inside.
“Sounds good to me.”
I got us coffee, and we got situated in the living room.
“What now?” I asked him.
“Well, now we talk I guess. That’s how people get to know each other better.”
"What about?"
“Well, I’ve noticed that you talk about Lincoln’s family like they’re yours. Do you mind telling me about that?”
Normally, I would mind. Mark is the only person I’ve shared my story with since I left home, but something about this man made me want to tell him everything.
“I don’t have a tragic childhood story. My parents were just regular parents. My mom stayed home with us, and my dad worked in the oil field. They were very religious—well, I assume they still are—and we grew up in the church. I think growing up thinking they loved me made it worse because what they did came as such a surprise.
So anyway, Lincoln and I had been friends since middle school and when I was about fourteen or so when he told me he liked boys. I was amazed because I did too, but I thought I was the only one. We kept it a secret for around six months. Even tried kissing each other once." I laughed as I rolled my eyes. “That was a disaster. But then he decided to tell his mom. You would have to know Patty to understand. She really didn’t care. I mean, here her son was, this big cowboy growing up on a ranch in a completely manly environment, and they were just like ‘Cool, did you make sure the horses were fed?’ like he told them he was left-handed or something. Anyway, it got around town, and my dad heard about it.”
I guess Alex could tell I was coming to the hard part because he moved over near me and took my hand. I smiled at him gratefully.
“He came in from town one day and told me I wasn’t allowed to hang out with ‘that fag boy from the Reynolds’ ranch’ anymore. I told him that Linc was my best friend, and I wouldn’t abandon him. Both he and my mother were going on about choosing our friends wisely, and guilt by association, and then they said the thing that pushed me over the edge. They said Linc was going to hell. Now remember, I said I was raised in that church, and I knew who God was. I don’t mean who that church said He was; I mean who He really was. For all of my life they had preached about having a personal relationship with God and I had one. And the God I knew personally wasn’t that God. So I just said it. I said if Linc was going to hell, then I was, too, because I was gay.”
Alex tightened his grip on my hand. “That was incredibly brave.”
I chuckled before I replied, “Or incredibly stupid. My dad lost it. He got up and grabbed an empty duffel bag out of the hall closet. He tossed it to me and told me I had two choices, pack that bag and go to one of those camps that helped boys straighten up, or pack that bag and get out of his house. I packed the bag and called Linc’s house. He wasn’t there but Patty came and got me. You should’ve seen the looks she gave my parents. And that was the day the Reynolds’ family became my family.”
And Alex did the most perfect thing ever. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t tell me how sorry he was my family sucked. He didn’t tell me how lucky I was to have the Reynolds’ family. No, he just pulled me into his arms, wrapped me up in a hug, and held on.
Chapter Ten
Nathan
I was never nervous about going to Mark and Justin’s house. I mean, it was like my second home, but today I was a nervous wreck. I had never invited a guy to come with me before, so everyone was going to assume we were serious. It was just going to turn into such a thing.
“What?” Lincoln asked.
“What do you mean what? I didn’t say anything.”
“No, but you sighed that Oh My God sigh that you sigh. What is it?”
“It’s just that Alex is coming to the cookout.”
“Okay, I thought things were going well with him,” Lincoln said confused.
“It is, Lincoln. For heaven’s sake, keep up. We had a fantastic time. We went to that cat cafe, and I just fell in love with that little black and white kitten. I think I should go back and get her. You wouldn’t mind if I got a cat, would you? But anyway, he was sweet and oh my god, can he kiss. But now he’s coming to the cookout, and everyone’s going to assume we’re a couple.”
“Well, aren’t you a couple?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, of course we are. But having everyone know it is going to make it so real.”
Lincoln shook his head and just chuckled. “You’re ridiculous. Now let’s go over to Mark’s.”
We got there before anyone else so we could help set everything up. We moved the patio table from next door and brought it over to Mark’s side while Lincoln went and got Suzie’s comfortable chair off her side of the porch and moved it over by us. She was just starting to show, but Tom, Mark, and Justin were all treating her like a china doll. It was hilarious because she was fine, but she was eating it up. I had a feeling that by the time she had this baby she was going to be over it though.
I wondered what Alex would think of their arrangement. Most people found it to be really weird. Mark and Suzie had married young before he’d come to terms with the fact that he was gay. They’d had Emma, who would be five next month, but a couple years into the marriage, they realized they were better friends than lovers. T
hey both remarried, Suzie to Tom and Mark to Justin. They lived next door to each other and shared a back yard so Emma could run back and forth. It was unorthodox, but it worked for them. They truly were one big family.
Tom got the grill going, and everyone started to arrive. Matt and Casey showed up first, closely followed by Denise and her daughter, Abby. She had Stevie, from the yoga studio, with her. I was glad he came. He was such a sweet guy. I really thought he and Casey would make a good pair, but I would never say so.
“Are Rachel and Brad coming?” I asked Mark.
“No, they went up to mom and dad’s for the weekend. I’m hoping my sister has finally figured her shit out and has decided to keep Brad around. I like him,” he replied.
“Yeah, Brad’s good people,” I agreed.
“Uncle Nathan!” Emma shouted as she and Abby ran over to me. “Where is Maddie? Daddy said your big friend from the mall was bringing her to the cookout. So when? We want her to play with us.”
Alex and I had talked about it and decided that it would be a good idea for him to bring his niece with him to the cookout, but he was coming separately. “He should be here any minute, sweetie. He’s picking her up right now.”
“Okay, when she gets here, will you tell her we’re up in my castle?”
“Sure will, I bet she’ll love it.”
They ran off to climb up in the fort part of her “castle”, which was really a swing set we put up for her last year. She was the cutest little thing ever, and I loved her fiercely.
“Nathan, can you help me set out the food?” Mark called over. That was code for come in the kitchen, I want to check on you.
“Sure.” I followed him into the kitchen.
“So, how are things going with Alex?” he asked as soon as we were alone.
“Good, I think.” I smiled. “He took me to the cat cafe for our date.”
“Did he? That sounds cool.”
“It was, but it’s weird.” I was trying to decide how to say what I was thinking. “I don’t know, Mark. First of all, he isn’t out, but he also isn’t hiding. I’m not sure how to explain it. Like no one knows, but he doesn’t care who sees us. But the main thing is he won’t have sex with me. Seriously, I don’t know what to do with that.”
“He won’t have sex with you ever?”
I sighed. “He said he will, but just not yet. He seems to have some crazy idea that he has to prove that he likes me as a person first and not just my ass. He’s driving me crazy.”
Mark shrugged, “Sounds reasonable to me. Why’s this bothering you?”
“Well, I really want to him to fuck me. If he fucks like he kisses, it’s gonna be hot as hell. I’m just afraid that he’s gonna realize he doesn’t actually like me as a person before I get a chance to taste him.”
Mark stopped what he was doing and studied me. “Why do you think he wouldn’t like you as a person? You’re one of the most amazing, kind, caring people I’ve ever met. You’re a fantastic person.”
“You have to say that because you’re one of my best friends.”
“No, I’m one of your best friends because of that. I was an absolute wreck that night you found me in the bathroom at the club, remember? Most people would’ve beat a path out of there as fast as possible. But you stayed, you talked me down from my panic attack, and then you helped me. You’re an amazing person. And I’m guessing if he picked a cat cafe for your first date, he’s a keeper. Seriously, how sweet is that?”
“He is sweet.” I smiled. “We’re doing some kind of speed dating thing, or something, where we’re going out a few times a week, and we’re taking turns picking where. We did the cat cafe which was awesome. I think I need a kitten, by the way. Anyway, I brought him here, and then we’re going somewhere that he has planned tomorrow.”
Mark laughed as he said, “Lots of face time, no sexy time, huh? I bet that’s making you crazy.”
“God yes! You have no idea,” I said rolling my eyes.
“Well, here, take this food outside, and don’t be getting any ideas about my house. Justin and I are the only ones having sex here.”
I took the food he handed me and headed outside. I checked to make sure the girls were nowhere around, and then with my best pout I said, “Justin, your husband is no fun. He just told me I couldn’t have sex in your house.”
“I’ll have you know, my husband is a lot of fun. And you absolutely are not allowed to have sex in our house.”
“Who exactly were you planning to have that sex with, beautiful?” Alex asked from behind me.
“Shit!” I screamed covering my mouth with my hand. “Where did you come from?”
He laughed. “I got here right after you went inside. And just exactly who were you planning to debauch Mark and Justin’s house with?” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me back against him.
“I don’t know, maybe Stevie over there, he’s kinda cute,” I teased. He growled in my ear and I laughed. “No need to go all grizzly bear back there. You know I was talking about you.”
“Damn right!” he said before biting my ear. I shivered, and he chuckled. “Now let’s go hang out with your friends.”
Alex
Nathan had some really great friends. I was having a lot of fun with them. I talked baseball with Tom and Justin and hockey with Mark and Nathan. I was able to find out a lot of little things about Nathan by listening to his friends and watching him.
Suzie was hilarious and crazy in love with her husband. She and Mark were really tight which was awesome to see since they had Emma together. I’d never known a divorced couple like them, but I thought it was amazing.
Justin’s friends Matt and Lincoln seemed to get along better which was a relief because at the bar the other night they’d made things tense. And Stevie and Casey seemed to hit it off pretty well.
The girls ran and played and had a great time. I was glad I brought Maddie over, but I was also glad when it was time to leave. I leaned over to Nathan and said, “I have to run Maddie home, but how about if I come by after I drop her off? We can watch a movie or something? I can be there in an hour.”
He reached over and ran his hand up my leg. “Hmmm,” he hummed. “Sounds good, I’ll meet you there, big guy.”
I said my goodbyes before I loaded Maddie up and took her home. I was hoping to get in and out of my brother’s house pretty quickly, but that was never easy.
“Hey, Maddie girl, did you have fun?” my brother asked as he grabbed his daughter up and swung her around.
“I did!” She exclaimed. “My friend Emma has a castle in her back yard, and a white cat, and she has three dads, and a mom, and they have a huge yard.”
Tony looked at me with raised eyebrows.
“Emma’s parents are divorced,” I explained. “Both her parents have remarried. Her dad is married to a man named Justin. Thus, the three dads thing. They’re neighbors and share a yard.” I watched him to see how he would react. I’d have to tell him about Nathan soon, and I was hoping this would give me an indication how that might go.
“Wow, I don’t think I could live next door to Cindy, much less share a backyard with her, if we divorced. That’s wild.”
I smiled at him relieved that that was what he took from that. “They seem to make it work pretty well. Actually, they’re good friends so it’s cool.”
“Are you going to come in? Cindy made dinner and you know she always makes extra.”
“No, I have a date tonight, so I gotta get going. Thanks for letting me borrow my niece for the day. It was fun.”
“Hey, anytime you want to give us a kid-free Saturday we ain’t gonna complain. We’ll see you later, have fun on your date.”
I hopped back in my car and rushed to make to Nathan’s place in my hour time frame. I parked the car, hopped out, and made it to the door just on time. He opened the door, grabbed me pulling me inside, and slammed the door behind me. The next thing I knew he had literally climbed up my body and had his legs wrapped a
round my waist and arms around my neck.
“Hi,” he said with a flirty smile.
“Hi,” I responded and then I spun him around, pushing his back against the door, and I was kissing him, hard. I pulled back to catch my breath, “We gonna watch a movie? I thought maybe we could order take-out and just relax.”
“And kiss some more? I think we should definitely kiss more.”
I laughed. “Yeah, kiss more.” I carried him over and dumped him on the couch.
“Aw, that’s not fair,” he pouted sitting up looking at me.
I sat down and grabbed him, hauling him into my lap. “Is that better?”
He spun around so he was straddling my legs and our groins touched. He pressed down against me and I moaned.
“Yep, better,” he sighed as he rubbed his face against my beard.
“I thought we were going to watch a movie?”
“Do you want to watch a movie?” he asked as he rubbed his groin against mine. Damn, he was hard, and that felt like heaven.
“Maybe later.” I kissed him again as I grabbed his ass and pulled him tight against me. I could kiss this man forever. I’d always thought of kissing as foreplay, but with Nathan, it was an art all itself. Just like everything he did, he threw himself entirely into it, nipping and licking my lips before he pushed his tongue into my mouth and explored.
“You said we would play what was, and wasn’t, allowed by ear, right? Let’s start with no shirts. I’ve been wanting to touch your chest ever since I saw you without a shirt in the hospital that day.”
“Yeah, we can do no shirts,” I agreed quickly.
We both pulled off our shirts and tossed them on the floor. He reached up and ran his hands through my chest hair and moaned.
“This feels exactly the way I imagined it.” He trailed his fingers from my chest down my abs to the waistband of my jeans.
