Central Palm Beach was a lovely place to be during the winter months, because it got very cold, but didn’t snow. Johnny liked that about the area, and spent his time off from teaching attending bonfires on the beach. He had met Dave, his ex-boyfriend, during a bonfire the previous year…
He suddenly started to feel the chill of the coming evening sink into his bones. After he finished cleaning, he went back into the kitchen where Sara and Parker were saving some leftover food for the following week.
“Parker, would you mind picking up the rest of those tables?” Johnny asked, while washing his hands in the sink.
“Sure thing, dude,” replied Parker before planting a kiss on Sara’s cheek.
Johnny found their affectionate nature alluring, mostly because it was something that he wanted. Their kiss made him smiled fondly, but it also caused a deep pang of longing to sit in his stomach. He watched Parker leave. He and Sara were such a lovely couple and Johnny appreciated their company. The joy they brought to any room was apparent as soon as they were present. He hoped one day to find a love that shone as bright as theirs, or brighter; a love that would perhaps surpass the edges of the universe and make itself evident to other planets!
Johnny shook his head. When Dave had left him, it had felt like a star diminishing in the sky. It wasn’t an unexpected ending, but the pain was unbearably heavy and deep, like a knife landing in his gut.
While Johnny made some small chat with Sara, he heard Parker talking on the other side of the kitchen. The aluminum shutter had been rolled down in the serving window, so he could not see with whom. He walked out the side door to find Parker explaining to a very handsome man that the kitchen was closed. The man’s eyes were an icy blue, the kind of color you might find further away from the shore, where the water grew colder. The shirt he wore was not terribly dirty, but it did appear to need a wash. It also seemed to hide a rather fit figure, whose square shoulders caused the fabric to stretch. His pants were very simple jeans that were likely supposed to be torn at the knees, but Johnny couldn’t really tell if it was for style or simply from wear. The man’s eyes implored Parker for food. The look of hunger was very clear to Johnny, who had seen that look every week.
“If you could just spare a piece of bread, it would mean the world of a difference,” said the man, with his palms open and his hands extended.
The man didn’t appear to be like any other homeless folk who came around, but then again homelessness didn’t discriminate. Some people’s clothes were torn and tattered, while others wore khakis. But it wasn’t Johnny’s place to judge who deserved food. Hunger took on many different forms and he considered it his job to fill the void. He placed his hand on Parker’s shoulder and nodded to the man with a smile, saying he’d be happy to purchase him a meal at the local diner up the road if he wouldn’t mind company.
“That’s very kind of you,” said the man, smiling humbly. “I’d be happy to have company.”
“Parker, could you and Sara finish tidying up? I’d appreciate it,” said Johnny, patting Parker’s shoulder.
Parker smiled and said, “Of course. I’ll see you next week, Johnny boy!”
The nickname caused Johnny to cringe. He extended his hand to the man before him.
“He’s quite a vivacious young man,” said the handsome gentleman while taking Johnny’s hand. “And he’s sweet. I’m Ross O’Neal. I just moved into town.”
“I’m Johnny Christensen. It’s nice to meet you, Ross. Where did you come from?” asked Johnny, as they set off.
“A small town outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. Not even worth mentioning. I do freelance photography, but occasionally I’ll run into a bump and have to move on to wherever work might take me,” Ross explained, smoothing his brown hair back. “I found an ad for a place around here, but didn ‘t have much money left about purchasing my bus ticket. This seemed like the place to go for a hot meal that would hold me over.”
“You came to the right place, but right as we were closing. Still, I’m happy to get you a meal so you won’t be hungry tonight,” Johnny explained as they walked up the road.
“It’s very kind of you to offer that to a complete stranger. You must have a big heart,” said Ross. “That sort of compassion is certainly a change of pace.”
Johnny smiled, his eyes instinctively lowering to the ground in response to the compliment. He thanked Ross for the kind words and they continued to make small chat, discovering much of their interests were shared. Ross talked about his younger years following around punk bands up the east coast and photographing their private lives, and Johnny excitedly asked about every detail of the experience.
“You got to photograph Anointed Saintly? I think I might be jealous,” he said jokingly.
“They were a great group of guys. I was surprised at how accommodating they were, too. I never went hungry when I documented their tours,” said Ross, his face lighting up with nostalgia.
The two continued to talk about music when they arrived at Sandy’s Diner and walked inside, chattering away about their teen years and how they had wanted to impact the world. The waitress who usually seated Johnny alone eyed Ross and raised her eyebrows at Johnny, who shrugged in response. She smiled, greeted them, took their drink orders, and bustled back to the kitchen. Just then, Ross and Johnny made eye contact and suddenly looked away, Johnny rubbing the back of his neck and noticing that his hair was getting long. He smoothed some of the black hair away from his forehead and shrugged nervously, chuckling while staring down at the table.
“Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?” Johnny asked while looking over the laminated, one-page menu.
“Currently, no. I was going to try to find a motel, but there doesn’t seem to be too many that aren’t incredibly expensive,” replied Ross.
“It gets a bit pricey because of the beach. Tourists,” said Johnny, rolling his eyes. “You’re more than welcome to stay with me if you want. We can listen to some old punk records I have.”
Ross smiled warmly, his high cheek bones perfectly symmetrical as his face lit up with relief.
“I appreciate that so much. Are you sure you want a rogue artist staying with you tonight? You run the risk of being photographed and becoming famous,” Ross teased.
The idea of having his picture taken made Johnny blush and he immediately looked out the darkening window of the diner, noticing Ross’s reflection in the glass.
“I think that’s a risk worth taking,” he said as he looked back at Ross’s shining blue eyes.
The two men ordered their food, the night suddenly opening up a number of possibilities. Johnny was sure Ross was flirting, but he didn’t want to rush things so soon after meeting. In Ross’s mind, the night had been rather surprising and had come at the right time where he needed both a meal and a companion. His hunger for the physical delights of another person had gone mostly unfed, leaving him nearly ravenous for the sensual release he intensely desired. After the two finished their meals, Ross collected his backpack from the church parking lot where he had initially hid it and they piled into Johnny’s car.
At Johnny’s apartment, he gave Ross a cursory tour and pointed out the more important necessities. Ross was mostly buzzing with anticipation, his lack of human contact suddenly coming to the surface. As Johnny set up the couch with some fresh blankets, Ross asked if he would mind sitting on the balcony for a little while before turning in. Johnny agreed and offered Ross a beer, which he gladly accepted. The night air was filled with the sound of crickets chirping and the distant sound of traffic. The two were chatting about the topic of random life events, in particular coincidences. While Johnny explained some of his theories on the subject, Ross leaned over his chair, causing it to creak in the quiet night air. Johnny turned to find Ross sitting rather close, his face inches from his. It was a moment he had wished for earlier in the afternoon, but not something he thought he would find so soon.
Here was this exceptional stranger, a man of artistic inclina
tion who didn’t have a cell phone or any place to live and who was just as philosophically educated as Johnny. It was mere circumstance that had brought them together, but would he chance physical affection? Noticing Johnny’s slight discomfort, Ross pulled back and leaned into his chair while swigging his beer, commenting innocently on the way the lights were sparkling over the city. Johnny was slightly disappointed that Ross hadn’t tried to kiss him, but he also thought it might be better that way.
As the moon crawled across the sky, Johnny yawned and announced he was going to bed. Ross thanked him again for allowing him to stay and then tucked himself into the cushions of the couch, balancing the rest of his beer on his chest. The way Johnny had looked at him was sweet and genuine, as if the world had slowed down in that moment and allowed a space for them to breathe together.
The sky had slowed and the moon was shining brightly, illuminating the crevices of his face that spoke of experience. As Johnny smiled nervously, Ross found himself in a position to take a taste of those lips, but he didn’t want to violate the trust Johnny was giving in that moment. Sighing, Ross placed the empty beer bottle on the coffee table and closed his eyes to rest, the last image imprinted in his mind the shape of Johnny’s lips curled up in that sweet smile.
*****
The next day, Ross woke before Johnny and left the apartment quietly so he wouldn’t wake him. He wanted to follow up on a potential freelance photography job, so he grabbed his backpack and headed out to the newspaper office that had posted the ad. As the secretary buzzed the lead editor, Ross studied the reception area. It seemed to be a locally-run newspaper, likely an independent that was focused on news and events in the Central Palm Beach area. This would be the best job for him, especially since freelancing meant cash in his pocket and no paper trail to follow him. That was how he preferred it.
The editor introduced himself as Mickey. He had a deep Southern drawl, something Ross hadn’t expected in this region. Ross explained his personal experience with photography and showed Mickey the portfolio he carried everywhere, citing other newspapers and companies he had worked for in the past. Mickey seemed impressed.
“We just need someone to document local night life, events, and potentially some concerts as well. Can you handle all that?” Mickey asked while flipping through Ross’s pictures.
“I’d be more than capable of doing so. I’ve spent years doing–”
Mickey cut off Ross before he could finish. “Great. You can start with an event tonight. There’s a festival happening downtown. Get me some pictures and I’ll get you started at one hundred dollars per event.”
“Perfect,” Ross said. He stood to shake Mickey’s hand, though Mickey seemed more preoccupied with his laptop than making a deal with Ross.
Feeling slighted, Ross left the office with a much more hopeful demeanor than the day before when he had arrived in town with just a backpack and three dollars. He had been so hungry that he couldn’t help but follow the smells of the soup kitchen just up the road from the bus station, and that’s where he had fatefully met Johnny. He’s such a sweet man, Ross thought as he headed up the road towards the downtown area. I hope I can see him again soon when I’ve pulled myself together. Ross admitted to himself that he found it slightly embarrassing to meet Johnny under his poor circumstances, but he planned on changing them very soon. After a few events, he could pull together some cash to rent a place and then invite Johnny over for dinner. Realizing he hadn’t gotten Johnny’s number, he kicked a discarded water bottle on the sidewalk and groaned. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
Part of him considered returning to the apartment to do just that, maybe even bring him some flowers. On the way, he found a man selling roses at an intersection and bought one for a dollar. He inhaled the sweet aroma of the petals while climbing the stairs, a cold draft greeting him as he held the steel railing. Before he could lean down and leave the rose outside the door, Johnny opened it and smiled.
“I wondered where you went,” Johnny said as he motioned for Ross to come in. “I made you some breakfast.”
A smile crossed the photographer’s face, his heart swelling with joy that Johnny was inviting him back inside. Breakfast seemed to speed past them and suddenly the afternoon unfolded into laughter at the beach. That night, Ross went to his event and brought the finished pictures to Mickey the next day who was incredibly impressed by his nightlife photography.
“Clearly, you’re a man we want to keep around here. I’m going to front you this week’s pay and expect finished photographs by the weekend. Is that clear, Mr. O’Neal?” Mickey asked.
“Yes, sir! I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity!” cried Ross while accepting his hand to shake.
After receiving his front of cash, Ross located a simple studio apartment to rent just around the corner from the newspaper office. Mickey’s secretary, Laura, had recommended it when Ross had inquired about cheap rooms in the area. She scribbled the directions on a business card and added her number in case he got lost. Feeling a bit flattered as she threw him a flirtatious smile, Ross nodded politely and jogged his way around the corner to Sol Apartments, where he was able to work out a deal with the landlord and pay half the rent now and half the rent the following week. This left Ross some cash to buy groceries and a calendar, which he hung up on the kitchen wall as soon as he had settled in. Some furniture had been left behind by the previous tenant. The landlord, Robert, was sure it was still good enough to use. The tables and chairs were fairly sturdy and the futon also seemed relatively clean, but Ross bought some disinfectant spray and doused it anyway, just in case.
As he curled up on to the futon to rest for a bit, he thought about when he might invite Johnny over. The beach trip from the previous day had left the taste of salt in his mouth and he desperately wanted to press his sandy lips into the man who had captured his vision. Every time he lifted his camera to snap a photograph, he imagined Johnny smiling at him. It seemed to drive him further. Ross stood and walked over to his calendar, circling the 22nd of the month with a red marker he had picked up from the convenience store. As he did this, excitement and fear bubbled in his gut, reminding him of what he had to do. He had five more events prior to the weekend and had already put his three days off in for the nights following the 22nd. He’d made it clear to Mickey that he would not work those three days each month, but only those three days. Holidays and weekends weren’t an issue for Ross as long as he had the three days of the full moon. Mickey granted the request, figuring it was some religious holiday he didn’t know about.
A few days after Ross had found his apartment, he invited Johnny over to see that place. Johnny had rushed through his last class of the day, practically stammering over his explanation of equations to his students. He didn’t seem to be as stern as he usually was and the students noticed, a bit wary about his suddenly lenient nature. When the bell rang for dimissal, he calmly watched everyone leave and then slowly packed his bag, taking deliberate motions as he put away his planner and teaching notes. Getting to his car was a bit of a hassle; in hi reverie he had almost forgotten how to put one foot in front of the other! But he managed to pick up the pace when he thought of Ross.
The drive to Ross’s place seemed to take forever, school traffic taking up much of the roads as he made his way to Sol Apartments. Upon arriving, he began to shake uncontrollably and had to focus before climbing the stairs to the studio apartment. Ross was waiting for him with a small bouquet of roses and a bottle of white wine, commenting that he hoped it wasn’t too early in the afternoon for them to have a glass. Johnny accepted the plastic cup gratefully and began to look around the tiny living space Ross had acquired.
“It’s nice,” Johnny said while looking out the window. “You can see downtown from here. At night, it must be absolutely gorgeous when all the lights come on.”
Ross nodded, rubbing the back of his neck nervously as he sipped his wine. When Johnny had made it over to the kitchen where the calendar hung, Ros
s intercepted the teacher with his lips. As a result, he clumsily spilled his cup of wine on Johnny’s pants and suddenly pulled away to apologize. Smiling, the kind teacher said it was fine and reapplied his lips to their original meeting place; a succulent taste of sweet wine and anticipation hot between their tongues. Ross absorbed the feeling of his warm mouth, his tongue probing through parted lips to explore the flesh hidden inside. He wanted to swallow all of Johnny’s secrets, imbibe every bit of his life and understand what drove him to be so passionately charitable. It inspired him to want to do more with his work, to do work that made an impact instead of just making money.
As they both fell to the ground in a heap of affection, they each reached for fabric to loosen and belts to unbuckle. Hands searched in a frenzy driven by heated desire, searching for bare skin to grip and clothing to remove. Their naked bodies rushed into each other on the tile, overwhelmed by the pressing excitement of discovering unknown territory. Johnny drank in the beautiful landscape of Ross’s chest, the curve of his muscles chiseled into his skin, and shimmering with sweat from the heat between them. Johnny’s body was akin to a Greek statue, his skin softened by the light of the afternoon filtering through the half open window. In awe of his beautiful form, Ross ran eager fingers over Johnny’s chest and side, down to his thighs where they lingered before dipping between Johnny’s legs to feel the hot rod standing at attention. Johnny gasped as Ross stroked the length of his shaft, gripping a little harder with each stroke.
Pregnant to an Alien King Box Set Page 49
