by A. J. Blake
The tattooed boy had his eyes on the television as Marbell’s fingers brushed softly through his wavy, auburn fringe. “You know,” London said, “I used to be so in to animated kid’s movies, especially in my later teen years. I hate to admit that I was high 99% of the times I was watching them, but I used to think they were so tragically hilarious.”
Marbell laughed, “Did you, really?”
London turned over, looking up at Marbell, a hand behind his head and his foot rest on the low coffee table. “Yeah,” he grinned, “Me and some of my friends from back in the day used to get messed up and go see them in theaters. Parents hated us.”
“Did you ever remember anything from them, like the songs or anything?”
As if on cue, one of the songs came on and London jumped up as well as Joyce. He scooped the little girl into his arms as he began to sing the fast pace tune. Marbell kept his place on the sofa, amused by London’s playfulness with his baby sister. He spun her in his arms, rocking her and bouncing to the catchy children’s tune. Marbell admired the resilient bond held between London and his family. It was heartwarming and refreshing, in a way, to see someone love their relatives without any sense of animosity.
Joyce giggled up a storm as London twirled her to the music, being overall silly with her all about the living room. Marbell laughed when London froze suddenly for a moment for having forgotten some of the words, and then burst back into it when he remembered them.
Henry appeared from the hallway then, in sweatpants and an oversized plain t-shirt. He stared at his math teacher for a second before his attention was drawn to his goofy brother. London was holding Joyce up as though she were an airplane, spinning her round and round until the song was finished, and the little girl was full of nothing but giggles.
When London tossed Joyce into the air and carefully caught her again, he spotted Henry in the walkway of the hall and stopped.
“God, you’re so embarrassing...” Henry grimaced.
Marbell looked from his student to his lover, knowing this whole scene must have been odd for the boy.
The sixteen-year-old turned his back on the bunch and headed toward the kitchen, “And I thought you’d be a cool boyfriend, London. Guess you can’t hide cartoon nerd-ism under sleeve tattoos and muscles, huh?”
London set Joyce down and covered her ears, “Don’t be mad ‘cause I’m fucking your teacher.”
“Oh, come on!” Henry shouted from around the bend.
Marbell shook his head, his eyes finally catching the time. 7:32pm. He stood from the sofa then. As much as he didn’t want to leave the quaint house, there was still a single image he had to uphold. “London,” he called, “I should go, now.”
A frown pulled London’s joy to the ground and his heart sunk as well. “She will wonder where you are?”
“Yes, I’m usually home from the school by now on tutoring days.”
Seeming understanding, London nodded, “Alright,” he said, “I’ll walk you to your car.”
The moment the front door closed behind London, he took Marbell’s unsuspected hand and pulled the man to him. They stood there before the house in the quietness of the neighborhood. London quirked a small smile into the eyes of Marbell, taking his hand and closing it in his own. He looked over the tantalizing fingers, noticing they were always absent the requirement for a married man. “Your ring. Where is it?”
“I don’t wear it,” Marbell said, London caressing his ringer finger gently. “The only times I ever put it on are when I’m in the presence of my father.”
“I’m glad I’ll never have to look at it,” London admitted. “To know that you legally belong to someone else pisses me off.”
“But I am yours,” Marbell assured. “No papers or documents, rings or petty, hollow vows can change the fact that I am in so much love with you and only you.” For a second the teacher stayed, letting London keep hold of his hand as a thought crossed his mind. “I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“My wife...Vivian, she will be traveling abroad to Paris and won’t be back until Monday. While she is away, I am heading to New York for the weekend to settle some issues with the directors. It is boring work, to be honest, but I was wondering if you would like to come with me. I leave Friday evening and will stay for just Saturday and Sunday. You can bring Henry and Joyce. I’ve got an apartment there that I use for the few days out of every month that I go. Come with me?”
London placed his hands on his hips, “Seriously? You want to take me and my family to New York?”
“I’m taking the opportunities I have to spend any given amount of time with you.”
The idea felt like something London couldn’t just pass up. It was a weekend stay, meaning he didn’t have to worry about work and Henry didn’t have school. It was perfect. “You know, I’ve never been out of Texas before,” he said, “and I have always wanted to go to New York.”
Marbell lit up, “So you’ll come?”
“Not that I’m saying ‘no’, but I feel like I should talk to Henry about us first before I go any further with you. I know I said his opinion doesn’t matter, but even you know that’s not true. Let me talk to him when I get back inside and I’ll call you with an answer.”
Disappointment shadowed behind Marbell’s lenses, and he touched at his hair doubtfully. “Okay. I guess if you end up not coming, then we’ll plan to meet sometime soon?”
“Definitely.”
Marbell started for his car after receiving a departing kiss, London having tugged onto the front of the teacher’s shirt to bring him closer. As Marbell unlocked the driver side door, he waved goodbye to the tattooed boy, a joke in mind, and said, “I hope to hear from you soon, then, pal.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” London stopped the man before he could drop into the car. Calling from the porch, he said, “I literally just had my tongue in your ass. Do not call me pal. I think someone who sucks your dick for free, fucks and enjoys getting fucked by you deserves a better title than pal.”
Marbell couldn’t hold back his laughter, “I was kidding! Just wanted to hear what you’d say, and jeez, you don’t hold back, do you? How does ‘lover’ or ‘boyfriend’ sound? Do those suit you better?”
London smiled smugly, crossing his inked arms with pride, “I like the second one best.”
“Alright, then, boyfriend. Call me later.”
When Marbell started to back out of the driveway, London went inside and was met by the incredulous eyes of his brother. Henry stood with a bowl of steamy ramen in his hands, and shook his head in what looked like either displeasure or worry. “I hope you know I just heard every word you said out there. That window is cracked, idiot, and the world doesn’t need to know you enjoy eating ass for a living.”
“Hey,” London shrugged, “Don’t knock it till you try it. The best way to do it, is to have them-.”
“Dude!” Henry stopped him, “Please, I don’t need to know the details of your afternoon shag with my teacher. Jesus, I’m already scarred enough from his hard tests, I don’t think I need to know how you like his dick.”
“Aw, come on,” London joked, glad Joyce had disappeared into her room for the meantime. “I was just getting to the good part.”
“You are unbelievable. Can I go to my room, now?”
“No, actually,” London said, gesturing to the dining table. “Sit there and eat, I need to talk to you about something.”
Henry sat across from his brother, steady scarfing down his ramen as London looked like he was mentally preparing himself for the talk they were about to have. “Be honest,” London said firstly, “How do you feel about me being with Marbell?”
Speaking with his mouth full, Henry said, “I thought it was weird for, like, five minutes, but it’s really none of my business. I mean, I could have sworn the dude was married but I guess I was wrong.”
“What if I told you that you weren’t wrong?”
Henry nearly choked, “Are you two married!?”
London flinched at his brother’s shout, Joyce shushing Henry when she came back from her room.
“No, we’re not married,” London assured, “but he does have a wife that he doesn’t have feelings for, and I would think she doesn’t have feelings for him either from what he’s told me, but still we’re going to keep our relationship on the down low.” London filled his brother in on all the details of his and Marbell’s bond, being sure to leave out the part where they’d only met because he was an escort.
“She sounds like a bitch,” Henry commented. “Mr. Matthews knows she’s totally blackmailing him, right?”
“I know, that’s what I said.”
“And that’s illegal, right?”
“Again, that’s what I said.”
“For a math guru, he sure is a bit of an idiot.”
“That’s what...never mind. The thing is, Henry, I really have a lot of feelings for this guy, and I just wanted your approval of him. In all seriousness, even though we haven’t known each other for months, I’m pretty sure I am bad head-over-heels for him. If you feel like this whole thing is just one big fucking mistake that I shouldn’t get myself into, then, please, feel free to speak your mind, because I’m the last person to know what the hell I’m doing when it comes to relationships.”
“So you’re coming to your sixteen-year-old brother for advice? I feel like this is an ‘awww’ moment that I should take advantage of, but I won’t, I’ll be serious. But, dude...” Henry thought a moment.
London knew this probably wasn’t something Henry was an expert in, he just really needed to hear that this entire situation wasn’t useless.
“...if this feels right, I say go for it. Just know that sooner or later you’re going to have to address the humongous elephant in the room. You can’t expect to keep this going forever. Eventually he’s going to have to get that divorce no matter what that greedy bitch has to say. And I’m about to sound like a proper dad, but if he doesn’t want to do that in the long run, you’ve got to leave him, because you’d be worthy of so much more than a double closeted relationship.”
London let the words sink in, knowing for sure that Henry was right, and rather good with advice for a sixteen-year-old with not relationship experience of his own. Someday if Marbell wanted to see their love prosper, he’d have to find a way out of his marriage. Although London often found his mind reeling with passion for the teacher, he could not restrict himself to such a lifestyle.
“I understand,” London said, “Now, how would you feel about going to New York for the weekend?”
Instantly, Henry jumped up from his seat, nearly knocking over his bowl. “Shut up, you’re not serious!”
London sat back with an arm over the chair, “Oh, I am very serious.”
“Fuck yeah, I want to go to New York. For what, for what?”
“Marbell has some things to take care of up there until Sunday and asked if I wanted to come, which also implies bringing you and Joyce which he doesn’t mind at all.”
“I’ll say this again, fuck yeah, I want to go to New York. When will we be leaving?”
“Friday.”
With that out of the way, London fixed dinner for Joyce and rang Marbell afterwards. “Well, Henry is officially excited for this weekend and so am I. Don’t worry, he doesn’t think what’s going on between me and you is weird.”
“That’s great,” Marbell said through the phone. “I swear to you I will try my hardest to make up for how I made you feel before. You’re the first person to ever make me feel like I’m not of little worth, and I really don’t want to lose you. You, as a person, are extraordinary to me, and I want to do so much for you...you and your family.”
“Christ, and I thought I was a sap.”
Marbell chuckled through the phone, “I mean it, London. When you told me about what your mother did to you, I wanted to do something right away, but I couldn’t act as fast as I wish I could’ve with Vivian so close to me.”
London grabbed a napkin from the center of the table and dabbed at Joyce’s mouth when the juice of her soup began to drip. “What were you planning to do?” he said, “Replace the fifty-five grand my mom stole?”
“Close, but I was thinking even better. I almost forgot to give it to you so I left it in your mailbox since you went inside so quickly.”
At that, London went outside to the mailbox and opened it. Inside was a white envelope. When he tore the seal a credit card with a post-it note on it sat within. The yellow post-it had bank information on it. From the silence, Marbell assumed London had the card in hand, and spoke up from the other line. “I want you to use that card to provide for you and your family, London. All of my money is under my name so Vivian would never notice the way it’s being handled. Only I can see what goes on with its purchases. Feed your brother and sister, clothe them, pay your bills, or buy a new house if you have to. I don’t want you to have to resort to escorting anymore just to get by, or struggle with money when I can so easily help you.”
When there was no answer still, Marbell began to worry if London was still on the other line. And then he began to hear a quiet sniffle of sorrow through the silence.
“London,” he said, “London, what’s wrong?”
The tattooed boy wiped his teary eyes on the hem of his shirt. “I don’t want you to think I’m using you for your money,” London said, his voice cracking over the phone.
“I know you aren’t.”
“But this is too much. I can’t ask you to do this for me.”
“London, baby, you didn’t ask me to do anything. I’m doing this on my own accord, because I want you to live comfortably, because I don’t want you to worry about what bill you have to push back enable to pay for another, but most of all, I’m doing this because I love you.”
London held the envelope against his chest, “One more time?”
Marbell wished he could be before his lover to say the words, “I love you, London.”
London gathered himself, “Thank you so much, Marbell. I really do appreciate what you want to do for me and the kids. I’ll only use it for necessary things. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, London, I can’t wait to see you one Friday. Bye.”
XIII – City
London had never been on a private jet before. Nor had he ever been in anything relatively fancy before aside from five star hotels. When the thought of a private anything came to mind, the first things that entered his thoughts were famous people: actors, musicals, and people of that sort. But, he was quickly reminded that Marbell could practically bathe in money if he wanted. This man was the right hand and essentially the owner of a very successful company, so owning a private jet was just one of the luxuries of being filthy stinking rich. It came with the territory.
There were twelve seats in the aircraft, two seats together in each of the three rows. Henry was seated at the back alone, playing games on the tablet Marbell had given him permission to use. Joyce was strapped in the row beside her eldest brother, a movie playing from a screen on the back of a headrest in front of her, but she was hardly paying attention to it. With this also being her first time off the ground, she was more interested in the clouds and open sky around them.
Beside London sat Marbell. The man was on his cell phone having a back and forth conversation about a fashion show schedule or something. Whatever it was, he sounded very frustrated. “Never mind that, Jeffery,” he belted out, “I’ll handle it when I get there. For the meantime, just don’t burn down my building.” With that, Marbell hung up and sighed, slipping the cellphone in the side-pocket of a carry-on bag.
London ran his hand across Marbell’s thigh, a calming touch to the man’s stress. “Does that mean you’ll be headed to your office when we land?”
“No,” Marbell guaranteed, “I’m going to make sure you all are settled in before I leave anywhere. Those people can wait until I arrive on my time.”
“Speaking of time,” London toyed with a loose string h
anging from the seam of Marbell’s slacks, “Will we be able to spend any of it together while we’re there? I honestly don’t mean to sound clingy or anything, but I’ll be pretty disappointed if you’ll be away for this whole trip.”
The teacher smiled at the pout being given to him by his lover, and touched gently at London’s cheek. He had a bit more scruff coming in around his mouth and jaw than usual, and it fit him very well. “We’ll have plenty of time to spend together. I have places I wanted to take you and the kids for a bit of fun. I know of a couple places I’m sure both Joyce and Henry will like.”
“Where?” came Henry from the back. “Not the Liberty thing, right? Tourist destinations are always boring as fuck.”
“No,” Marbell laughed, “It’s called Universe Arcade.”
“Holy shit!” Henry shouted. He would have popped out of his seat if he hadn’t been properly strapped in. Unbuckling his belt, he switched to the chair beside Joyce and across from his brother. “Do you know how much I’ve heard about that place? It’s supposed to be fucking sick! They have prize winning tournaments, classic arcade games, every console a gamer could ask for. Oh, my god, I’m so fucking excited. I’ve always wanted to go there with my friend Daniel. When will we go, huh?”
London shook his head at his younger brother, “Could you at least try to watch your mouth? Jesus Christ, I swear you cuss more than me.”
“Trust me, London,” Marbell said, “I’m used to it. But, tomorrow, for sure, after I get back from the office.”
“Man,” Henry grinned, leaning back in his chair, “You keep this shit up, Mister Matthews, and I think I’m going to enjoy having you around more often. Come and hangout whenever you want, suck my brother’s dick all you like. I won’t care.”
London punched Henry’s arm, leaving it sore, “Cut it out, or you’re not going anywhere outside the apartment this weekend.”
Henry rubbed his bicep, “Ow, asshole.”
After another hour of bickering between brothers, and Joyce’s occasional interruption about having to go to the bathroom, the group landed on an airstrip just outside the city. They were then piled into a black, SUV and taken away by Marbell’s private driver that he’d contacted ahead of time. Now, all but Marbell were glued to the windows. It was nightfall by the time they reached New York, so the city was beautifully lit the way it was in the movies. The towering structures were breathtaking, but the ride was anything but steady. There were too many cars to count, many of them being taxis for those who refused to drive themselves. Crowds populated the sidewalks, bikers squeezing through traffic because the bike lanes were blocked by everything that could possibly be in the way.
