by Trina Solet
"What are you doing?" Vaughn tried to stop him by grabbing the back of his jacket, but Alex just kept going, pulling Vaughn along with him.
"Oh my God, it smells amazing," Alex practically moaned as they got close, and the rich, savory smell of cooking hit him as it wafted out of the open door.
Carlton dumped the bag of garbage in the trashcan and then pushed the door wider to let Alex have a better look inside the kitchen. "My mom and my uncle are cooking. Everyone else is assisting. I'm only good for garbage duty. We have a tofurkey and a turducken and every kind of side dish known to man," he bragged. He was a cruel child.
"I find turducken disturbing. It's like the Frankenstein monster of turkeys," Alex said.
"So you wouldn't eat it?" Vaughn asked, doubtfully.
Alex glared at him indignantly. "I didn't say that. Did you hear me say that? No."
"And tofurkey?" Vaughn questioned him.
Alex thought about it. "I guess it's an evil necessity, but the thought of eating it makes me want to cry."
"No one is asking you to eat it," Carlton told him and closed the kitchen door. "The tofurkey is for me, two of my cousins and one aunt."
"Good. We're not here to eat," Vaughn said heartlessly.
"Yeah, we came to pick your brain," Alex told Carlton, but eyed the closed kitchen door wistfully.
Seeing that he was distracted, Vaughn took over. "We want to know if you can think of where Zack might have gone or if you can think of anyone else who might be able to tell us where he went."
"No one else knows or we wouldn't be asking you," Alex added.
Carlton thought about it. "Well, I don't know if he would go there, but he talked a lot about this ex. That's the first place I'd check."
"Brad? Don't even joke about that," Vaughn told him.
"OK. Then I won't," Carlton said with a shrug, like he was just jerking their chains. He was so helpful. "But Zack wouldn't shut up about that guy. When we went to the museum to see the exhibit of the Japanese woodblock prints, Zack kept going on and on about what a terrible guy his ex was. How he played mind games with him and tried to convince him he was crazy when he saw all these signs that he was cheating on him. And when Zack caught him in the act, his ex turned around and blamed him for it. Pitiful stuff like that. Zack told me to watch out for guys like him. I guess he was kind of giving me love advice. He told me to look for a really nice guy and then never let him go no mater what." Carlton rolled his eyes.
"That's surprisingly sensible coming from Zack," Vaughn said.
Alex was more surprised by the nature of his conversations with Carlton. "Zack was giving you love advice? What kind of tutor was he exactly?"
"There was nothing explicit about his advice just lovey-dovey crap. Barf," Carlton said.
"Oh, you'll come to appreciate the lovey-dovey crap after a couple of jerks," Alex predicted.
Carlton only shrugged his skinny shoulders. He might have to learn the hard way, like Alex did.
"So why did you say Zack might be with Brad if he warned you away from guys like him?" Vaughn asked.
"Because he's obviously obsessed with him," Carlton said.
Neither one of them wanted to believe that, but it was all they got from Carlton before they left.
"Where to now?" Vaughn asked since they hadn't gotten any clues from Carlton, not any they wanted to believe anyway.
They both got on their phones. The only new texts they had were from people checking in to ask about Zack, not from anyone who had any info for them. Now they were at loose ends and slowly making their way through the suburb. Vaughn was looking off into the distance, lost in thought while Alex tried not to stare at him.
As they walked back the way they came, Alex couldn't get what Carlton said out of his mind. "What if Zack is with Brad, just like that evil spawn said?" Alex proposed uneasily.
Vaughn made a disgusted noise. "Don't even say that," he told Alex then he gave up on denial and just cursed. "Fuck. Where do we find him?"
"Brad? Don't know. I never hung out with that creep. I'll see if anyone has any info on him," Alex said and started texting.
Vaughn did the same, but it turned out that no one they knew wanted anything to do with Brad. That was a good choice, but it wasn't helpful to Vaughn and Alex at the moment. Between the two of them they ended up with only one clue. It came from Paul, who called Alex back instead of texting.
The first thing Alex said to him wasn't about Brad. "We were just at this house looking for clues and they have a turducken. Why don't we have a turducken?"
"Are you talking to me about food? Don't even think of spoiling your dinner," Paul warned him.
"OK, Dad," Alex told him.
"Carlos is working his fingers to the bone putting a dinner on the table over here. You have even one bite of anything and I'll murder you," Paul threatened.
"Now you sound more like my mom. I miss that scary lady," Alex said then he asked him about finding Brad.
"So where can we find Brad?" Vaughn asked Alex after he hung up.
"Paul says that this guy Wayne knows him. Brad and Zack met through him."
"Then this guy Wayne has a lot to answer for. Who is he?" Vaughn said looking kind of grim. Obviously the idea that Zack might be with Brad wasn't sitting well with him.
"Guy who works at Joker's," Alex said and adjusted their course through the suburb so they would come out closer to the bar. "And there is good news about dinner. It's going to be late. There was a stuffing snafu and that crappy, old oven of Paul's is acting up."
"Then we might make it back in time," Vaughn said.
They walked side by side on a narrow sidewalk past houses with glowing windows. The trees on the other side were huge, with canopies still full of yellow leaves. Their color was so bright it stood out even in the darkness of the evening.
"Where is your family for Thanksgiving anyway?" Vaughn asked as they passed by a front yard that had been turned into a parking lot. They obviously had a full house.
"Everyone abandoned me and went to have Thanksgiving with my grandma and step-granddad in Canada," Alex said in his most self-pitying tone.
"A Canadian Thanksgiving? That seems wrong."
"Grandma exported it when she went to live up there with her second husband," Alex told him. Even without being there, he could hear his mom and his grandmother arguing about every single dish they made while re-seasoning things behind each other's backs. "And why aren't you with them?" Vaughn asked.
"No passport. Grandma just got married over the summer, and I didn't think to get one. And don't say that's typical of me," Alex said then turned his question around on him. "What about your family?"
"Thanksgiving with my homophobic dad and brothers – out of the question. I would usually go to my mom's, but this year it's a stepfamily Thanksgiving at a step-aunt's place. It's a full house and I don't even know half of those people, so I skipped it." Vaughn shrugged, but Alex knew it had to be hard on him.
"At least you have me," Alex said. He was joking. He knew his company wouldn't really console him, but Vaughn gave him a funny look then he smiled. So maybe he did console him after all.
Chapter 5
Vaughn was glad that they still had a lead to follow and that they didn't have to give up the search. This time he didn't even mention that they should go their own way. It didn't make sense to him any more. The way he felt about it right now, he could walk the night streets forever just talking to Alex and maybe stopping occasionally to kiss him.
Once that idea occurred to him, there was no going back. Vaughn's chest grew tight at the thought and he sneaked a glance at Alex. At the sight of him, Vaughn had to fight for his next breath. Alex biting his lower lip and staring into the night was an irresistible sight. Vaughn had to kiss him right now. For that reason, he looked for somewhere with a little more privacy than a sidewalk in the middle of a suburb.
Luck was on his side. They were passing by an empty lot. Trees were spaced out around the
edge as if a house had been standing there once but it got demolished. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Vaughn grabbed Alex by the hand and pulled him off the sidewalk and under one of the trees on the empty lot.
He backed Alex against the tree trunk then immediately closed the distance between them. His hands on Alex's hips, Vaughn could feel the heat of Alex's body as he looked at him hard. Taking a measured breath, Alex reached behind him and linked his arms behind his back. Prisoner to his eyes, locked in his arms, Vaughn felt like time stopped and the rest of the world ceased to exist.
Alex's mouth was barely an inch from his own, soft, waiting. Then he angled his face toward him and their lips brushed with a shock of pleasure. Turning his head a little, Vaughn let his lips graze Alex's again, prolonging the anticipation with the feathery touch.
In the next instant their mouths melded together. Alex's crotch brushed against Vaughn's and he thought he would lose his mind. His whole body tingled with desire as his heart raced out of control.
Grinding into him, kissing him with abandon, Vaughn forgot all about where they were and where they were going. All he knew was this incredible feeling of Alex in his arms. He felt the muscles of his legs as he braced against the tree trunk. Alex's arms tightened around him and pulled him in even closer. With Vaughn flush against him, Alex's hands skimmed down his back and groped his ass.
During all that groping, one of Alex's hands found its way to the front of his jeans. One squeeze and Vaughn went still, like he had been captured. As his own hand slid down Alex's chest and abs, reaching for his cock, he stopped breathing.
Pushing him harder against the tree, he could feel Alex pulling him down and he was letting him. Alex's hand disappeared down the front of his jeans. Then his cold hands hit Vaughn's overheated skin and he jumped.
"Your hands are cold," Vaughn told him breathlessly.
"My mouth is warm," Alex told him and kissed the corner of his mouth then full on the lips to show him.
After hearing that, Vaughn almost gave in. But then he panted "sorry" and pulled away. Before he explained himself, he had to take a few deep breaths first. "In this neighborhood, we would get arrested so fast."
Alex's expression turned almost angry. "I notice you always have some half-assed excuse."
"Do I need an excuse?" Vaughn said as he nuzzled him playfully. While Alex rubbed his back, Vaughn leaned into his neck and inhaled his scent and his warmth.
"Too bad you're so uptight. I've never done it outdoors," Alex complained.
"It's uptight not to want to go to jail?" Vaughn mumbled into his collar, his breath tickling Alex's skin. "We should be going anyway."
"Spoilsport. You'll need to make that up to me," Alex told him as they stumbled back to the sidewalk.
"I like your single-minded determination."
Alex turned his eyes to him. "Aha. You like me."
"You just hear whatever you want," Vaughn said with a shake of his head.
"No. I'm hearing what's in your heart," Alex whispered, but then he immediately turned shy and wouldn't meet Vaughn's eyes.
As they stood in the middle of the sidewalk for a brief moment, Alex looked up at the sky and Vaughn followed his gaze. There was no trace of daylight left and the sky was filled with stars. Once they started moving again, Vaughn got turned around for a minute, not sure if they were going the right way. That's what Alex did to him. In one night, he had turned his world upside down.
Joker's bar had a whole card-playing motif. No gambling went on in there so it was kind of a waste. Looking in through the windows, Vaughn saw that the bar wasn't exactly packed since a lot of people were having Thanksgiving dinner with families, not drinking it up. But there was a decent number of people inside, more than Vaughn expected. That might have been because a sign proclaimed that they were serving the "fattest turkey sandwiches you've ever seen". Vaughn wasn't surprised to hear Alex whimper as he laid eyes on the sign.
As soon as they walked in, he zeroed in on the real thing. "I could inhale one of those in the blink of an eye," Alex boasted seeing two of the sandwiches pass by on a tray along with two foamy mugs of beer.
"Did you forget why we're here?" Vaughn told him as they took their jackets off and he had a look around. He noticed that unusual decks of cards were displayed in see-through cases on the walls, but he saw no familiar faces. He had kind of been hoping that they would find Zack here.
"Wayne is not behind the bar," Alex said after a quick look that way.
"You know him?" Vaughn asked.
"Lots of people do. He is a bartender after all," Alex said.
"I don't hang out in bars that much," Vaughn said.
"Don't sound so superior about it. You're fun impaired. OK. I'll go find Wayne and shake him down. You get us beers," Alex told him.
"Now I'm buying you beer?"
"Yes. I'm thirsty. Now go," Alex ordered him and pushed him in the direction of the bar.
While getting those beers, Vaughn asked about Wayne and Zack, but had no luck. It wasn't long before Alex joined him again. Before he made his report on Wayne, Alex grabbed a mug of beer out of Vaughn's hand and took a couple of swallows. "I got nothing," he said after a satisfied sigh. "Wayne isn't here. No one I talked to knows where to find him."
"The bartender said that he wasn't working tonight," Vaughn said as he watched Alex wipe beer foam off his upper lip.
"Let's get off our feet, drink these then we can see if anyone knows where he is. And we can ask about Zack at the same time," Alex said and led the way to a table that just opened up.
As those fat, turkey sandwiches were carried around on trays, Alex followed them with his eyes. Vaughn reminded him that Paul would kill them if they ordered them. While Alex was drooling over the sandwiches, Vaughn spotted a familiar face.
A girl he kind of knew from school was working as a waitress, and he waved her over. She was carrying around a tray with those coveted sandwiches and a couple of beer bottles. Vaughn tried to remember her name but failed. After delivering the order, she came over. She seemed to recognize both him and Alex, but she didn't look happy to see them.
"Tell me you two aren't dating," she said to them, sounding horrified.
"Don't be crazy," Alex said before Vaughn could answer.
Vaughn wanted to be the first one to deny it. He knew it would hurt to hear it from Alex, and it did.
"Oh, OK," she said with a sigh of relief. "It looked really bad for a minute there. Your whole messed up relationship flashed before my eyes. First there was beer-fueled sex, then constant fighting, an ugly breakup, nonstop bitching about the ex, hate sex, then more bitching."
"Have you seen Zack?" Vaughn asked to cut through her hallucination of their future as a couple.
"He comes here to hang out with Wayne sometimes, but he isn't here." She didn't know anything else.
It was a long shot anyway. She did give them Wayne's number. It turned out he was at a party and not making much sense in the only text he sent in reply to several Alex sent him. When Alex tried to call him, he didn't even answer. Must be having too good a time. Good thing the waitress knew where that party was.
"Charlotte's party. I'll give you the address," she said.
"Don't look so down," Vaughn told Alex as they went out into the cold night.
"We still have no idea where Zack is. I hope to hell he isn't with Brad. That's a huge step back. Or is it better than being alone on Thanksgiving. I don't even know any more." It was like being out on the dark and lonely streets made Alex question himself.
"At least we know where this Wayne is now."
"Yeah. Let's see if we can squeeze any info out of him in person."
As they walked, Alex brought up something the waitress had mentioned. "I heard hate sex is supposed to be really good."
Vaughn denied it immediately. "What? No way."
"You've had it?" Alex asked as his imagination ran wild.
Vaughn grimaced at the idea. "No and I don't want to."
"That's because you're uptight. So what's the best sex you ever had?" Alex challenged him.
"Haven't had it yet," Vaughn stated simply.
"You haven't had sex?" Alex was shocked.
"No, you idiot. I haven't had the best yet."
"You came close, but you passed up the chance because you were scared of getting arrested," Alex told him with a smirk.
Vaughn only groaned. The last thing he wanted to do was think back and remember that near miss. He didn't know how close he came to succumbing to Alex. Too close. Remembering his recklessness, Vaughn wanted to run away from everything Alex made him feel.
But at the same time it seemed unthinkable not to stay by his side. Maybe it was the season, needing to feel close to someone on a cold night, feel the intimate warmth of another body. But not any body. It had to be Alex.
Soon they arrived at the building where the party was. Stepping into the elevator, Alex eyed Vaughn. "Are you going to tell me it's a coincidence that we find ourselves in another elevator?"
"Yes, I am. But feel free to take the stairs," Vaughn told him without turning to face him. He couldn't stay aloof though as he felt Alex sidle close to him.
His breath caught in his throat as Alex stepped against him and spoke with a challenge in his voice. "I know you want to."
"You're that sure of yourself?" Vaughn said, pretending that he wasn't a hundred percent right.
"I'm sure of you," Alex said and stepped away.
Despite his better judgment, Vaughn turned to look at him. He knew it was a bad idea, but he still closed the distance between them until he made contact. As if his body moved on its own, he didn't stop until Alex was trapped between him and the wall of the elevator.
Each breath he took was loud in his ears, drowning out the cacophony of objections that crowded his mind. Alex's eyes drew him in. The closer they got, the more Vaughn looked into them, the more beautiful his eyes became.
Suddenly claustrophobic, Vaughn found there wasn't enough air to breathe. There was no escape only Alex with his fingertips trailing down his arms, stopping to grab his hands and pull him close against him. Vaughn's hands went to his waist, his face tilted to the side ready for their lips to meet. He looked into Alex's eyes as long as he could then they fell closed, and his lips brushed over Vaughn's while his tongue sneaked inside.
