Romantic Renovations

by Blake Allwood

  “Should I go ahead with the sale?” I asked.

  The attorney paused clearly thinking about it. “Let me feel out the DA and I’ll get back with you about that. For now, don’t talk to your broker or anyone about this. At least, not until I have a better picture of what we’re dealing with.”

  “Got it,” Bennett said, “and thanks. I really appreciate having help navigating all this.”

  The attorney stumbled a bit. I don’t think he was used to having his clients appreciate him, but I was quickly learning Bennett was a good guy from the inside all the way out.

  “You’re welcome Bennett,” he replied. “I’ll try to get back to you as soon as I can.”

  The food came shortly after we hung up, but Bennett barely touched it. I decided not to push him on anything and instead dug into my portion of hotel eggs, bacon, and cheese biscuit. Not the best food in the world but filling, nonetheless.

  I drove us to the ferry terminal. Unfortunately, Bennett was in his head about the morning’s events and I could also tell his arm was still hurting him.

  “Do you think we should call your doctor and have him prescribe you something stronger for the pain?”

  Bennett turned toward me, his face clearing from the fog of what he had been thinking and shook his head. “No, I hate feeling woozy and it is just mildly uncomfortable. I can take another dose of Ibuprofen in a few minutes. The doc said I could take acetaminophen too but not over do it.”

  “Bennett, I’m sorry about all this.”

  Bennett put his hand up to stop me. “Seriously, I’m just barely keeping my shit together over here so unless you want me gushing all over you, you need to stop being so kind. I’ll work it out, but I just need a little time.”

  I nodded and was glad when we finally made it to the ferry terminal.

  It took about half an hour for us to board and when all the other drivers got out of their cars and headed up the stairs next to where we were parked, Bennett and I joined them.

  The view from the Puget Sound was spectacular. I hadn’t been to Seattle more than to layover at SeaTac Airport while going someplace else, but it really was a beautiful city. I’m Boston, deep into my soul. Since my great, great grandparents on both sides had immigrated to America from Europe, we’d been firmly rooted in that city.

  I’d been struggling with the uprooting of my family but staring out at the Cascades and the even more impressive Mt. Rainier, which was still covered in snow despite the warm spring days, I thought it might not be so bad after all.

  Bennett stood silently by my side and I decided the best thing I could do was leave him to his thoughts, at least I could admire the view in the mean time.

  If I thought the Sound was beautiful, it was nothing compared to Bainbridge Island. We drove through scenic landscapes just to emerge back onto the sound. The architecture of the area was just as picturesque as the scenery and as usual, I had the familiar tug of wanting to see inside the homes.

  I agreed to meet Emmitt at the Needle in the early afternoon so he could, as he said, ‘Get the best lighting possible.’

  I almost regretted it though ‘cause as we drove, Bennett began to cheer up and even commented on the surroundings. “Have you never been to the island before?” I asked him.

  He shook his head, “No, I was born in the city and have pretty much stayed there. I haven’t traveled around much.”

  I turned to him surprised but before he could see it, I schooled my expression. I remembered how tough life had been for him and it didn’t serve him or our friendship to make him think I was judging him.

  “Maybe we can both explore more together. I mean, if you’d like to.” I said.

  Bennett smiled at me and for the first time today, the smile seemed genuine. “I’ve wanted to do that. Hell, if we play our cards right, we can charge everything to the network, right?”

  I laughed. “You’re beginning to catch on.”

  When we pulled up to the little dive of an ice cream place near the ferry terminal, Bennett chuckled. “You wanted us to take the ferry all the way here for this?”

  “Apparently, it’s the best in Seattle, at least according to Luke.”

  Bennett ordered a hamburger and fries and we sat together while I sipped my very delicious milkshake chatting about nothing in particular.

  When another customer sat next to us with a huge hot fudge sundae and what appeared to be everything in the world topping it, Bennett’s eyes grew wide. “I want that,” he said, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the little boy who instantly appeared before me.

  “When you finish your lunch.” I said which caused Bennett to give me a look that both amused me and made me wanna kiss him.

  “Okay, Daddy!” he said and from the look of satisfaction on his face, after I moaned across from him, I saw he had my number.

  “You are a naughty boy.” I whispered so as not to gross out our fellow ice cream patrons, then before I got so hard I wouldn’t be able to move, I went to the window and ordered him the sundae, pointing at the woman sitting next to us to let the man behind the counter to know which one.

  He smiled in a knowing way and I wondered if there was some underlying sexual thing about this sundae. I know I was certainly beginning to think how nice it’d be to spread that all over Bennett’s body and then…

  Fuck, I needed to rewind these thoughts and fast. I sat the monster sundae in front of him and watched him take a bite, then realized I was really in trouble. He wasn’t being sexual at all, but that didn’t matter to my dick. Just watching him eat and combining that with my naughty thoughts from a moment before was going to be more than I could stand.

  I reacted by taking the sundae back and eating over half of it myself.

  Bennett studied me but didn’t respond.

  When we got back into the car, he looked over at me and said, “We both have to work through this sexual attraction between us.”

  “What do you suggest?” I asked hoping it was that we get naked together and explore my fantasy I had with the whipped cream.

  “I suggest we get laid…clearly you need some release and it’s been a long dry spell for me too.”

  I turned abruptly toward him. “Wait, you think this is just because I haven’t had sex in a while?”

  He nodded. “Well yeah, I mean you’ve been pulled out of your plans to do some major thing with your family and I’m sure you’re still stressed from your last show being cancelled so I’m guessing it’s been a while. We both just need to have a good release and then we can get on with just being friends… like we should be.”

  I pulled over to the side of the road and stared at him. “Let’s get this out in the open. I’m attracted to you, not because I haven’t had sex in a while, but because you are hotter than hell. I’ve been having fantasies about your body, not some random stranger I could meet on Grindr. Frankly, I’m offended you think a quick fuck would make my attraction for you go away.”

  He shuddered a bit as he tried to find the words. “I… I’m not…shit, Les, I’m homely as hell. What would a superstar like you see in a skinny, backward, and uneducated guy like me?”

  I continued staring at him. He really didn’t see himself as the handsome man he was and that was really a shock. “How can you live in one of the gayest cities in the United States and not know you are like the poster child for a hot gay guy?” I asked.

  He just gawked at me. “You are full of shit, Les Cooper.” Then he turned away from me.

  I reached over and pulled his chin back over toward me. “Let’s start with your eyes. They seem to peer into your soul, causing me to wonder every time you look at me what you see and if I measure up. Your face is a perfect blend of masculine and feminine making you appear to be some New York super model. You are far from skinny and I’ve seen you naked twice, so I know you are lean and the muscles dance beautifully under your skin and well, your ass is just begging to be licked. So, don’t sit over there and pretend like I don’t have eyes in
my head and can’t see what a handsome man you are. You may not want to get involved with me and that’s probably smart. We are working together on the show afterall, but more importantly, because I’m pulling my family out here from the other side of the country, but don’t you dare question my attraction to you. You’re one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever set eyes on and I have every fucking right to be attracted to you.”

  I’m not sure where all that came from. Maybe it was just frustration knowing that I wanted him like I hadn’t wanted another guy in well, maybe ever. But when I started talking, my anger at him for thinking he was less than me, and that somehow my vision was off, or I didn’t have every right to be attracted to him… well, it was enough to send me over the edge. Despite that, I knew I was out of line. It just got the better of me.

  I sighed and put my head on the steering wheel.

  “I’m sorry, Bennett.” I said struggling to pull myself together.

  I turned back toward him and he was staring at me with an expression of longing.

  “Bennett, I like you and even though it’s only been a few weeks, I know I’m not off my rocker for that. I’ll work on managing my attraction and giving you space, but fuck! You’re gonna have to stop looking at me like that if I’m going to keep these feelings at bay.”

  I was about to put the car back in gear when he reached over and kissed me, gentle but in a way that held so many promises for more.

  I reached up and pulled myself against him and he instantly sucked in breath.

  “Fuck, I hurt you. Damn, Bennett, I forgot the arm.”

  Bennett sat back chuckling. “It’s like we have a built-in chaperone.”

  “I hate chaperones.” I said and looked back at him.

  “We’re gonna have to get this together and I have a better idea than fucking other people. Wanna hear it?”

  Bennett laid back on his seat and shrugged.

  “I propose we do this the old-fashioned way. You let me take you out on a real date and we’ll see what happens. If it gets too difficult to manage between work and our personal lives, we’ll agree to pull back before it gets out of hand. Agreed?”

  Bennett blinked and said. “So, if it goes south, we’ll agree to tell the other before our feelings get too hurt so as not to destroy the working relationship?”

  I nodded hopefully.

  “Bullshit!” he exclaimed then laughed out loud. “Have you watched any of the breakup shows on TV, be they friends or couples?, When things go bad, they go really bad. I’m not saying I won’t be able to be romantically involved and still stay professional, but I have never been good at hiding my feelings. We may be on TV, but I’m no actor.”

  “Yeah, it’s stupid ‘cause I don’t hide mine that well either.” I glanced back over at him and could feel a wicked smile crossing my face, “Which means we aren’t hiding this sexual attraction between us either.”

  Bennett laughed. “That’s probably true, although I think it’s just me that looks like he’s a lost puppy that just found his owner.”

  “You’re nuts.” I said laughing, “Emmitt has even told me I need to stop staring at your ass when you walk away.”

  Bennett gasped in surprise. “Really? He said that?”

  “Yeah, he really did!”

  We both laughed.

  “Okay, so let’s go out tonight. Do you like fish and chips?”

  “Eew, no,” he responded. “it’s just greasy chunks of flesh mixed with fries.”

  I laughed. “You sure you’re from here?” I asked.

  “Yeah, but I don’t eat that crap just because I grew up next to the water.”

  “Okay, then let’s eat somewhere down at Pike Market.”

  Bennett’s eyes lit up. “There’s a place I always wanted to try down there. I used to sit on a corner next to a place that served chowder, and everyone would come away moaning like the food was the best they ever ate.”

  “That sounds perfect.” I said returning the smile.

  We chatted companionably about the different restaurants around downtown that Bennett had heard of while he sat invisible on the different street corners and people would talk about which ones were awesome and which ones were not.

  We talked about what it was like for him to be homeless. The struggles of staying warm or getting enough to eat. Seattle had one of the largest homeless populations around, and there were towns around Massachusetts that had fewer people in them than the homeless population in Seattle.

  By the time we made it back across the ferry and to the part of downtown where I agreed to meet Emmitt, we were both in much better spirits.

  My heart kept doing that butterfly leap as I thought about our date and seeing where things went from there. I really did want this guy. Since high school, dating came easy enough but it seemed guys today wanted one thing: fuck and leave. That wasn’t what I wanted with Bennett and that both excited and scared me. It also posed serious problems if it fell apart. I wish I had the sense to keep my hands off him, but apparently, I didn’t. And I knew as soon as I had the chance, I was going to put them all over him.

  Bennett

  I was truly shocked at Les’ reaction. I couldn’t imagine a hunk like him wanting someone like me, but after he put me in my place for questioning his attraction, I knew he wasn’t putting me on.

  I guess the fact that I’d been lusting after him long before I got to meet him just made me skeptical that he would really be attracted, but in the weeks I’d known him, he’d shown me over and over that he wasn’t a superstar idiot but rather a smart, well put together, and down to earth guy.

  When I kissed him, I think I was reacting to my own attraction but also wanting to know if he was for real, like Cher wailed in one of my favorite songs of hers: It’s there in his kiss.

  Well, maybe not, but it couldn’t hurt… well, until my arm did hurt, and the moment was ruined.

  Dating… that was something I hadn’t expected. Of course, I sort of screwed up the moment there too when I began talking about my homeless days. Pike’s Market was where I spent most of my days when I was on the street. It was warm, public, it had the feeling of comfort and belonging as if the history of the place somehow caused it to have magical powers and the cops didn’t drive me away, at least not during the times businesses were open.

  I didn’t really mean to bring those days up, but how could I not? They’d been a big part of my life and in a lot of ways they had formed me into the man I am now. I’m not a player, I don’t like to think of men lusting after me, ‘cause on the streets that led to all kinds of other problems. When my mom wasn’t with me, I kept my body covered in overly heavy clothes to appear unappealing. I had a couple close calls with pimps and drug dealers who knew me from when I wasn’t dressed like a dirty ball of clothing, but luckily, Mom and I managed to pull enough money together to get off the streets before anything came of their leering.

  We met Emmitt at the Space Needle and as was his gregarious nature, Emmitt began to film but cut up with us making it seem natural. Of course, the difference in being here versus in our properties was that we had a crowd. Emmitt’s crew were amazing at keeping the crowd at a distance and those few who slipped into our shots were efficiently asked to sign releases. Inevitably, there were always those who slipped into a scene uninvited and escaped before they could get a release, but they just blurred their faces or at least that’s what Emmitt told me when I asked about it.

  We were laughing and cutting up with one another as we went into the Needle, then to the museums. Emmitt filmed us as we went through the Chihuly exhibit and even though I literally lived on the streets around these tourist attractions, I knew I was as much of a wide-eyed tourist as Les was.

  Dale Chihuly’s exhibits reached deep inside me and touched my soul. I’m not sure what it is about his art, but it was almost like it’s alive. When we came to the glass ceiling, I sighed like a kid and having forgotten all about the cameras, pulled Les in and out of the rest of the exhib
its enjoying them with my entire being.

  As I stood shoulder to shoulder with him admiring a grand cluster of glass hanging from the ceiling, I asked, “I wonder how much it would cost to have a Chihuly chandelier hung in the dining room of the home we’re renovating?”

  “More than the entire renovation, I’d guess.”

  I sighed. “Too bad. It’s remarkable, isn’t it?”

  Les smiled and put his arm around me in the platonic way he did with people when he was feeling connected. I watched him do this with his costar and workers in his previous show, but because he and I had talked about us becoming more, I blushed.

  When he noticed, we both awkwardly stepped away from each other.

  Thank God, we can do edits. I thought to myself.

  After we finished touring, Emmitt sat me down at a picnic table and asked me if this was my first time here, which I admitted it was. He asked me pointed questions about being homeless in the area and I talked about times I was among the crowds of people but never thought about the museums themselves, at least not until today.

  When the interview was over, I felt...self-conscious. Les came over and sat next to me and we watched Emmitt and his crew gather up their things and pack it all away. “You okay?” he asked.

  I smiled at him before looking down. “I don’t talk much about being homeless. It isn’t something I’m proud of, so I feel a bit exposed when I do.”

  “You shouldn’t feel embarrassed about it. You and your mom beat the odds and got back off the streets. Most people aren’t so lucky.”

  I shrugged. “I’m not embarrassed, really, but people can be cruel. I’ve seen it with my own eyes just how cruel they can be. Like I told you yesterday, when you’re homeless you’re invisible. So even when people aren’t coming at you, they say and do hateful things to one another. I guess one of the lessons I learned from my time on the streets is when you give too much of yourself, you are vulnerable and when mean people are around, they will use that against you.” I thought for a few moments until my silence was becoming uncomfortable. “Like with my relationship with Frank.” I admitted.