“Winging It”
By:
Pee Jay
(© 2010-2011 by the author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's
consent. Comments are appreciated at...
Chapter 9
“A Welcome Diversion”
And so the months passed, Adam and Larry instructing and flying charters while John looked after the administrative end of the business and planned ahead. Summer was an especially profitable time of year and the money in the bank had crossed into six figures, thanks to the new web site and John's deal with the University. Exactly how much they had, John wasn't sure; he placed the funds into CD's with varying maturity dates. It was the right thing to do and he did it without consulting Adam or giving it a second thought.
The cash in the bathroom safe was crammed in so tightly, they couldn't force another dollar in if they had to; it was like a piñata waiting to burst at the first poke. John kept such a close watch on it, Adam thought he could probably hear the safe open from Chicago, and that wasn't far off the way it was. Moreover, it was fine with Adam, he found bookkeeping and money matters to be rote and mundane. He received a raise while all their out of pocket costs were going through the business, so he had no personal expenses.
They hired a retired navy pilot by the name of Ed Nelson to assist with instructing, but he was only willing to work weekends and they really needed him full time. He had come to the FBO looking for work and Adam persuaded John to hire him on the spot and it proved to be a good decision.
They wanted another full time instructor so Adam could help run the business; John needed help in the office and didn't want to hire office personnel, which only served to increase the overhead. On the other hand, an instructor would facilitate additional revenue. John wanted to hit the road as a salesman; there were mail contracts to be had, airfreight to bid on and a host of other opportunities to look into.
One day in mid August, as they were closing, Adam said, "Babe, let's lock up for Labor Day weekend and go somewhere."
Adam was expecting a monumental battle knowing how much John put the business ahead of everything else, including him, which he was beginning to resent. He was willing to fight for that one though; John had scuttled his efforts to do that very thing over Independence Day and he wasn't about to let him get away with it again. No way, they were going; the only question in his mind was where.
"I'm all for it, Hon. Where do you want to go?"
Adam was amazed, stunned, and speechless even. He was prepared for war and now there was nothing to fight about. John actually agreed to it without a word of resistance! He began to wonder if he heard him correctly or maybe John didn't understand what he asked him. Maybe he was teasing. If it were teasing, then John had better be ready with a retraction; it wasn’t funny to Adam, not in the least.
"Did you just agree to go?" Adam focused on John intently.
John smiled. He knew exactly what Adam was thinking; he was expecting him to offer some convoluted rationale as to why they couldn't go, some kind of excuse regarding the business. But he didn't. He simply rolled over because he wanted time with his boy, time alone and away with his lover boy, away from work just the two of them; he was missing his companion and craving the wholeness, oneness, and happiness they were capable of giving each other. He felt good about it, elated even; they had worked hard and it was long overdue.
"I did. You look like a kid that just got a new bike for Christmas.” John thought he looked cute as hell.
"Pinch me goll damn 'er," Adam said laughing as he made a beeline for John. He picked John up and spun him around planting a kiss on him as he lowered him.
John was laughing and pressing himself into Adam and loving the feeling, as was Adam. They were slobbering over each other's mouth as if they were discovering something new. It was wonderful and exhilarating, stimulating and fun; it was a sensation they hadn't experienced in the longest time. John felt light and carefree as if he had arrived in Shangri-La. The attraction was still there waiting to be nurtured and rekindled.
John was aware of what he’d been doing; yet couldn’t help himself. He knew things weren’t entirely right between them. The uncertainty he faced when he quit his job coupled with the self-imposed stress he unduly placed on himself was a lot to deal with. He wasn’t handling it well and their relationship suffered. He didn’t want to kill what they had but didn’t know how to right things. It was easier to ignore it than deal with everything at once.
"Come on, lover boy,” John said as he led Adam upstairs, "I feel like a couple vodka martinis, like a good buzz; let's have at it."
Once upstairs, Adam put a CD on while John prepared the martinis. Adam was craving intimacy with his most handsome of dudes. John had been so distant, so business like, so serious lately. He didn't know how to liberate that free spirit that John held under a thinly veiled shroud needing nothing more than a touch, a caress to awaken. He was missing John; the John that was fun and fun to be with.
"So where would you like to go?" Adam queried John.
"I don't care as long as you’re there. Let's take the Aztec; it's faster and we can go farther if we want."
Adam was expecting to use the 172 at best; he wasn't sure what got into John. The Aztec was more than twice as expensive to operate; it was turbo-charged and considered a complex aircraft. He was confused; he didn't get it. Adam approached John then placed his hand on John’s forehead. "Are you feeling okay? What's got into you?" Adam was serious.
"I feel fine, Hon. Actually, I feel guilty because I've been standing in the way of us enjoying ourselves and I know how much you like to fly the Aztec. So to hell with it, if we can't use the perks on ourselves; who are we going to give them to?" With that, John leaned over and kissed his boy running his fingers through Adam's soft fine hair.
"I hope you don't think this is going to be my birthday present."
John laughed, "Now would I do something like that?"
"If you thought you could save a buck you would. You're so tight you squeak." Adam laughed loudly pointing a finger at John.
"Maybe you should loosen me up then. Come here you hunk of man meat you," John said then got off his stool to kiss and run his hands over Adam.
"Boy you have flipped your lid or maybe Father John was de-frocked and he's free to partake."
"Father John had a come to Jesus meeting with himself," John said taking a sip. "Speaking of birthdays, what do you want?"
Adam decided to shoot for the moon. He hadn't seen John in such a buoyant, affable frame of mind since they were in Manchester, and that seemed like ages ago. He set his sights high. “What the hell,” he thought. “You can always back down but once you name your price; it's impossible to negotiate up.”
"I would like a wet bar," Adam said.
John looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
Adam explained how a bar backing up to the bathroom wall would be perfect. There was plenty of space that needed filling and the plumbing was in the wall for water and a drain so a sink would be easy to incorporate. He explained how a crescent shaped bar would look nice with an under-counter refrigerator, an icemaker, and pendant lights for effect. That way, they could sit at the bar and look out over the airport.
John listened while Adam indicated the general location of the front and back bar with a quick synopsis of the appliances and where he thought they should be. With the detail of Adam’s description, he must have given it a good deal of thought. John decided screw it; if it made Adam happy then it made him happy. After all, why had they worked so hard if they couldn't enjoy the fruits of their labor; it was Adam’s money, too. John felt guilty for having been so difficult and rigid—tight fisted would be more like it. He sort of knew, but didn't want to think about it. The facts were too incriminating.
"Sounds good to me, Hon. Let's see how much cash is in the safe. It won’t hold any more anyway. We've been putting it in zip-loc bags in the freezer."
"Oh, and the countertops should be granite."
"Comme vous voulez ma fleur-de-lis, ma petite fleur." (As you wish
my fleur-de-lis, my little flower)
"I'm not your little flower," Adam said with a devilish grin.
"Oui, mon Seigneur," John said meaning, ‘yes, my Lord.’
"That's better." Then Adam bent John over the snack bar and started dry humping him. John was laughing at the implied affront to Adam’s masculinity. He thought, “A flower? Why the hell take exception to that?” It was so childish in John's opinion, it caused him to laugh harder and feel for his boy all the more. He could only imagine the mean look on Adam’s face. John thought, “God help me; I love that fucking guy and fuck me he can.”
When Adam finished asserting himself over John, the two of them went into the bathroom and opened the wall safe. When they swung the door open, a bunch of cash fell to the floor. John opened the laundry closet and brought an empty basket to hold the money. He held it under the safe while Adam scooped the bills into the basket. They took their cache of stash into the living room and dumped it on the floor.
"I'm getting another martini, Hon. You want one?"
"I have to fly first thing in the morning."
"Eight hours from bottle to throttle," John said reminding Adam of an old pilot’s adage, which probably wasn't a good idea in practice.
"Okay, one more."
When John returned, he set Adam's drink on the rug next to him and handed him a pad and pen to assist in counting the cash. He had the same for himself then they commenced the daunting task of tallying the pile of loot before them.
As they counted the cash, they stacked it neatly in the laundry basket. It took nearly an hour to tabulate it. When they finished, John retrieved the zip-locks of cash from the freezer in the kitchen then they set to counting that.
It wasn't long when they had their cash hoard recorded. John read the sub-totals to Adam as he punched them into the calculator; another fifteen minutes and they had the grand total.
"That was the last one. How much is it?"
"You won't believe this. It's a little over fifty-five thousand."
"No way,” John said.
"Yes way," Adam said passing the calculator to John.
"Hon, with what we have in the bank and in front of us; that's almost half of what we owe Hughes. That doesn't include what we already paid him. We might consider approaching him for an early payoff and a discount."
"Babe, don't go there; I'm not your slave. This is for us, you and me. Hughes agreed to the schedule and I don't want to get ahead of it."
John thought about it for a minute. He got the message and decided not to push it. As much as he wanted to be debt free and clear, he held back. He didn't intend to make a slave of his boy and Adam was right again, God love him.
John had pushed and pushed a little too hard over the past few months. Adam hadn't complained and he didn’t want to give him a reason, although the thought of a boy slave was kind of funny. Things were going well and John wanted Adam as much, actually more, than the money; there was no doubt in his mind.
"Okay Hon, there's fifty-five grand plus change here. Any guesses as to how much it will cost? I have a vague idea". John said. He worked construction for his father for years and so had a reasonable expectation of what to expect. What he wasn’t sure of, were the appliances.
"I don't know. I can't see it going over ten or fifteen thousand. What do you think?"
"I’m guessing closer to fifteen; I’m not sure what the appliances will cost. Let's call the company where we bought the kitchen cabinets and have them make a proposal. If it's not too much, why don't we have granite installed in the kitchen and bathroom at the same time? It would make our love nest all the more cozy."
Adam rolled his eyes and grinned then rolled across the floor toward John pulling him into a kiss then said, "You're so corny; sometimes it's embarrassing."
"That hurts my feelings. Do I embarrass you?"
"No, not really. But you are corny for lack of a better word."
"You make me corny—I mean horny."
John pulled Adam on top of him then encircled him with his arms and legs as their tongues battled for supremacy. He started bucking his hips to simulate screwing and they felt each other's hardness through their pants.
Adam slowed down drawing his head back and looked his most prized possession in the eye. A few moments passed and he said, "I love you, John Turner. More than you could ever know.”
"I love you too. Let's go to the bedroom. Maybe you can make me stop squeaking."
They both laughed turning the lights off as they made their way to the bedroom, shedding their clothes, groping and kissing each other along the way.
Adam screwed John like he never had before, it had been so long. It took three orgasms before his desire was satiated and John was showing no sign of wear, loving and needing every bit it; wanting more, always wanting more and not getting enough. Having Adam inside of him pounding, stabbing, thrusting, pummeling, impaling him as he offered himself freely and wantonly; and Adam filling him with the fruit of his effort as he pulsed inside him, shooting, spewing, hosing him down inside with his juice. Cleansing him of every pent up carnal desire he harbored. Setting the two free, releasing them from the bonds of wanting, the cinctures of lust, the throes of abstinence. And finally, leaving them in the arms of one another to hold, to cherish, to savor, and yes—to love and protect the other. Cementing and strengthening their union, affirming it; one to the other, knowing it was theirs and theirs alone to have and offer as proof; proof of the depth of feeling, the limitless bounds, the pure love, the heaven of it all.
The two lie side by side basking in the aura of corporal appeasement and blissful serenity; neither one wanting or needing the spoken word. As each embraced their object of affection, they willingly and completely succumbed to exhaustion and repose, secure in the arms of love.
The next morning dawned much too soon. Not for the lack of sleep, but the forced separation of two people alone and happy, content and complete with the presence of the other. Adam rolled away from John and released a futile moan; there was no escaping the reality of duty calling.
John placed a hand behind Adam’s head and pulled him in for a few good kisses then released him. He got out of bed and went to the kitchen to start the coffee and pour a glass of juice.
Adam watched John's naked, muscular ass with the dimples rise and fall as he walked. He was sure he found new depths in there the night before and smiled; John's gait appeared to be somewhat tentative.
John returned to the bedroom with a glass for Adam. He kissed him then offered him the glass, "Good morning, cowboy."
"Good morning, Babe. You were awesome last night."
"It takes two, Hon; it takes two," John said as he made his way to the bathroom on the opposite end of the apartment smiling; he recalled the previous night, his ass was tender—it hurt so good. He picked up the laundry basket full of cash and put it in the closet in the bathroom.
In the kitchen, Adam poured a coffee and decided he would make breakfast; he was starving having skipped dinner in lieu of lovemaking.
John picked up the clothes on the floor, threw them in the bedroom, and put his briefs on. He sat on a stool at the snack bar to wait for a coffee.
"Are you hungry, Babe?" Adam asked.
"Starving. We didn't have dinner last night."
"I'm making us omelets. Is that okay?"
"Sounds good, you want a bagel with that?"
"Yeah, maybe two. I'm starving, too."
John started the toaster then approached Adam from behind who was standing at the range. He put his arms around Adam’s waist, kissed his neck then nestled his head in the small of Adam’s neck. He ran his hands over Adam’s shirtless chest and stomach. He loved the soft warmth of him, the feel of his silky hair against his cheek, his smell, and the feel of his body; the whole package that was Adam. He slid a hand into the front of Adam’s boxers and grabbed his penis, "You do amazing things with this.”
Adam smiled as he worked, "You inspire amazing things."
John chuckled, kissed his boy, then sat down to butter the bagels. "So where do you want to go for Labor Day weekend?" John asked.
"I don't know have you given it any thought?"
"How about we go somewhere with water and beaches? What do you think about the gulf coast? Maybe we could go to Mobile, Alabama; Pensacola, Florida; or Gulfport, Mississippi. You know New Orleans is an easy ride from Gulfport."
"Any of those would be okay. They're all between four and five hours flying time in the Aztec. Do you feel like spending that much time en-route?"
"Well, going the other way there's Michigan. That would be two to three hours depending on where we go. They have a lot of beaches. It's up to you salt or fresh water; I don't care either way. But we should make a decision soon, so we can reserve a room and a rental car.
Let's flip a coin. Heads is Michigan, tails it's the gulf coast. What do you say?"
Adam brought a plate for each of them then sat down next to John.
John refilled their coffee and said, "It's fine with me; I'm leaning toward the shorter distance".
"I knew it! You're saying that because of the operating expense of the Aztec. I knew you were going to say that. I just knew it. I thought maybe you wouldn't squeak so badly after last night," Adam said as he grinned and took another bite of his omelet; he was proud of himself.
Adam got it right; he had John nailed. John was thinking of the cost of overhauling and running the Aztec. With two turbo-charged engines, the Aztec was more than twice the price of any of the single engine airplanes, and Michigan was roughly half the flying time. “Damn,” John thought silently, “The SOB knows me too well.” He had to come up with something to halfway repudiate Adam’s insightful depiction.
"The only thing squeaking, are those rusty gears in your head," John said quietly praising himself; he was smiling.
"I give up, you win. Arguing with you is futile, especially when it comes to money."
John tried to redeem himself by saying, "Well if we go north this time of year, it'll be nice and not as hot as going south. Then when Christmas comes, we can go south where it's warm," John was hoping that insight was enough to extricate him from the bind he felt like he was in.
"Son of a bitch, you always have a comeback. I can't win."
"Hon, I'm sorry. I honestly don't care. And you were right; I was thinking about the money. We can go south now and at Christmas if that's what you want. Like I said yesterday, if I'm with you I'll be happy. I can endure the fires of hell. I can endure famine. I can endure disease. I can endure poverty and squalor. I can...
"Okay, okay already, I get the picture, Mr. Gaboris. We're going to Gulfport."
"Yes my sweet, my pretty, my prince of princes—whatever you say."
"I'm taking a shower now. I'm going to try and wash your horseshit off," Adam said then rose to go to the bathroom. He squeezed John from behind and kissed his neck; John swooned. Then Adam clipped him on the back of the head and took off running for the bathroom leaping over the couch in the living room. John took off after him, but Adam made it to the bathroom and locked the door before John caught up, so he hollered through the door, "Next time you won't be so lucky, buddy boy.” John could hear him laughing inside.
John went back to the kitchen to clean up. He couldn't help thinking how much he loved his flyboy and how good things were going for them. If he didn't know any better, he would think he was dreaming. He truly felt fortunate.
John arranged for someone to come out and measure for the bar that evening, so Adam could be there to describe what he had in mind. The next day a proposal with a plan came over the fax machine and Adam called to give them the go ahead. John asked how much it was going to cost and Adam told him a little over sixteen grand, not including the appliances; but it did, however, include granite for the kitchen and bath. John winced and didn't say a word; he silently wondered if Adam still had the blank check from his mother's last visit, then he thought better of saying anything.
That same day, John made hotel and car reservations for Labor Day weekend in Gulfport. He verified landing and parking fees for the duration of their stay. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to reserve a suite; it was simply too frivolous, he couldn't do it. He reserved a sub-compact car, too; it would be easy on gas and probably cheaper by the mile, especially if they drove to New Orleans. Besides, it was going to be expensive enough without purposely running up the tab. Between the wet bar and their holiday, the cash stash was going to be very nearly halved, which John thought was probably a bit optimistic.
Adam suggested inviting Jim and Dave. After some thought, John said it would be okay with him. It really wasn't; he wanted his boy to himself with no outside interference. He was trying to turn over a new leaf. He wanted to be more fair minded and mindful of Adam’s wants and needs.
They had been through a chilly couple of months and the more John thought about it, the more it scared him. It was primarily his fault by placing the business ahead of Adam. He realized that he couldn't have success without Adam, and without him, it wasn't worth having. Adam was everything to him, the only thing that mattered.
Thursday night before Labor Day weekend, they locked up and went upstairs. John was watching TV while Adam folded clothes in the kitchen.
"Hon, have you heard from Jim and Dave yet?"
"Yeah, Jim called and said they made other plans and they were going to pass."
"Oh okay, I can't say I'm disappointed. That means I get you all to myself, just the two of us."
John got up and walked over to Adam and squeezed him as he pressed against his backside then kissed him. "You fit in my arms so perfect it's like you were made for me. You're my mail order lover boy. My dream come true, my hope against all odds, my light at the end of the tunnel, my joie de vivre," then John released him, slapped him on the butt, and went to the fridge.
"You're my mail order nut case."
"And your nuts about me—admit it."
Adam couldn't help himself he was smiling. He loved it when John acted goofy or stupid or whatever it was. He wasn't sure. One thing he did know, he was nuts about John, even if he did act like a dork at times.
The next day Adam had no afternoon commitments by design. While Adam was giving Larry some last minute instructions, John put their bags in the Aztec then pre-flighted the aircraft. He climbed in on the co-pilot side and waited for Adam, who was checking with FSS (flight service station) to see if his IFR flight plan was approved.
When Adam climbed into the cockpit, he tossed John's sunglasses at him then put his own on.
"Thanks for remembering my sunglasses."
"It's a good thing they were on the window sill next to mine or I probably wouldn't have remembered."
Adam fired up one engine then the other and the Aztec came to attention as the prop-wash moved over the airfoils. John thought it best to keep quiet until Adam was handed off to departure. The pilot workload would be much lighter then, and they would have more time to talk.
As soon as they were airborne, Adam sucked up the landing gear, banked out of the airport traffic pattern, and was handed off to departure. As twin engine aircraft go, the Aztec wasn't particularly fast, but it did have a large carrying capacity; they often referred to it as the Aztruck.
John couldn't stand it anymore; the weekend was under way and he was free to enjoy it and his boy. He reached over and stroked Adam’s bare thigh; they were both wearing shorts. He was feeling the soft hair on Adam’s leg as he moved his hand up and down; it was a turn on for John. He leaned forward, ran his hand up inside Adam’s shorts, then squeezed his dick. It came to life and began to swell. John gave it a couple strokes then released him smiling and thinking that it didn’t take much to get him going.
"Babe, quit teasing."
John was grinning ear to ear, "Who says I'm teasing. I'm not done yet."
"Well hop on it then. It hurts like it is." Then Adam tugged at his shorts to give his swelling dick some more room.
John reached over and lightly stroked Adam’s hardness on top of his shorts, he was definitely trying to tease.
Adam leaned into the seatback and pushed his hips forward; it was an involuntary reaction and John couldn't help but chuckle.
"Put the autopilot on, Hon."
Adam turned the autopilot on, set the waypoint from the VOR (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range), then engaged it.
"It's on."
"Good, what do you want to talk about?" John said grinning.
"You cunt."
"Now, now; you should never say anything you wouldn't repeat in front of your mother."
"Fuck you, cunt-stash. Look what you did to me, now fix it."
"It doesn't look broken," John said. With that, John lost his self-control and started laughing.
Adam put his hand behind John’s head, who was laughing his ass off, in an attempt to force John’s face into his crotch. The seat belt harness seized preventing the maneuver. It was a good thing too, because John was laughing so hard he didn't have the physical strength to resist. John hadn't had so much fun tormenting Adam in he couldn't remember when, maybe never. And by the look on Adam’s face, he was enjoying the teasing as well.
"You little prick teasing bitch. See if you get any this weekend."
"I don't want any this weekend; I'm on the rag. Like I said, I'll be fine as long as I'm with you," John was still grinning on the verge of cracking up again.
"Fuck it, I give up," Adam said as he raised both hands with open palms; he was grinning too.
"Don't give up; that's no fun."
"Yeah, well apparently your idea of fun is a lot different than mine, at least right now it is."
"Okay, you earned it. Get lil Adam out and I'll make him disappear."
Adam was all smiles as he undid his belt and unzipped his shorts. He lowered his seat back and John unfastened his own seat belt. He scooted closer to the center console and leaned over Adam’s hard dick to take it in his mouth. He pulled the waistband of Adam’s boxers down and hooked it under his balls, which were round, full, and voluptuous to John's way of thinking. He gave them a long, slurpy lick then tongued them up and down; he was turned on by the taste and essence of them, and the feel of Adam’s soft pubes that weren't wiry at all, just soft and fine.
Adam was rock hard causing John's sphincter to tighten as he sucked and licked his lover boy's erection. He bobbed, sucked, and licked until Adam’s breathing grew short and his hard on swelled. John pulled up and finished him off with his hand. Adam gasped and let a squirt go that hit John in the face. When the last ejaculate was spent, John looked at him with white wash on his face and they both started laughing.
John sat back in his seat and took some tissue out of the storage compartment to wipe the goo off his face. After that, he took a moist towelette from a foil pack and wiped his face clean. When he was done, he looked at Adam who was smiling; he leaned over for a kiss. Adam leaned in too; he loved his most handsome boy, his raison d'être and tongued him passionately.
When Adam pulled away, he started undoing John's belt and zipper. John lifted his ass off the seat then Adam pulled his shorts down around his thighs. John lowered his seatback; very sure of what was to come. He was already hard from having Adam in his mouth a short while ago. His anticipation filled him with desire; he wanted Adam, his man, his stud boy any way he could have him. The thought of it was almost enough to get him off.
At that moment, Indianapolis Center called the Aztec wanting to hand them off to Memphis Center. Adam grabbed the mic and handled the transaction in record time. John stroked himself a few times as he waited.
Adam returned his attention to John and took him in his mouth. John's erection was noticeably bigger than Adam’s, who was no slouch in that regard. He began sucking, bobbing, and slobbering but couldn't get all of John in his mouth and he didn't try; he had never ‘deep throated’ anyone and was close to gagging as it was.
John began pushing his hips up and out in concert with Adam's bobbing. It went that way for some time as John felt Adam's soft fine hair with his hands. Not all that much longer, and John announced he was going to shoot. Adam didn't pull off, he kept sucking and bobbing, feeling John's body anywhere he could and felt good about it. John couldn't hold on any more. He released his load into Adam's mouth, who took it all. He swallowed when John was done then pulled off. Adam smiled at his lover, kissed him on the cheek and said, "I love you, handsome."
John responded, "I love you too, Hon; a whole lot more than you know."
It was awhile before the satisfaction of the moment passed; then they both tidied themselves. Adam asked John if he brought any CD's and John said that he did and showed him the selection. Adam picked one out then John put it in the player. He adjusted the volume so they could hear the radio in the event air traffic control called them.
After a couple hours of flying, Adam was getting hungry and asked John, "Did you bring anything to eat?"
"I made us a lunch then forgot about it. It’s in the fridge upstairs, sorry."
"Man, I'm starving. I didn't have anything for breakfast this morning."
"I'm hungry too, now that you mention it."
"You have to start eating more regularly, you're losing weight and you don't have any to lose."
"I know. I'm getting more comfortable with the business now that we have a cushion. I think that had a lot to do with it. You know quitting my job was somewhat traumatic when I look back. It was a hard thing for me to do."
"It was hard on both of us," Adam said then looked at John for his reaction. He hadn't said anything prior to that and wasn't sure what John’s reaction would be. He wanted John to know it wasn't just him that went through the ordeal; it was both of them. Adam suffered through it, too.
John took Adam’s hand in his, kissed it, then rested it on the center console. He felt lousy, knowing deep down that Adam was right. He looked at Adam and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Hon. I really am," and he meant it.
"John, you can talk to me anytime about anything, okay? I'm here for you."
That statement made John shrink inside. The most important person in the world was telling him that he was there for him whenever John needed him. That he shouldn't internalize his feelings, he was free to share them with Adam, free to ask for help; he wasn't alone. He didn't have to be stoic, or strong, or a tough guy; it was okay to admit he was scared or worried. Adam was there for him.
John felt small and narrow minded like a kid who just learned a valuable lesson. In one comment, Adam had read him, exposed him, and let him know everything was okay. One simple statement that told John to lean and depend on him, he wanted to help; all he had to do was ask.
"Why do you put up with me, you could do so much better for yourself?" John said looking out the windshield.
"Because I love you and I can't do any better."
John let out a sigh as if a lead weight had been lifted from his shoulders. God, that made him feel good; what a revelation. Was that what love was all about? Had he been getting it wrong? He didn't think so; he really did love Adam. He was sure of it, very sure. Yet, he didn’t know why he had a hard time confiding in him. Was he really that screwed up?
John looked at Adam who gave him a smile then squeezed his hand. John couldn't believe the person he was looking at. How could anyone be that beautiful inside and out? He was at a loss; he didn't know. He felt his affection for Adam soar to a new high that he didn't think were possible. He was too choked up for words; all he could do was sit there.
"You okay, Babe?"
John was quiet for a few moments, he cleared his throat and said, "I'm fine, Hon. I'm fine".
And he was. He was in a place he never wanted to leave. He was exposed completely to his loved one and loved the feeling; the feeling of truthfulness, of trust and honesty; it felt wonderful and wonderfully exhilarating.
"I want to thank you again and say how sorry I am. I didn't realize what I was doing."
"John, you made yourself sick over it and you still haven't put the weight back on. Just talk to me okay? That's all I ask. If we do that, we can make it. Talk to me, Babe. Whatever it is; we can work it out. I want to help."
"Yeah okay, it's not always easy for me to open up though. I guess I'm more like my father than I care to admit."
"You'll be good. I'm not going to let you do that again".
And that was the extent of John's epiphany. If he thought he had a come to Jesus meeting earlier, it was nothing compared to what he learned about himself in that airplane. And his partner Adam; how could he ever doubt or take him for granted again? He couldn't. He simply could not and would not. He would do his utmost, push himself even, to be worthy of his other half; the one that completed him and made him whole and happy.
Awhile later, they were entering Houston Center's airspace when Memphis called on the radio wishing them a good day. That was Adam's cue to call Houston, throttle back and adjust the pitch of the props, then begin his cruise descent into Gulfport-Biloxi International.
As they neared the airport, the Gulf of Mexico appeared on the horizon and made for a beautiful panorama with the sky, the water, and the beach stretching out in front of them.
Adam plugged the headset into the dash and used the thumb buttons on the yoke to communicate with air traffic control. After a couple of vectors, he was given his traffic—the aircraft that was landing ahead of them. Adam requested a visual (to abandon the IFR flight plan and land under VFR rules having the airport in sight) and was denied by ATC, so he shot the ILS (Instrument Landing System).
Adam lowered the landing gear, deployed the flaps, then worked the airplane down to the runway. On the ground, Adam cleaned the aircraft up then turned onto the taxi way calling ground control. Gulf Aviation was the FBO where they were going to park and pay the fees for the duration of their stay.
Inside, John gave the clerk their company credit card and authorized the FBO to top off the tanks with avgas. You never park an airplane with low fuel tanks; the condensation may contaminate the fuel causing engine failure aloft.
The guys inquired about a ride to the car rental agency and the secretary said she would be happy to take them to the other side of the airport. They climbed in her car; Adam in the front passenger seat, while John watched from the back seat as the secretary checked Adam out. It was amusing. Adam was completely unaware of her infatuation. He was being his true blue, open and honest, loveable self. He didn't know any other way and she was lapping it up. When they arrived at the rental car company, John and Adam thanked her for going out of her way.
At the counter, the rental agent presented Adam with the contract. When he saw the description of the car, he turned and looked John squarely in the eyes. John knew exactly why he was getting the look and chuckled out loud; it was a nervous reaction. Adam shook his head then looked away; he wasn't surprised, and he wasn't driving around in a four-cylinder, puddle jumper either. He asked for and received a luxury convertible much to John's dismay.
As they pulled out of the rental lot, Adam punched the address into the GPS then said, "If you have us in one of those economy motel joints; I'm going home ... without you.”
"Horseshit, you aren't going anywhere without me and you know it. The picture on the internet made it look real nice anyway."
"We'll see. This may be the last time you make reservations for us."
John decided to have a little fun with Adam. "Hon, you remember how you said we could talk about anything anytime?" He said with a serious inflection.
"Yeah," Adam said with understanding. "What is it, Babe?"
"It's about our motel."
"MOTEL? You booked us in a fucking MOTEL? John how could you? I mean son of a bitch, god damn it, John. What the fuck! I don't fucking...
John cut him short with a belly laugh; he couldn't contain himself any longer. Adam was having a cow and it was too damn funny. And the best part of all was he believed that John would do it and that he actually did do it. And he would have if Adam let him get away with it.
John was bent over in the passenger seat; he was in hysterics. He thought, “If only I had a picture of the look on his face when he launched into his litany.” It was hilarious to John, worth a thousand words.
When they pulled into the driveway of the hotel, Adam breathed a sigh of relief. It was a luxury hotel chain. He thought they would be comfortable there; it had an upscale look.
Adam left the car with the valet, then the porter took their bags from the trunk of the car. John went to the front desk to check-in while Adam waited with the porter.
He gave his name and the clerk found the reservation in the computer. John inquired how much it would cost to upgrade the room. He thought, “Screw it. It was for he and Adam; nothing was too much or too good for his boy.” The clerk told John a junior suite would be an additional three hundred dollars for their stay and he agreed then handed over his company credit card.
When he finished, the clerk handed John two key cards and winked, then they followed the porter to the elevators. When the porter opened the door to their room, Adam was dumbfounded. It was a suite with a small foyer and a bouquet of white roses sitting on an elegant table. The table sat on an area rug with shiny wood floors stretching out to the perimeter walls. A crystal chandelier hung over the table. Beyond the foyer, their eyes were drawn to a living room with a bona fide wet bar and stools, not the usual mini-bar.
The porter returned the key card to John then took their bags to the bedroom. He placed them on the luggage stand then returned to the living room. John examined the suite as the porter moved around. It was definitely not a junior suite; he’d spent enough time on the Internet checking the place out to know the difference.
The porter opened the armoire in the living room then turned the sound system on and it began to play classical music. He returned to the guys asking, "Is there anything further I can do?"
John said, "No thank you," then handed him a ten dollar bill.
The porter thanked him, wished them a pleasant stay, then left closing the door behind him.
"Babe, I can't believe you did this."
"Want me to pinch you?" John asked as he pulled Adam into a warm, firm embrace lowering his head to the small of Adam’s neck then let an 'mmm' escape him. He was so darn happy to see the surprised and astonished look on Adam’s face. It made the additional expense worthwhile. He kissed his boy again then led him to the sofa in the living room to lie down; he was tired.
Adam followed John then eased himself on top of him. After a few quiet moments, Adam said, "Do you want room service or do you want to go out for dinner?"
"I'm tired from the flight, Hon. The monotonous drone of the engines and the air moving around the cabin is fatiguing. To answer your question, I could clean 'em out at an all you can eat place."
"Babe, we're not going to an all you can eat type place."
"I meant that figuratively; give me a break."
"Still, you said it. I want us to have a nice meal; I mean a real nice dinner. You and me with everything … candles, tablecloth, flowers and wine...the whole nine yards.”
"I would like that, too. We could drive to New Orleans. I found a couple restaurants on the Internet that are highly rated and have a good reputation. It's only 5:00 and the ride there is a little over an hour. Besides, I always wanted to see New Orleans and the French Quarter; it's supposed to be very gay.
"Call 'em up; let's do it."
"Okay, my sweet. Get off me so I can get my notes out of my bag."
"Okay corndog, why do you say stuff like that?"
"Because that's what you are to me, so stop trying to make me feel bad about it." John pecked him on the mouth. John was overcome with emotion and wanted the same in return; Adam gave him the response he was looking for.
They showered, changed clothes, then hopped in the rental car for the drive to New Orleans. John had called for reservations at one of the better restaurants off St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District, and it was exactly what both of them wanted and hoped it would be.
It was elegant, a little too loud for John’s liking, but nice just the same. To him, at that price, it should have been quieter and more intimate. On the plus side, the waiters were nice to look at, the food was excellent, and the wine delicious; it was all about being together and enjoying each other.
As they ate and savored their dining experience, Adam watched John like a cat stalks its' prey; John had something he wanted and Adam was determined get it.
As John ate, he couldn't help himself. The more he watched Adam, the more he wanted him; up, down, sideways, left or right; he didn't care. He was going to have his boy that evening one way or the other.
Having thoroughly enjoyed their meal and each other's company, Adam gave the waiter his company credit card then signed the bill when the waiter returned, adding the tip when it was presented to him.
John studied their waiter while Adam figured his tip and signed the charge slip. He was an attractive kid with a nice tan and a stylish mop of hair that looked as good as Adam’s. It was so appealing; John wanted to run his fingers through it. The kid had a bright smile, too; very captivating John thought. John wondered if the kid were Irish with his blue eyes and the youthful lilt they bespoke. He noticed the kid’s name tag and wanted to talk to him so he said, “So, Val. Can you give us directions to the French Quarter?”
The kid looked at John, smiled, then said, “Sure. It’s easy. When you leave the restaurant, make a right on Washington and go a few blocks to St. Charles Avenue. Make a right on St. Charles then follow it until you reach Canal Street; that’s where it ends. Make a left on Canal then make your first right onto Bourbon Street and you’re there. Here, I’ll draw a map on the back of your receipt.”
Adam handed him the receipt then the kid bent over to write on it. Adam couldn’t help noticing Val’s butt. It was pert, round, and cute like Val; very nice to Adam’s discerning eye. The kid had brown hair very similar to John’s except for the sun bleached streaks, which Adam found attractive. He couldn’t help visualizing the kid naked and what he might do to him then began to bone up.
When he finished the map, Val stood up and handed it to John saying, “Follow that and you’ll have no problem. Are you guys from out of town?” He thought they must be, because everyone knew where the Quarter was.
“Yeah, we’re from Springfield, Illinois. Are you from here?”
“No,” Val replied. “We’re originally from Wisconsin. We moved here last June.”
“Do you like it?” Adam asked.
“I do now. It was touch and go for awhile but things worked out. I have two great dads,” Val said unable to contain his exuberance, his eyes sparkling.
John and Adam couldn’t escape his enthusiasm; the kid was too darn cute and honest. Adam was trying not to think about the sex appeal the kid was emanating while John thought it would be fun to cuddle or maybe coddle him; either way, he was sure to find it stimulating.
“Well, enjoy your stay,” Val said. “I have to get back to work; I’m falling behind.”
They watched Val leave, each with their own thoughts.
When they rose, John asked Adam what the total for dinner was. As they walked through the dining room toward the door, Adam put his hand on John’s shoulder and told him to pay the bill when it came in. John frowned; it was shaping up to be an expensive weekend. He regretted upgrading their room; he was sure that would have covered the cost of the meal.
They made their way to the French Quarter with ease, thanks to the map, then drove around for twenty minutes or so before they found a parking spot. They parked the car and started walking around, not knowing where to go. They heard some jazz music coming from a bar with open doors and windows, so they walked in that direction to check it out.
A little black kid approached Adam and said, "I bet you twenty dollars, I know where you got your shoes." The kid was wearing a big, white, toothy grin; he was cute.
They both smiled; certain the kid was running some kind of scam. Adam thought, “What the hell,” and decided to go along with it. There was no way the kid knew where he got his shoes; he’d never seen him before.
"Okay, you're on," Adam said.
The kid’s eyes twinkled, then he said, "You got your shoes on your feet," then he started laughing and pointed at Adam’s feet.
John and Adam had to laugh, too; the little shit was sporting and funny. Adam decided it wasn't worth twenty dollars and fished a five out of his wallet.
"Okay kid, you got me. That wasn't worth twenty but I'm not going to stiff you either; here," he said then handed the kid a five dollar bill.
The kid grabbed the money then took off running to join his friend, laughing all the way. Both Adam and John thought the kid was clever and the spoof was worth the five dollars.
They walked around for another half hour then decided to head back to Gulfport, it was over an hour in the car and it was getting late.
Back at the hotel, John undressed and climbed into bed. Adam went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and relieve himself. When he came back to the bedroom, John was asleep snoring lightly.
Adam turned the lights off then closed the bedroom door. He decided to watch a movie on demand. He made himself comfortable in the living room then settled in for the movie; twenty minutes later, he was sound asleep. During the night, he woke to the sound of a hissing TV, so he turned it off then made his way to the bedroom.
The next morning, Adam woke up before John and peeled himself away from him gently so as not to wake him. He took his morning leak then went to the bar in the living room to see if there was any juice in the fridge.
He found an orange juice and retrieved the morning paper; it had been slid under the door. He turned some classical music on, situated himself at the bar, and began to read the paper; he was hoping John would rise soon.
An hour later, John was still sleeping, so Adam decided to wake him. John was lying on his back with the sheet down around his ankles. Adam slid in beside him and laid his head on the pillow next to John listening to the slow steady rhythm of John's breathing.
Adam began running his fingers through the soft line of hair between John's belly button and briefs. John was on the verge of waking up anyway, so the sensation was enough to make him open his eyes. He saw Adam out of the corner of his eye then quickly closed them again. Adam hadn’t noticed.
He decided to have a little fun with his curious, lover boy. John was trying to think of a practical joke to play on Adam as he lie there awake with his eyes closed. He had a morning erection and Adam’s soft touch caused it to jump. Adam turned his attention to John's armpit. He thought if he lightly pulled on the hair, it might be enough to wake John so he began to draw on it gently with his fingers. John had all he could do not to laugh but managed somehow to hold on to a blank expression; he was hoping one that looked like sleep.
Adam was getting turned on as he inspected and touched John's body in repose, or so it appeared to him. He thought the brown hair in John’s pits was especially sexy. John was aware of Adam’s thoughts; he could tell by the parts of his body that Adam was fondling. He decided to wait until Adam managed to get himself geared up enough to go for John's erection. He was hoping it would be soon; he didn't know how much longer he could maintain his charade.
John thought when Adam went for his boner, he would suddenly straighten all four limbs, spring upright in bed, then shout, “Don't touch that,” as loud as he could. He was sure it would be more than enough to scare the shit out of Adam, so he lie there biding his time.
A few moments later and Adam made his move. He took his finger and ran it up and down John's hard dick; it jumped and John very nearly lost it but managed to hang on. John thought, “Come on, grab it.”
Adam began running his palm up and down John's erection with his fingers splayed and John thought it wouldn't be much longer until he wrapped his fingers around it.
True enough, Adam couldn't resist the sight of John's big boner any longer and wrapped his hand around it drawing John's underwear in with his grip.
John sprang forth in bed shouting, "DON'T TOUCH THAT.”
Adam leapt backwards as if a bomb had gone off in front of him. He hit the edge of the bed then tumbled to the floor, arms and legs flailing in the air as he disappeared from view with a thud.
John began to laugh so hysterically he couldn't breathe in enough air to compensate. His face became so red it was maroon as he rolled around in bed gasping, choking and eventually clenching his stomach; hoping that would ease the cramps he was feeling. He was in prankster's heaven.
Adam collected himself and stood up saying, "What a twit," in a condescending tone.
That was all John needed to fuel another round of gut wrenching belly laughs, teary eyed and all; he didn't think anyone had ever laughed so hard for so long! All he was capable of uttering was, "Oh God," and it sent him over the edge again.
As Adam watched John egging himself on, in what seemed to him, a warped and twisted state; he couldn't help but grin and admit inwardly, “Damn it, I love that twit,” then he crawled back in bed. He climbed on top of John, who wrapped his arms and legs around his boy.
"You know I love you more than anything," John said testing the waters; he wasn't sure of Adam’s mindset. He thought the fact that he was on top of him was a good sign. He was still giggling and doing his best to stop; which was, in and of itself, funny to him.
"God you can be a jerk—without trying".
"What do you mean not trying? I gave that a lot of thought; there was self-control involved, too. You have to be smart to think of shit like that," John said then giggled some more.
"No, you have to be sick to think of shit like that.”
"Aw Hon, come on say it. Tell me you love me.”
"You're going to be a menopausal bitch before, if ever, you hear me say that again. Come to think of it, your half-way there ... bitch." Adam was smiling.
John squeezed Adam with his arms and legs kissing the small of his neck then relaxed saying, "You know I can't be your bitch if you don't fuck me. That's part of the definition, and being so defined, how 'bout it?”
"Not so fast, bitch. That title doesn't come easy; it has to be earned before you reap".
"Okay," John said. "I guess I'll have to get my fucking elsewhere until I prove myself worthy.”
"Oh no you don't. As my supplicant, you will do as you're told; nothing more, got it?"
"No entiendo señor." (I don't understand sir)
"Je pense que tu comprends parfaitement.” (I think you understand perfectly).
"Okay enough of that horseshit," Adam said as he rolled off John then got out of bed. "Let's order from room service and take a quick shower.”
"Hon, do you mind if we go down to the dining room for the buffet. I'm starving and they never give you enough when you order from room service.”
"Sure, Babe. C’mon, I'm going to have my way with you in the shower."
John was happy to hear that his supposed apprenticeship was over so soon. They went to the shower and Adam gave John a good hard 'get even' screw; John spread his legs and loved it, all of it.
During breakfast, they decided to go to the beach and take sun, swim, chill out, and relax; after all, that was the reason for the trip in the first place. On the way to their room, they stopped at the gift shop off the hotel lobby to browse; they were hoping to find a souvenir to remind them of their first vacation.
As they inspected the goods, Adam spied a Speedo that he wanted John to wear. John said the only way he would wear it was if Adam wore one, too; otherwise, no deal. Adam concurred and held on to his selection while John found one that he wanted Adam to wear, then they went upstairs to change.
After changing, they came back down with towels over their shoulders wearing T-shirts and shorts over their swimsuits. They had to cross the street to reach the beach; the hotel was not a beachfront property. When they were happy with a chosen spot, they spread their towels over the sand then lie down.
Adam reclined then slipped his shorts and sandals off; it was obvious he was embarrassed by his swimwear and what he was exposing to anyone who looked. John followed suit tossing his shorts on top of Adam’s; John liked the exposé even less. They put their sunglasses on then reclined.
After a short time, John said, "Hon, I don't like this very much. I feel naked," then he sat up and pulled his shorts on.
John looked at Adam who was smiling with his sunglasses on. He looked so hot to John in his Speedo that he started getting hard. Since his shorts were baggy, he adjusted himself and lay back down with both hands behind his head; it was no big deal.
A few minutes later, Adam surveyed the area to see if there were any beachgoers nearby. It was late morning and a little too early for much of a beach crowd. He rolled onto his stomach then turned his gaze toward John; he was trying to hide his hard on. He felt sexy in his Speedo and his thoughts went to a naked John and what he wanted to do to him. He reached out and felt John's armpit hair, rubbing his hand back and forth in John's pit. It was stimulating as hell.
"Hon, you have an armpit fetish don't you?"
"Nooo," Adam said on an uphill note, not protesting enough to be believable.
John smiled, he couldn't help it, "Yeah you do, it's okay, Hon. You can talk to me about anything." Then John started cracking up.
"Fuck off," Adam said then reluctantly withdrew his hand while John chuckled.
They were on the beach less than an hour when John said, "I don't know about you; but I'm getting bored.”
"Yeah, me too; let's go for a walk.”
John agreed and they got up and gathered their towels and shirts. Adam put his shorts on and they began to walk along the beach. Neither one was the beach type. They both had an average summer tan and could care less about sunning themselves; it seemed like a waste of time to them. They walked along the beach checking out the sunbathers and other things that are typically associated with the beach scene.
They noticed a pier protruding into the gulf and decided to walk to the end of it. It was made of large, hand hewn timbers with large planks making up the decking. There were a few people fishing off the pier with Brown Pelicans sitting on the posts. They walked the length of it and looked south at the gulf before turning around for the walk back.
"Hon, let's get the car and drive to Biloxi. From what I saw on the Internet, there’s more things to do there than Gulfport. They have casinos and that kind of stuff over there; it appeared a lot more touristy."
"Okay, I'm up for it. It's kind of quiet around here, not that I mind. Maybe we can get some T-shirts; we should get one for Larry, too."
They walked back to the hotel and took the elevator up to the room to get the car keys and their wallets. John said he was putting his other bathing suit on; he felt stupid in the Speedo, so Adam did the same. Adam told John that he looked hot in it but John didn't care. He said he was comfortable in his old man's bathing suit and was going to wear it instead, as far as he was concerned, the Speedo was a waste of money.
When the valet brought their car to the door, John threw his T-shirt in the back seat and climbed in behind the wheel. He put the top of the convertible down as they pulled away, then onto the main drag that paralleled the beach. It was a beautiful sunny day with clear blue skies dotted with cumulus clouds, and a steady breeze coming off the gulf. John liked driving the expensive car and the feeling that it might be his; it drew a lot of attention. He stopped for a traffic light and a car with two girls pulled up next to them on Adam’s side. The driver looked at Adam then John and smiled; trying to make her interest known.
John shouted, "Hey do you like my boyfriend?" then grinned.
The driver looked at John with a wan smile, mostly confused.
John was grinning ear to ear. He leaned over, pulled Adam’s head close, then kissed him on the mouth. They both grinned at each other then looked at the girls for their reaction. The girl on the passenger side was whooping and shouting 'more' and the guys started laughing.
John pulled away from the light when it turned green while the other car sat at the light; the driver wasn't paying attention, she was focused on the two hot guys next to her.
"That was pretty ballsy for you," Adam said.
"Yeah I guess so. I didn't want her getting any ideas about you; she needed to know that you're with me," John said proudly. "We'll never see them again anyway."
Adam was smiling. He liked the idea of belonging to John and having his Babe watching out for his property; that being him, it made him feel good.
They parked the car in downtown Biloxi and got out. John tucked his T-shirt in the back of his shorts and slipped his sandals on while Adam did the same on his side of the car. They walked down the sidewalk checking out gift shops and the occasional gallery.
Adam was looking for some artwork for the walls in the apartment; he told John they were mostly bare and John had to agree, it was true. He didn't much like the idea of Adam spending a bunch of money but decided not to ruin the day with money talk.
There was an interesting shop with the door propped open, so Adam steered John inside. They browsed the shop when, a short time later, Adam came across some T-shirts; he was sorting through the rack when John approached him, "Hon, I think I'm going to get a polo shirt instead; I can wear it for work. Besides, I have a ton of T-shirts that I don't wear now," John said.
Adam agreed so they abandoned the T-shirt idea in favor of one with a collar. They both selected a polo shirt with a Biloxi logo. Adam picked one out for Larry and paid with his company credit card while John waited for him outside on the sidewalk; he didn't want to know how much it cost.
When Adam came out to join him, he pulled two large colorful beach towels out of the bag to show John. They were very eye catching; they had a depiction of a beach scene with water, palm trees, the sun and sand. John said they were very nice and reached out to feel it; he smiled then Adam stuffed them back in the bag. He appreciated John not saying anything; he was relatively sure he knew what John was thinking.
They strolled along the sidewalk idly looking and entering random stores as they progressed. They happened onto a Mexican cafe with outdoor dining and decided to have lunch there. They were seated then the hostess asked them to put their shirts on. Adam commented that it seemed a little odd that a beachfront cafe would ask that and John agreed. They put their shirts on anyway; their shoulders were starting to get red from the sun.
"Hon, I hope you don't order the refried beans." John remembered the last time Adam had refried beans; he passed gas all night long.
"But Babe, I love 'em. I think I'll order some; it's been a long time since I’ve had them."
"Not long enough," John said raising the menu so Adam couldn't see him smiling.
"Hey, it's not as bad as when you eat sauerkraut."
"True that, but there's a big difference you're overlooking; my farts don't stink. Yours, on the other hand, can make babies cry."
That was enough to stifle Adam; it was true. He had to laugh at the analogy.
John rubbed Adam’s leg with his, the feel of the soft hair on Adam’s legs were a particular turn on for John, especially when they tangled up in bed. He stopped himself after a few moments; he didn't want to tease himself, as good as it made him feel.
After lunch, they went back to Gulfport and the hotel. They took a nap then ordered a late dinner from room service. John commented that he finally felt full after being hungry for two days and Adam asked if he wanted to take a walk on the beach, in the moon light. John liked the idea, so they headed downstairs and crossed the street to the beach; they kicked their sandals off and carried them, letting the warm sand ooze between their toes.
It was a warm clear night; the humidity of the gulf hadn't begun to form a haze yet. They walked alternating between holding hands and putting arms around each other, stopping occasionally to embrace, grope, and kiss. It was intimate and nice, not a lot of conversation, just the pleasure of each other's company on the beach, in the moon light, alone and happy to be together.
Some distance later, Adam produced a low rumbling sound behind him. He couldn't help but recall John's observation at the restaurant that afternoon then chuckled.
"Eew, I heard that," John said moving away from Adam.
"So did I. It sounds like some kind of meteorological anomaly caused by the cool gulf breeze moving over the heat of the land; you know a deviation in the thermal norms. Come here Babe, I'm scared."
"The only deviation from the norm is the hot air coming out of both ends of you."
Adam laughed and the contractions of his stomach made him do it again causing him to laugh harder.
"Jesus Christ, you're full of it,” John said.
"Handle with care, Babe; contents under pressure."
"Maybe I should squeeze the shit out of you now, so you don't foul the room."
"You have to admit, it works better since I had it fixed,” Adam said then laughed. The effort of laughing made him do it again and laugh some more.
The next day they took the rental car and went exploring. They drove the gulf coast to Mobile, Alabama and back with the top of the convertible down. It was another beautiful day and they rode with their shirts off to feel the wind against bare skin. They stopped for lunch in Pascagoula and ate at a seaside restaurant cantilevered over the water, watching boats and yachts of all shapes and sizes come and go. They also discussed a little business over the meal.
"Hon, I think we should step up our effort to hire another full time instructor, what do you think?"
"Yeah, I agree. I'm getting tired of instructing, at least the VFR students; I don't mind the IFR ones so much, they're a more experienced group."
"I hear you. The other thing is that I was toying with the idea of buying a King Air or maybe a Cessna Citation Mustang. We can afford it but we don't have enough charter business to keep either one aloft as much as they should to be. You know, the comfort level isn't there."
Adam was noticeably intrigued. The thought of a jet or turbo-prop was like a teenager being promised his first car; Adam was getting giddy and bouncy.
"Babe, we can't afford one of those can we?"
"Yes we can with a tad more business. So if we get another full time instructor, you can spend more time managing while I hit the road selling, bidding on airfreight and postal contracts. There’s a ton of charter business out there, too; someone has to pursue it. You could check out the new instructor in the Aztruck, so he could fill in as needed."
"Which airplane do you think would be best, the Citation?"
"Well actually, I was thinking we should buy a used one; the King Air would be my choice."
Adam didn't like the sound of that; he preferred the jet over the turbo-prop, so he asked John, "Why do you say the King Air, and not the Citation?"
"The cruise speed is only 28 knots true air speed slower, it has a shorter takeoff and landing roll, carries more people, and it's approved for one pilot."
"So is the Citation, it's a one pilot VLC (Very Light Class) jet."
"Yeah, and limited to four passengers whereas the King Air can handle up to nine people, see what I mean? And it's cheaper to operate, has a longer TBO (Time to be Overhauled), and costs less to get you checked out in."
Adam had to admit John was right, he had done his homework. As much as the thought of flying a jet turned him on, John had it nailed for all the right reasons. And it was a logical step; whereas, the Citation would be a leap forward without the versatility. Adam was disappointed but couldn't deny the logic behind John’s reasoning; the King Air was much more versatile.
Adam sat there quietly, he couldn't believe they were having the discussion; it seemed like a dream he never dreamt of dreaming, it was all so out there, so seemingly out of reach; yet there they were discussing it. He and John were discussing buying a King Air! Maybe there was something to John's squeakiness after all; it was a lot to think about.
"I can't help but think how hot you'd look in a King Air," John said with a grin.
"Yeah", Adam said, "It would be cool to say the least. I’d love to fly it."
"Yeah, you would be the queen in the King Air," John said then laughed.
Adam threw his napkin at John and hit him in the face; John laughed some more.
They chatted and kidded around for a while when Adam asked for the bill then paid it. When they got back to the hotel later that afternoon, John asked Adam if he wanted to go to the hotel bar for happy hour and have a couple martinis. Adam agreed so they diverted to the hotel lounge and took a seat at the bar.
"Babe, that bartender is hot."
John backhanded Adam on his bicep with force, which didn’t hurt but got the message across.
"He's not as hot as you, but he's easy on the eyes," Adam said.
"You better knock it off or I'll scratch those eyes out for you."
When the bartender came over to take their order, John told him two vodka martinis. The bartender said, "Will you boys be so good as to put your shirts on, it's hot enough in here," with a perfect Truman Capote whiny affectation, lisp and all; then pivoted and walked away.
John and Adam looked at each other then burst out laughing. It took a couple minutes to settle down then John said softly to Adam, "How hot is that?" and they giggled again.
After three vodka martinis, John was starting to get tipsy and a little loud. Adam ordered some hors d'oeuvres, which were skimpy, and John commented on the portions to the bartender. He had been talking with him off and on and was to the point where he could converse without smiling or laughing.
"He's actually a nice guy once you get past the affectations," John said.
"Yeah," Adam said. "But he ruined everything when he opened his mouth," then they both giggled again.
John was having a weak moment, he put his arm around Adam, kissed him, then said, "I love you more than your mother," then he slobbered on Adam’s cheek trying to kiss him.
"You love my mother?"
"No. I mean yes. I mean..."
Adam cut him off, "You're drunk."
"Yeah, just a little."
"I can't take you anywhere, Mr. Gaboris. Suck it up. I'm taking you upstairs."
"But Hon, I don't want to go. I'm having fun," John said a little too loud. "Come on, Honey. Can't we stay a little longer time?"
"You're times up, Gaboris. Suck it up, we're going."
"I'll suck it up but you have to take it out first," John said in front of the bartender.
Adam rolled his eyes while the bartender was visibly amused.
"He's a mess," the bartender said. "Take him upstairs, give him a cold shower and some Tylenol then put him to bed; call me if there's anything I can do." With that, Truman junior pivoted on his heels and walked away.
Adam rolled his eyes again. He couldn’t help thinking how he must be the only sane one there.
"Come on, Babe," Adam said as he took John by the arm.
John slid off the bar stool and nearly fell over. He caught himself with Adam’s help then regained his footing.
"Geez, Hon; I'm buzzed."
"What was your first clue?"
"Shudup Hon, I love you," John said then put his arm around Adam and kissed his head in the middle of the hotel lobby, leaning on him as they made their way to the elevators.
In the room, Adam guided John to the bed then John fell backward as he gave in and passed out. Adam undressed him and did his best to move John's dead weight and cover him with the sheet. He closed the door to the bedroom then sat on the couch in the living room to watch TV.
Adam thought to himself, "The guy can't drink, every time he tries, he ends up a mess.” Adam decided that was okay; if John couldn’t drink then he couldn’t be an alcoholic, he smiled and went back to watching the tube. A few minutes into it, and Adam fell asleep on the couch with CNN giving the latest and greatest from around the world.
A few hours later, John woke up with his head spinning. He felt awful and went to the bathroom; he raised the lid on the toilet, knelt down, and prayed to the porcelain goddess spilling his guts. Toward the end of his Novena, there was nothing coming out, not even air. The only thing he could manage to get out was his tongue as he gagged and coughed.
He promised the Lord he would never do it again if only he would help him. His prayer seemed to land on deaf ears, nothing changed. He decided then and there that God didn't love him, or there was no God, or maybe he should go to church before he asked for something; he didn't know and didn't care. He lie on the bathroom floor and went back to sleep with the lights on, his legs straddling the shiny white goddess.
Adam woke up on the couch in the living room and looked at the time on the screen; CNN was still going strong. The time on the screen indicated 2:00AM so Adam turned the tube off. He went to the bedroom door and pushed it open. There was a light from the bathroom that illuminated the room and John wasn't in bed. He walked to the bathroom to find John on the floor and the smell of puke permeating the air; it made him gag and wish he had taken control sooner that evening. He was tired as hell so he turned the light off, pulled the door closed leaving John splayed and prone on the bathroom floor. “That will teach him,” he thought then climbed into bed.
Adam couldn't go to sleep, his conscience was bothering him; he had to do the right thing. He turned the light on, went back to the bathroom, and turned the light on. He looked at John, prone on the floor; he was a stinking ugly mess, a sight not at all pleasant to behold.
Adam took John by both arms and started pulling him to his feet saying, "Come on you're a mess. You're gonna be hurting if you stay here all night."
John woke up moaning. He accepted Adam’s help and they stumbled toward the bed. John fell on his side flopping on the bed then Adam lifted his legs and covered him up. He went to turn the bathroom lights out and close the door; the stench in there was something nauseating.
He came back to bed and got comfortable as far from John as he could, John was stinking of booze and puke. He pressed his face into the pillow hoping it would filter the air before he inhaled it then went to sleep.
The next morning Adam was up, showered, and ready to go. It was the last day of their trip, and he felt like doing something before they left for home. John was still sleeping in the bedroom so Adam decided to wake him and get him started on his routine.
He went in the bedroom and shook John by the arm. John tried to roll away from him but Adam wouldn't release his arm forcing him to lay face up in bed.
"Come on get up," Adam said in a stern voice then shook his arm again.
"Yeah, okay,” John said barely audible, felling like shit. He lay there motionless so Adam shook his arm again, that time a bit more vigorously.
"Get up John, now."
"Okay Hon, let me go."
"Not until you get up," Adam shook his arm again.
John slowly sat up, swung his feet around, then placed them on the floor; he was looking down at his lap. After a few quiet moments, John said, "That's the last time I ever drink, I swear to God."
"Yeah right, get your stinking ass in the shower and clean yourself up."
John didn't question or argue; he rose, went to the bathroom, and started the shower; he was feeling peaked and foolish. He took an unusually long shower trying to wash off the folly and indiscretion of the previous night; he supposed he had some apologizing to do when he finished.
Adam sat at the bar in the living room reading the paper and watching the news. He thought it was funny, or more accurately ambiguous, how John could be so competent and professional when it came to matters of business and money then, at other times; such as the previous night, be so reckless. It brought a smile to his face but he wasn't going to let John know it; he wanted to rub it in some more before he let John off the hook. After all, he had taken his fair share of ribbing from John, which he actually enjoyed. He grinned and went back to reading the paper.
When John finished his routine and dressed, he let out a sigh; he didn't exactly have a hankering for humble pie but the time was at hand. He walked over to the bedroom door and paused before opening it. He took a deep breath then decided to straighten up and take it like a man; like it or not, he was in the wrong and had to face the consequences.
Adam was growing impatient waiting for John; he had hit the shower over half an hour ago and still wasn't done. He decided to go see what was taking so long. He pushed the door to the bedroom open and the door hit John squarely on the forehead, knocking him backward.
John took several steps back before he regained his footing and raised his hand to his head, trying to assess the damage saying, "Ouch".
"Are you okay, Babe?" Adam said as he rushed toward John to examine his injury.
"Yeah, I think so, Hon. It's just a bump and to be honest; it doesn't make any difference this morning," then he made a weak attempt at a chuckle. He wasn’t feeling well and it showed.
"Let me see," Adam said as he pulled John's hand from his head. "It doesn't look so bad."
"I'm not surprised that you're mad, but you don't have to revert to violence for Christ sake." John was attempting to erase some guilt and discharge his obligation to Adam. It was a little bit underhanded but John reasoned, “What the hell, whatever works.”
"I know what you're trying to do and it's not going to work," Adam said matter of factly. "Come on, let's go have breakfast you sot … and you can't have any Mimosas."
John thought, “Shit, he's got me figured out,” then followed Adam. When he caught up to himm at the door, he turned him around, gave him a firm hug, and said, "Hon, I'm sorry for last night. I apologize."
"It's okay," Adam said then opened the door to the hallway. "Come on let's go."
As they made their way to the dining room, Adam was trying to define a course of action that would have the greatest impact. It was his turn; and he wasn’t about to let the opportunity slide. He was going to make John squirm then chuckled inwardly. He relished the idea; having John in the palm of his hand was going to be something new and fun. He decided to start with the silent treatment; he was quite certain that would mess with John's head.
In the hotel dining room, they waited for the waitress in silence; John feeling sheepish while Adam sat self-assured, like pilot in command. When she finally showed her face at the table, Adam told her they were going for the buffet and she asked for their beverage order.
John was more than eager to eat; he was ravaged from not having dinner the night before and tossing his insides outward; his stomach was concave, he was running on empty. They piled their plates high at the buffet then sat down to eat.
Adam was hungry too; he was compensating for missing last night's meal as well. He noticed John looking at him every so often; it was enough to confirm that the silent treatment was working.
"You're awful quiet this morning," John said.
"I guess so," Adam said and kept eating. 'Yup,' he thought, 'it's working'.
When they finished eating, they went back to the room to gather their things and pack. John took one of the white roses from the arrangement in the foyer and put it in his bag. He was going to have it dried and framed and give it to Adam as a memento for the weekend.
Adam brought his things to the foyer and set them on the floor. He began to make a final sweep of the room to check for anything forgotten or overlooked. When he finished, he said "Let's go," then opened the door.
John followed Adam to the elevator, and then the hotel lobby. As they walked in the direction of the front desk, John said he was going to the gift shop to buy some aspirin. Adam acknowledged his statement and went to the front desk to check out.
John took two aspirin out of the bottle and washed them down with water from a drinking fountain in the lobby. He sat down waiting for Adam to finish and put his sunglasses on; he felt like hiding from the world but that was the best he could do.
When Adam finished paying for the room, he slipped the receipt in his bag then scanned the lobby looking for John. He spotted him in a chair by the front door; he looked meek and timid. It was funny making Adam smile; he couldn't help it. He walked over to John and said, "Come on, let's get going".
"Where are we going?"
"Home."
To be continued...
Posted: 03/18/11