Reclaiming Austin
By:
William Tyler King
(Copyright 2005-2007 by the author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions
are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
Chapter 20
So after I woke
We packed up all the food, about 8 thousand pies,
Apple, Lemon, Pumpkin, Pears braised in Port with a sweetened
mascarpone topping… he’d invented it, and it was freaking delicious.
There were the Torte’s and the various breads.
Mrs. Tremere had him making this funky Italian bread called
Pannatone that was wicked scrumptious.
We pulled up to Mr. Riley’s large ranch style house in
We set down a few of the pies and the deserts.
After we’d greeted Mr. Riley and Mrs. Tremere we were
introduced to Mr. Riley’s daughter Megan and her friend Christian,
and we knew all the other bank employees that were there so far,
James came over and was chatting with us about Halloween but kept
looking over at Christian, who was looking back. James was all
spiffy in a dark grey cardigan with cranberry trim and a pair of
deep cranberry corduroys, his dark hair and gorgeous Chinese eyes
set it all off beautifully. Christian was quite a site in a Black
silk button up with mother of pearl buttons; he had on white cowboy
hat and what I assumed were some kind of leather cowboy boots with
new jeans. I might have looked further except
when
“I was only looking, SOMEONE has gotten me all worked up on cowboy hats lately.” He glowered at me and snorted derisively towards Christian whom had missed all the mini-Austin-drama. I smiled knowing Mr. Frisky was all worked up now…
“Easy my sexy gay cowboy,” I said stroking his back, “I was just looking, just like when you were oogling Rachael.” I caught his eye and he just sighed and relaxed, “I know you get jealous baby, and I swear to god I’m not thinking of actually doing anything, but I can’t help looking. Come on, didn’t you ever get flack when your girlfriends caught you looking?” I asked. He gave a mixed up nod and looked over at me.
“Yeah, but…”
“Yeah but???” I pushed against him with a smile.
When he looked over at me I grinned and readjusted
myself discretely.
“God you’re a douche sometimes!”
My Mother and younger brother Patrick came over about
an hour later; Patrick went and found the other “guys” watching
sports while Mom popped into the kitchen to assist. Mr. Riley’s
neighbor, an older man, about 70 I’d guess, came over, he was a
Cuban but spoke passable English. It was quite a
table when we were all seated, 3 gays, one Cuban, one French black
woman, a cowboy, A Canadian Chinese guy, I felt so boring suddenly.
When I pointed this out later
We were seated about one thirty, Mr. Riley sat at the head with Mrs. Tremere on his right, it was adorable and I’m glad I knew where she was obviously spending all her extra time.
Mr. Riley had us all hold hands, I had James on my
left and
Mrs. Tremere was first, she stood up and said, “I must confess, I have many blessings this past year, I have a dear family I treasure greatly,” She looked at Austin and myself and then Mr. Riley. “I have good health, and I finally found a prodigy I can pass all my cooking secrets to. I have also discovered that even in the early evening of life, one might still find romance and a person to fill one’s heart with joy.” She squeezed Mr. Riley’s hand as he blushed. “So I must thank all of you at this table who have played a part in this past year.” She smiled serenely then sat down as Mr. Vacos stood up, you’ll have forgive me as his accent and perhaps age were such, that part of his speech was unintelligible except for a few “Castro” curses. Finally he calmed down and said how happy he was to live in this fine neighborhood for many years, and to be an American, and to know Mr. Riley since he was a boy.
Then James stood and cleared his head a moment, then smiled and said, “Well, this is my first Thanksgiving as an American citizen, most Americans seemed surprised to learn we don’t generally celebrate thanksgiving or the fourth of July,” He grinned as a few of us laughed. “But I’m grateful to Mr. Riley for inviting me here for my first true American holiday, I’m grateful to him for hiring me and giving me a job, and to Alex and Ian, and Marika for all the help they’ve been at work, I’m very grateful for all the friend’s I’ve made this past year.” James gave my hand a squeeze to let me know it was my turn as he sat back down.
“Ok, All Y’all know how much I like to talk,” As I
knew they would, there was a great deal of laughter, especially from
my mom and Mrs. Tremere, “This has been an insane past year, but
lets see, where to start?” I looked around the
table, “I want to thank My mom and brother for showing up, I’m
grateful my brother and I didn’t kill each other as kids, because
he’s a kindava neat brother now, and I’m
grateful to my mother for just about everything, she’s been an
awesome mother who put up with more than 10 normal mothers do.
Speaking of Awesome, I have the best neighbor any guy has
ever had, Mrs. Tremere, as you said earlier, you’re so much more
than just a neighbor, you are a valuable
part of my family. And Mr. Riley, even if you
weren’t a fantastic and as of late, understanding boss, you would be
family simply by virtue of dating Mrs. Tremere and making her so
happy. I’m just incredibly grateful that my
friend Jason got me to try out for the
“Heeeeyyy, so what am I?”
My mom said whacking his leg, the table laughed and
“You’re Alex’s Mom, that makes you my Mother in law…
and I’m grateful to you too”
“I’m grateful to all my new friends I met through
Alex, I’m almost wetting myself I’m so excited about the new house
we’re getting.”
“And it seems only fair, that since Alex gave me my
present early, that I do the same.” My senses caught up to what he
was saying as
“Alex?” I heard
“Alex, Heart of my life…” I looked down more confused than anything else.
“
“
“Alex, will you please do me the great honor of allowing me to marry you and hopefully learn to make you as happy as you’ve made me?” Tears were now sitting in my eyes, threatening to fall and cover my face, all I could do was nod yes and make little noises. When Austin stood and I saw his beaming face coming down to mine I totally lost it and cried in his shoulder as he held me and people talked, I have no clue what was being said, I only registered voices for a few minutes.
As
“How many of you knew he was planning this?” I asked.
Mrs. Tremere said, “Plotting dear, this was plotting.” I wiped my eyes and looked from her to Mr. Riley, to Megan and Christian, and then to Patrick, everyone there knew.
“I can’t believe none of you asses said anything to me, or that any of y’all could keep a damn secret.” There was a great deal of good natured laughter.
“How long have you been planning this?” I asked
“Plotting” He reminded me with a smile. “Well, to ask you to marry me? About three weeks, doing it today? Since last night. I figured, my jealousy made you reveal your big secret present, I had been planning to wait till Christmas morning and only have one little present for you since obviously, even at a big discount, I won’t be able to afford much more. But since your big present was revealed, I figured I’d go on and ask you now… It was risky after what I just put you through I guess… But I guess we really do speak the same language.” I started crying again and I hated just being so… weepy, but it felt great having a big set of arms to hold me when I did.
“Well” My mother said standing up, “It’s tough to
follow that, but it gives me a great idea for what to be thankful
for. I am eternally grateful that my son has
brought another wonderful son to this family, Patrick, you may as
well start being gay, cause I won’t have
a clue how to treat a daughter.” There was a lot of laughter and
“I am grateful that Alex has found a guy who’s not
afraid to admit he made a mistake, and that loves him despite how
others might react. I am grateful
Patrick spoke next; I had hardly seen him since he’d come back from out west.
“Well, Aside from
“Hey, hey, hey, I don’t wanna hear that!” Patrick said sticking his fingers in his ears and singing ‘LALALA’ more laughter from the table.
Ian was next, Next to Mr. Riley, he was the longest term employee at the branch.
“I’m grateful to Mr. Riley for my job and his great recommendations over the years, I’m grateful for being invited to his house for the past few holidays as I have no family locally, I’m grateful to my coworkers for all their help, Congratulations by the way Alex and Austin, I’m real happy for you both. I’m also grateful to my dad for helping to buy my own house finally.” Ian sat back down with a smile.
“Well,” Christian said standing up and taking his hat off, “Like Patrick, I gotta say I’m a bit outta place here, I only know Megan from work and her dad from coming in sometimes, but she said I’d fit in, and I don’t know how well I fit, but y’all are certainly a friendly and funny crowd. I guess I’m grateful to Megan cause when my parents found out about me, they kicked me out this past summer, and I was afraid I’d be alone this thanksgiving, but Megan heard people talking about me, and she invited me over, and said, ‘Christian, you won’t be the only guy there that likes guys, trust me!’ So I’m grateful I trusted her.”
James suddenly lit up realizing Christian was also
coming out as gay,
“Anyway, I want to congratulate you two for finding your true loves, and I’m so grateful because it proves to me it can be done.”
“My my,” Megan said
standing, “I am ever so grateful to you Mrs. Tremere, you have made
my father very happy for the first time in years, and I am grateful
to you Alex, for bringing them together, you must be some kind of
cherub, because love seems to follow you around.” She smiled at me.
“And I am grateful that my friend Christian here isn’t having an
awful holiday like he expected, and that he got to share in your
special proposal,” she said to
And while she passed the food, Christian and Ian got
bottles of Remy Martin Champagne and poured flutes on the table. I
filled
“I suppose I should have prepared something last
night to say, but I wasn’t sure how this was playing out.
Alex,
And we were then saluted with a clinking of glasses.
The food was incredible, the turkey was like a
gourmet feast, the leg of lamb was the first time I’d ever liked it,
the potatoes were great, that’s the one thing about my family, the
Irish know how to boil and mash a potato and my mom had brought
these as well as her famous cranberry crump, this great stuff with
whole cranberries, pineapple, walnuts, black cherry gelatin and
port… The Asparagus were tender;
After dinner we all stood around talking, almost
everyone came over to see my non-traditional wedding ring. “It’s a
tanzanite with small white sapphires around it. In a white gold
band”
Everyone raved over
Before we left Marika showed up and had some desert with us and came over and carefully inspected my finger.
“
“Girl
Shuuush!”
Marika kept hugging me and I suddenly knew without
doubt, that between Michael, Michael, Marika, and Natasha, I
wouldn’t have a single say in what kind of wedding I had.
I realized that unless I got someone who out voted them I’d
have no say and could look forward to four of my closest friends
either ganging up on me, or refusing to talk to one another,
Possibly both. So while
“Mrs. Tremere? Please tell me you’ll help with my wedding, otherwise my fairies and faerie princesses are going to plan it.” She smiled her serene all knowing smile.
“Of course mon cher, whom do these children think they are? Your mother and I will plan it out and let you know when we are through.” She then patted my head and gave me a dismissive kiss. Why did I suddenly have the strongest urge just to elope? Karma was gonna bite my ass I just knew it. I wondered which camp Patrick would join, because he above all others, had reasons to get me back.
The others were all staying, I think Patrick was
interested in Megan, and it looked like she may be interested in him
as well, or perhaps just being polite, Ian was helping with the
kitchen and the grown ups were having a great time telling stories.
Mr. Riley told us to just take one car and leave the others
here as it was basically on the way home. So we
all loaded into my jeep and Christian pointed out he’d driven a big
black jeep, mmmmmm a cowboy hat wearing,
jeep riding, gay boy… I started smirking because I knew Austin was
reading my mind by the look he was giving me, so he just reached
around and took Christian’s hat and put it on his own head then put
on his Oakley’s and gave me a smug look. I
laughed out loud as we suddenly shot up the dirt drive.
It wasn’t till we were in Ryan’s front yard that
“HUSBAND!” I said loudly,
“You wanna argue semantics”
“You wanna get any touch tonight?” I asked, he stopped and got in front of me.
“Yeah, like you could go without for a night.”
“Hey!” I protested, I’m way more disciplined, I could go longer.”
“And I’m twice as competitive.”
Christian was about to say something when James stopped him and used his fingers to count to four then Austin who didn’t see this started laughing and said,
“I can’t believe we’re arguing about this, neither one of us could go 12 hours without getting off.” He said laughing and I started to laugh both at his comment, and James knowing us so well.
“HEY, What the hell???” I said suddenly seeing a bunch of crap behind my jeep. As I got closer I could see it was a short sting plastic cups and Barbie doll heads and a sign that said “Just married” on the back bumper.
“So she did know!” I said giving
“See Christian, it’s the rule of five, they can’t fight for more than five seconds without either joking or turning it into some type of sex game.” James said taking Christian’s hand very forcefully and leading him to the front door.
“I like that rule!” Christian, who was 6’2” said to James, who barely cleared 5’7”. James definitely didn’t act shy when he was interested.
Inside, I gave a big hug to Ryan and Michael and was
about to introduce Christian when
“OH MY GOD!!!!!!! DOES THAT MEAN???” Michael screamed almost twisting my arm as he spun it over to Ryan to see. “WHAT? WHEN???” Michael was screaming, pretty much as I had done recently with both Ryan and Michael, and Phil and Korma.
“
My Michael, the tall cranky one suddenly appeared to find out what all the screaming was about.
“Ohhh, it’s you two,
I was about to say something when the other Michael turned on his heels and snapped.
“SHUSH! He just got engaged.”
Tall Michael stood there a second baffled, then he saw the ring,
then he looked up and saw
“OH MY GOD!!!!!!
ALEX!!!!!!!!!!!” And then he grabbed my hand almost yanking it off
as he looked at the ring. James introduced
Christian to the other Michael and Ryan as I was passed around like
a toy. Michael started dragging me into the
living room when he stopped and told me to grab
“
“Congratulations big guy, I really hope you two will
be as happy as you look right now.” He held the hug on
“Hi Jason, thank you, I uh… Sorry, a little shocked
to see you here, sorry. But um, thanks.”
“Actually, you’ll never believe who called me up to ask me over.” Jason said.
“Michael?” I asked, meaning tall Michael.
“No, I did.” Ryan’s deep voice said from behind me. “After your little dig the other day, I did some thinking, and called your Michael, and we talked, so I figured, if you and he can be friends, and Michael is vouching for him too… Both Michaels actually.” Ryan said with a grin as his Michael came up behind him. “Well, Leopards can’t change their spots, but since when have you known a gay man with such a limited wardrobe?”
We all laughed at that and my hand was passed around
again like an STD in a high school band room.
“Billy, c’mere,
see what this guy did for my friend?” He
said slowly pointing at Austin then me. When
Billy approached with a blank face, Brandon Signed to him.
Then Billy lit up and gave me a hug, he mouthed
“Congratulations.” to me. I asked
“No, I read lips pretty well.” He said. “If I don’t understand something, Brandon or Michael can translate.”
“Oh, OK, I’ll try to look at you when I speak but
please forgive me if I forget.” I said back and he smiled. Then My
Michael made a few gestures in sign which made Billy and
“What’d you say?”
“He said not to worry because I never shut up so he wouldn’t miss anything.” I said with a scowl.
“I didn’t know you could understand sign language,”
“I don’t, I just know what that ass is going to say.” Which made everyone else laugh.
Brandon Billy and I had a nice conversation, it
turned out that Billy had approached
“I wouldn’t need anyone to tell me why you were smiling Alex, I think I would know just from you face.” Billy said laughing in his monotone way.
I looked at my ring and then looked back at Billy,
“You’d better be careful, the last few weeks, anytime someone gets
near me they get proposed to or meet the man of their dreams.”
Then I looked at Jason and Michael, who were walking by,
“Except poor Jason, he got screwed big
time.” I said loud enough for them to hear,
“Eat me Stewart little!” Michael said not even stopping.
The door bell rung a few minutes later and as
“Hello, I’m Chlamydea Bo-Tox, and this is my date, Louise.” She said stepping back to show me a tall well dressed black man, the way she pronounced Louise and Bo-Tox both sounded French so I assumed he was either from New Orleans, or Haiti, I smiled and welcomed them both in and said I wasn’t sure where Ryan had gone off to.
I was just closing the door when I saw a woman and guy running up,“Wait” she was yelling, when she got close I realized it was Melissa, Ryan’s sister who had been dating Dan until she cheated on him. Well, she’d always been nice to me and she’s the reason I knew Ryan.
“Melissa!!!!!!” I said stepping out to hug her.
“Alex!!!!!!!!” She said hugging me back, then she turned and said,“Alex, this is my boyfriend Russ. Russ, this is an old friend Alex.”
Russ was adorable, a rough looking reddish brown haired guy with tight curls on his head and a goatee and a chest like an oilrig but better defined.
“Melissa, why don’t you go say
hi to
“So what are you having gorgeous?” I said being as gay as I could to watch him squirm. “Ummm, Captain and coke please?” I fixed him the drink and started laughing.
“uhhh, what?” He said looking at his chest to see if he’d spilled something.
“I gotta apologize,” I
said laughing, “I’m not used to seeing guys who could crush me with
two fingers acting like I was Conan the barbarian on steroids.” I
said making myself an apple martini. “I’m not so forward usually,
but for some reason I…” An arm went around me and knew it was
“He just likes to freak straight boys out and hopes
they’ll date him.”
“No, that was just you,” I kissed his scowling nose, “Normally I just like to scare them.” I said.
“Well uhhh, please don’t
take it personally, I’m just not…” Russ began saying but
“Listen bro, you’re cool, this little terrorist does stuff like that to everyone. If he gets too bad, just grab me or one of the really tall guys and tell them, or better yet, tell your girlfriend.” He laughed; Russ began laughing too, his tension released.
Suddenly Russ looked back at
“Thanks, yeah, that was me!”
“Well Danny, why didn’t you bring a date? You knew this was gonna be a mostly gay crowd.”
“Wait, I thought we were all gay” Michael said looking around suddenly.
“Honey, several of us are straight, don’t let that cramp your style too much.” Melissa said patting Michael on the arm.
“Honey, bedding straight guys is his style.” I said smirking as I walked up.
“Oh whatever Mary, you’ve had more straight dick in you than a sorority girl at her first kegger.”
“
“Oh god! That’s right!!! I heard about you and Dan at that party!” Melissa said suddenly patting Michael’s arm and totally changing the conversation. Michael and I looked at each other a moment and the he smiled.
“And Russ looks like he’s about ready to be brought over too” Michael said indicating the cozy conversation Austin and Russ were in.
“Excuse me; I have to go remind
“Hi baby.” I said laying my head back on him. Russ just smirked.
“Russ, Michael and Melissa are arguing over there
about who’s taking you home… Don’t
wanna confuse you, but even though she
has a vagina, Michael gives way better head according to her ex.”
Russ looked at me strangely then over to them and then at
“How much better?”
We all laughed as he sauntered over to see what the animated
discussion was about, I just laid back on
“Were you jealous?”
“Well yeah, you’re my finance and you’re hanging around with that stud… it ain’t right, I shoulda been with one of you at least.” I said grinding my ass on his crotch.
“At least?”
“Well yeah, don’t you think I woulda been the perfect filling in a Uof F studboy sandwich?”
“No way, faggots are only served with one stud, open
faced.”
“Yeah, but who do I choose?” I asked teasing him.
I was suddenly rolled over and found myself looking
up at a very stern
“God you’re hot!” I said melting under his fire.
I held my ring out at arms length and let it catch in a sunbeam coming through the windows.
“This is sooo beautiful
“Well Hon, this whole thing is non -traditional and you’re an artist’s son, and to be honest, you aren’t the Norman Rockwell picture of tradition most southern boys are… Besides, I just saw it and kept thinking about you and…” He laced his massive fingers with mine and brought them back to his lips. “And I suddenly thought, it would be a perfect wedding band for you.”
I melted even further in my heart for this boy…
“I need to get you a ring or band now too” I said softly, several guests were already giving us smiles and smirks.
“No you don’t Alex, god damn; you’re getting me a fucking house!”
“Let me rephrase that baby, I need to band you so
that everyone else knows they better keep their fucking hands off
you or I’ll break their arms and claw their eyes out.” I said it so
calmly and sweetly it took a moment for
“Easy tiger…”
“RYAN! They’re at it again!!!!! “
It was straight boy Russ, who actually said,
“Awww, they’re so cute though.” Which got a round of laughs. Then Melissa said in a very loud voice,
“HANDS OFF MY BOYFRIEND MICHAEL!”
Which got more laughter though in our position, I could only guess why.
Jason stepped out of the kitchen a moment later and said “If you’ll start getting to the table, we’re gonna have a buffet and let you find your own places to sit.”
Then my Michael, or smart ass Michael as he was getting to be known, said, “Gay couples can share laps or seats, straight couples have to keep a respectable distance, we ARE trying to enjoy our meals…”
“Jason, Michael’s trying to get Russ to sit in his Lap!” I yelled out to loud laughter.
“That’s ok; Daniel’s sitting in my lap.” Jason called back from the kitchen.
“HEY!” Dan called out.
“Straight boys are on the pool deck, straight girls are in the back bedroom, Drag queens are in the dining room, and Gay boys get the rest of the house!” Ryan announced loudly carrying out a huge platter of turkey.
“Oh, and Michael, as usual you get the bathroom with the hole in the wall.” Ryan added to huge laughter as he walked past my Michael.
“Ah, change of plans then, straight guys right outside the bathroom in the master bedroom!” Michael said loudly while giving Ryan two middle fingers. This got a lot of chuckling and I was very proud of Ryan.
So after our sarcasm appetizer with a side of witty repartee, we started to line up and assemble our plates of massive excess. People had brought so many extra sides and deserts. That some hadn’t even found their way into serving dishes yet and the table was stuffed so full of food, the center piece was sitting on a book case. 3 kinds of potatoes, 4 kinds of cranberries, 8 vegetable dishes, 4 stuffing’s, 2 sweet potato/yam dishes, A bowel of spiced apples, cornbread, Rolls, Austin’s breads, 2 kinds of gravy, some empanadas, The 25 pound Turkey of course, a honey spiraled ham, and someone brought a platter of stuffed acorn squash. This of course hadn’t even taken into account the forty of so deserts waiting in the kitchen.
Someone had also made this fantastic mulled cider using cranapple juice and mulling spices. It was delicious.
After piling a plate with a small amount of
everything and creating a mountain, I went and gabbed our chair back
then snuck out a few folding TV trays for Austin and I and two other
people to use. I then left our stuff and got the
mulled drinks as
Except for comments about the amount of food on the table or that someone had just eaten, the conversation was much tamer during dinner this time, certainly there were no marriage proposals nor giving of thanks this time, partially because the number of people was more then double.
After dinner, several people including Austin, Jason and Chlamedea, helped clean the dishes and table, it was amazing how quickly this could be done by a small group of gay men. It would have taken a housewife and her mother weeks to move the amount of food and dishes these guys whisked away. Fairy magic is real, always believe this!
Although the deserts were all moved out, pretty soon after the table was cleared, we all decided to wait a while to dig in, a few went out to smoke, some went to their cars to smoke other stuff, Austin, the Michael’s, Ryan, Jason and I sat inside talking about the upcoming weddings. And James and Chris were out by the hot tub talking.
“Bitch, I better fucking be your best man!” Michael said to me,
“Actually, I was going to ask you Michael” I said with a big smirk. “To be my maid of honor!” Which got a good chuckle.
“So when’s it gonna be?” The good Michael asked. Austin and I looked at each other and shrugged.
“Hadn’t discussed that yet.”
“Yeah, besides, we gotta
save and stuff to afford a wedding, shit, we’re getting a new place
that’s way more expensive and…”
“We’ll be ok baby,” I said holding my hand out to look at the ring. “But how the hell did you afford this?” I asked suddenly thinking of it.
“Well, I got a huge discount on it, and when I said why I wanted it, I got an additional discount on it. Plus I’m making monthly payments for a while.” He said.
“A while?” Jason asked.
“Yeah, like 35 years…”
“Well it’s beautiful.” Jason said taking my hand and looking closer.
“Yeah, why’d you waste your money? You
coulda just had his ear tagged like they
do to those endangered animals in
“Is that your breath Michael, or did someone put a bowel of vulture vomit near the air intake for the ac?” I said in response.
“Oh no you Di’in!” Michael protested as he turned to face me.
“God, will you gargle a skunk or something to cover up that breath?” I protested facing the goon.
“Listen here speed bump!” Michael said back as he
advanced and we started facing off. No one was
taking us serious and had actually formed into an audience for
rating our zings. Everyone except Austin and
Jason, Jason had stood up and reached his hand down to
“What?”
“I just figured that since our dates are spending all
their time flirting with each other in front of us, that we could go
to a spare room and play hide the salami
or Jenga or something.” Everyone cracked
up but
“Sounds good to me Jas, these two will be at this for hours yet.” And the two had their arms around each other as they left the room.
Michael and I looked at each other and glared,
“Your boyfriend just ran off with my boyfriend.” Michael complained to me.
“Excuse me, you mean my ex-boyfriend just ran off with my fiancé?” I said standing up.
I reached my hand down to give Michael a hand up “Do they realize how much we can hurt them?” Michael said putting his arm around me and following after the errant boyfriends.
I walked in and grabbed
“Pardon me boys; did you realize that the two bottoms you just walked out on have some pretty mean fangs?” I asked scowling.
“Hell Alex, we got god damned Saberteeth!” Michael said trying not to laugh as he attempted to look at Jason with best mean glare.
“Does this mean you care more about us then you do that silly fighting thing you do that alienates us?” Jason asked, it was said in a funny way, but his point was clearly valid.
“Jason, Love… that arguing with Michael? That
ain’t fighting, what I do to the guy who
tries to get between me and Austin? That won’t
be so much fighting either, but it will be bloody!” I said smiling
as I steered
“You’re so tough!”
“Now you listen here Mr. Camble!” I said in my deep tough voice. “You don’t walk out when you think I’m not paying to attention to you, you’re a damned big boy, you pick me up… Like this!” I said indicating the hold he had on me. “And then you say ‘hey, I’m your husband and I want attention!’ and then you carry me off like a civilized caveman! Got it?”
“Yeah, what he said,” Michael said to Jason.
“Ok now that Pebbles and Bam Bam,
and Scooby do and… uhh….
Astro have made up, Deserts are on.”
Ryan said. He was getting a little too good at
these quips; Michael and I would have to put him back in his place
soon. But just then
“Pebbles!” He chuckled kissing me as he carried me to the dining room.
Good Michael and Chlamedia had set the table with 10,000 pies and deserts, I identified 9 versions of Apple pies, three Pumpkin, a mince meat, a peach, a coconut custard, a plain custard, two sweet potato, a key lime, and Austin’s Pears in Port with mascarpone cheese and an almond whipping cream in a puff pasty. And his Apple crepe Torte with a honey cream. There were also banana breads, pumpkin breads and a carrot cake.
As Jason said when he saw it, “
Michael was just setting pots of coffee and hot
chocolate and that warm cider out to serve with the million deserts.
Even with a tiny slice of several of the pies, there was
hardly any room to get into
I was sitting on the floor between
“You made this?” He asked
“Yeah, last night.”
“You cook like this?” He said again with wide eyed wonder as he savored another bite.
“Yeah, not like this every day though,”
“Forget that other guy, marry me Austin,
feed me like this and I’ll learn to be
gay for you.” Daniel said savoring another bite.
“Well thanks Daniel, but I’m thinking you better move before my husband jabs a fork in your foot.”
“Crotch!” I corrected him.
Daniel jumped up laughing, “Jesus, Ryan was right about watching the little guys.” Daniel said leaping away.
“ME!” I corrected him, “Ignore the other little guys.” I used my toughest growly voice.
“Will you muzzle your
“Hey Ryan, did you set those mint flavored dog biscuits out I got for Michael’s decomposing breath problem?” I called back loudly.
“Do I hafta separate you
two before I finish my desert?”
“No sir” I said lying against his leg. Apparently Jason had interceded with Michael as well because he never replied either.
A few minutes later James, whom I’d seen very little
of since arriving, came in and motioned for me to follow him. I
excused myself from
“Alex, I gotta ask your advice here, hey?” James asked confused.
“Shoot.” I replied.
“Ok, so things with Chris are going good I think, he’s an awesome guy and… I think he’s ready to come out even…”
“But???” I offered,
“Not really a ‘But’ it’s just that Roger stopped by tonight and invited me over the rest of the weekend, but Christian has to go home tonight…” James left it like that.
“And you want my advice?” I asked.
“Yeesssssss…..” James whined boyishly.
“Well, it seems to me, that you have to make a choice here, you know that no matter what you tell him, if you leave him now, Christian’s going to be hurt and think you’re blowing him off for a better prospect right?” James closed his eyes and nodded.
“But that if you think he’s worth investing some time in, you might get a much better return then a long weekend at the bars. Besides, maybe you can take him out to the bars tomorrow night.” James looked up with a grin.
“It all depends on who you want to be and what you hope to get.” I said smiling at James knowing he’d already made up his mind.
“You’re pretty good at this.” James said hugging me.
“Yeah, just don’t hit me with any, ‘these two great guys both like me what do I do now’ questions, ok?” I said rolling my eyes.
“Seems to me you’re the rare guy it all worked out for.” James winked at me before running off to find Christian.
“I was just saying that to Jason actually,”
“He thanked me for taking such good care of you while he couldn’t, and for forgiving you, since you were so upset by what happened.” Oddly, Michael didn’t try and make a cutting remark.
“So you two are ok?” I asked slowly, unsure if I had a right to expect it.
“We’re ok with each other, and I’m happy for you, I really am… but it might take a little a while before I can see you with anybody else without… you know…” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Ok, that’s more than fair Jason…” I released
“Can’t breath!” I gasped out melodramatically. We all laughed but it was several moments later when the hugs began to withdraw.
“I’ll get used to it Alex, I have to… I just can’t tell you how soon.” Jason whispered above me as he hugged me back.
“Come on Michael.”
“Yeah, let’s go make babies while these two get all gay and mushy on each other.”
I felt Jason’s arm reach out and grab Michael as I was released from the hug, I quickly caught Austin and grabbed his ear in what My Mother and grandmother called “the Nuns Pinch” Which is a particularly painful way of grabbing the top of an ear and pinching it in a VERY painful way that is hard to break free of.
“Come on Trouble!” I said to
The rest of the evening was wonderful and dreamy, a
few more deserts since we would all be fasting till Christmas, or
possibly Easter, a few shots of this or that made into our drinks,
and we mostly spent the rest of the evening lounging about talking.
Some of the younger crowd set out to go to the Parliament
house or Southern nights, but most of us were fine where we were.
I sat on
I got
To be continued...