When the gang arrived I was giddy with delight and couldn’t
wait to rehash my morning with AJ. “Let’s raise a glass” I said, “to lovely
mornings and the future, whatever it may hold.” I added that last part just in
case the fates were listening and not to jinx it. In all honesty, it didn’t
matter what the future held for me, my friends or AJ, I was living in the
moment and happy to be here for once instead of my head watching from the
inside. We raised our glasses and another pang of happiness went through my
body as I heard them clink together.
“Well, I for one am happy to see you happy. I haven’t seen a
smile like that on your face since you were happy with your first eyebrow
waxing.” Patrick said. Well, they were that at that subtle line between
masculine and “Yeah, that guy gets his eyebrows done.”
“I’m so proud of you, Freddy” Lila added with a certain
sparkle in her eye, “Even more so, I’m proud of me! If I hadn’t pressed the
issue with you you might have never had the nerve to call him.” I had to do a
double take to make sure I heard her correctly. I turned to Leo to hear what he
had to say about all of it but he was sitting quietly waiting to hear more
about my morning. I stared at him for a few moments as he kept fidgeting in his
chair looking like he had to use the bathroom. Finally, frustrated with the
silent treatment I opened the floor for his opinion and it was then he opened
the flood gates.
“I’m head over heels in love with this coupling!” he finally
let out. “I mean, he’s cute, talented and he can cook! What more could you ask
for in a man.” I toasted to that and then it hit me. “Wait, how did you know he
cooked?” He looked at all of us in guilty silence before speaking. “Um, I could
smell food being cooked and I knew you didn’t cook so I figured it had to be
AJ.”
“But you don’t smell anything but coffee. I tried cooking
once and burned it to a crisp! You didn’t even smell the smoke!”
“I heard you two talking.”
“You don’t get up before noon and you’ve never met AJ.”
His eyes darted back in forth and he bit his lip. He only did
that when he couldn’t think of anything to say off the top of his head. Looking
like he lost the war he threw his hands in the air and said, “You can take the
interrogation lamp off me, officer, I admit it! I was spying! There, are you
happy?” he then put his head on the table and began sobbing. I sipped the last
of my drink as I let him throw his tantrum.
“Are you done?” I asked finally as I swished the ice in my
glass kind of amused by his dramatic display. It was like a switch as went from
Blanche back to fun loving Leo. “Yes” he replied with a perky smile on his
face.
“So what’s he like?” Patrick asked totally ignoring me and
instead asking Leo. “Oh, he’s an absolute doll! He’s great conversation, has
eyes to die for and a complete gentleman.” Leo gushed.
“Alright, if you’re done making a fool of yourself, I believe
I was the one who had the date with him.” I protested.
“My, my, aren’t we defensive, but you’re being so coy with
your feelings. Someone’s got to gush for you.” He said tossing his napkin at
me. Truth is, something like this doesn’t happen too often, I have to ration.
“Well, I think it’s nice.” Lila added quickly somehow picking up on my train of
thought. I intertwined my arm with hers and put my head on her shoulder. My
head started to feel funny and I found myself staring at the picture of Alex’s
parents that he kept on the bar mantle. They stood side by side with their
hands laced with each other’s and stood proudly in front of the bar they just
opened. They looked so proud and happy and there was little Alex inside his
mother’s belly waiting to be born. I got up from the table and walked to where
Alex was serving drinks to customers. I picked a seat at the end of the bar and
waited till he came my way.
“What’ll it be, Freddy?” Alex asked
ready to take my order. I put my hand on his and said, “I’d like a story
please.” I said.
“My parents have always believed
that people are going to love who they want and society can go fuck themselves
if they didn’t like it.”After some pestering, Alex finally decided to feed my
curiosity about his life. I have known the guy for a few years, but never
actually knew anything about him.
“When they first met, they both had grown up with siblings who were gay and saw
firsthand just how hard it was trying to be accepted for it. They wanted to
create an environment for people to feel comfortable and to be who they are no
matter where they came from. And hey, why not toss back a few, too.” He said
laughing. “When I actually came out to them my dad walked up to me and said,
‘You are my son and I love you no matter who you decide love.’ And my mom
called the rest of the family that night. They were trying to show me just how
proud they were of me because they believed that’s what a parent is supposed to
do.” I hung on to every word of Alex’s story.
“Where are your parents now?” I
asked feeling completely engulfed wanting to know more. But before he could
continue I felt the presence of someone’s hands over my eyes. “Guess who.” The
voice asked in a low whisper in my ear. I turned in my bar stool and saw AJ
standing behind me. He gave me a hug that seemed to linger a bit. I was pressed
lightly against him by his strong arms holding me there for a moment.
Thankfully, he was holding me or I might have just melted in his arms right
there.
“Hey!” I said giving him a warm
smile, “Fancy running into you here.”
“Well, I’ve heard so much about this
place I decided to finally check it out. I’m here with some friends actually.”
He said pointing to a group of people in a corner table. They waived and I
waived back. “You remember Alex, right? He was with me that night at the
gallery.” They both shook hands before Alex turned and walked away. It was
almost sad seeing him leave his story unfinished.
“So what are you doing here?” AJ
asked.
“Are you kidding? I come here more
than a normal person should!” I replied almost wincing after wanting to retract
that statement. Now he probably thinks I’m some alcoholic. “What I meant to say
was this place is sort of like an oasis in a desert of chaos. I left my home
when I was nineteen and it wasn't exactly home sweet home to begin with.
Besides living with my roommate, I haven’t been able to find another place that
is as warm and welcoming like The Bluestone.” I think he understood where I was
coming from. I could see it in his eyes. They had this special way of
communicating without even using words. They even kind of looked like their own
oasis even in the soft light of the bar.
I felt my phone vibrate and it was a text from Leo: “You two
kids have fun” with a winking face at the end of it. I turned around and saw
the table was empty.
“Something wrong?” AJ asked. “No, nothing, I think my friends
decided to head home.” I told him. “Hey, that’s alright, I think my friends had
the same idea.” I peeked over his shoulder and saw the table that his friends
were sitting at were was empty too. “And then there were two.” I said.
The bar started clearing out of as
it got later into the night. AJ had moved his bar stool as close to mine putting
his arm around my shoulder creating a world outside of reality. His subtle
kisses on my cheek or the moments of comfortable silence proved to be nothing
short of pure bliss.
“Closing time” I heard a voice say.
Alex was standing behind the bar tapping his fingers looking exhausted and
ready to throw us out. AJ excused himself to hit the restroom. “Sorry, Alex, I
guess we just lost track of time.” I told him whipping out the Bambi eyes
again. Sadly, they had a zero effect. “Ok, ok, we’re going. Just hand me the
bill and we’ll be on our way.” But before I could open my wallet, AJ was
already shelling out the cash for our bill. “It’s ok, I got you.” He said
smiling at me.
When we got ready AJ offered me his
arm and I linked it with his. I waved goodbye to Alex and expressed how I couldn't wait to see him tomorrow night. A smirk spread across his face, “Be
careful getting home, Fred” he said waving back.
From day to night and with the
stroke of midnight the first date that seemed utterly perfect had come to a
close. We walked in a comfortable silence all the way back to G St where, at my
doorstep, before I could put my key into the lock he put his hands on my
shoulders, turned me around and our lips met in a perfect kiss. Well, I might
sound totally biased being on the receiving end of this kiss, but if this was
what perfection was I wouldn't mind staying here a while.
On deck: Chapter Five "One Wish" Stay Tuned.
