A Vintage Man © 2018
By David Lee
Time is an important factor in producing a quality product, such as a smooth whiskey or fine wine. Proper aging makes them more pleasing to the palate. The same can apply to the maturing of a human being.
On a late spring afternoon, as Rob was headed to his temporary home, a furnished two-bedroom apartment, he came upon a disabled vehicle by the edge of the road. A young man, who looked vaguely familiar, stood perplexed, kicking at the right rear wheel. Being the good Samaritan type, Rob stopped to see if he could be of help.
"What's the problem? Can I do anything?"
"Flat tire. I got it jacked up and the lug nuts off, but I can't get the rim loose. It's like fused to the wheel. I guess I'll have to call a tow truck. I hate spending the money on something I should be able to do myself."
"There's no need to do that. I had the same problem once, and I learned how to fix it. Let's put three of the nuts back on, but not tighten them all the way."
Both squatted done to replace the lug nuts, their hands briefly touching in the process. `I hope this man will be able to save me the cost of a service call. Perhaps my day is going better than I'd feared. Not only is this guy helpful, but he's handsome – someone I could go for in the right situation.'
Ben's thoughts were interrupted by Rob's voice.
"Now, let the jack back down slowly, all the way. If that doesn't break it loose, start the car and rock it back and forth just a little."
As the weight of the vehicle came to rest on the wheel bolts, there was an audible snap and the bond was broken.
"Wow! How did you know to do that?"
"Experience. I once had an alloy wheel stick like that and ended up calling for help. There was a tire store right next to the parking lot of the health club and the owner didn't bill me since he exercised there too, and I'd spotted for him occasionally.
"Let me help you finish the job."
Having removed the flat, the men were ready to put on the doughnut spare when Ben put his weight on it to check its pressure.
"Damn! I think it's too soft to use. Guess I'll have to call someone after all."
"Nope," Rob grinned. "We'll throw it in the back of my SUV and fill it at that service station a couple of blocks away. They repair tires too, so we might as well take along your flat, unless you have a favorite place."
"Great! It's just become my favorite because it's so convenient.
"By the way, my name's Ben, Ben Carpenter."
"Rob Prentice here. Nice to make your acquaintance. I'd shake your hand, but mine's pretty dirty."
"So's mine, and yours got that way from helping me," Ben grinned, as he grabbed Rob's hand firmly in both of his.
It seemed to Rob that their handshake lasted a fraction longer than necessary for a stranger to express his gratitude, but he was reluctant to be the first to break contact. He averted his eyes when they did.
The station employees were swamped because they were having a sale on tires, and they couldn't deal with Ben's flat, other than to point out the nail in the tread. It would be the next day before they could fix it, so the guys took the newly-inflated spare back to Ben's vehicle. Working together, they had it on in no time.
"I know this isn't much, but I'm really in your debt," Ben said as he pressed a $20 bill in Rob's hand.
"I'm not taking your money!" Rob insisted.
"It would've cost a lot more if I'd called a truck."
"I'm just paying forward what the guy from the gym did for me."
"Okay, let me propose something else. Do you have plans for dinner tonight?" Ben asked, hoping to spend more time with his rescuer.
"Sadly, no."
"Please let me treat you to a meal at El Rancho. They have great food, and it's not expensive; that is, if you like Mexican."
"I do. If you're buying, allow me to drive. Where shall I pick you up?"
"I'm in unit 253 in building three at Aspen Apartments just down the street."
"Now I know why you look familiar, I recently moved into 260."
"Cool! We're neighbors."
Their dinner turned out to be a very pleasant one. Ben recommended the fajitas because that was his favorite meal and he didn't want his guest to feel he should order something cheaper.
"I find that if I fill up some on chips and salsa while drinking my margarita, there's enough left over for another meal. If you do that, you could skip cooking tomorrow night. They're famous for their margaritas. I hope you'll join me in one."
"Sounds fine to me."
Their waiter seemed to know Ben, and he was very attentive - checking on them frequently and bringing extra chips when theirs ran low.
While sipping their drinks and waiting for the main course, they made light conversation. At one point, Rob caught Ben watching the adorable dark-haired boy who was busing tables. It wasn't overt ogling, and Rob might have doubted his suspicions had Ben not blushed when he caught his eye.
"If he were on the menu, he'd be listed under `chicken.'" Rob grinned.
"I wasn't lusting after Carlos," Ben insisted. "My brother Rickey and he are very close. His Uncle Manuel told me last week that the boy was turning 16 and would be working for him to save for a car."
"Well, I wasn't accusing you of perving, and I hope I wasn't doing that either, but I have to admit he brightens up the place. Your brother's lucky if he's hanging around a kid like that. Are they more than casual friends?"
"I don't know if they're dating or anything, but they appear to have a crush on each other. Speaking of which, do you have a boyfriend, if I may be so bold as to ask?" Ben grinned back.
"Nope, I'm in the midst of a divorce from my wife. How about you?"
"I don't have anyone either. I'm hoping to meet another romantic guy someday. I'm tired of the club-scene, not that I was ever really into it. I'm kind of a homebody."
"You're beginning to sound middle-aged like me."
"I'm probably more like you than you can imagine."
Their conversation on the subject ceased when the food arrived, but Ben felt hopeful. His companion had brought up the subject of same-sex relationships and had used a slang term that gay men have for underage boys. He might just be bi or curious, but he certainly wasn't homophobic.
The following morning, Ben stopped by Rob's unit, and they went to the apartment-complex swimming pool as they'd planned the night before. Ben, who had lived there longer, had said Saturday was less crowded than Sunday, and from the look of it, he was right. There was an older lady paddling around in the water, and a pair of fiftyish women sunning on the deck.
The men took off the gym shorts they'd worn over their suits for modesty's sake and swam a few laps, enjoying the exercise and the cool water.
"You fill out that swim brief very nicely," Ben whispered as they moved to a pair of loungers some distance from the ladies.
"Do you think it's too much for a man in his middle years?"
"Not at all," Ben grinned. "You look hot."
"Are you flirting with me?" Rob raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe. You're a very handsome man as well as a nice person."
"And I'm too old for you, considering my son, Evan, is about the age of Carlos and your brother."
"That doesn't mean anything. I'm 14 years older than Rickey. He was a surprise."
"And I'm another 13 or 14 years older than that. So, now you know I'm in my 40's. That makes me a `daddy' in more than one meaning of the term."
"That's not a problem for me," Ben insisted. "I'm attracted to men who've had enough life-experience to know what they want. Besides, you could easily subtract 10 or 15 years from your age, and no one would doubt you."
"Thanks! I try to keep myself fit. Could you spray some sunscreen to my back? I'll do yours in return."
"Sure; it'll be my pleasure. I'll rub it around to make sure it's even."
They settled face-down, initially, to hide the erections both were beginning to sprout.
After they'd soaked up enough rays for one morning, Ben invited Rob in for lunch. It was the first time Rob had been in Ben's place and he was well impressed. The furnishings weren't much different from the one's in his apartment – pretty generic, but everything looked more coordinated because of the decorative pillows and other accessories Ben had used to pull it all together. The small living area was dominated by a large-screen TV.
Rob was surprised that a guy who had been concerned about the price of a tow-truck had opted for something which was obviously pricey. `There had to be other places he could have spent his money. But, who am I to judge someone else?'
Aloud, he said, "Wow! That's a huge screen! I envy you. The one I brought from the guest room when I moved out of my house is less than one-fourth that size."
"Yeah, and you're probably wondering why I have it, considering how frugally I live with my tiny apartment, and older car. Here's the story. I won it in an incentive program at work. There was not an option of taking cash instead, so I accepted it with a smile. I don't watch TV all that much, so it's kinda wasted on me. On top of that, I felt I needed a security camera to help protect it. So, it's probably cost me more than it's worth!"
"I'm sure you'll love it for watching major sporting events. You could recoup the extra costs by making a few snacks and charging people admission for a Super Bowl party next January."
"If I made popcorn tonight, would you enjoy watching a movie on it?" Ben asked, hoping he didn't look like he was rushing things, but wanting to spend more time with his new acquaintance.
"Yeah, that would be fun; I don't have any plans."
Ben set out bread, lunch meat, and cheese with lettuce and other fixings for sandwiches. Chips and some fresh fruit turned it into a decent meal.
Although they wanted to find out more about each other's life, they kept their conversation light, carefully avoiding subjects that might make either of them uncomfortable.
After helping to put things away, and thanking his host, Rob excused himself to go home to shower and rest. Ben invited him to come back around 7:00 for their "movie date."
When Rob awoke from his nap, he took a thorough shower and applied a good-smelling but subtle cologne. Next, he went to his closet to pick out what he would wear. He wanted to strike the right balance between looking attractive and being too flashy.
In the midst of it, he stopped to consider what he was doing. He was dressing to impress Ben. Admittedly, Ben was adorable, and Rob was flattered that Ben seemed to be coming on to him, but would it be fair to the guy if he pursued a relationship with him? `Could I satisfy the needs of a man so much younger than me? Would Ben tire of me and break my heart?' Rumor had it that gays were less into monogamy than heteros, and he'd already had his head messed up from a straight marriage that he'd assumed would last.
Eventually, Rob settled on a shirt which wasn't skin-tight, but still showed off the muscles he kept firm through working out at the gym. The shorts he chose were long enough not to look like he was going out cruising, but short enough to showcase his developed leg-muscles. He decided to skip the underwear.
Looking at the results in the mirror, he was pleased. Initially, he'd felt he should run away from this attraction as fast as he could, but his glands seemed to be nudging him in the opposite direction.
He warmed his leftovers in the microwave and ate them while watching the news on his little 19-inch TV. He wasn't particularly interested in the stories of the day, but the background noise served to fill the emptiness of his solitary life.
Just before leaving his apartment, Rob looked at his reflection again and decided to wear a pair of briefs under the shorts. It would be more appropriate not to look like he was flaunting his stuff. Ben had already commented on how he looked in his swimsuit. Showing it off again might send a stronger signal than he wanted to so early in the game.
Ben answered the door in a T-shirt and lounging pants. From the way his junk jiggled when he walked, it was obvious to Rob that he was going commando. Hmm... Did that mean he was trying to entice his guest, or was he simply being comfortable? Only time would tell.
Ben started popping corn shortly after Rob arrived. Soon the apartment smelled like the concession stand at a movie theater, making Rob's mouth water in anticipation.
They chose to watch Brokeback Mountain because they felt it deserved another viewing. Rob had already seen it twice, and Ben three times. It still tugged at their heartstrings.
Ben chose to sit in the recliner. He would have loved to have turned their movie night into a time of cuddling on the sofa, but he figured he'd better take it slowly with Rob if he didn't want to scare him off and possibly sabotage the bond they were beginning to form. He might never become Rob's lover, but he'd rather be his good buddy than to push him out of his life completely by appearing too eager.
That evening began a custom of watching a movie together on most Saturday nights, or possibly Fridays when their usual time wasn't going to work out. Sometimes, they'd have dinner together before their movie. Little by little, they started doing more things together. They sort of became each other's social life. It felt comfortable to both.
The summer rolled along faster than they'd have liked, and the school year would begin in a few more weeks. Rob's son would have less time to spend with him. Not that Evan was around a lot anyway. Michelle seemed to be doing her best to drive a wedge between them. However, no matter how she tried to poison his mind against his father, Evan wasn't swayed. If a judge were to give him the option of which parent he wanted to live with, he would choose his dad.
His sister, Molly, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with their father. Michelle had her totally brainwashed. It was sad, because she'd been Daddy's little girl when she was a toddler.
It was on a movie night toward the middle of August that Rob admitted to himself that he had strong feelings for Ben and that they weren't going away.
Life was good. He'd had a great day already with Evan at a minor-league baseball game where the two of them had a lot of fun. They'd eaten hotdogs and other junk food while watching the home team win and Evan had revealed a few things which might aid Rob in his divorce proceedings.
"Mom's still seeing the guy she had an affair with last winter. He's been very careful not to come around when I'm home, but I came back from Elliot's sleepover early and overheard them in the bedroom. After I found out what I wanted to know, I sneaked back out and killed an hour at Taco Bell.
"I'd suspected that was his car in the driveway, so I took a picture of it from the back which shows the license number. I'll forward it to you."
"Um, you'd better not. If I use the information, I don't want it traced to you. Your mother could make your life miserable. Pull up the picture on your phone and I'll take a photo of it with mine. Then you can erase it."
"That's sneaky, Dad! I love it. Are all lawyers that smart?"
"The ones who stay out of jail are.
"That's good detail. I can make out the number clearly. Did you hear anything other than moaning from the bedroom?"
"You mean besides her asking him to eat her out?"
"Did she really say that?"
"Yup. I thought I'd gag, but I kept my ear to the door. I admit I felt dirty for listening to my mother having sex, but at the same time, it kinda turned me on.
"After she got her jollies, they discussed getting married before winter because she thinks she's prego. She wants to `get you out of the picture' soon so they can elope."
"Do you think they were plotting to have me killed?"
"Nah, nothing that dramatic. She mentioned she might have to settle for less than she'd asked for to speed things up. He said she'd lose her alimony when they got married anyway, but not to worry because he's getting another raise."
"Thanks, Evan! You've given me some leverage I can use. I may get my life back sooner than I feared!"
"Don't forget to ask for me in the deal."
"I'm working on that, Bud. Believe me I'll do my best to make it happen."
This time when Rob dressed for his movie date with Ben, he wore a tighter shirt and skimpier shorts. He also skipped the underwear. He wasn't going to hold back any longer.
"Wow, you look, um, great!" Ben exclaimed, as he opened the door.
"I'm glad you think so."
"I do. Why don't you pick out a movie while I pop the corn?"
Ben came into the living area with a large bowl of popcorn and two glasses of ice water. He found Rob sitting on the sofa without a DVD to put into the player.
"Um, nothing you liked?"
"Please come sit by me; I think we should talk instead," Rob requested, patting the spot next to him."
Ben hoped this would be the conversation he wanted, and not one where he'd be let down easy. From Rob's attire, he guessed it wouldn't be the latter. He looked good enough to eat.
"I can see a light at the end of the tunnel in my divorce proceedings. I've learned a couple of things today that should prevent her from taking me to the cleaners. Once everything's finalized, I can start openly dating whomever I please."
"That's good news! Do you have someone in mind?"
"You, of course."
"Cool!"
"I think we should discuss some personal things we've avoided in the past. I want you to know my whole, um, sexual history, and I'd like to know anything about you that you're willing to share."
"I don't plan to hold anything back. Good relationships are built on transparency," Ben nodded.
"Since this is my idea, I guess I should start. I'm going back a long way, but I'll skip the part about being born in a manger" Rob joked. "Believe it or not, I was a shy kid growing up. The community where I lived didn't respect a boy who was quiet and who didn't want to roughhouse all the time. I was kind of an oddity. I'm sure some of my peers considered me a sissy. I tended to be more comfortable around older people than boys my own age.
"I wasn't in scouts or sports and didn't go on sleepovers where I'd ever be undressing around other boys, so I never had an opportunity to experiment like the boys you read about on those erotic-story sites.
"I discovered jacking off, on my own, while taking a bath as a young teen. Petting my cock was pleasurable and I kept doing it one night until it throbbed, and I thought I was going to pee in the tub. I quit for a few minutes, but then I wanted to have that intense feeling again. I finally reasoned that if I did pee in the water, no one would be the wiser. So, I kept going until I squirted something sticky, and I knew it wasn't piss. At that moment, it was like a veil had been lifted from my eyes, and I knew I'd experienced what I'd overheard other boys talking about. Once I got over the initial guilt, it became my new hobby.
"My early education was mostly in parochial schools where sex-ed wasn't taught. We did hear dire warnings about not playing with ourselves, but I don't think many boys believed them. We also heard rumors about one old priest, but no one admitted to being touched by him.
"I was so naïve that I didn't realize there was an alternative to getting married to a woman and having a family, unless you became a priest. Even in college, I never got acquainted with anyone who didn't claim to be 100% straight.
"So, I married my college sweetheart a few years later, immediately after I passed the bar. We started our family right away, with Evan coming nine months after we tied the knot.
"Marriage was supposed to be the key to `happily-ever-after,' but there was always a restless feeling inside of me, like there should be more to life. In the beginning of our marriage, sex was pretty good and fairly regular. But as time went on, she grew distant. I remember on our 10th anniversary, I was really looking forward to getting laid. She said she was tired and turned me down. I suppose it's not fair to blame her for what I did, but being rejected on what I thought should be a special, romantic night was the catalyst that made me look elsewhere for release.
"After she'd gone to sleep, I sneaked out to one of those "adult" bookshops to watch porn in the arcade. A guy there admired the bulge in my jeans and invited me to join him in the restroom. I'd assumed he wanted to jack off together, but he fell on his knees immediately and sucked me until I blew a huge load; which, by the way, took only a very few minutes.
"I felt guilty and wanted to run away, but I stayed long enough to give him a hand-job. Then I washed my dick thoroughly, fearing I might have picked up a disease. It took several weeks of being symptom-free before I could breathe easy again.
"After I got past my initial fears, I had several other brief, anonymous encounters with men over the years, but I was always very careful.
"This past year, I discovered that Michelle was having an affair with a younger man. It was an emotional as well as a physical one. I might have overlooked the physical part, but there was no longer any love between us. That's when I moved here and filed for divorce."
"My story's different," Ben said. "I'm not married and never have been, though I came close. I knew I was gay even before I hit puberty. When I was growing up, there were shows on TV with gay characters. Even though they were kinda stereotypical and two-dimensional, it let me know I wasn't alone.
"I fooled around with other boys like the ones you mentioned from erotic stories. We jacked off together, but most of that ended in high school as the others got more interested in girls. I kinda retreated into the closet.
"Some parents pick up on their kids' orientation and grow accustomed to it. Mine didn't.
"I came out to them toward the end of my senior year in college. By then, the rest of the world knew, and there was no point in hiding it. My roommate, Bart, and I were very much in love and planning to get married as soon as we got on our feet financially. I had a few college loans to pay off, and so did he.
"My parents went postal when I made my announcement! To this day, we rarely communicate. I only learn about what's going on from Rickey. He and I are close, though the `rents don't know it.
"I had my heart broken too. One day, I came home early from work to find Bart in our bed with another guy. They were naked and doing intimate stuff - rimming each other. He and I had never done that because he supposedly found it disgusting.
"I went to the bathroom and threw up, thinking about having his tongue in my mouth after it had been in another guy's butt. Bart cried and carried on, saying he'd never done it before and wouldn't do it again. He offered to lick MY ass, but instead of taking him up on it, I kicked HIS ass to the curb.
"Like you, I've had a few encounters over the years, but I've never found the right guy. I've been hopeful this summer that I might have found him at last."
Rob nodded, and then kissed Ben for the first time. It was magical for both. The remainder of the popcorn was forgotten as Ben led Rob into his bedroom.
Within a week, the issues which were holding up Rob's divorce were largely resolved. Knowing that she wanted it over as quickly as possible, Rod could hold out for the best deal.
Michelle agreed to splitting the value of their house and dropped demands for alimony. The only major thing left to be determined was the custody of the children, and Judge Keegan had indicated he would abide by their wishes since they were both in their teens.
Michelle came back to the house in an agitated state following the hearing. She was fairly certain who had leaked the pertinent information which had helped her soon-to-be ex, and she was determined to pour out her wrath on him.
The first thing she did upon entering the kitchen was to smash a coffee mug on the ceramic tile floor, sending shards everywhere.
Her children came in to see what had caused the noise.
The minute she saw Evan, she lit into him.
"I know what you did! You've caused me to lose a couple of hundred thousand dollars!"
Evan made the mistake of smirking while he was within close range, he and received a slap across the face. But, he didn't show any pain or remorse. Her action made him all-the-more resolute to live with his dad.
Molly looked bewildered, even feeling a little sorry for her older brother. She'd never seen this side of their mother nor been the brunt of her anger.
"If you touch me again, I'll fight back, and you know I can do it! I'm not going to be an abused-child statistic," Evan asserted.
"Get out of my sight, you little shit! You have 15 minutes to gather whatever you can and go to your father's dingy little apartment."
"I can leave in five, Mommy dearest. Dad texted me about what the judge said, and my car is already packed. Goodbye, bitch!"
Making an exaggerated bow, he hurried to his car before his mother could take another poke at him. Before he got in and drove away, he took a selfie to document what she had done. The red mark hadn't faded yet, and he wanted evidence of how she'd mistreated him if he ever needed it.
Evan pulled over about six blocks from the house to text Rob about what had transpired. He included the photo of his face.
Rob told him to come by his office for a key to the apartment because it would be a couple of hours before he'd be home.
"Guess I'll have to change my address on the school records when the term begins next week," Evan said when his father joined him.
"I suppose, but this one won't be permanent after everything's settled. I could buy out your mother's share of the house if you want to wait."
"Maybe it would be good to find a different place, one without the bad memories."
"We could work on making new memories there, and we need a place big enough that we don't feel cramped, like we will in this apartment."
"I know I'm like a fifth wheel here, but you can still have your boyfriend over," Evan grinned.
"What makes you think I have one?" Rob asked.
"Dad, I'm not a little boy. I can tell you've got the hots for Ben, and he feels the same about you. You guys are about as subtle as two horny teenagers. Rick's noticed it too."
"Have you guys been comparing notes on us? I didn't know you were that close."
"We've known each other since third grade, but we've only recently become buds and that's because of you guys."
Rob frowned as he read an incoming text from Ben a few minutes later.
"Congrats on getting Evan. Been in a mess or would have gotten back to you earlier. Parents threw Rickey out and I've got him here. TTYL"
"Dad, Rick texted me. The `rents kicked him out for messing around with Carlos and he's down the hall." Evan informed him.
"I know. While Rick was texting you, I heard from Ben. I'll call to see if they want to go eat with us."
"Hello, Ben."
"Hi, it's great to hear your voice."
"Got plans for dinner?"
"Um, sadly, no, if I can quote you from the day we met."
"Come over when you're ready and I'll treat the four of us to Mexican."
"Thanks! See you in a few."
"Dad, Ben's in a tiny one-bedroom apartment. How is Rick gonna live with him?"
"I suppose he'll sleep on the couch. Perhaps it's only temporary. Maybe his parents will take him back."
"Not from what he told me. His mother was even nastier than mine. He has several bruises because she sneaked up and blindsided him with a rolling pin. She called him a fag and told him never to darken her door again."
"That does sound rather final. I don't know what Ben will do."
"Um, there's twin beds in my bedroom."
"Would you want to share? Do you know him that well? If you did, would Carlos be jealous?"
"It wouldn't be much different than having a roommate in college and it would give you and Ben a chance to have your movie overnights. Unless it would bother you having another kid around.
"He and Carlos both like sex, but they're not planning their wedding or anything, so I don't think jealousy will enter the picture."
"I don't mind the idea of another teen in the house, but I'm not sure it's a long-term solution. You might get on each other's nerves."
"I'm pretty laid-back. We could try it for a while."
"I need this margarita tonight!" Ben exclaimed, as their drinks arrived. "It's been a rough one."
"Things will get better," Rob empathized. "Evan has a plan that could take away some of the stress."
"Rick, you can bunk with me if you want," Evan offered. "We've got twin beds and I don't snore."
"Dude! That would be awesome." Rick exclaimed.
"Rob, how do you feel about it?" Ben asked.
"I'm fine with the idea."
Their food came soon, and everyone's appetite appeared to be intact despite the day's events. Having one large problem out of the way allowed Ben to relax quite a bit. That, along with the tequila, gave him a better outlook. He was still concerned about money, but Rob assured him his parents were financially responsible for Rick until he was 18, and beyond if he went to college. Rob had the knowledge and resources to take them to court.
"I want you guys to keep an anecdotal record of everything. Begin documenting it with photos of his bruises, and write down every detail you can think of, that includes texts where he told Evan and anyone else what happened. It may not be "hard evidence," but a log of that sort can sway a judge."
The boys said they'd already shared pix of what their mothers had done to them and would preserve them in a file.
Rick told more about his run-in with his parents. Rob made a few notes in case he needed them to get support money.
Before dinner was over, Carlos came to talk with them. He had been helping wash dishes in the kitchen and had finally gotten a break.
"Rickey, I'm so sorry I messed up your life. I wish I could have a do-over. I hope you won't hate me forever. Can you forgive me?"
"Please sit down with us," Ben requested. "No one's upset with you. You stole a kiss when you thought no one else was home. Who could blame you for that? It's not like you were going at it naked on the kitchen table."
"It's all for the best," Rick assured Carlos. "It was getting really hard living a lie, especially listening to them bash my brother and anyone else they thought was gay. Rooming with Evan will make things easier."
"Dad said you could sleep at our house," Carlos mentioned, hopefully. "Mom doesn't like the idea because she said it would be awkward if we broke up.
"Um, will you and Evan be sharing a bed?"
"Not to worry," Evan grinned. My room has twin beds, so I won't be groping your boyfriend in the night."
"I wasn't saying that," Carlos blushed.
"Carlos," Manuel called.
"Later, guys. I've got to get back to my job before Uncle fires me for being lazy."
Rick had fled his home with nothing but the clothes on his back. Rob suggested that they go to his house and demand his clothing and personal effects before his parents disposed of them. If all four of them showed up en mass, there would probably be less resistance.
Ben's mother opened the door without checking to see who was there. She tried to shut it when she realized it was her older son, but he had his foot in the door to prevent it.
"What do you want, faggot?" she demanded.
"We've come for Rickey's things, and I intend to get all of them. If you don't cooperate, I'll call the police."
Seeing that she was outnumbered, and her husband wasn't home, she changed her tune quickly and let them in. Evan had brought along a couple of the boxes he'd been able to unpack, and they'd purchased a package of garbage bags from Walmart on the way in order to get all of Rick's stuff in one, quick load.
It didn't take the men and boys very long to accomplish their mission. One would hold a bag open, and another would dump the contents of a bureau drawer into it. They worked in the closet in a similar fashion, leaving things on the hanger and stuffing them unceremoniously. His books went into the boxes.
They were nearly ready to depart when Rick remembered his bicycle. Rob didn't have his rack on his SUV, so they laid it across the bags of clothing and secured the hatch lid with a bungee cord.
"I know everyone's tired, but I'd suggest you guys hang up the things that may wrinkle. It'll save you time in the long run."
Evan rolled his eyes, but Rick grinned because Rob was already acting like a dad to him. In another situation, he might have resented it. However, in this instance, it was comforting to know that an adult cared.
Evan already had quite a few things in the closet, so Rick took some of the clothes he wouldn't wear until cold weather over to Ben's apartment. The boys wedged other stuff under their beds. It was going to be very tight quarters until they could find larger accommodations.
Rob and Ben sat conversing in Rob's kitchen after the boys had settled in their room for the night.
"Rob, you've saved my ass again. Thanks!"
"It's a beautiful thing to save!" Rob insisted. "Now we need to work out where we go from here. Would you and Rick consider living with Evan and me on a permanent basis? I know we've dated only a short time, yet I feel we're compatible. I'm sure every moment won't be like a fairy tale, but I also think we can make it work. If we pool your rent money and mine, we can afford decent quarters without putting a strain on our budgets."
`You'll end up spending more," Ben frowned.
"Perhaps, but I don't mind. I've had more time to accumulate it. It isn't every day that a guy finds romance, and he shouldn't let anything get in the way when he does."
"Would you like to spend the night with me in my apartment?"
"I'm not sure we should leave two teens on their own just yet."
"Okay, I'll go home and let you get your rest."
"Hey, there's no reason you can't sleep here with me," Rob smiled.
"Aren't you concerned about how those teens will react when we emerge from the same room in the morning?"
"Nope. Evan told me they've discussed our relationship and are fine with it."
"Okay then! I'll share your bed, but I have nothing to sleep in," he grinned, demurely.
"That's ideal! I'll lend you a pair of boxers to put on, um, when we get up tomorrow."
Two men and two teenagers were clad in boxers, eating breakfast, when someone knocked in the morning. Rob went to the door and opened it just a crack to see who was there.
"Hi, I'm Officer Brickman, and this is just a friendly visit. There was an attempted breaking down the hall in the night, so we're checking to see if anyone knows anything about it."
"We didn't hear anything, but you're welcome to come in as long as you're not offended by our lack of clothing."
"You guys look just like my dad and I did on most weekend mornings after Mom left us.
"So, no one heard any sounds coming from 253?"
"That's my apartment!" Ben exclaimed. "I should have set the alarm. I can check my phone to see if the security camera picked up anything."
He went to the bedroom to retrieve it and was shocked, as well as angry, to see the results.
"That's my father!"
"Oh, so it was legitimate and not a break in?"
"Hell no! I'm estranged from my family, and so's my brother, Rick. They kicked him out yesterday. Our father wasn't there last night when we went for his stuff. I'll bet he was drunk and came to harass us."
"Then you'd like to press charges?"
"Absolutely. I'll get a restraining order as soon as I can."
"That's a good idea, but don't let your guard down. If you think he's dangerous, you might apply for a concealed-carry permit. I'm not into the wholesale arming all citizens. However, people do have the right to protect themselves."
"I have a permit, and a gun," Rob spoke up. Rick will be living with us for the foreseeable future, and I'm not about to let anyone harm him or Ben."
"That's good," the officer nodded. "If someone can give me the address of our suspect, I'll be happy to escort him to the station.
"Here's the address to forward your evidence to. I would recommend saving another copy on your computer on in the cloud because your security camera will probably dump what's on there in a few days. It's always good to have a backup."
"I'd feel a lot better if we were out of this apartment complex and in a house with good security," Rob said. "I have a plan that can be implemented almost immediately. I'd like all of us to live together in our old house. Ben says he'll kick in the money he's been saving for a home, so here's a deal that should be a win/win for everyone.
"We can take out a loan to buy out Michelle's share. The value has been fixed by the court, and she doesn't want anything to do with it. I still have the option to take it. In checking real estate prices, I've found that it's grossly undervalued. We couldn't purchase anything as good without spending an extra $100,000 or more. What do you think of that?"
"I'm convinced!" Ben exclaimed.
"I'm okay with that, Dad. Like you said awhile back, we can make new memories there."
"I shouldn't have any vote, but I like the idea," Rick added.
"Okay, we'll get on that Monday morning. I know the loan approval will go through quickly because Ben and I both have good jobs. Plus, I can back it up with money I have in reserve. I could pay cash, but I don't want to liquidate a lot of investments which will pay off far better if they're left in place."
Monday was busy for everyone. The teens needed to go to school for a half day to start the year. The men had to go to work, but also had other details to take care of.
Ben took an hour off to file a no-contact order against his father and mother on behalf of Rick and himself. The whole procedure went smoothly and didn't consume as much time as he'd feared.
Rob put down enough earnest money to seal the deal on his house, and he got the loan application filled out. He met Ben for lunch to get his signature on the documents, so they could be processed. Interest rates were still quite low, and the price of real estate was climbing daily, making it a very wise proposition.
Rob was the first adult to come back to the apartment in the late afternoon. He found Evan sitting in the living room watching TV.
"What's up? Where's your new roommate?"
"He's at work. I dropped him at the store. While I was there, I filled out a job application. I figured it's about time I carried my own weight. Without Mom's income, things will be tighter."
"I'm proud of you, Son, but we aren't in the poorhouse. Ben makes a good living, and he'll be contributing to our finances. Besides, the information you gave me about your mother's affair has saved me a lot. She was correct in saying you cost her many thousands of dollars."
"Thanks, Dad! I love being appreciated. I love you!"
"And I appreciate being loved," Rob grinned. "Having my son and my boyfriend makes me among the happiest men in town."
With school in full swing, and part-time jobs, the teenagers weren't around a lot. Ben and Rob had times they could make love without fear of being interrupted. That was especially the case when they shared their bodies in Ben's apartment.
They got possession of the house on the first Friday of October. The things Rob took care of immediately included having the locks changed and the alarm code reset. He didn't want anyone, including his ex, her lover, or even their former housecleaning service, to have access. Michelle had become very bitter during the divorce proceedings and Rob wasn't sure how far she might go to get revenge.
Gaining possession at the end of the week gave them the weekend to move everything in. Michelle hadn't wanted much of the furniture, so there wasn't anything that they needed to buy immediately. She had taken the reclining sofa and large TV from the family room, but Ben's set was bigger and filled the empty space well. Replacing the couch wouldn't be all that costly because Slumberland was having a sale on their leather models. The guys brought in a few chairs from elsewhere in the house while waiting for their new sofa to be built.
The whole moving process was easily accomplished on Saturday morning because, other than the TV, it was mostly clothes and personal effects. That was one of the advantages of living in furnished apartments. The boys had taken off work to help, but went in shortly after lunch and remained until after closing time at 9:30 PM.
Rick was overjoyed with the bedroom he moved into. He had his choice among the three unused ones. Evan reclaimed his old room. It was a familiar space, but he wanted to make it different with a new color of paint, new curtains, and matching bed covers. Rob gave both boys free rein to choose what they wanted. Fresh décor would help erase old memories.
The men had given a month's notice on their units but ended up not having to pay the full amount on either. Rentals of that type were in high demand, and their landlord filled them quickly. Having left them in move-in condition, the men got their deposits back too. That was extra money they hadn't counted on when calculating their finances.
On Monday after school, when Carlos came over to see Rick's new digs, he seemed even more insecure than he had in the past.
"This is like a mansion! You're gonna fall in love with the guy who's letting you stay here. I can't compete."
"Carlos, this isn't what you're implying. I'm YOUR boyfriend, not Evan's. I'm not even sure if he's gay or bi. I know he asked Mia to the homecoming dance. I'm not saying they'll go further than kissing, but I think he really likes her."
"Seriously, you're not interested in him at all? He's adorable!"
"Hmm... Maybe it's you who's gonna fall for him."
"No way. I'm your guy."
"Wanna get naked and fool around in my new bed?"
"Um, yeah, but I don't have time. I gotta be at the restaurant in 15 minutes and it's a 10-minute drive."
"Well, maybe we could kiss for a couple of minutes and get all horned up so you'll come back when you get off. I'm free to have sleep-overs any weekend night."
"Yeah, I could do that!" Carlos beamed.
The next few months passed rapidly. Christmas and New Year's Eve were great times for the "family" in Rob's home. Ben and he were even more in love than when they'd met the previous spring. Their personalities matched so well that they always seemed to share the same thoughts.
Evan and Rick remained best of friends too. Evan was happy to provide transportation for his "brother" whenever he could. It probably helped that the adults in the house liberally chipped in on the gas to run his car.
Carlos was a frequent overnight guest on weekends, and seemed to have gotten over his initial insecurity after Evan started dating Elliot.
The boyfriends spent a good part of Christmas day at Evan and Rick's home, and all four planned to see the new year in together.
Ben and Rob wouldn't be going out New Year's Eve. It wasn't that they didn't trust the teens in the house alone, but, as noted before, they were homebodies and didn't enjoy the crowded, noisy club scene all that much.
They promised the boys that they'd stay out of the family room while they entertained their guests. The kids said they were welcome to be in the same space because they weren't going to do anything different if they were present. However, the men felt they should give the kids as much freedom as possible, and they had plans of their own.
Ben and Rob saw the year in by passionately sharing their bodies. The master bedroom was located far enough from the others, and the walls were thick enough that the sounds of their lovemaking weren't overheard.
Of course, the volume in two other bedrooms might have masked it anyway.
It was just after the beginning of second semester at the high school, when Evan's sister, Molly, joined him at lunch in the cafeteria. He was quite surprised because she had completely ignored him after he'd chosen to live with their father.
"So, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?"
"I know I acted like a brat, but I really need help. Mom's having difficulty with the pregnancy and Ken's been hinting that he'd like me to, um, fill in while she's unavailable."
"Ken? Is that the name of the asshole she's been fucking?"
"Yeah, and I'm really scared. I think he's gonna try to force me into it soon. Can you take me home with you?"
"That bastard! I'll text Dad and get things rolling."
"Thanks, Evan, I owe you!"
Evan sent a text to Rob as quickly as he could. He wanted to clear everything with his dad before the school-day was over. Molly sent a cryptic note to her mother: "He took the bait!"
Rob read Evan's note over several times before deciding what to do. Something didn't ring true. `If Molly's afraid to stay in the house with Ken, why didn't she contact her grandmother Morgan, Michelle's mother? Wouldn't it be logical to seek the help of another female rather than escaping to a household of males, two of whom weren't her relatives? Could there be something behind this?'
His first move was to phone Judge Keegan to discuss any possible repercussions that could result from taking his daughter in to live with them. The judge said he'd have his assistant review the details of the custody agreement and get back to him within an hour or two. He suggested that if Molly were in fear of her mother's boyfriend, she was welcome to contact him at his office and he'd arrange for a social worker to check in on her.
Rob texted Evan with his concern about facing some kind of fallout if he brought Molly to live with them without having Michelle's express permission. He said Evan should escort Molly to the counselors' suite after classes ended where she could discuss her fears with someone there. All school personnel were mandatory reporters, and would forward her complaints directly to the authorities. She could be placed in protective custody if there was imminent danger. If Molly resisted talking to someone at school, Evan should give her Judge Keegan's phone number and sit with her while she made the call.
Evan mentally face-palmed himself for not suspecting a sinister motive.
About half an hour later, Rob relayed Judge Keegan's directive which said that under NO circumstances should they take Molly into their home because it would violate the custody provisions. It would nullify the agreement which had been signed by both parties and could send proceedings back to square-one.
Several times during the afternoon, Molly texted her brother to reinforce how vulnerable she was. In them, she specifically mentioned Ken by name.
"Evie, you're such a sweetheart to come to my rescue!"
"You know I don't like being called that; it sounds fem!"
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to use an old pet-name to let you know how grateful I am."
"Well, I'm here to go with you to see your counselor so she can report Ken to the police."
"What!? I thought you were taking me home."
"I want to do what's best for you so he can be stopped."
"I don't want to discuss things like that with Miss Pruitt. She's too prissy and she's a gossip."
"We can talk to another counselor or a principal."
"No! I won't do that."
"The alternative is to call Judge Keegan's office. We can use one of the rooms by the attendance office so it can be done in complete privacy."
"Why are you stalling? Who put you up to this?" Molly demanded.
"A better question is, who put YOU up to this? The judge said it would go against the divorce agreement for me to take you to our house. Dad could get into trouble."
"You don't care about what happens to me!" Molly wailed. "I'll be raped and it'll be on your conscience because you refused to help!"
"Why don't you cut the drama bullshit and tell your mother that her plot has been foiled. Thank God, Dad's too smart to fall for it."
That might have ended the matter entirely, but Judge Keegan had alerted family services that a rumor had been passed to him about possible child exploitation in the home Michelle shared with her new man.
Michelle called it a false report and blamed Rob and Evan for starting the rumor. Unfortunately for her, Evan had saved the text messages from his sister. Rob declined to bring a lawsuit against his ex, but he did have everything documented with the judge. If she tried anything else in the future, he'd have evidence.
"Well, now that my divorce is well and truly final, and Michelle's out of my life forever, what do you think about getting married?"
"I think we should wait," Ben replied.
"Why? Aren't you ready to settled down with me?"
"I'm ready, but you might not be."
"How do you figure that?"
"Statistically speaking, many typical rebound marriages don't stand the test of time."
"True, but our relationship isn't exactly typical. I think those statistics are based entirely on hetero cases."
"That may be, but I'll bet there aren't many figures kept on gay marriages yet.
"I know you love me, and I love you. You've had legal documents drawn up to protect both of us, and the boys, in case either of us should die or become incapacitated. That's good enough for me for the present. If we feel the same as we do now in another year, that would be the time to pledge the "forever" thing. Does that make sense?"
"Yes, I guess so," Rob sighed. "As long as I know you love me, I can live with that."
There was announcement under their wedding picture in the Gazette's Milestone section on the first weekend of October the following year.
"Mr. Benjamin J Carpenter and Mr. Robert D Prentice were united in marriage July 24th at Stone Manor in Iowa City. Fr. Jerry Martin performed the rite. Participating in the ceremony were Evan Prentice, Rodrick Carpenter, Elliot Benning, and Carlos Garcia. The couple honeymooned at a resort in the Dominican Republic."
------------------------------END---------------------------------
Author's notes: Thanks to David and Tom for editing. If there are errors, it's because I made a few changes just before posting. Thanks to Nifty for providing this free venue. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html