All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language, please exit now.
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"ALL MY TOMORROWS"
Copyright Ritchris 2005
sequel to "As I Remember Him"
A story by
Ritch Christopher
Literary enhancement by
Les Martin
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CHAPTER ELEVEN
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The dark of night was fading into early dawn before Jerry calmed himself enough to fall asleep. He had relived the scene in bed with David over and over in his mind...each time becoming more and more embarrassed, confused, panicked. He kept questioning his manhood. Sure, he had agreed to sleep with David, but why in hell wasn't he able to control his premature ejaculation? This had never happened to him with any woman, not that there had been that many. But in the past few years after he had lost his virginity, he prided himself on being able to 'hold off' until his female partner reached her climax before he convulsed in his orgasm.
Jerry didn't consider himself a stud, by any means, but after all, he was a cop...a semi-'he'man in the eyes of some, but to 'get off' so quickly with a man?...after only two kisses, that was inconceivable.
Two hours before he fell asleep, he almost decided to call one of his former 'regulars', a female sex partner, thinking he might go see her for a quick visit to rebuild his fallen ego and to prove to himself that he still had his manly stamina. He'd been rejected by Jenny just a few nights ago and now, with David, he had experienced the most humiliating moment of his life. What made matters worse, David hadn't even gotten aroused...not even the slightest hint of an erection! Three different times, Jerry tried to masturbate just to relax and it practically scared him out of his mind that he couldn't get an erection. Sure, he'd read about middle age crisis, but he was still in his early twenties. How in God's name could he even face David again, especially since he and David usually had breakfast together each morning? He also needed his sleep since he had to work later that day. This was one time he wished he drank liquor, but would the alcohol be out of his system by 2:45 when he left for work?
All kinds of weird thoughts keep raging through his traumatized mind. He could get up, take his uniform with him and check into a motel and that way he could avoid David until he came home from work at 11:00PM. The worst thought was...he had his gun. He could shoot David and then turn the gun on himself, but that would ruin his reputation when everyone would believe that he and David had had a lovers' quarrel and all his buddies would assume that Jerry had been a closeted gay for all this time. Finally, out of sheer exhaustion, both mental and physical, he dropped off to sleep and slept fitfully until 12:30PM.
David, on the other hand, had no trouble sleeping...primarily, thanks to his medications, and secondly, he really thought very little about what had happened in bed with Jerry. Almost the identical thing had happened to David the first time he had attempted sex with Sandy, his first fiancee, and then again, later with Jenny, who had gone into an angry tirade when he'd gotten his semen all over her. To Jenny, David spilling semen on her was almost like vomiting on her. Over four months had passed before Jenny let David have sex with her again, finally giving a chance he to redeem his pride. Actually, David had not worn a condom with Jenny on the first occasion as he didn't plan on having intercourse...it was more like planned heavy petting.
David wondered what he could say to Jerry to ease Jerry's embarrassment. Maybe David could just ignore what happened and not bring up the subject, talk instead about other things at the breakfast table. When nine o'clock came and Jerry wasn't up yet, David knew that Jerry must be hiding in his bedroom to avoid the confrontational conversation.
So David made his own breakfast and went back into his room to watch the rest of the 'Regis and Kelly LIVE' show, followed by Tony Danza, and then, 'The View'. By then, it was nearly time for lunch and STILL no sounds from Jerry's bedroom. Perhaps, Jerry was planning to stay in his room until Richard arrived and it was time for Jerry to go to work. Obviously, Jerry wouldn't want to talk about last night in front of Richard, and that, of course, would make it easier for Jerry to leave without saying anything about the night before.
But at 12:45, David heard Jerry in the bathroom, showering, shaving, and brushing his teeth. 'At least Jerry is still alive,' David thought. 'Maybe I should hide in my room with my door closed until he leaves...to make things easier for him!'. So David lay back in bed and continue to read the Clancy novel. He remained there until he heard Richard walking up the front steps. He listened while Richard and Jerry spoke to one another in a civil manner, but not an overly friendly one.
"Hello, Jerry. I see you're all ready for your shift."
"Hello. Yes."
"Are you working on some murder cases or bank robberies you haven't solved yet?"
"I think the last violent death in River Oaks was the hit and run on Maple Drive about six months ago."
"I didn't hear about that, Jerry. Who was killed?"
"Someone ran over Joel Whitman's pit bull."
"And you didn't find out who did it?"
"It could have been an entire motorcade of all the residents on Maple Drive. All the neighbors hated that mutt...and as for robberies, I had one last week. I caught two kids at the Piggly Wiggly Supermarket stealing a couple of oranges and bananas."
"My God, they could go to jail for life---or maybe get the death penalty!" Richard smirked.
"Well, at least I caught 'em."
"How's our favorite patient doing today?"
"I think he's resting. I believe he stayed up most of the night reading those books you brought him."
"I thought that might happen. Once you start a Clancy or Grisham novel, it's hard to put it down."
"Well, I guess I'd better be off. I don't want to be late for roll call."
"Don't you want to say goodbye to David?"
"Uh...no, if he's asleep, I don't want to wake him." Jerry started out the door, then turned back to look at Richard. "Say, I...I was wondering if you'd like to make an extra hundred bucks?"
"I'm being paid more than enough by Luke's lawyer, Jerry. What did you have in mind?"
"I...I was thinking about inviting someone over for dinner and, since you're such a great cook, I was wondering if you might fix up a couple of fancy dishes...you know, something to impress her with...?"
"When?"
"Oh, say, Saturday night. You'll be working and I'm sure you'll fix dinner for David. I just thought you could make a bit extra for two more people."
"You said, 'impress HER'. I presume it's a girl or woman...?"
"You really didn't think I'd invite a guy for dinner, did you?"
"NO, of course not. I...I just thought maybe you were going to bring one of your fellow officers home with you...like your partner, for example."
"If you must know, I want to invite Jenny, David's 'ex'. I...I talked with him about it and he said it wouldn't bother him if I asked her out...and she's asked how David was doing and I just thought that she and I could have dinner and she'd get to see David at the same time."
"If you're sure it won't upset him...?"
"No, he said it wouldn't. Look, Richard, I'll give you a couple of hundred bucks to buy whatever you need and you can return whatever you don't spend. Just make it something special...AND expensive."
"Is David inviting a guest as well?"
"I don't think so, but you'll have to ask him. I mean YOU'RE invited, but if David has a friend...hopefully, not a limp-wristed, lisping one...somebody nice who..."
"Who doesn't look gay? Is that what you're trying to say?"
"Well,...yes."
"I doubt if David will invite anyone since he seems to have no friends outside of you and me, but I'll ask him just the same."
"Fine." Jerry reached for his wallet and handed Richard two crisp one-hundred dollar bills. "Oh, NO WINE! Jenny doesn't drink wine."
"Not even sherry?"
"Probably not."
"So...soda pop or milk shakes?" Richard inquired with a bit of sarcasm.
"Asshole! Just plain iced tea or coffee."
"In that case, dinner should cost less that fifty dollars."
"Well, you have the extra cash if you need it! Now I gotta go!"
"See you tonight, Jerry."
"LATER!" Jerry left in a huff.
Richard tapped on David's door.
"Are you awake?" Richard asked,
"Sure, come on in and leave the door open. Jerry left, didn't he?"
"Yeah. What is this? You two playing hide and seek? If so, you won!"
"It's a long and harrowing story, but Jerry slept late, until after noon. I...uh, didn't want to put a guilt trip on him by making a big deal out of his not making breakfast."
"You haven't eaten all day?"
"Oh, I had breakfast AND lunch, but by myself."
"Don't tell me that 'John Law' had a late date after I left last night."
"No, Jerry was home all night."
"Then why the hell did he sleep all day? He hasn't developed a conscience, has he, about the way he treated you and me the other night?"
"Richard, I'm sorry that happened. I think Jerry's even sorrier. I hope that scene didn't lower your opinion of him. Jerry's really a nice guy...a bit too over-protective, perhaps, but in a way, that's kinda flattering. It's nice to have a big tough cop looking after you."
"Over-protective, huh? Is that a euphemism for jealousy?"
"Well, in a way, but not SERIOUS jealousy."
"It must be, for him to fire me and order me out of his house. That's MORE than just being over-protective."
"I heard the two of you talking before he left. It wasn't an argument, was it?"
"Mr. Stanley, you wouldn't believe this in a million years, but Jerry asked if I would prepare a seven-course meal for him Saturday evening...for him and his date."
"He wants you to cook?"
"The works! He gave me two hundred bucks to spend, carte blanche! I get to plan the menu."
"Jesus Christ! He's going to invite Jenny, isn't he?"
"Heck! You spoiled the rest of my fun. I didn't think you'd guess."
"I didn't tell you about the bet Jerry and I made the night you...left."
"Bet?"
"He tried to convince me that I still loved Jenny and that he could prove it."
"HOW, if I may ask?"
"He said if I saw him with her and they went into his bedroom to make out or whatever, I wouldn't be able to contain my jealousy."
"Isn't it amazing how stupid straight guys can be?" Richard joked.
"Yep! I had lots of practice before Luke came into my life."
"WAIT, DAVE! There's more! You and I are invited to 'sup' with them and YOU are allowed to invite a guest as long as it's not a flaming queen or a femme faggot."
"Ha! As if I knew anyone to invite."
"Wait! I have an idea!"
"What?"
"Why don't you invite Tom, your old roommate?"
"Oh, Tom would never drive down here from UVA for dinner."
"What else has he got to do except sit alone and nurse a drink all night at Le Cavalier Gai?"
"Is that where you met him?"
"Oops!" Richard said, slyly.
"But Richard, that's a gay bar! I've never been to it, but I've certainly heard about it? What on earth was Tom doing there?"
"My lips are sealed. I've already said too much. If you want to know what Tom was doing there, you'll have to ask him yourself."
David sat stunned, letting everything Richard had said sink in.
"Oh, my God! Talk about straight guys being stupid. I must be at the top of the stupid list. TOM IS GAY?"
"I didn't say that!"
"No, but he came home with you! THAT'S why he was at your apartment when I called you Sunday morning at 5:00AM!"
"You won't get any secrets from me."
"JESUS CHRIST! YOU SLEPT WITH HIM, DIDN'T YOU?"
"I won't lie. He DID spend the night in the same bed with me."
"And YOU had sex with him, didn't you?"
"That, Master David, you'll have to ask Tom about...'don't ask, and I won't tell!'."
"GOD! I lived with and slept in the same room with him for THREE years and he never gave me a clue."
"You were super-straight! You were the son of Neil Stanley, super-conservative homophobic! Sp why should Tom tell you anything?"
"No WONDER he hated Jenny. He must have had some kind of crush on me and I couldn't see it...or didn't WANT to see it."
"David, I'll say this much. Tom had MORE than a crush on you! He was in love with you."
"I don't know if I need psycho-therapy or an eye examination! WHY DIDN'T I SEE IT?"
"If Tom had made a move on you back then, what would you have done?"
"I...I don't know..."
"You'd have moved out of the room faster than Bush started the war in Iraq!"
"You know, Richard, you're probably right, but since I've changed my lifestyle one-hundred-eighty degrees, I'll have to step back and think about Tom in a different light."
"I thought you might. That's another reason why I didn't want to tell you about him..."
"Richard, it's not like I'm gonna fall in love with him just because I learned he's gay and kept it from me all the way through college."
"I know. You're still mourning Luke AND Mark. Some would say it's too soon to consider another romantic relationship. Lovers are not like pets. When your cocker spaniel dies, people say the best thing to do is get another dog immediately, usually a different breed...like a Scottie or a Lhasa Apso...something to take the place of the cocker spaniel, but one that doesn't remind you of him."
"I could never find anyone like Luke again."
"No guy could lose a lover like Luke as you did and find one exactly like him. First of all, it wouldn't be fair to your new lover. You would always compare him to Luke instead of allowing him to express the new love he brings you."
"YOU'RE not like Luke..."
"I know, but I'm not in the running to take his place in your life...at least not yet."
"You qualified your answer...'at least not yet'...why?"
"You're not ready to fall in love, David...'at least not yet', but I won't lie. If this were a year from now, I'd move the sun and the moon to have someone like you."
"YOU...could fall in love with me?"
"Very easily...if the time was right."
"Richard, I hope that when the time comes, when I'm ready, there will be someone like you waiting for me."
"I'm curious, David. If Jerry were gay, could you fall in love with him?"
"I've thought about that. He was there for me when no one else was around. He took me in, almost sight unseen...Oh, he'd known me when he was a teenager, but I'm afraid Jenny holds more attraction for Jerry than I ever could."
"Well, for someone who found his cup empty just a few weeks ago, yours is certainly running over now with suitors."
"Ha! You sound like Amanda in 'The Glass Menagerie' when she would talk to Laura about her gentlemen callers."
"You know that play?"
"Backwards and forwards. It's one of my favorites."
"Now that you've changed your lifestyle, in the play, do you think Tom was gay?"
"I always thought he was. There's usually a gay character in all of Tennessee Williams plays. I just assumed that Tom and others like him, like Brick in 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof' were actually placed there to represent the author."
"Are you familiar with William Inge?"
"He's my absolute favorite. He was openly gay just like Tennessee Williams. I've seen or read all of Inge's plays...'Picnic', 'Come Back Little Sheba', 'Dark at the Top of the Stairs', 'Bus Stop', 'A Loss of Roses', and 'Natural Affection'."
"Don't forget the movie he won an Oscar for, 'Splendor in the Grass'."
"I must have seen it on TV a dozen times and always cry at the end. Natalie Wood loved Warren Beatty so much, but their relationship just wasn't meant to be. It sorta reminds me of Luke and me. We thought we had everything worked out for a long future together, but...it just wasn't meant to be, Richard."
"Some day, you'll meet someone and it WILL mean to be. So what would you like for supper, boss?"
"Don't call me that."
"Well, in a way you ARE my employer."
"Yes, but in one breath you tell me that you could fall in love with me and then cheapen your words by calling me, 'boss'."
"I'm sorry."
"Richard, I...I lied to Jerry."
"About what?"
"He asked if you had kissed me and I said, 'no'."
"Jerry IS jealous! He's not aware of it, but Officer Collins has been smitten by you and it's about to drive him crazy."
"Dear God! Can you imagine the scene with you, me, Jerry, and Jenny all sitting around the dinner table. It makes me shiver just to think about the conversation!"
"It'll be worse than 'The View', the way Star Jones cuts down Elizabeth what's-her-name...you know, the cunt from 'Survivor'! If I didn't know better...and I DON'T, I'd swear she was sired by George Dubya."
"She IS a right-wing radical, isn't she?"
"Yeah, and Star and Joy wonder all the time why they can't win an Emmy. What liberal TV Academy voter would want to give an Emmy to that stupid bitch? It tickles me that a lesbian, Rosie O'Donnell, beat 'The View' for the Emmy five straight years and now Ellen DeGeneres, the queen of the dykes, has won the past two."
"Yes, but look at all the charity work Rosie and Ellen have done, all the money they've raised. Rosie and Elizabeth Taylor raised over one-hundred million each for AIDS, not to mention the millions Barbra Streisand has raised."
"Jason's lucky to have such a mom."
"The country's lucky to have someone like her to speak up against Bush!"
"We won't go into that, but one day history will say that he was the most corrupt president in American history."
"Well, now that we've had our session on current affairs, back to dinner? I think I'd like a pork roast with LOTS of garlic...maybe some sweet potatoes, broccoli, of course."
"Your appetite is almost the same as mine! Why don't you read more of your book while I cook?"
"Fine, but first..." David pulled Richard toward him on the bed and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"WELL! What was that for?"
"For telling me that you could love me. I NEED love, Richard, and at present, you're supplying my need and I wanted to say thank you."
"I'm more than happy to oblige...ANY TIME!"
Richard winked at David and went into the kitchen. David replayed their conversation in his mind...and then found himself thinking about Tom. He shook it off and began to read.
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After roll call at the police station, Jerry and Ty got into their patrol car and started their patrol. Nearly fifteen minutes passed before either of them said a word. Ty kept wondering if he had overstepped a boundary the day before by offering to have sex with Jerry. He assumed that's why Jerry was so quiet. On his part, Jerry hadn't given much thought to Ty's offer. It never occurred to Jerry that Ty hadn't broken the silence between them as Jerry was still deep in thought over his embarrassing experience in David's bed the night before.
Jerry was driving and had almost completed the first leg of their usual rounds. Both he and Ty were wishing for a service call on the radio...a husband-and-wife domestic quarrel, a car which had broken down and was blocking an intersection, kids stealing beer from the local Seven-Eleven...ANYTHING to steer their focus in the same direction and start a conversation!
Finally, Ty broke the icy silence. "Hey, did you catch the 'Regis and Kelly Show' this morning?"
"Uh, no. I slept until after noon."
"Jesus! Did you have an all-night date?...say, with Jenny, after you got off last night?"
"I wish..."
"You must have started watching 'Ben Hur' on Starz channel and stayed up for four hours watching it, huh?"
"No, I just had a lot on my mind and couldn't get to sleep until early this morning."
"Jerry, it wasn't what I said yesterday about...well, you know..."
"What?"
"You know...IF you ever want to learn what it's like to go to bed with a man..."
"No, that was...well, no, I didn't give it another thought."
"Whew! I thought you were mad at me and that's the reason you weren't talking."
"No, just forget it! My insomnia had nothing to do with you."
"Ah, you're still thinking about your date with Jenny, huh?"
"No, but I DID call her at her dorm at UVA when I got to the station and invited her to dinner this weekend."
"So you're making some progress with her! Congratulations! She DID accept, didn't she?"
"Strangely enough, she did. However, I think she agreed for the wrong reason."
"Meaning?"
"Ty, she's still in love with David, my roommate. As you know, he told her he was gay when he broke their engagement and she thinks she can make him straight again if she only has a reason to be around him."
"So she's coming to YOUR house for dinner--to be around HIM?"
"That's about the size of it!"
"Christ man! With your looks, can't you find a girl who's interested in you?"
"Ty, I'm all fucked up!"
"You can say that again...inviting your roommate's ex-fiancee to be your dinner partner while she tries to beguile him into becoming something he has no desire to be."
"That's not it!"
"Then what is it? Tell me..."
"I...I...SHIT! I tried sleeping with David last night!"
"Good God! No wonder you couldn't sleep! What happened? I mean how far did the two of you go?"
"The whole evening was like a combination of 'Nightmare On Elm Street' and 'A Night At The Opera' with the Marx Brothers. It was a disaster for me but to David---well, I'm sure he laughed his ass off when I went back to my bedroom."
"You didn't have sex, did you?"
"I DID, but David didn't!"
"But David is the one who's gay, not you! How could you have sex and not him?"
"I was like a fourteen-year old kid going to bed with a grown woman, hoping to lose my virginity."
"You got excited and had a premature ejaculation. Is that it?"
"That's it to a tee."
"Damn! Did David laugh or say anything to embarrass you?"
"He didn't have to. I was embarrassed enough for both of us!"
"But surely that must have happened to you some time with a girl...?"
"NEVER! With a girl or a woman, I can hold off until she climaxes a half dozen times. I've always been proud of my masculine stamina. But, Christ! I...I...well, he and I decided we'd have no sex...we'd just hold one another. NOTHING ELSE!"
"And...?"
"Hell, I was 'caught up' in the moment and he gave me a quick kiss. Then I sorta got turned on and kissed him. I mean it was only ten or fifteen seconds and I shot off all over him, myself, the bed. I made a mess AND a complete fool of myself."
"I'm sorry, but I have to ask. What made you kiss him?"
"I...I wanted to, Ty. I don't know what came over me! I...I felt I wanted to make love to him...A MAN! I KNOW I'M NOT GAY, but it just seemed the right thing to do!"
"Suppose you HADN'T climaxed, how far would you have been willing to go with him?"
"I must have asked myself the same question a thousand times when I got back into my own bed."
"Did you ever reach an answer after the thousandth time?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, but, Ty, I think I would have gone as far as David would've let me. I really wanted to have sex with him...GAY SEX!"
"Do you think you could have...well, could have...gone down on him?"
"I...I think I could've and that scared the hell out of me. Ty, I WANTED HIM! Fuck, about four o'clock this morning, I even decided I might be in love with him. I've never felt anything like that for a man in my life...EVER!"
"Then why the hell did you call Jenny and invite her for dinner?"
"To try to restore my manhood, I guess. I don't want David to think I've changed the way he did. I have to show him that I'm straight. NO! That's a fucking lie! I wanted to convince MYSELF that I'm straight!"
"Jerry, you DO have a problem if you thought you could fall in love with David."
"I'm sure that's why I got so jealous when I found out that David and Richard had had sex."
"What if, by some chance, David said that he loved you. How would you respond?"
"First of all, I don't think he would or ever COULD say that to me."
"You never know. I was asking merely as a supposition. You DID say that you THOUGHT you could love him and, if you suddenly found out he felt the same about you,...would you pursue the relationship or would you run from it?"
"I'm...I just don't know, Ty."
"Let me add this. It's not impossible, you know. I mean, I'm gay, the same as David, only I've been gay all my life. I'm positive David finds you just as attractive as I do. Hell, I'd give my left nut to have a hunk like you fall in love with me!"
"Are you serious?"
"Serious as a Muslim suicide-bomber!"
"But you don't know me! How could you love someone like me and then LIVE with someone like me?"
"Partner, I could love you more and better than any woman you'll ever meet. If I were David and thought you loved me, I'd kiss the foot imprints on the carpet where you walked. I'd please you in bed as often as you like. I could love you so much, you'd never turn your head to look at a woman as long as you live. I'd make sure that I was the only one you wanted because no one could please you the way I would."
"Is your pronouncement part of your supposition?"
"Maybe...and then, maybe not!"
"Ty, are you telling me that you love me? I mean, this can't happen if we're to remain partners. I'd never know when you were making a pass at me and this could put both of our lives in jeopardy if we ever had a serious call that involved a gun fight."
"Who would want to protect you more than I? If anything, it would strengthen our bond as partners."
"Ty, just shut the fuck up and let's go get some doughnuts!"
"It's my turn to buy!"
"Good, I gave all my extra cash to Richard to buy groceries for the dinner with Jenny."
"Jesus! Now that bitch is not only fucking up YOUR life and David's life, she's fucking up the donuts now!"
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When dinner was finished and the dirty dishes were washed, Richard asked David if he felt like going to Piggly Wiggly to help him with the shopping for Jerry's Saturday night dinner. David cordially declined by saying he would like to stay and read more of the Clancy novel and he would be alright staying by himself. David had Richard's cell phone number in case he was urgently needed. Richard assured David that he'd return in approximately an hour and a half.
Richard left for the store and drove about two blocks before pulling over to the curb to make a quick cell call to Tom's UVA dorm. The dorm monitor said that Tom was in his room and he would call him to the phone. Tom was alarmed when he heard he had a phone call. He just assumed something was wrong at home with his parents, so he ran to the DM's phone to answer.
"Hello?"
"Tom?"
"Yes?"
"This is Richard..."
"Richard?"
"You know, 'Richard from last Saturday night'."
"Oh...HI!"
"I hope I didn't interrupt your studying, but I wanted to ask if you would like to come to dinner and visit David this Saturday night?"
"Uh, SURE! I'd love to."
"Before you accept my invitation so willingly, I should tell you that you won't be the only dinner guest."
"As long as YOU'RE there and DAVID, I won't mind."
"Well, you see, Jerry, the policeman whom David is staying with, has invited Jenny to be HIS dinner guest."
"GOD! That throws a new light on your invitation."
"Tom, I just thought I should warn you in case you DIDN'T want to come."
"What? Is Jerry trying to play a dirty trick on David? I mean, I thought David and Jenny had split up for good."
"According to David, they have."
"Then WHY is Jerry flaunting the bitch in front of David?"
"I have my own ideas about that, but I thought, since you've known David longer than Jerry or me, you might offer a better support for David than I could."
"I'd like to support Jenny to the nearest river, tie her in a knapsack and throw her in, like an unwanted cat."
"Who knows? You might get a chance to do just that!"
"Hey, Richard...about last Saturday night...?"
"Yes?"
"I...I had a great time. I can't remember if I thanked you before I left, so I'll say it now. Thanks for a terrific evening. I've thought about it ever since."
"I'll bet you have...say, every night just before you fall asleep?"
"Heck! You gave me enough jerk-off fantasies for a lifetime."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should!" Tom exclaimed. "Oh, you didn't say anything to David as to why I was there, did you? I mean, what reason did you give him?"
"When you answered the phone, I don't think David had any notion that you were there to go to bed with me. I told him that I had met you in a bar and you were upset and needed someone to talk with."
"Did David buy it?"
"Probably since I'm HIS therapist. I think he just assumed that you were there for a one-to-one therapy session to help you with your depression."
"That's great! As long as you and I can keep our stories straight. I didn't mean to make a joke. I mean as long as we stick to the same story."
"I knew what you meant."
"Did David seem excited about seeing me?"
"Excited and thrilled. He said he wondered why you hadn't visited him at the UVA hospital, but then I explained that you knew nothing about his accident."
"That was no lie. I DIDN'T know."
"So what do you think? Are you up to spending an evening having dinner with Jenny?"
"Yeah, but I'll need you to keep me at my best behavior. If I start saying too much to her or if you think I'm ready to slap the bitch, I hope you'll intervene."
"I don't think that'll be necessary. Remember, Jenny is Jerry's guest and he's a policeman, so I don't think you'll be brave enough to insult his date."
"Yeah, I could wind up shot or in jail or something. I'll just try to ignore her, but that's like having a mountain of pig shit in your living room and trying to keep from noticing it."
"Tom, I DO like your metaphors." Richard laughed.
"What time should I be there?"
"Dinner is at seven-thirty, but why don't you come early, say, around four-thirty or five and have a nice long chat with David before Jerry goes to get Jenny. The two of you can talk about old times and catch up on what's happened to you both since the last time you saw each other."
"That's a swell idea. I'm still not ready to tell David I'm gay or how I felt about him for three years."
"You don't have to. Just be like the two of you always were...just best buddies and former roommates."
"THAT I can do."
"Great, now let me give you Jerry's address."
Tom reached for a piece of paper and a pen and scrawled directions to Jerry's house. Then he took a deep breath before continuing their conversation.
"Hey, Richard, do you think that maybe after dinner, we, you and I, that we could go back to your place and...you know...?"
"Repeat last Saturday night's performance?"
"Yeah, that is, if you want to."
"I'd say 'yes' but let's see how dinner goes first and after you've had your long talk with David. THEN we can decide what to do. OK?"
"OK, but I...I really meant it when I said I could...you know?"
"Love me?"
"Yeah...I couldn't say that out loud. There are a couple of guys passing, listening to my side of our conversation."
"Yeah, I remember the lack of privacy when I lived in a dorm."
"So just in case you forgot...I meant it when I said 'I could'."
"I didn't forget, Tom."
"Good!"
"Then I'll see you Saturday afternoon."
"I'll be there!"
Richard clicked the 'off' button on his cell phone and smiled. Tom was in for a big surprise when he talked with David...and the evening with Jenny should be VERY interesting. Then Richard laughed out loud.
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(Watch for the CONCLUSION, next Monday evening---Chapter Twelve of "All My Tomorrows".)