Author's Error: Someone pointed out to me that I had a faux pas. (Thanks, Peter!) I forgot that I created Scott as an investment counselor in chapter 11, and then I put him into medicine in chapter 12. My bad. That's the hazard of not re-reading what I've written. I'm amazed I've made it this far without this sort of error. For the sake of the story, I'm going to keep Scott as a medical person to avoid losing the continuity. Really, it's not critical to the story, so let's move on. :)
The "screen names" in the IM exchange are fictional. Any similiarity or match to real people is coincidental.
Chapter 13
I awoke the next morning forgetting where I was. I look over and see the beautiful form of the man I was with last night, the sheet covering his waist, his sexy back to me. Yet, a tinge of anxiety washes over me, and sure enough, Mark pops into my head. What have I done? I wonder. I carefully get out of the bed so as not to wake Scott, find my briefs and put them on, then make my way to the john. As I'm peeing, I feel a bare arm come around my chest.
"Hey sexy", Scott says softly. "Did you sleep well?"
"Hey yourself," I smile back, suddenly a little shy. I mean being naked is one thing, but having someone stand there while you're peeing? "Yeah, I forgot where I was."
"Occupational hazard?" Scott says, jokingly.
"Shut up you. I'm not some kind of slut, you know." I laugh back.
We go out to the kitchen and make some breakfast, although I'm not one to eat breakfast often. He shows me the rest of the apartment, and offers the larger of the other two bedrooms to me. The third one he uses as a study, and my new bedroom is just a place to store stuff. We spend the rest of the morning finding new ways of storing his books and papers in the study, which he tells me he's been vowing to go through and get rid of someday, but someday never comes.
Since I have no other clothing, he lends me a wife beater and some athletic shorts. I decide to just "go commando", which usually gets me looks since it tends to show off my dick. I drive back to my parents house. I'm greeted with sly grins and knowing looks.
"OK, you two. Break it up. Yeah, I got lucky last night. Is that what you want to know?" I grin.
"Jesse David, you're incorrigible." Mom says, laughing. "Do we get to meet this new beau, or what?"
Dad puts his newspaper down quickly and shakes his head. "I don't know if I can ever get used to this. Son, you are still a man, right? She's talking to you like you're a daughter or something."
I can't help but laugh at him. "Dad, not to worry. I was born a male, I'm going to die a male, but you might as well get used to the fact that I'm going to DATE a male, too!"
Sighing over-dramatically (on purpose), Dad says "Oh OK! If I must!" then chucks me on the chin gently.
"Dad, seriously, I'm the same person I've been since I was born."
He smiles, a twinkle in his eye. "I know. Well, I need to go to the office for a while. Do you need anything?"
"Well, yes, actually," I say. He stops and they both look at me inquisitively. "I found a place to live. The guy I met the other night, Scott, he's offered me a room in his apartment."
"Jesse, that's wonderful!" Mom says. We get into the usual where/how/why/when/what discussion, and then Mom informs me that she is GOING to come see the place, and I'd better not try to stop her. So...I figure the sooner Scott meets her, the sooner he can decide if he wants to get mixed up with this family!
We pack up the little bit of stuff that Leslie let me take, including my computer and other such stuff, and pile it into the CRV. Mom throws a few extra things in, just for good measure and we drive over to the apartment. Scott had offered to wait until I came back before he went to the gym, and true to his word, he was there when we arrived.
"Scott, this is my Mom, Helen Corey. Mom, this is Scott Landry. DOCTOR Scott Landry."
They give each other the courteous how do you do's and then Mom exclaims, "Oh, a doctor! How nice!"
I roll my eyes in mock disgust, earning me a slap on the upper arm. "Now hush you." She then wanders off to check the place out. I lean over and whisper to Scott "I figured I'd better expose you early to her. You'll eventually get some immunity."
Scott laughs. "She's great. Don't worry about it!" he says, but there's something in his face that isn't quite right. I make a mental note to ask him about it later.
Mom comes bustling out of my bedroom. "Well, I can see that this young man has good taste in decorating, but now we need to get some furniture for you.
No arguments!"
I again shake my head in mock futility. Moms! Scott and I each take showers while Mom putters around, taking measurements and so forth with a tape measure she borrowed from Scott. She's actually very good at interior design, and she's in her element so I let her go. It's easier than trying to argue. Once we're both ready to go, we all go out and do some furniture shopping. Mom purchases a bed, a night table, and lamp for my bedroom, despite my protests.
"Jesse, I'm going to help you start your new life off right. I insist!"
While she's off taking care of payments, I nudge Scott. "Hey, are you ok? When you were saying how you liked my mom, you kinda had this look."
"Oh, it's nothing." Scott says, looking down. He then looks up and notices my intent stare. I could win staring contest with cats! "OK, I just....wish my parents were like yours. When I came out, it was horrible. Mom was hysterical, and Dad beat the crap out of me." He notices my reaction. "Oh, it's no big deal. It was years ago. Anyway, they kicked me out, and I haven't seen or heard from them in years. I ended up coming to St. Louis -- I'm from Chicago -- and moved in with a family friend who was going to school here. She was totally awesome. In fact, she helped me get through school and when she and her husband got married, they let me keep living with them, rent free. With their help in not making me pay rent and stuff, I was able to put myself through college and medical school." He grins, his eyes wet. "I may be up to my eyes in debt, but I did it, and I did it on my own."
I reach over and pull him into a hug. "Yeah, you did. You should be proud."
"Damned proud!" Mom says, behind us. "I'm sorry guys, I couldn't help but overhear." Mom joins us in our hug.
We decide to grab some lunch, after arranging a time for delivery. "Not that you two can't make do until this stuff arrives!" Mom says, nudging my ribs.
"MOM!" I protest.
On the way back to the apartment, my cell phone rings. I groan out loud. It's Leslie.
"Hello."
"Hi, Jesse. The boys were wanting to know if you could spend some time with them today?"
The memory of the grip on my throat reminds me that this isn't a good idea.
"Uh, no, I can't. I have too much to do today."
"Jesse, you said you'd see them every so often. I know they're not your kids, but you did promise."
"Look! I said I can't, ok?" I reply sternly.
"Oh, too busy getting it up the butt from your boyfriend?" she replies.
"NO! As a matter of fact, your FATHER informed me that if I didn't stay away from you and the boys that he'd hurt me, ok?"
"Jesse, that is utterly ridiculous. My dad would never say that, and you know it."
Unable to believe what I just heard, I say "Well, guess what, sugar lips? He DID say it, and my dad saw him grab my throat outside the courthouse and threaten me."
Silence. She's seething. "Of all the damned fool things you've ever said in your life, this has got to be the worst!!" and she hangs up on me. Bitch! I think.
I do miss playing with her kids. It was one of the few things I miss about being a family man. Mike, their real dad, was always on the road with his production company. Of course, he always made up for it and the boys absolutely love being with him. I feel a hand on mine.
"Hey, you in there?" Scott says gently.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I say, drawing in a quivering breath. "Just some ex-wife issues." That sends Mom off on a tirade against Leslie, and I just sit and listen. We Corey men have become experts at tuning her out. Scott, unfortunately, hasn't developed that skill yet, and actually engages in the conversation. We don't do it to be mean, it's just that Mom doesn't let us say much when she's on a roll. I do make a mental note to change my cell number later.
We get back to the apartment, and Mom informs us that she has to be going. Relieved and sorry to see her go at the same time, I walk her back out to her car.
"Honey, are you ok?" she asks.
I pull her into a hug. "Yes, Mom. She didn't believe me what Pete said to me."
"Well, that's her problem. I miss those boys too, but you're more important to me." She kisses me on the cheek, pats my shoulder, then gets into her Mercedes and drives off.
I go back inside, and Scott's heading out.
"I have to go in to work, Jesse. They're swamped down there, and I'm on call. I'll be back later, ok?"
"Sure! I'll be here!" I marvel at how weird that sounds.
I knock around the apartment, checking out his video collection, his album collection, and even just going through cabinets to get a feel for where things are. Bored, I finally hook up the computer and log onto the Internet. As I'm surfing, checking out news and such, an IM pops up.
CMPTRGEEK: Hey there (the message says) JDCOREY: Hi. CMPTRGEEK: It's Mark.
My heart jumps. I sit and stare at that for a minute or two.
JDCOREY: Hey. How's it going? CMPTRGEEK: OK. Haven't seen you around much. What's new? JDCOREY: Well, I've found a roommate, and he's a doctor, and I think we're dating.
I figure that might discourage him. It's not that I'm angry with him, just too awkward. A few minutes pass.
CMPTRGEEK: Cool. Well, hope things work out. JDCOREY: Thanks, man.
He doesn't sign off, but there are no more messages. I sigh as I realize that I've created a mess, but I'm not the one who was dishonest. I try to convince myself of that, but just can't.
Monday rolls around all too soon, and it's back to the office. Vic avoids me as much as he can, but we still occasionally see each other walking to or from our desks. About 11:00, my phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Jesse, it's Mark. Can we please have lunch together?"
I quickly check my calendar. I'm free. Dammit. "Sure...where do you want to go?"
"Let's just grab something quick and go for a walk." Mark says.
"OK. Meet you down front in 15."
At 11:15, I step out into the sun in front of the building. We decide to grab Wendy's and eat in the plaza across the street. We make small talk and down our lunch. We then decide to walk to the Arch grounds and back.
"Jesse, can we ever work this out where maybe we can try again?" Mark asks, after a few minutes of walking.
"You know, I'd like to really think we could, but I don't see how I could ever trust you. You lied to me." I say.
"No I didn't!" Mark protests. "I never said I wasn't seeing anyone else, just that I don't play around. Besides, I've broken it off with Vic."
I want to believe him. "OK, so you broke it off with him. How many other guys don't I know about?"
Mark looks at me, stricken. "Jesse, there IS no one else. Vic was just a suck. That's it. I'm over it, I'm past it. Can't YOU?"
"Well, even if I can, I'm seeing Scott now." I reply.
"Scott. Well, you couldn't be too much in with him yet, you just met him."
"How do you know that?" I demand.
"Dude, you IM'd me and said you just moved in. Hello?"
We walk in silence for a few minutes. "Are you serious with him?" Mark asks.
"I don't know. We just started dating." I shrug. "I just don't think it's right to date more than one person at a time."
Just then, I hear a young voice call my name. "JESSE!" Two energetic young boys come running over to me and bear-hug me around the waist.
"Hi guys!" I say. "What are you doing here?"
"Grampa took us to the Arch! We went all the way to the top!" Jake says enthusiastically.
Just then, an adult voice yells out sternly. "BOYS! Get over there with your grandma!" The boys protest, but do as they're told. Pete walks over to us.
"I thought I told you to keep away from them, faggot!" he snarls.
"Hey, listen! I didn't know they were here, and THEY ran up to ME!" I protest. Mark just stands in shock, unsure of what to do, and I don't blame him!
"Well, maybe you just need to be reminded!" Pete says and punches me dead in the face. The last thing I hear is Mark's voice calling out to me, and all goes dark.
To be continued.