Getting to Know All About You
When I woke up on New Year's Eve, I was alone in bed. Upstairs, I could hear voices I recognized as Shago's and Joey's. I took a quick shower and went upstairs. Cooter saw me and grinned.
"Hey, good morning, sunshine. We thought you were going to sleep until noon."
Cooter, Shago, and Joey were preparing breakfast. It seemed the party had been moved to my place. I grabbed my coat.
"I gotta go feed the animals before they break out of their stalls lookin' for food."
Shago laughed. "Don't worry, Colton and Aiden took care of that an hour ago. Right now they're shoveling a couple inches of snow off the driveway."
I looked out the living room window. They saw me and waved, and went back to work. I went back to the kitchen.
"So, what inspired all of this activity?"
Joey smiled. "You were a hell of a good sport, Hot Kid. Not too many guys would let their friends watch a video of them getting screwed and then listen to a detailed description of their first time with you. Furthermore, it's not often you get to cook breakfast for a porn star."
I grinned. "I thought it was all fun. It seemed you guys did too."
Joey continued. "We did. We voted this morning on the best presentation, which of course goes to Shago. Colton was a close runner-up. This morning, Aiden told us more about his experiences with you, and he gets the best-experience award. Shago told us what he knows about how you helped your other friends. You deserve a presidential award, Hot Kid."
I was a little embarrassed. "I just did what I could."
Shago pitched in. "If all of us did what we could, the world would be a much better place. What I told them were the things Jace observed and told his dads and me. He didn't reveal any confidential information, and we all know you can't talk about it. So the only information passed around was common knowledge, publicly available if you know who to talk to."
Cooter had something to add. "Colton suggested it would be best if we didn't discuss the video with anyone. I think we all had that figured out, but I'm glad he mentioned it."
I smiled. "I think you have all of the bases covered. And thanks for fixing breakfast. I really appreciate it."
I could hear Colton and Aiden stomping the snow off their boots downstairs. Soon their footsteps sounded on the stairs. Arriving at the top, Colton stopped and smiled at me.
"Good morning, Hot Kid. I hope you slept well."
"Too well, it looks like. Thanks for covering for me in the barn, and for doin' the shoveling."
Aiden put an arm around my shoulders and gave me a hug.
"We were happy to do it for a very special guy."
I replied, a little sarcastically. "If I become any more special, I may be transported to heaven."
They all laughed, and Aiden replied. "We wouldn't want that to happen. It's too much fun having you here."
We sat down to western omelettes, toast, hash browns, and canned pears. I smiled.
"You guys put on a pretty good spread."
Cooter responded. "At some time in our lives, the three of us who cooked breakfast have worked in a commercial food environment. For example, Joey spent his high school years working in his parents' cafe. There's a fair amount of experience here."
We ate in silence for a while. Then I had a question.
"I'm sitting here looking at five tops, and I know it. Someone once said to me that when two tops wanna screw, it's obvious that one of them is gonna be the bottom." I saw Aiden smile slightly. "So tell me, how do you guys decide?"
Joey responded first. "With Shago and me, it depends on who's in the mood to do what. We have very little problem deciding. It seems to evolve naturally."
Colton replied for Aiden and himself. "Aiden and I haven't been together for long, so we don't have a pattern yet. So far, we flip a coin for being on top first. By the time the night is over, it's pretty much equal."
Cooter had a twinkle in his eye. "So far with Hot Kid, I haven't had to deal with that problem."
That brought a roar of laughter. I grinned at Cooter.
"And I don't think you'll ever have to deal with it."
Aiden noticed something else. "Hot Kid, is that padlock a new feature?"
I smiled. "Yeah, it was given to me last night by an admirer. It seems I have an official boyfriend."
That brought a round of cheers and applause. Cooter had an additional comment.
"I gave him the key. Tell them where it is, Hot Kid."
I smiled sweetly. "I flushed it down the toilet."
That brought down the house. Breakfast was suspended while the laughter went on and on. When they finally settled down, Colton made the obvious observation.
"I think you're serious about this relationship."
"I've never been more serious about anything."
When we'd finished breakfast, Colton and I stayed in the kitchen to clean up while the rest went into the living room to see what was on TV. Colton paused while putting the dishes into the dishwasher, and looked up at me.
"I guess we've extended last night's party and moved it here. You can blame that on me. Is it okay?"
"It's fine. I'm sure my parents would be good with it."
"How about beer?"
I hesitated for a second. I knew that wouldn't be approved. Peer pressure was a factor in my decision.
"If it were kids my age, the answer would be not only no, but hell no. With you guys, it will be fine if we clean up well."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
Shago called from the living room. "I see you have a picture on your mantel like the one your mom gave us."
I went to look.
"Mom must have put it up before they left. I hadn't noticed it."
The guys gathered around. Shago explained.
"That's Hot Kid and his great-great-grandfather, one hundred years apart, at the same age."
Aiden made the comment they were all thinking. "Awesome!"
Cooter was looking at another picture. "Are these your parents with you?"
I looked at the picture. "Yeah, about a year ago."
"You've grown a lot since then."
In more ways than one, I thought. "Yeah, I guess I have."
Colton and I joined the rest of the group watching a hockey game. Although I wasn't into watching sports, doing it with my friends was fun. Breakfast had been so close to noon that it was more like lunch, so the drinks being consumed were a mixture of beer and sodas that Colton brought along.
I'd never had a party like this - a group of friends gathered together in my parents' home. Maybe one or two friends, but this was new, and I liked it.
Shago and I were sitting on the short end of the L-shaped couch in front of the TV. The other four were crowded onto the long piece. Not crowded very badly though - it was a good-sized piece of furniture. Adjacent to me, I'd noticed a conversation going on between Cooter and Colton. Cooter leaned across to me with a quiet question.
"Can I borrow your bed?"
"Sort of like you borrowed Matt's?"
He grinned. "Yeah, exactly like that."
"Sure, go for it."
One at a time, he and Colton left the room unnoticed. During a break in the game, several of us took a bathroom break. When we came back, Joey observed the reduced numbers.
"Where are Colton and Cooter?"
No one provided an answer. Joey looked at Shago and grinned.
"He wouldn't."
Shago grinned back. "Yes, he would." He looked at me. "Are they?"
I smiled. "I'll never tell."
We all sat down and watched the game for a few minutes. Aiden spoke up.
"I wonder who's on top."
Shago suggested. "Colton."
Joey didn't agree. "Cooter."
Aiden took a guess. "Colton."
I was pretty sure. "Cooter."
Shago grinned. "Shall we go find out?"
We quietly descended the stairs. The door was open a few inches. I pushed it open further, thankful I'd oiled the squeaky hinge recently.
Colton lay on his back with Cooter on top of him. Cooter was thrusting in hard, headed for the finish line. Colton saw us and grinned. A couple of iPhones captured the scene for posterity.
We waited until Cooter blew his wad before applauding. He pulled out and looked up with a fake frown.
"Can't a guy get laid in peace around here?"
After the laughter subsided, he got off the bed and buttoned up his Levi's.
"Okay, guys. Back upstairs. At least let us get dressed without spectators."
When the hockey game ended, the party broke up. The guys helped clean up, and Colton removed the alcoholic evidence. I gave them goodbye hugs and Happy New Year wishes at the door.
Cooter stayed behind to help me vacuum, change my bedding, and do some laundry. We'd barely finished when my phone rang. It was Mom. I smiled. She couldn't let me loose, even for a couple of days.
"Hi, Toby. We got a call from Governor Adams. She asked if you could join us at her New Year's party tonight. She said you could bring a friend if you want to."
"Sure, what time?"
"Ten o'clock. The party starts at nine, but she'd like you to come directly to her residence at ten. If I send you directions, do you think you can find it?"
Mom sounded a little stressed. I replied soothingly.
"I'm sure I can, Mom. I know it's near the capitol. Dad has pointed it out before."
"Okay, if you have any trouble, please call. I'm a little reluctant to have you driving around Boise after dark in the winter."
I was looking at Cooter now, though speaking to Mom.
"I think the friend you said I could invite will drive. He used to live in Boise too, and he has more driving experience."
Cooter nodded his head. Mom continued.
"That sounds like a good plan. The party is small - a couple dozen people. It's dress-up, but not formal. Your sport coat and slacks will be fine. And please polish your shoes."
"Mom, don't worry. I clean up good when I have to. And I'll be on my best behavior."
She laughed and seemed to relax. "One more thing though, please leave your collar at home."
"No, Mom. I'm gonna wear it."
There was a pause. I'd never directly defied her.
"Toby..."
"Mom, as my peers have said, it expresses my uniqueness, and I will wear it."
She took the best way out available. "I'll discuss it with your father."
I knew that would end in my favor. "Okay, thanks, Mom. Is there anything else I need to know?"
"We've reserved a room in our hotel for you and your friend. By the way, who will you be bringing?"
"A friend of Shago's I met recently. You're gonna like him."
"Okay. Call me if you think of anything else you need to know."
I hung up, took a deep breath, and looked up at Cooter.
"How would you like to meet the Governor of Idaho?"
As opposed to most states, Idaho doesn't have an official governor's residence. Sally Adams lived in a penthouse apartment near the capital.
Cooter "cleaned up" as well as I did. Though I still preferred him in Levi's, he looked great dressed in dark slacks and a coordinated jacket. We took my pickup, but I was glad Cooter was driving. He knew exactly where to go, and that there was a parking garage next door. Once we'd parked, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks for driving, Cooter. It would have been too much for me."
He put a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, buddy. It's going to be fine. And that collar goes great with your slacks and jacket. If the governor is as cool as you say, there will be no problem."
We were on the party list. After passing through security, we were taken upstairs in the penthouse elevator. Stepping into the foyer, we were checked against the list once more and led into a large formal living room.
It was one of those things that you remember later as happening in slow motion. I saw my parents and waved at them. Mom looked stressed. A huge grin appeared on Dad's face. Nearby, Governor Adams excused herself from a conversation and guided my parents over to join us. She took my hand in hers.
"I'm so glad you could join us, Toby."
"Thank you Governor Adams." I gestured towards Cooter. "I'd..."
Next to me, Dad was shaking Cooter's hand.
"It's good to see you, Cooter. The last time I saw you was at your high school graduation. I guess that was only last spring, but it seems longer?"
Cooter smiled at Dad. "That's right, Mr. Collins. I appreciated you being there."
Mom was perplexed. I was dumbfounded, but there was more to come. Governor Adams paused briefly before addressing Mom.
"Ellen, I think you're a little in the dark here. I'd like you to meet my son, Cooter. Of course that's not his given name, but it's the one he insists on using."
My jaw dropped to my shoes. Dad was smiling at me, a twinkle in his eyes. Mom was now starting to smile a little. Governor Adams was as composed as always. I looked at Cooter, who was watching me with a mischievous grin. New guests were arriving. Sally Adams, always in control, was speaking.
"I hope you enjoy your evening, Toby." She smiled conspiratorially. "I love your collar. Did Cooter give you the padlock?"
"Yes, ma'am. He did."
She squeezed my hand again. "I'm glad. Now if you'll excuse me..."
And she was off to be the perfect hostess.
The four of us were silent for several seconds. I softly broke the silence.
"I think I need to change my underwear."
Midnight was approaching. In one week, my life had changed completely. The rest of the guests were inside making all the appropriate noises. Cooter and I stood hand in hand on the balcony, looking out over the city. He had a lot to tell me.
"When I saw your family photo on the mantel this morning, I recognized your dad. I couldn't resist surprising you this way."
I smiled. "It was perfect."
"I should explain a little about my relationship with Mom. As you can tell, I'm a bit of a rebel, and when I graduated, I wanted to get away from the city and the spotlight I lived under as a politician's child. So I took off and literally joined the circus, and then moved on to the roadhouse. I'm still in regular contact with Mom, but few people know about my connection with her. It keeps my life the way I want it, and it avoids any embarrassment Mom might have about my lifestyle. Not personal embarrassment, but I could become a political problem."
He paused briefly to collect his thoughts. "As Mom's legal assistant, your dad is one of the few who know my current whereabouts and employment. I knew he'd make the connection as soon as he saw me. It was more fun to do that here. And I'd appreciate it if you would keep all of this to yourself. Among our mutual friends, no one else knows."
He was quiet for a few moments. "We've only known each other for a few days. So far, we've been focused on sex and fun." He smiled. "And I don't want to lose that focus. But I know there's more to you than being good in bed. I've had the advantage of learning about you from what you've told me, and from Shago and your other friends. On the other hand, I've told you very little about myself, and now you know why. I want you to learn that there's more to me than being good in bed too."
He pulled a ring out of his pocket. It was a simple titanium band.
"I made this in my high school metal shop class. I dreamed of finding the right person to give it to as a promise ring. Now I've found the right person. I want us to have a lifetime to discover each other. I want to share my life with you. Will you share yours with me?"
I looked up at him with tears running down my cheeks.
"Nothing could make me happier."
He put the ring on my left hand ring finger, and then smiled.
"I thought this would fit, but there are a couple more in my pocket if it hadn't. I made several rings that year. When the time came, I was determined to have one that fit."
He kissed me firmly on my lips.
"Happy New Year, Hot Kid Toby. May we share many more."
I kissed him back with equal intensity.
"Happy New Year, Cooter. I hope we have a lifetime of New Years together."
He smiled. "Now, let's go make three parents very happy."
*** This ends the story of Toby's first year in the country - for real this time. I hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks to all of you who emailed your encouragement and thoughts; I appreciate all of your input. A sequel set two years later is in progress, and those who have requested notification will be advised if and when it is posted. ***
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