This story contains some explicit scenes of erotic love between males. If you are under age, or live in an area where reading stories that include sex between males is illegal, or if you're not into this type of story, please leave. The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. I would like to thank everyone who has written and encouraged me with special thanks to Tim and Drew for their advice, assistance and constant support. Comments are appreciated at NJMcMick@yahoo.com.
The story is set in the fictional city of Trenton, New Jersey. Yes, there is a real city by that name, but other than being a state capital on the Delaware River, it bears little resemblance to the city in this story. While a few of the places mentioned may exist in reality, all of the characters and events are fictitious.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Back at the condo I put the champagne in the empty stainless steel refrigerator and rinsed out the glasses, leaving them on the granite counter to dry. After about ten minutes Blaine showed up, followed by the furniture deliverymen. It took them longer to assemble the king sized bed than to bring the pieces and the rest of the furniture up to the apartment. When they were done Blaine helped me make the bed and put away the rest of the linen he and I had picked out. While doing that I asked him when all of the kitchen stuff we'd ordered at Williams-Sonoma at the mall would be delivered.
"In the morning. By lunchtime tomorrow you'll have a fully equipped kitchen, minus the food, of course. Food shopping is one thing you'll have to do yourself."
I'd been thinking of doing that after he left but there wasn't really much point, since there were no glasses, cups, plates or utensils yet. There wasn't even a toaster. Marcus and I would definitely be going out for breakfast. Instead, I took the car out of the parking lot and drove over to Lucille's rooming house. I lucked out, finding a parking space right in front and managed to parallel park on only my third try. This city boy was going to have to practice parking. I was able to bring all of my clothes down to the car in only three trips. Manny was coming in as I brought the last load down and offered to help me with the weights and bench on the next trip. The room was mine until Friday, but I saw no point in keeping anything there now that I had the condo.
After taking the clothes 'home' and dropping them off I went back for Manny and the weights. I had to put the top down to fit the bench in the back seat, but it was a beautiful summer day so that wasn't a problem. Even after setting up a little workout area in one corner of the bedroom there was still lots of room for the computer workstation I'd ordered. Manny was eying the bed.
"Man, that is huge! I just know you and Marcus are gonna have fun on that. It makes me wish I'd ordered one that size."
"I'm sure you and Dave won't feel cramped in your queen sized bed. Things are going good with you two?" I knew Manny had gone out with Dave a couple of times since they'd clicked at Sandy Hook, but like Marcus and me, they were limited by not having a place they could spend the night together. Dave was living back home with his parents for the summer and Manny had Lucille's rules.
"So far, so good. We've only had a few dates but I like him a lot. He's fun."
"It doesn't bother you that he's a working boy, that he has sex with other guys?"
"We're nowhere near the point of making our relationship exclusive, but even if we were, that's just his job. It doesn't mean anything."
"I don't think I could handle something like that within a relationship."
"No, I'm sure you couldn't, Jer, but then we've always looked at sex and relationships differently. I'm sure that at some point I'll want something exclusive but until then I'm not going to worry about it."
We both had to work that evening so Manny went back to Lucille's to get ready for Buddies while I showered and got dressed for Minho. It was so awesome using that huge new tiled shower with showerheads on the sides as well as above after a year of the tiny plastic stalls at Lucille's. The restaurant was only moderately busy, being a Tuesday night in August, so in spite of the excitement of the day I wasn't at all tired when Marcus showed up around ten. As we walked home I told him about the closing and my big move. I unlocked the door to the lobby and we took the elevator up. It already felt like I'd been doing this forever, that this was really my home.
Marcus put his hand on my arm and stopped me as I unlocked and opened the door to my unit.
"Should I carry you over the threshold, babe?"
"We're not married, you know."
"Yeah, I know, but maybe someday..."
I grinned at him. "If you play your cards right."
I led him through the huge empty main room to the bedroom. Once inside I pulled him close to me and kissed him. I could feel both of our bodies relax as we came into contact with one another. As I slipped my tongue between his lips I felt a part of him a few feet lower 'unrelax' as he ground his hips into mine. I wanted the kiss to go on forever, but I finally forced myself to pull away.
"Before we get carried away, and I know we will, there's a little formality we have to take care of." I went into the kitchen and got the bottle of champagne from the fridge, picked up the glasses and went back into the bedroom.
"Do you know how to open this?"
Marcus took the bottle from my hands and carefully popped the cork.
"You think of everything, don't you, Miah?"
"Actually, Patrick thought of this."
Marcus poured us each a glass and he held his up. "To your new home, Miah."
"And to us, Marcus." We touched glasses and sipped the wine. I'd only had champagne once before, on New Year's Eve at the party in New Hope, and I wasn't crazy about the taste, but it was okay. After a few sips, Marcus took my glass from me and set them both down.
"Now where were we?" He grinned and took me in his arms again, picking up on the kiss right where we left off.
Without breaking the kiss we slowly began to undress each other. I let my white dress shirt fall to the floor behind me but we had to separate to pull his polo shirt over his head.
He glanced around the room as I unfastened his pants. "With all of these windows I feel like we're in a fish bowl."
"There will be curtains eventually, but I doubt if I'll close them much. After all, we're on the fifth floor and this is one of the tallest buildings in the neighborhood. No one can see in here."
"Too bad, 'cause they'd miss a good show." We toed off our sneakers and pulled off our socks and then we resumed our embrace. Our pants fell and we managed to push our boxers down as we kissed and stepped out of them, leaving us naked and pressed together.
Marcus pushed me toward the bed and I was able to pull back the covers just before we fell onto it, him on top of me. We just lay there making out for a while, lost in a gentle world of kisses and caresses. I was emotionally drained from the excitement of the day and let Marcus take the lead. He took his time but eventually prepared me and then entered me, slowly but passionately making love to me. I was in absolute heaven, knowing I was in the home where I belonged, with the man I loved. After experiencing mind-blowing orgasms, we fell asleep in each other's arms.
The next few weeks were very busy. In addition to my usual light schedule of work and the shelter there were deliveries to the condo nearly every day. Curtains, rugs, furniture, furnishings. As soon as Manny's bedroom furniture arrived I helped him move his other stuff over from the rooming house. Blaine had his own set of keys so it wasn't necessary for Manny or me to be there for every delivery, but we usually were. We were both excited to see our new home come together. Aside from my bedroom, the most important delivery as far as I was concerned took place on a Monday afternoon, when we had the piano moved from Norman's house to the condo.
As soon as it was in place I opened the top and sat down to play a little for him.
"It'll have to be tuned again, Jerry. I'll give you the number of the guy who did it before. And don't forget, now you're going to have to have me over for dinner now and then, so I can hear you play."
"You'll have to teach me how to cook, unless you're into grilled cheese sandwiches."
"It's a deal. I'm sure you've already picked up a lot from helping me on our Monday nights."
The month of August wasn't all work. Twice Manny and I made day trips to Sandy Hook during the week. I didn't find it as sexually arousing as the first time. I guess nudity is something that's easy to get used to. Besides, I had to be on my best behavior since Marcus had to work and couldn't be with us. One weekend Marcus and I went to the shore. We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Ocean Grove, spent the day at the gay beach in Belmar and partied at night at Paradise, a huge club in Asbury Park.
And then of course there were the plans for the housewarming party. Manny and I had decided to have it on the Sunday afternoon of Labor Day weekend. Neither of us would have to work then and most of our coworkers could attend. Also, both Chipper and Dave would be back at school. Of course, Manny and I were getting ready to start college ourselves, which made things even crazier, like we didn't have enough going on.
Manny and I invited everyone we knew. Everyone. I even dropped by the new Frank's Restaurant and invited Gert, Betty, Luann and Jung. I'd had breakfast there a few times since they'd reopened in the spring. Gert kept offering me my old dishwashing job back but she knew I was never going back to that.
Minho was closed on Sundays and Dora offered to cater the party. Derek and Patrick said they'd take care of stocking a self-service bar. That didn't leave an awful lot for Manny and me to do, except make sure our home was ready, and Blaine was overseeing most of that.
The Friday before the party a large envelope with Uncle Pete's return address came in the mail. Inside were a large stiff envelope and a smaller one. I opened the smaller one and took out a brief note.
Jeremiah,
It looks like your father has worked a financing miracle and the business deal is going to go through. You can't imagine how much this means to your Aunt Kathryn and me. I will never forget what you've done for us and we will be in your debt the rest of our lives. You're a fine young man and a welcome addition to our family.
Love, Uncle Pete
P.S. Your Aunt Kathryn thought you might like to have this picture of your parents and Uncle Coy taken at his college graduation party.
I quickly but carefully tore open the other envelope and was greeted by a close-up, head-and-shoulders picture of Mom in between two gorgeous young men. Dad looked so much like me it was eerie, although I thought he was better looking, like Chipper. Mom was a stunning eighteen year old. And Uncle Coy was a masculine, very handsome version of Mom. The three of them looked so happy. I don't know how long I sat there staring at the picture, tears streaming down my cheeks, but that's the way I was when Manny walked in. He rushed over to me and put an arm around my shoulder.
"Are you okay, bud?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I smiled through my tears. "Just fine."
The party was to start at two in the afternoon but Kate and Dora arrived at twelve to set up the kitchen. In addition to filling the refrigerator with trays of food they brought several coolers as well. It looked like the oven would be going all afternoon. I was afraid Dora would be spending all her time working and not be able to enjoy the party but she assured me all she had to do was pop trays in and out of the oven now and then. Between the long counter separating the kitchen from the living room and the fully expanded dining room table there was plenty of room to set out a huge array of Portuguese delicacies.
Derek and Patrick got there a little before one-thirty and set up the bar. Derek hadn't ever been to the condo and while I'd been keeping in touch with Patrick by phone every couple of days he hadn't been there since the closing so I showed them around. The most recent deliveries had been the computers and desks for the bedrooms and some pictures and prints for the walls. Blaine kept talking about adding a few more things here and there but as far as I was concerned, the decorating was done.
Dave arrived while I was showing Derek and Patrick around. I'd thought that might be a little awkward for Manny, since Derek had been one of Dave's customers, but there was no problem. Manny had said he was okay with Dave's job and sexual history wasn't necessarily an impediment to friendship. After all, I'd slept with all of the guys who were there so far and Marcus got along with all of them.
As we all helped Kate and Dora with a few final chores in the kitchen and dining room they talked about their plans to expand the restaurant in the fall. I thought it was ironic that now that I didn't need any more nights of work they were doing well enough to go ahead with an expansion, adding a new dining room next door. I was happy for them that their business was still growing even though I didn't have a personal stake in it.
"It's too bad you can't get a liquor license to go with the expansion. That would really be awesome for the business."
"Oh, didn't we tell you? We took out a bank loan for the new dining room but just this week we managed to find a silent partner so we'll be able to get the license as well." I noticed Kate smile as she glanced sideways toward Derek, who was helping Patrick.
"You're kidding! I thought you said you weren't interested, Derek."
"Hey, don't look at me. I told you before I'm not the silent partner type. But from what I've been told and already know, while this new partner isn't as assertive as me, he's not exactly silent either." Derek grinned at Kate. I looked back at her, confused.
"What do you think, Jerry? Do you think you'll be able to just wait tables and not try to tell us how to run the business?"
"Me? You know I can never keep my mouth shut about anything, Kate. But what have I got to do with anything?"
Kate looked back toward the dining room. "You'd better ask Patrick."
I followed her gaze and looked at my trustee, who shrugged his shoulders.
"When it looked like the sale of the dealership to your uncle was going to go through I realized we were going to have quite a bit of money to invest. Of course I'm planning on putting the overwhelming majority of it into conservative stocks and bonds, but I remembered your idea for the restaurant and thought that might be a nice personal investment for you to be involved in. And it's not much of a risk actually. Minho has been open over a year and just keeps doing better. Besides, your investment is only equal to the cost of the liquor license and you can't lose on that."
"That's right, Jerry. You'll only own twenty-five percent of the business so Dora and I will still be in control. You've always had good ideas and it's nice to know we'll have a partner who is as dedicated to the business as we are."
I was so stunned I couldn't even respond. Fortunately, the rest of the guests began to arrive just then so that was the end of business talk. I was in a bit of a daze as I greeted people. While I was excited about my new investment, I was glad I would only be a minority partner so I wouldn't really be responsible for anything. Except for waiting on tables, that is. That was all the responsibility I wanted for now.
Soon people were arriving in a steady stream. The sales office was open in the lobby so no one had to ring the doorbell to be buzzed in. We kept the door from the hall ajar so our guests could just walk into the condo as well. Among the early arrivals were Marcus and his entire family. I'd been concerned that the crowd we'd invited might be too gay for his family to be comfortable with, but fortunately many of our other straight guests got there early as well. Lisa and Greg, my coworkers from Minho, each brought dates. Neither Betty nor Luann had been able to talk their husbands into attending a mostly gay party where they didn't know anyone, so they came together. I ran into Lucille looking around in the kitchen, waving around an unlit cigarette in one hand.
"I can't find an ashtray anywhere in this place, dear."
"That's because there's no smoking allowed." She gasped and I smiled. "You have your rules and I have mine. Why don't you ask Derek to make you a drink?" I pointed her toward the bar.
A few minutes later, I was talking to Malcolm and Georgia in the living room when I saw Chipper come in with his whole family. I'd known that Dad was coming up to Princeton with him but didn't expect Carolyn and Kat. I excused myself and rushed over to them.
"This is such a great surprise!" I exclaimed as I hugged Chipper and Dad. I was unsure how to greet Carolyn but she pulled me into a hug and kissed me on the cheek.
"You think I'd miss my favorite step-son's housewarming? There are certain milestones in one's life that should be shared with family and we've already missed far too many of yours."
I took them over to Marcus' parents and introduced the two families. After a few minutes Marcus and I left them on their own and started circulating through the growing crowd. Norman and Jack were there with Janet and a woman named Pam. Ms. Rodriguez had brought her husband. There were a number of Manny's friends and coworkers from Buddies. Courtney arrived with a gorgeous stud. They chatted with Derek and Patrick for a while but then mostly hung out with Chipper. Blaine made a dramatic late appearance with a big bear of a man who he introduced as his husband, George.
At one point I ran across Dad looking at the picture Uncle Pete had sent, which I'd framed and put on a shelf near the fireplace. He had a tear running down one cheek.
"I remember when that was taken but I never saw a copy of it. That was such a happy time in our lives."
"It looks like it was. I wish they could be here with us today."
Dad turned to me and smiled. "They are, Jerry, in our memories and our hearts. And there is so much of both of them in you. I know both your mother and Coy would be so proud of you, of the man you're growing into."
"I can't take credit for any of this, really." I swept my arm around the room. "Aunt Aggie's money paid for all of it. I'm just going with the flow, so to speak."
"You're doing a lot more than that, son. Look around you, not at the condo or the furnishings, but at the people. You've drawn all of these people to you by being their friend, by being the person you are. You've created quite a family for yourself and of that you should be very proud."
I shrugged. "I think it's everyone else who deserves the credit. They're the ones who have helped me with everything."
"All relationships that work have give and take, Jerry. You give back at least as much as you get. How else can you explain how much all of these people love you?"
I understood what he was saying even though I knew it was an exaggeration when he said all of the people. Some of them, especially Manny's friends, barely knew me. But as I looked around the huge room I couldn't believe how crowded it seemed. I hadn't really thought about just how many people I knew. It was a good feeling knowing these were my friends.
A few times I felt a little overwhelmed by the crowd and escaped to my bedroom to stare out the window at the river until I was calm again. One of those times Norman came up behind me.
"A penny for your thoughts, Jerry."
I pointed down to the open field in the park. "It was right about there that you found me a little over a year ago, starving on that park bench. You saved my life, you know."
"I think you're being overly dramatic. You were hungry and I just fed you and then gave you a little help when you needed it."
I turned to face this sweet man who I hadn't always been honest with but who had always been there for me, whatever I needed.
"No, you really did save me, Norman. I would never have made it without you. I don't tell you often enough how much you mean to me. I talk about Manny being my best friend, Marcus my lover, Derek and Patrick my advisors, socially and financially, and now I've got a real father, too. But you are all of those things to me, and have been since the day we met. You've taken care of me, provided me with anything and everything I needed all along the way. I don't know how I deserve someone special like you, but I'm so grateful that I have you in my life."
"You know, Harry and I never talked about having children the way so many gay couples are today. It just wasn't an option back then. So maybe you brought out some dormant parental urge in me. But whatever it was, something about you brought me back to life. After Harry died I was in a holding pattern. Yes, I had some friends and kept busy, but I was just going through the motions. You put the life back into my life and I can't thank you enough for that. I love you, Jerry."
I threw my arms around him and held him tight. "I love you, too, Norman."
The crowd began to thin out in late afternoon. Those people neither Manny nor I knew well didn't stay very long. By five o'clock only those we considered to be good friends were left. There was room for most of us to sit by then and the party took on the feel of a relaxed family gathering. When Chipper and his family (it was still hard to believe they were my family, too) left around seven we made plans to spend most of the next day together in Princeton. Dad, Carolyn and Kat were flying south on Tuesday morning.
We had to practically push Norman, Jack, Kate, Dora, Derek and Patrick out the door a while later. They kept trying to clean up the place. Kate and Dora had spent far too much of the day in the kitchen serving the food and Derek and Patrick, in spite of having set up the bar as self-service, had insisted on making drinks for guests most of the day. Norman and Jack were straightening up all afternoon. Besides, there wasn't all that much cleanup to do. We'd used plastic plates, cups and utensils, to Blaine's dismay, but hey, we're kids. So once it was just Manny, Dave, Marcus and I left, most of the work was putting leftovers away in the refrigerator and filling garbage bags. I thought that everybody had had a lot to eat but the refrigerator was still full of food, There was no way Manny and I were going to eat all that so I decided to take most of it over to the shelter in the morning before I took Marcus home.
When we had the place looking respectable we crashed on the couches in the living room area. Manny brought four glasses and a bottle of Macieira, a Portuguese brandy Dora had given us, over from the bar.
"You've been drinking Coke all day, Jerry. I'm surprised you're not bouncing off the walls from all of the caffeine. You need to unwind a bit before going to bed."
I smiled at Manny and tipped my head sideways toward Marcus. "I was thinking of something after going to bed that would help me unwind."
"Well, of course, that's a given. Dave and I are going to do a little of that kind of unwinding in bed ourselves. But I thought it would be nice to just kick back and relax for a while first."
We sipped our brandy as if it was something we did every evening and talked about the party. I'd had a great time showing off the condo and I'd talked to everyone all afternoon, but now that it was over I couldn't remember anything anyone had said to me. It was all a blur.
"So, are you guys all ready for school?" Dave asked.
"Hey, we were having a good time here. You had to bring that up?" Manny grabbed at Dave's crotch. "Classes start Thursday and I don't want to think about school until then."
"You know you're as excited about starting college as I am, Manny. We're not like these guys who have been going all along."
"Maybe I'm not a freshman like you and Manny, but I am starting at a new school here in town so that's pretty exciting." Marcus put an arm around me and pulled me close to his side.
"Anything that keeps you close to home is exciting for me, babe." I gave him a little kiss on the cheek.
"I am excited about school, Jerry, but I'm a little nervous, too," Manny said. "I haven't been in school in a few years. Plus, now that summer vacation is over the old bartenders have come back to Buddies so I'm not going to have much work. Money could be tight for me."
I had an idea. "I seem to remember someone saying something about a restaurant we know getting a liquor license soon. Minho is definitely going to need a bartender or two. I have a little pull with the owners so if you're real nice to me I could put in a word for you."
Manny got up from his seat and came over to the couch Marcus and I were on and snuggled up against me, sandwiching me in between him and Marcus. "I can be real nice, if you recall."
Marcus reached around me and playfully pushed Manny away. "Hey now, that's my man you're makin' moves on. Remember, you guys are just roommates."
Dave then got up and joined us, squeezing onto the couch up against Manny. "That's right, Manny. If you're gonna be real nice to anyone, it's me. Besides, I have connections in a very profitable part-time business as well. I could introduce you to a couple of my clients and you could make good money if you play your cards right."
"Hmm, that sounds like it would not only be profitable but fun."
I turned toward Manny, shocked. "You wouldn't!"
"If an idealistic romantic like you can turn pro, a hedonist like me shouldn't have any problem." He thought for a few seconds. "But I probably wouldn't be any good at it. As much as I like sex the idea of some old guy paying me would make it hard for me to get through it without laughing. I think I'll stick to sex for pleasure." With that he slid his hand down the front of Dave's pants and gave a squeeze. Dave moaned.
"Speaking of sex for pleasure, I think it's time for us to go 'unwind' in the other room, babe." He took Manny's hand from his pants, stood and pulled Manny up after him. They lightly kissed both of us on the lips and left the room.
Marcus poured us each another shot of brandy and we continued to cuddle on the couch. We talked some more about the party, then he asked me about the restaurant.
"So do you think you'll enjoy owning a piece of it? Maybe you should major in business or restaurant management."
"I love Minho, but that's really more because of the people who are there. I'm thrilled that I'm going to be part-owner because that makes me even more a part of things and I'm helping Kate and Dora, but I don't really have any interest in the business end of it."
"So do you have any idea what you want to be when you grow up, little boy?"
"Hey, watch who you're calling little. I beat you by a couple of inches, you know."
"Believe me, no one is more aware of that than me, big man."
"Anyway, I don't have to declare a major at school for a while, but I'm thinking about psychology or sociology. The one thing I do that really means something to me is volunteering at the shelter, so I think maybe I'd like to be a social worker."
"You'd be good at it, Miah. You have a great heart and love people."
A few minutes later we put our brandy glasses in the sink and went into the other room to get ready for bed. I was standing naked in my favorite spot, looking out at the dark river barely visible in the moonlight, when Marcus came out of the bathroom, pressed his naked body against my back and put his arms around me.
"Whatcha thinkin', boy?"
"I was thinking about that first day I arrived in Trenton."
"Ah, can't keep your mind off me, can you?" He thrust his hips into my butt and I felt his arousal pressing into me.
"I'll never forget seeing you for the first time on the train, or that amazing kiss afterwards, but I was actually thinking of how that day ended, how scared and lost I was. There were so many moments I didn't think I was going to make it, where I couldn't see any answers. And look where I am now. I know life isn't always gonna be perfect, that I'll have lots of problems, maybe even crises, as I go along. But now I know I'll get through them. I wasn't too sure about that a couple of times last year."
"Just remember you don't have to do it on your own, baby. There are people who love you, who want to help you when you need it."
I turned around and looked into his eyes.
"Do you think we're going to make it, Marcus? Are we going to be together forever?"
"I don't know, Miah. I hope so. We're young and still have a lot of growing up to do, but we've been through a lot this past year and our feelings for each other are stronger than ever. I think we stand a good chance."
"I think so, too. I've loved you since that day on the train, and more and more ever since."
"It took me a while to come to terms with it, but I love you too, Miah."
With that he leaned in and kissed me, lightly at first, but then harder, his lips parting and his tongue prying my lips apart. His mouth worked its magic on mine and as I lost myself in one of those awesome kisses of his my last conscious thought was that I was right where I wanted to be, where I wanted to always be. I was home.
The End.