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Song and Dance - 6. Chapter 6 Heartbreak Hotel
Song and Dance
Chapter 6
“I don’t know about you, wolfman, but I could eat the ass-end out of a skunk.”
“What did you just say?”
“I said, ‘I’m hungry.”
“Okay, that’s a relief. I thought that was some weird-ass come-on.” Arron smirked.
“Very funny. So what should we do for supper? It feels like my stomach’s touching my backbone. I need me some protein and some carbs.”
“Well, I could be convinced to cook something up… maybe a chicken stir-fry? How does that sound, you poor starving man?”
“Really, you want to do that? That sounds like a great idea, so how can I convince you?” Chet wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Arron rolled his eyes before he crushed Chet’s hopes, at least temporarily.
“Don’t even go there. We’re taking that part slowly, right?” After what he seen in the gym, it was going to take some serious willpower.
“Yeah, you’re right. This is about a lot more than sex. I really do want us to get to know one another and build a trust first. So what will it take to convince you to do the stir fry thing?”
Arron loved how much importance Chet was putting on building things between them the right way. “I’ll cook if you promise to give me a foot rub after dinner… you do know how to give a decent foot rub, don’t you?”
Chet’s mind flashed on the memories of rubbing Ian’s feet after his runway shows, where he had to wear numerous kinds of ill-fitting shoes.“Yeah, I’m good at it… guaranteed. I’ve had some practice. That reminds me… something happened I need to tell you about.”
“Okay, what happened? And how did giving me a foot-rub remind you of something? Is this something kinky?”
Chet laughed at that. “No, not kinky. Far from it, unless you find vomiting kinky.” Arron shook his head violently. “It’s a long story… I’ll tell you while you’re cooking me dinner at your place. Let’s get going before I faint from starvation. I want to see that Craftsman style house of yours. It sounds amazing.”
“It is amazing, or at least I think so. My grandparents maintained it very well, and kept it all original before I inherited it, but we won’t be able to cook a stir fry if we go to my place. My gas stove is out of commission for a couple of days because my gas line has a weak spot. I had to shut off the valve to my stove until the line is replaced. We’d have to do takeout or microwave, or maybe something cold.”
“That’s fine, as long as we’re eating together, I’m good.” That earned him a tender kiss and a brilliant smile.
“I wanted to show off my culinary skills for you, though… you know, the way to a man’s heart and all that?”
“I don’t think you have to worry about finding the way to my heart, wolfie. You’re doing just fine.”
“I am, am I?” It was plain to see that comment made Arron happy, as his face lit up with a huge smile.
“Yes sir, Officer. I perved on you in there, and you do not need to have cooking skills.” He comically leered at Arron.
Arron’s laughter could be heard all through the parking lot. “I perved on you too, and you could be dumb as a post and I’d still date you.”
“So you just want me for my body, then?”
“Occasionally, yeah.”
“I can live with that,” Chet said looking quite pleased with himself and that got them both laughing.
“Have you got a Wok, because I am really craving a stir-fry now?”
“Yes, Officer, I’ve got a Wok. Do you want to cook at my place?” Chet liked the idea of Arron in his kitchen, cooking them something. He had never had that kind of domesticity before. He couldn’t remember a time that he had a boyfriend cook for him. Certainly Ian had never cooked him anything.
“Sure, if that’s okay with you?” Arron didn’t want to overstep, but he relished the idea of cooking in Chet’s kitchen, for Chet.
“Let’s see… you in my kitchen wearing nothing but an apron, and me sitting there ogling, I mean watching you; what’s not to like? Let’s do this!”
Arron loved the flirting from Chet. It felt so natural and full of fun. “Okay, that’s settled, but I’m wearing more than an apron... I think I'll need protection from you more than from splatters."
Chet stuck his tongue out at that.
"Let’s hit the grocery store and get this done. Loblaw’s always has good fresh produce.”
“Sounds good, I’ll follow you, Officer Bailey,” Chet said with a salute.
“I do have handcuffs you know,” Arron teased.
“Oh, I thought we were waiting on the sex stuff, but okay, if that’s what you want, count me in.”
Arron just smiled, rolled his eyes and got in his Highlander.
Who knew shopping for food could be so much fun. Chet was like a happy little kid, checking everything out and getting into stuff. Arron saw the normally mundane task of shopping in a whole new light with Chet at his side. He was very touchy-feely, and Arron found himself comfortable with it, and loving the intimacy of it. He had never interacted this way with Dwayne. Chet didn’t place items in a basket. No, he threw them from good distances away. Flying bags and packages of peppers, mushrooms, carrots, snow peas, fresh ginger, bean sprouts and the like kept Arron on his toes. He drew the line at the boneless chicken breasts though, threatening mutiny… and no dinner if those things came flying at his head. Chet conceded to Arron’s demand at that point, satisfied after already having had his play-time. At the checkout, Arron realized he had forgotten soy sauce, and with the airs of a superhero, Chet announced, “I’m on it!” and took off running down one of the aisles.
“That’s my guy,” announced Arron to the amused people waiting in line. Saying it surprised him, but God it felt good to say that in public. Arron had never felt freer, and admitted to himself that he was falling fast for this adorable, warmhearted, brown-haired man. Chet was back in a flash, planting his feet wide in a heroic stance and presenting the soy sauce to Arron with a serious countenance.
“My mission has been accomplished, Officer Bailey.” Arron grinned widely at his antics, as did the people around them. Could the man be anymore charming?
Whispering to him, “You come in handy, green eyes,” got him an eyebrow wiggle and a whispered response.
“You have no idea.”
Arron just grinned some more, blushing at the same time.
Both of them carrying a bag of groceries, they raced up the stairwell to Chet’s apartment like two little kids… actually, two hungry big kids. At the door, Chet had trouble getting his keys out because Arron chose that moment to claim a kiss from a laughing Chet. There was a different kind of hunger they were feeling now, as Arron’s free hand held onto the back of Chet’s head, his tongue exploring that delicious mouth. Breaking apart, breathless and giggling, they managed to get the door open and step inside.
What greeted them startled them both, for different reasons. What Chet saw was Ian violating his privacy, his loft, and his life. What Arron saw was a stranger, a stupendously beautiful god of a man, pretty much naked in a skimpy pair of briefs, staring at him with displeasure.
“Who is this, Jets?” The man looked proprietary, and Arron didn’t like it. He was stunned, and having trouble comprehending what was happening.
“Ian, what the fuck are you still doing here? You were supposed to be gone this morning. You have no right to be here… Arron, I’m sorry, this is what I was going to tell you about. Ian, get dressed for fuck sake, and get the hell out of here.” Pure anger was radiating off of Chet, and Arron was practically reeling from the shock of the situation. A sick feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. This guy was Chet’s ex-partner? Why did he look so familiar?
“I thought we could continue our talk. I thought you said there was nobody else in your life? Who is he, Jets?”
The ‘nobody else in your life’ comment hit Arron hard. This whole thing was way too much to handle.
“That is not what I said, and he’s none of your fucking business… and stop calling me that. Fuck, Ian, what the hell are you thinking? There’s nothing more to talk about, and I made that clear last night!”
Arron felt Chet’s concerned eyes on him while he was talking. What Arron saw was big blue eyes filled with tears staring at ‘his guy’ beseechingly. So much for Chet being ‘his guy’ anymore. Arron knew that face… and it dawned on him where he knew it from.
“You’re the guy in those cologne ads, coming out of the water?!” Arron blurted out before he could stop himself. Ian turned his attention to Arron, tears still flowing, and gave him a short nod before dismissing him with his eyes, and returning his focus to Chet.
Arron was suddenly overwhelmed by all of this and Chet could see it. “Arron, are you okay? I’m so sorry this has happened but there is nothing here that affects you and me… I promise you. Arron, say something.” Arron’s face was blank, his demeanor that of a man closing himself off, and putting up shields. “Ian! Get your ass dressed and get out of here… now!” Arron was aware of the sound of sobs disappearing towards the bedroom. The bedroom? Why was he going to the bedroom? This was all too much for him. “I’m sorry about this, baby. Arron say something, please?”
“I’m not your baby,” Arron said with a sigh. Realizing he was still holding a bag of groceries, he walked over and set them on the kitchen island. Turning around, he faced a shell-shocked looking Chet. That response had hurt him, scared him even.
“Please tell me you don’t think there was anything was going on here. He came by last night after you left, out of the blue.”
Arron dimly remembered a guy on the stairway as he was leaving. It must have been Ian. “Why did he come here?” No emotion seeped into his voice because all he felt was a numbness.
“Arron, listen, nothing happened between us. I swear.”
Arron remembered someone else saying words like those to him in the same pleading tone. “Why did he come here?” Same question.
“He wanted us to get back together, but I said no, and that’s the truth. Please believe me. I know this probably looks bad, but he was drinking and he took some drugs and he threw up. Remember what I said about vomiting… that’s what I was talking about. So I couldn’t throw him out even though I wanted to. You believe me, right?”
“Did he sleep with you, Chet? Was he in your bed?” Arron glanced towards the bedroom, afraid of the answer.
“Look, I put him on the couch and that’s where he was supposed to sleep. But he ended up getting into my bed when I was sleeping. I swear as soon as I realized it, I went out to the couch because he wouldn’t wake up. Nothing happened, I promise you.”
There was another phrase he'd heard before, from Dwayne. “I think you guys need to finish talking. You have things to work out, and I shouldn’t be here. I need to go.”
“Please don’t do this. Trust me. There is nothing for Ian and me to talk about. That ended a long time ago and there’s nothing to work out. You’re letting your fears get the best of you. Don’t let them control you. I need you to have faith in me. You’re the only one I care about.”
Arron sighed, as feelings he didn’t want began to make their presence known. “You may not think you need to talk, but he does.” He gestured to the far side of the living room where a dressed Ian was standing barefoot, watching them.
“What about our stir-fry... our plans? Ian is leaving; Ian, hurry up and get the fuck out of here!” he glared at the golden-haired man with anger. “Please don’t go, wolf.”
“Chet, it’s okay. You have something you need to do, and I’m not feeling hungry anymore.” He gave Chet a pained look as he walked past him to the door, not really sure how he was feeling because it was too much to process all at once. As he opened the door, he turned to see a devastated Chet coming towards him.
“I know this freaked you out, and I get it and I’m sorry, but don’t let it wreck what we have. I fucked up. I had no idea Ian was still here or I would have told you about last night earlier. I don’t want you to leave, but I can’t stop you. I really wish you would stay so we could talk about this. Ian is not going to be here much longer; I can promise you that.” There was no response from Arron. ‘Can I call you later?” The look on Chet’s face tore at something inside Arron, and he knew he had to leave.
“I don’t know right now… maybe in a couple of days. You’re right… I am freaked out and you have stuff you need to sort out.” A picture of Chet revealing how much he had loved Ian, with tears streaming down his face, forced itself forward in Arron’s tortured mind. “Maybe you guys have a second chance.” His attempt at a smile failed miserably.
“What can I do to convince you I don’t want a second chance with Ian?” Chet looked and sounded exasperated.
“Right now, you can’t. You need time to think this through. I know how much you loved him, and he is… he’s very beautiful, and he wants you back.” Ian’s looks had definitely intimidated him. The numbness was leaving and tears were coming, so Arron turned and left a frustrated Chet standing in the doorway. On his way down the stairs, the dam broke, and he had to brush the onslaught away so he could see.
Behind him he heard Chet say clearly, “You’re making a mistake. Please, don’t do this. Arron, trust me... please!"
Please join us in the COTT forum if you would like to discuss Song and Dance (SAD) :
www.gayauthors.org/forums/topic/39932-cards-on-the-table-by-headstall/
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