Walls - 20. January 2016

CJ was glad his brother had been slightly drunk the previous night. He suspected the dads had allowed Ritchie to drink more than the usual half-a-glass of wine and eat as many of the Champagne Jello-O shots as he did on purpose. He’d have to ask them later. But the result was the kid had a good time—even if the following morning he had a headache—and was so busy enjoying himself he did not dwell on his parents death the previous year.

He smiled thinking of his own experience. The alcohol and pot had lowered his inhibitions enough to admit he loved Owen in front of their friends. He suspected he would be getting abuse all day long.

New Year’s Day was their last full one in Vail and the guys wanted to get back out on the slopes. It was a little later in the morning than the other days, but none of them seemed to be suffering excessively due to the alcohol consumption. CJ stuck to skis and spent most of the day with Randy and Tyler. The Chicago men would be flying out separately the next day and the three wouldn’t see each other again until late February.

Patrick decided to try snowboarding and left with Ozzie and Ritchie, who promised to help him since he was skipping lessons. Late in the afternoon before the sun set, the guys turned in the rented equipment and returned to the house, exhilarated from the week on the mountains; their comments were tinged with sadness about flying home the next day.

“So, y’all know I spent a lot of time last summer playing at a bar in Buenos Aires.” Chipper sat on the arm of a sofa, his guitar in hand. They were all lounging in the main room with the fire crackling in the background. “It was a jazz club so I had to learn a bunch of new songs. Well… new to me at least. And I fell in love with the style and lyrics of a lot of them.”

“Me too! I’ve heard most of the songs before but it’s been cool listening to them while trying to figure out if I could sing them.” Thiago stood behind the couch, leaning forward, his hands on the backrest. After the pizzas had been devoured, a few of them had stepped outside to smoke but the entire group was now together.

CJ and Owen sat next to each other on a loveseat by the fireplace with Ritchie on top of them using a leg from each to make a seat for himself. The rest of the guys were sprawled on the furniture or floor. Everyone seemed to enjoy the mellow time listening to Chipper and Thiago talk, the notes plucked from the guitar serving as the soundtrack for the evening.

“Anyway, I downloaded a bunch of music―iTunes’ got a lot of my money right now―amongst them the soundtrack for When Harry Met Sally, which has old music with Harry Connick, Jr. singing. Thiago and I practiced a bit over the past few days and there’s a couple of songs we want to play for you guys.” Chipper glanced up from his strumming and stared at Owen and CJ. Smirking, he hitched his chin up towards his two friends. “This one’s for the two love birds.”

“I know that song!” Brett’s comment when the first few bars of “It Had To Be You” rang out earned him a soft tap on the head from his husband.

“Hush, Jarhead.” César pulled Brett closer and gave him a kiss. “Listen to the kids and be quiet. If you behave, I’ll put out tonight.”

“I don’t want to hear that stuff, Dad. And you’re going to traumatize Ritchie and the other straight boys.” CJ wrapped his arms around his brother and pulled him onto his lap while tickling him.

“Stop it, CJ!” The boy wriggled atop his brother and ended up laying sideways across the loveseat, his back on his brother and his legs atop Owen. “And I’m not going to be traumatized. Heck, if they have butt sex maybe we’ll end up with a brother who becomes a lawyer!”

“Hey! You better quit before I join your brother and tickle you until you pee.” Owen’s evil grin and raised fingers made Ritchie clamp a hand over his own mouth and shake his head.

Once the banter and laughing stopped, Chipper placed the guitar on his lap again and started playing. He and Thiago performed while CJ and Owen held hands and now and then leaned in for a kiss. The end of the song brought applause and cheers which the performers acknowledged with a bow before transitioning to a different song. They ran through a few before Chipper needed a bathroom break. He promised more music after he took care of business and his audience encouraged him to return quickly while some of them rose to stretch.

“I guess this is like intermission, right?” Harley stood, retrieved a joint from behind his ear, and held it out for everyone to see. “I’m going outside for a bit, anyone want to join me?”

Randy, Tyler, and CJ raised their hands. CJ lifted his brother up and let him take over his place next to Owen. Donning their coats, the three of them followed their friend out the sliding glass doors.

Chipper performed for a long time. A couple of old Beatles tunes everyone knew and sang along to. A handful in Spanish, and he even tried his hand at a Justin Timberlake number. “Okay, my fingers are done in for the night. One last song with Thiago. While listening to music on YouTube, trying to decide which ones to learn, I came across a duet between Frank Sinatra and Bono. Homie and I are gonna try to imitate them. This is for CJ and Ozzie again. But also for Randy and Ty in celebration of their wedding.”

At a nod from Thiago, Chipper strummed his guitar and sang the first two lines of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” His airy, sweet tones were followed by Thiago’s deep bass with the subsequent verse. The two alternated lines and joined together on several while CJ stared in disbelief. He’d heard the song before and the two sounded better to him than the recording. The round of applause and cheers went on for quite a while after they finished.

• • •

Tanix looked at the basement game room and whistled. “Damn! If I had a setup like this at home I don’t think I’d ever leave. No wonder it’s so rare for you guys to come out with us.” The muscle-bound blonde had just stepped into CJ’s lair for the first time ever.

Owen looked up from the pool table’s felt and smiled at his Washington Scandals Rugby Football Club teammate. “Mate, you made it! Good to see ya.”

“Thanks for inviting me. Hey, CJ.” The handsome man ran a hand through his hair as he approached the guys in the back room. “A guy with tats told me to come downstairs. He said he’s one of your dads?”

“What up, Tank? Yeah, that’s Papa. Can I get you something to drink? A Coke? A beer?” They’d returned from Colorado the previous day and crashed early. This was the last Sunday of their vacation as school started the following day for CJ and Ritchie.

“Nah, I’m good.”

“Your shot, CJ. Hi, I’m Ritchie, CJ’s brother. And that’s Patrick, Ozzie’s cousin. Is your name really Tank?”

“Hey, guys, nice to meetcha. Tank’s a nickname, Ritchie. My real name’s Tanix, Tanix Janda. I was the biggest guy on the first ship I was on and the crew started calling me Tank.”

“You were in the Navy?”

“Yep. Enlisted right after high school, served my time, and got out last year.”

“So what do you do now? I mean, I know you play rugby with Ozzie but I mean for work.”

“Ritchie! What the hell is this, an interrogation? Excuse my little brother, Tank. He seems to have forgotten his manners.” CJ shook his head while picking up a cue stick and moving closer to the pool table.

“Sooo-rry. I was just curious. Man you have even more muscles than our cousin Ty. Are you a bodybuilder?”

The muscular stud laughed and ruffled Ritchie’s hair. “It’s okay, CJ. I don’t mind the questions. But it means I get to ask just as many. I work as a bartender right now, Ritchie. But I’m going to school to become a Licensed Massage Therapist. What about you? What do you do for a living?”

The kid giggled while staring at the man. “I go to school. I’m in seventh grade at Sidwell Friends.”

“Isn’t that the school President Obama’s daughters go to?”

“Yeah! Sasha’s a friend of mine but I also know Malia. They’re both real nice and so are President and Mrs. Obama.”

“Wow, you’ve met the president?”

“CJ and I went to the White House twice last year.”

“Owen keeps telling us his boyfriend’s going to be President of the United States one day. Maybe I’ll get invited to the White House then. What about you, Patrick? Where do you go to school?”

“Same one as CJ and my brother: School Without Walls High School. But I’m two years younger than Brad and CJ. I’m only a sophomore.”

“I’m gonna take a wild guess and say Brad’s your bother. Were all of you part of the group that went skiing?”

“Yeah! We had a blast. But I didn’t ski at all. I spent all my time snowboarding.” Ritchie moved towards the table when his brother missed the shot.

“I wanna hear all about it. Maybe next time I’ll be able to afford it and invite myself along.”

Tank had texted Owen the previous day, wondering if he was back in town and asking if he wanted to hang out on Sunday. CJ suggested inviting him to come by the house for a while and then join them at the movies. They’d promised to take Ritchie to go see Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

CJ attended all the Scandals’ matches he was able to but rarely socialized with the team members afterwards. The ruggers were all older and their outings were for the most part pub crawls he wasn’t able to participate in because of his age. He had been invited to join the club. A couple of the guys told him he was the perfect size to play, but he had turned them down. He thought he and Owen should each have their own hobbies and since he was committed to practice at the dojo Friday nights, he left the rugby to his boyfriend.

The one player he’d become friendly with was Tank. Maybe because at twenty-one the guy was closer in age and very easy going. Owen had given him crap about liking his teammate because he was blonde, blue eyed, and a bodybuilder. Through the joking tone CJ thought there was a hint of jealousy; he made it a point to hold Owen’s hand as much as possible and be extra affectionate to his boyfriend whenever Tank was around them.

After the afternoon movie, CJ invited Tank to have dinner with the family. Ritchie’s love of Chinese food made the Abelló-Davenport household popular with the restaurant personnel. It had become a ritual for CJ to call in an order and then stop by the restaurant to pick it up. When after the movie, the guys stopped in on their way home to pick up the order they’d had placed earlier, he was greeted by name. Owen shook shake his head, Ritchie giggled, Patrick chuckled, and Tank looked lost.

“Mr. CJ! Welcome back! Your order’s ready.” The young Chinese man smiled as the person he claimed to be his favorite customer walked in.

“Uang, how many times do I have to tell you to drop the mister? It’s just CJ.”

After the food had been paid for, Tank grabbed Owen’s arm and held him back so the two trailed the younger guys. “How come they know CJ’s name? The same thing happened with the girl at the theatre’s ticket booth.”

“Mate, I already told you this is what I live with all the time. My boyfriend has a way of ingratiating himself with people. He calls them by name and they all seem to remember him. I get a nod if I’m lucky. He gets all the attention. And CJ’s the ultimate attention whore if you ask me.”

“I heard that!”

• • •

“Damn! You’re as big as a house!” CJ hoped any sting the words may have carried was obliterated by the warm embrace and affectionate kiss he gave Helen.

“CJ!” Owen looked horrified while shaking hands with Chatri. “That’s a horrible thing to say.”

The smack to the head surprised CJ, but Chatri’s laughter made him smirk. “Yeah, twerp, that’s my wife you’re calling fat.”

“That wasn’t your most eloquent statement ever, CJ. But you’re right, I am as big as a house. I want this damn kid out of me already.” Helen and her husband had met CJ and his boyfriend at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and N Street, in front of Martin’s Tavern. It was a chilly Saturday night and the two couples had agreed to meet for dinner at Washington’s oldest family owned restaurant and Georgetown landmark.

“Fine, fine, I’m a jerk. Can we continue this conversation in the restaurant? It’s kinda chilly and all I’m wearing’s my blazer.”

Inside, they were greeted warmly―CJ and Owen were frequent visitors―and shown to a booth. CJ grinned when he realized where they were about to be seated. “Cool, we get Nixon’s Booth.”

“You slide in first, Chatri. Your son’s kicking up a storm right now and I know I’m going to have to visit the ladies room soon. I’m thinking he wasn’t happy with the back pains he caused last night. Darn kid wants to make sure I know he’s coming soon.”

“Really? He’s awake and moving?” CJ was enthralled with the idea his friends’ kid was ready to come out and greet the world―Helen was due the following weekend.

“Here, give me your hand.” Helen didn’t wait for CJ to comply, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach.

“Oh, I can feel him. That’s so cool.” This was a new experience for CJ; the first time someone close to him in age carried a child. The intermittent bumping he guessed was the kid banging against Helen’s insides. He couldn’t imagine what it felt like to her.

“Not so cool when you’re the one being kicked.” Helen took the end of the bench while Owen and CJ slid in across from her and Chatri. “So what’s this Nixon’s Booth thing? I’ve never been here before.”

“I can’t believe that! And you’ve been in Washington for over two years? Look behind you. There’s a bronze plaque proclaiming this as The Richard Nixon Booth. He used to come here all the time when he was a senator back in the fifties and while he was Vice-President. This place’s been around forever. It’s the fourth generation of the family running it now. See that booth over there? They call that one the Proposal Booth. It’s were JFK proposed to Jackie.”

Helen glanced in the direction CJ pointed while rubbing her stomach in gentle circles. “As in President John F. Kennedy? How the hell do you know so much about the restaurant?”

“Yes, as in President Kennedy. And Ozzie knows just as much about this place as I do. We came here for dinner one night and spent a long time talking to Billy Martin, the owner.”

CJ could have ordered a beer when Chatri and Owen did―the server was surprised when he asked for a Sprite like Helen had―but he liked the restaurant and its owner and didn’t want to risk getting them in trouble.

The restaurant’s American fare wasn’t fancy, but it was tasty, plentiful, and reasonably priced, which CJ thought was one of the main reasons for its popularity and longevity. Over dinner, Chatri had funny stories from his residency at George Washington University Hospital. Owen told a few about their recent trip to Colorado. Helen shared some of the weird events which took place at Harding and Calhoun, and CJ finally revealed to his friends where he was going to school in the fall.

“That’s old news, kiddo.” They had finished their meal and the men were enjoying a cup of coffee as Helen struggled out of her seat. “I have to go to the restroom. You forget I work for Dr. Calhoun. We get daily updates on the lives of Chipper, you, and the rest of your friends. As soon as you told your boys where you are going to school, we heard about it in the office. I’ll be right back.”

CJ and Chatri placed credit cards atop the bill when the server dropped it off at their table. The two agreed beforehand to split the check in order to avoid fighting over it. The three men were still talking, Owen rolling a cigar between his fingers―his desire to get out of the place so he could light it obvious―when Helen returned looking a little agitated.

She gave them a small smile and looked at her husband. “Honey, we have to go.”

“Are you okay? Everything alright?” Chatri looked and sounded worried as he started to slide out of his seat.

“Yeah… Well… Not really. My water broke. We need to get to the hospital.”

“Shit, shit, shit. He’s early.” Chatri was frazzled. He couldn’t stop moving or talking. “We’re not ready. I knew we should have driven being this close to the date.” He glanced at his wife standing before them and her demeanor must have calmed him down a bit: Helen was not freaking out. “It’ll be fine, babe. I’ll get an Uber. Crap, we don’t have what we need. Damn, the timing, sorry, guys but―”

“Chatri, relax. It’s going to be fine.” CJ and Owen stood and started walking towards the door, following the couple. “Before you call Uber, let’s walk outside. It’s Saturday night and I’m sure we can get you a taxi right out front. What is it you need you don’t have?”

“It’s a suitcase we have packed, sitting by the front door.” The father-to-be took a breath and slowed down but still sounded agitated. “It’s stuff Helen’s going to need.”

“Give me the key to your apartment. Ozzie and I will jog home and get my Jeep. Look! There’s a taxi. Flag it down, Ozzie. We’ll go pick up the suitcase and bring it to the hospital. Which one by the way? Georgetown or George Washington?”

Chatri removed a key from the ring and placed it on CJ’s palm. “GW. Thanks, buddy! Congratulations, by the way, you’re about to become an uncle. Ozzie, bring me one of those cigars when you guys come over. I plan on lighting up as soon as the kid’s born.”

The taxi sped off towards the hospital while CJ and Owen rushed back to the Prospect Street house. The black metal gate in front of the side courtyard was open and they found César, Brett, JP, and Tom sitting around the fire pit smoking cigars.

“Hey, guys, how was dinner? How are Chatri and Helen?” Brett waved toward two empty chairs, inviting the younger men to join them.

“Good and good, Papa, but we can’t hang. Helen’s water broke at dinner and they left for the hospital. I’m gonna get a better coat and then Ozzie and I need to go to their apartment, pick up a bag for Helen, and take it to the hospital.”

“Her water broke at the restaurant? What a mess!” Tom’s half grin surprised CJ. “I remember from when my kids were born.”

“Never saw it, Uncle Tom. Happened when she went to the bathroom after we’d finished eating. Hey, I’m not sure what time I’ll be back. I’m gonna stick with Chatri until the baby’s born. Ozzie might bring the Jeep back if he doesn’t want to stay.”

“Forget it, mate. If you stay, so do I.”

“You two be careful, okay?” César stood and walked towards his son and Ozzie and placed an arm around each one. “The bag probably has clothes and makeup and stuff like that. She won’t need any of it right away. Take your time and don’t drive crazy. Oh, your brother and Patrick are downstairs playing pool. Let Ritchie know you might not be around in the morning in case we don’t see him before he calls it a night.”

“Okay, Dad.”

“Tell Chatri and Helen we’ll check with them after we talk to you. And if she’s up for visitors, we’ll come see them tomorrow.”

Gamon Arthur Mookjai was born in the early hours of Sunday, January 17, 2016. CJ and Owen were the first to hold the newborn after the nurses and parents. Chatri’s genes had been the victors of any battle with Helen’s. The kid looked like his father, with almond shaped eyes and a full head of black hair. It was near sunrise when CJ and Ozzie left the hospital and returned home.

• • •

CJ left a note on the kitchen counter letting his dads know what time he and Owen had returned from the hospital and asking them not to let anyone wake them unless the house was burning down. The two men slept until noon and awoke to find a Post-it attached to the basement door letting them know the dads had taken Ritchie to the hospital to meet Gamon.

They had a lazy day at home. In the afternoon, friends started dropping by to play pool and watch the National Football League’s playoff games. Owen invited Tank and the burly rugby player got along well with everyone. He helped clean more than his share before leaving and profusely thanked CJ and Owen before repeating the process with César and Brett.

On Thursday, District of Columbia schools opened two hours late due to a little snow falling overnight. “This town would die if it ever got as much snow as we did back in Boston. Ain’t that right, Patrick?” Brad, CJ, and Chipper waited at the bus stop outside School Without Walls High School, stomping their feet to warm up.

“I think DC would have more equipment to clear the snow if they got that much.” Patrick giggled as they climbed aboard the bus headed to Georgetown. “I remember when I was like in fourth grade and we had so much snow even Boston closed down.”

Chipper took the first seat available and slid towards the window. “Same thing happened in New York! I remember that year. So, guys, with more snow predicted and school already canceled tomorrow and Monday, what are we gonna do this weekend?”

CJ fished the phone out of his pocket when the message chime sounded and after reading the message showed it to his friends. “I think my boyfriend has the right idea.” Owen’s short text read: ***snow days=nyc?***.

“Hell, yeah. I’m game. Let me text my sister.” Chipper was already in the process of retrieving his own phone as he turned in his seat and looked at the Kennedy brothers. “You guys in?”

“I can’t, man. Fuck! Since practice was called off today and tomorrow, the lacrosse team made plans to hit the gym together in the morning. And on Saturday all the guys are meeting to go over plays and stuff. We’re gonna win a championship for Walls this year if I have anything to say.” Brad proved to be an asset to the team the prior season and was elected as a captain for his senior year. He was constantly bragging about how good they were and how they were going to mop the floor with the competition.

CJ was happy to see his friend take on the responsibility and redirect his efforts away from partying and towards his sport. “That’s a shame, Red. What about you, Patrick? Wanna come with? I’m sure Uncle Tom would let you go with me and Ozzie.”

“Nah, thanks, CJ. I feel kinda funny when I’m the youngest one.”

“You shouldn’t, bud. We don’t mind you hanging with us.”

“I know, but still… You guys go and have a good time.”

When CJ arrived home, he found Owen in the basement sitting at the game table writing furiously on a legal pad, several open books and a laptop in front of him. César and Brett had given the Aussie a key to the house and his own access number for the security system months before. He turned and smiled, hearing the usual assault on the staircase his boyfriend was often accused of. “Hey!”

“What up, Ozzie? Studying?” CJ dropped his backpack and hugged the man from behind.

“Trying to finish something up in case we go away. So what’s the plan? Ethan’s in if we decide to go.”

“So’s Chipper, but Brad and Patrick are a no go.”

“That sucks. Are you going to invite Harley?”

“I was actually thinking of Tank. You think he might wanna go?”

Owen gave CJ a questioning look. “Tank instead of Harley? How come?”

“Well, Cristina’s going out of town so we won’t be going out with her. I’m sure Sean and Ajax will join us at some point and you know how it is when it’s only the gay crowd. I don’t want Harley feeling out of place. I’ll plan another trip to the City later and invite him.”

“Yeah, but Tank? Why? Do you have the hots for him now?”

“Don’t be an ass! Of course not. But I like the guy. And when we took Ethan with us last year it gave us a chance to get to know him better. I figured we could do the same with Mr. Bodybuilder.”

“I’ll call and invite him. But he may have to work. And if he doesn’t, money may be an issue.”

“Tell him all he has to pay for is the train. Free place to stay. We’ll eat in the apartment most of the time, and if we go to the gym I’ll make sure Colt doesn’t charge him. Oh, one other thing. Not sure when and the weather may be a bitch, but I promised Robbie Mook you and I would meet up with him next time we went to New York. I think he wants to show us around campaign headquarters in Brooklyn.”

“That works, mate. If we go over there, the other guys can hang out on their own for a while. But you and I may have to discreetly cover some things if we decide to go out. Tank watches his pennies.”

CJ’s mouth hung open while Owen dialed their friend. What a long way to come for the man who didn’t want CJ to pay for things at the beginning. He was definitely happy his boyfriend had changed his attitude.

• • •

CJ pocketed the credit card receipt the cab driver handed him and reached for the backpack between his legs in the foot well. When the taxi’s door was pulled open, he stared into a pair of bright, shimmering blue eyes. “Ajax!”

“Welcome back, CJ. Hey, guys.” The dark-haired doorman for the building on the corner of Lexington Avenue and Seventy-Sixth Street smiled when Ozzie, Chipper, and Ethan bumped fists with him. “You're all nuts, you know that?”

“Why’s that?” CJ walked inside the lobby with the rest of the guys following him.

“Because we expect a storm tomorrow. You may be stuck inside most of the day.”

“I’m sure we’ll find a way to keep ourselves occupied. Hey, Tank. This is Ajax Karalis. He’s our favorite doorman and a friend. Ajax, this is our buddy, Tanix Janda. Better known as Tank. It’s his first time in the City.”

“Welcome to New York, Tank. Sorry about the weather. You may not get a lot of sightseeing in this weekend. But I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“Thanks! I’m sure I’ll have a good time.”

CJ was retrieving papers from the mailbox when he looked back at the group milling inside the entrance. “So, Ajax, you working this weekend? Or can you and your girlfriend join us for dinner?”

“Not tonight. I need to go home. I’m working tomorrow and they’ve already told us to bring a bag with clothes in case we get stranded.”

“If you do, you’re staying with us.”

Inside the apartment, CJ’s first stop was the kitchen. He made a list of what he thought they’d need for the weekend and handed it to Chipper. “Dude, you and Ethan show Tank around while Ozzie and I head to Brooklyn, okay?”

“You’re meeting your friend today?”

“Yeah, Robbie suggested this afternoon would be best. On your way back from wherever you guys go, stop and pick up the shit on the list. Make sure you pay and we’ll settle later. I’ll text you when we’re done and then we’ll meet back here.”

On the way to Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Headquarters, he and Owen called Sean Brody to check in and figure out when they could see the redhead. They made plans to meet in Chelsea in the early evening.

CJ and Owen were the first to return to the apartment. They’d enjoyed their late lunch with Robbie and Owen was even able to meet Secretary Clinton who’d stopped in for a little while before heading home to await the storm. The guys showered and changed and once their friends returned from their own adventures and cleaned up, the five headed out.

“Chipper and Ethan told me a little about Sean while we were running around.” Tank had his face glued to the window of the Uber taking them from the Upper East Side down to Chelsea. “We’re meeting him at his work?”

“Yep. He’s a personal trainer at a gym and a bartender at a place called PRIME. That’s where we’re headed.” CJ tapped Owen on the leg and grinned. “Tank reminds me of you during your first trip to New York. He can’t stop gawking.”

Tank tore his eyes away from the cityscape flowing by for a moment. “That’s ’cause I’m not used to all these big buildings. Ain’t nothing like this back in Lafayette, Louisiana. This Sean sounds like me. Half my time at the gym and half working at a bar.”

“I think you’ll like him. He’s a cool dude. And he’s in good shape, but he ain’t as jacked as you, bud.”

“No need for him to be unless he’s competing. So we’re going to a bar? How’re you getting in?”

“I’m eighteen now. I’ll get in but I won’t get a wristband to let me buy drinks. Plus, we know the owner anyway. Tony won’t make a big deal about my age anymore.”

“You know the owner?” Tank’s surprise at CJ knowing a bar owner in New York City grew as the rest of the group filled the vehicle with laughter.

“Mate, welcome to my world! My boyfriend knows everybody. You should have seen Secretary Clinton fawning over him when she stopped in at her campaign headquarters while we were in there.”

“Shut it, Ozzie! He’s exaggerating. I don’t know everybody as he claims.”

“Of course you don’t. Only the bloody important ones.”

The car dropped them off on Ninth Avenue in front of their destination and CJ led them towards the entrance. He smiled at the hulking man bundled up against the cold, working security. “Hey, Vlad.”

“CJ, my man. Sean told me to expect you and your friends.” The thick Russian accent made the muscular bouncer sound intimidating.

“You remember my boyfriend Ozzie, right? And the other guys are Ethan, Chipper, and Tank. I’m sure you can figure out who the last one is based on his size.”

CJ and Owen had met Vladimir before, when they’d worked out at WOOF on previous trips. “Welcome to PRIME, guys. Let’s get these on you.” He ripped individual strips from the lime-green sheet he pulled from his pocket and attached a wristband to each of the proffered forearms, winking while doing CJ’s. “Sean also gave me this for you. You forgot your driver’s license at the gym last time you were there.” CJ looked at the New York State driver’s license with his picture on it and raised a questioning eyebrow. “You boys go in now and have a good time. Don’t get too drunk, okay?”

They dropped their jackets off at the coat check as soon as they were inside before heading towards the back bar where Vlad had told them Sean was working. CJ smiled as they approached their friend who was busy mixing cocktails and failed to notice them. Seeing the redhead, CJ turned to his group with an evil grin and put a finger to his lips. They approached the bar and before Sean noticed, CJ reached across and tweaked a nipple on the furry man. “Hey, sexy. Wanna come home with me and fuck?”

Sean fumbled the bottle he was pouring from and almost dropped it. “Asshole! I can’t believe you pulled that shit on me. You were gonna be paying for that bottle if I’d dropped it.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like you’ve never been felt up by a customer before. Hey, Sean.”

Sean wiped his hands dry on a rag, reached over and placed one behind CJ’s head, and pulled him halfway across the bar before planting a torrid kiss on his younger friend’s lips. “I should take you to the bathroom and just fuck you silly in there. But your boyfriend might object. How the hell ya doing, Ozzie? Ethan, Chipper, welcome back.”

While the guys greeted Sean and introduced him to Tank, CJ glanced around the room, trying to locate Tony. PRIME’s owner was nowhere to be found but he would probably make an appearance sometime during the evening. “Hey, Sean. What’s the deal with that driver’s license Vlad gave me?”

The redhead smirked while pouring some sort of milky concoction into shot glasses. He looked around for a moment and winked at CJ. “Here, guys. White Russian shooters to celebrate our friend’s twenty-first birthday.” He pushed the drinks towards his customers before leaning in and lowering his voice. “Consider it my birthday present, okay? I know Chipper has one already and thought you might be able to put it to good use. Cheers, men!”

“But, but, how?”

“Hey, I have my sources. The picture I downloaded from your Facebook page. Sent it to my guy along with your name and your address here in the City. He did the rest.”

By the time Sean’s shift ended at nine, word had spread through the bar the mayor had called for a citywide travel ban which extended from 2:30 p.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. Sunday. His personal training clients the next morning had canceled already so he grabbed his gym bag and followed the guys outside. They stopped at a falafel spot to grab a bite to eat and headed back to the Upper East Side apartment.

The temperature did not climb above the freezing mark all day, but the apartment was warm thanks to Owen turning up the thermostat before going out for the evening. The guys changed into shorts and sweatshirts as soon as they returned, raided the liquor cabinet, and then sat around talking while drinking. Although a light snow was falling, the worst of the storm wasn’t expected until around lunch the next day so they decided to call it an early night and go out for breakfast and a little sightseeing in the morning.

Ethan and Sean were in the kitchen, rinsing glasses and putting them in the dishwasher when CJ sent Owen to their bedroom to fetch extra pillows and blankets for Tank. “Okay, bud. Let’s open up the sofa and get you set up. I’ll make breakfast in the morning and then we can run out until it starts snowing hard. I think we should go to the Empire State Building. You get to see one of the top attractions and the view should be pretty good.”

“CJ?” Chipper looked at his friend while putting away liquor bottles and winked. “If Tank doesn’t mind, he can just sleep with me. We can help keep each other warm.”

The bodybuilder stopped what he was doing and smiled. “That sounds good to me. Since you and I are the single guys in the group we gotta help each other out.”

“We’re single!” Sean and Ethan shouted simultaneously from the kitchen.

“Yeah, but you’re like friends with benefits.” Tank stared at Chipper and frowned. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m a bottom.”

• • •

CJ was in the kitchen the following morning, washing baby spinach leaves for omelets, when Chipper stumbled in looking for coffee. It was early and the two of them were the only ones awake so far. The laughter came out of nowhere as CJ ripped a paper towel from the roll, moistened it, and handed it to his friend. “I think you have a little dried cum on your goatee, bud.”

Chipper looked at CJ while dabbing at his face and joined in the laughter. “Damn! I thought we’d licked it all up last night.”

“Pig! I can’t believe you just went and propositioned that man last night. Was it worth it?”

“Hell, yeah! You wouldn’t believe what he can do with all those muscles. I thought his ass was gonna rip my dick off. That boy can take a fuck!”

“Yeah? Figures, the bigger they are, the faster their legs get spread. And what are you going to do tonight? If Ajax does spend the night?”

“Hopefully he will. And hopefully I’ll end up in my favorite position: the middle.”

“You think he’ll go for it?”

“Yep.” Chipper sipped his coffee slowly and smiled without further elaboration. “What can I do to help?”

“Don’t go changing the subject, dude. How do you know Tank will be interested in a threesome?”

“Because I asked him? I explained about me and Ajax and Marina. He says he’s not interested in pussy at all but he’s down for playing with me an Ajax if there’s no girls involved. And since it sounds like Marina won’t be here and Ajax may be stranded…”

For being the city that never sleeps, New York was a somnolent town when the guys walked outside after breakfast. CJ was the first one on the sidewalk, and after seeing the snow covered streets and cars, shook his head while slipping an arm through Owen’s. “This don’t look good, guys. Do you hear that?”

“Hear what, mate? I don’t hear anything.”

“Exactly! That’s the sound of silence. No engines revving. No horns blaring. No pedestrians talking. Hell, almost no cars or pedestrians anywhere.”

Chipper stood in front of the couple and smirked. “I think the place’s shutting down early. Even if that travel ban won’t go in effect until later.”

“The Empire State Building may not be a good idea, Tank.” CJ turned his head to look at their new friend. “Sorry about it, bud. I think your sightseeing may have to wait until the next trip.”

“It’s okay, CJ. I’m having a good time anyway.”

“Yeah, I heard all about it this morning.” CJ’s laughter made the big guy blush. “How about we walk a couple of blocks and checkout Central Park instead? It looks real pretty when it’s covered in fresh snow.”

Their excursion was short-lived. The snowball fight and snow-wrestling was fun but the cold got to them. After stopping at a Starbucks―one of the few shops they found open―they returned to the apartment building and spent the rest of the day watching movies on cable.

• • •

CJ tried to make as little noise as possible when he closed the bedroom door but he could not stop chuckling. Owen turned on the bedside lamp and stared at his boyfriend. “What are you doing, CJ? What time is it?”

“Go back to sleep, babe. The damn heat has me dehydrated. I went to get a glass of water.”

“What time is it?”

“About three, I think.”

“And what are you chuckling about at this hour?”

“Chipper, Ajax, and Tank. They’re going at it again. I could hear the moaning and whispers as soon as I walked in the hallway. Damn whispers weren’t so whispery. I think they’re tag-teaming Tank again.”