Jamie - The Journey Begins - 11. Chapter 11 The Day After

My eyes slowly opened with the morning light pouring in. I could feel the light like sharp needles sticking into my eyeballs. ‘Oh, my head. Did anyone get the number of the truck that ran over me?’

I heard a groan and felt movement next to me. ‘Where the fuck am I, and who the… is that?”’ A small feeling of fear and dread gripped me for a moment, my heart pumping into life at full throttle. I moved quietly, trying not to disturb whoever was in the bed next to me, well, just in case I had to do a runner out of the room, and act all ‘not me - I don’t know.’

Carefully I peered over the covers. ‘Oh thank god, it’s Lucas.’ I could tell by the light brown hair sticking out from under the top of the bed covers. I let out a quiet deep breath and felt a wave of relief wash over me. I’m trying to make a new start - I promised myself no more stupid stuff.

Well…not as much stupid stuff maybe.

A familiar voice broke me out of my groggy state, giving me a bit of a start.

“Wha’?” Tom was way too loud this morning. “Ahh, it lives. Jamie is back with us.”

Pulling myself up, leaning against the headboard with the bedsheet falling across my waist, I surveyed the room. Okay, it didn’t get all freaky in here, I guess - the place looked all neat and tidy. Well, except the two-thirds spent bottle of JD and pair of shot glasses. Okay, and empty ranch, honey mustard and BBQ Pringles packets - must have been doing stackers and shots.

“You had a good time last night Jamie. Looks like you and Josh hit it off and maybe a little private party in here, too, huh/” Tom looked at the evidence on the bedroom bureau.

“Oh my god! What did I do?” I looked up at Tom, puzzled.

Salvation was in his hands: two coffees and glasses of water with aspirin fizzing away.

“One for you, one for me buddy. Big night for all of us,” Tom said, as he set the glasses down on the bedside table.

“Big night, Jamie. Thought Lucas here was going home with one of the guy’s sisters at one point. Lucas and Jess vanished not long after you and Josh did.”

I didn’t say a word. In fact, I did my level best not to make eye contact with Tom at all. Grabbing the aspirin and coffee with both hands and holding them up, I offered, “Cheers Tommy.”

Ah, salvation - my saviour in the form of fizzing aspirin to deliver me from this self-induced hell I’ve woken to. Before I have even put my lips to the glass, I can already feel - anticipate almost - the feeling of the aspirin sliding down my throat. ‘Over the teeth, down the tongue, Lookout stomach here it comes.’

I gulped down the entire contents of the glass in one go - okay, it tastes crappy but will deliver me from death’s door. Aspirin, paracetamol, has always had a quick effect on me. I start to feel the positive effects on me pretty much straight up even if it really hasn’t gotten into my blood stream. I guess years of your parents telling you as a kid ‘this will make it all better’ pre-conditions us all, right?

“Oh lord, Tom, you are a king of men,” the warmth and spice of the coffee began springing me into life. It was like someone turned on all the lights and work stations in my head, ready for the staff to come in and start up.

“Um…Tom?”

“Jamie?” He cocked his head toward me. Tom was searching the room for something but couldn’t see it. My eyes were just able to focus on the large objects, so I wasn’t going to even offer.

Taking a deep breath and feeling levels of dread rise, I queried, “Tom, what the hell happened last night? I seem to have, um, lost some time.”

A wide grin spread across Tom’s face while he was downing his coffee and aspirin.

“Well,” he replied, raising his eyebrows, you and Josh arrived here about thirty minutes after I’d gotten back with the boat. The two of you climbed out of his truck joking around and laughing while grabbing a couple of cases of beer out of the tub. I was almost wondering if you’d got lost or something as we’d flushed the boat out and all in that time.”

I could feel my face turning red, and I had the urge to move, wriggling a bit in bed shaking that nervous energy out that was slowly building in me.

“Chill, Jamie. No need for red-face. You’re all good, thanks to Josh anyway. He seems like a nice guy. You in the market for a boyfriend? If so think he could go on a short list, bud.” Tom had an eat-shit grin plastered all over his face.

“Ha-ha, Tommy.” I plunged my face into my hands. A few flashes of memory had started to come back. Tommy, I recall joining in a conversation that someone was having. Was it a few of the girlfriends or wives were arguing that boxer briefs were sexier than straight up briefs? I can’t remember who it was, but someone came over the top all laughing and giving us guys all a score out of ten. Most of the guys wearing shorts were scoring higher. Then-Jane! That’s right, Jane, said that briefs were way better to look at as Ryan joined in.”

Tom started to laugh, “Yep Ryan sure is a dark horse there. Wasn’t sure which way he played, but that all came out last night, not that I care in the slightest.” He looked at me with a stare as if I should know something.

“I remember Ryan saying, ‘No, briefs were better because you got to see more.’ I couldn’t help myself, saying, ‘No, boxer briefs or tight shorts were better because they left more to the imagination, showed off a nice butt and upper leg.”

“And then Jamie…”

“I proved it. Oh my god – it’s coming back.”

“Yes, buddy,” Tom laughed. “You climbed up into the back of your truck, dropping the tailgate and saying, ‘Let’s get this party started.’ I think you were in ‘Footloose’ or something?”

“Hmm, Kevin Bacon was so hot in that movie. Damn, he could dance!”

“Yeah, well then you started to do a striptease to a whole crowd of gathered wives and girlfriends. Well, um… and Ryan joined in too. Think you’ve won a heart there, buddy.”

Lucas let out a giggle from underneath the covers.

“A few calls of ‘get them off,’ and you had-‘em all going nuts at one point - plenty of cheering.”

“Oh my god! I didn’t, please, no!” I could feel my face burning and now I was starting to feel sick. Was it the coffee and aspirin or memories of what followed?

Tom, started to laugh while I looked around the room.

“I think I need a bucket.”

A voice under the covers piped up - Lucas.

“Yeah, Jamie, then you started to tease them with your tee, lifting it up and down, rubbing your hand over your stomach to howls of encouragement from your new best friends. It was all pretty harmless until someone started playing ‘Pony’ on the boat sound system.”

“Lucas, that was me,” Tom offered, raising his eyebrows in encouragement for Lucas to go on.

Lucas laughed. “Of course it was Tommy - who else? Man, you two guys get up to serious shit when you’re together. It’s like you’re back in college. I still remember hearing the stories about Uncle Rob getting called down by the local cops. Wasn’t the officer in charge a friend of his?”

“Yeah, the Senior Sargent was Mr. Spence’s gold buddy, right Jamie?”

“Yeah, the old man is still pissed about how many times we got locked up for…”

“…Mainly drunk in a public place and dancing with your pants around your ankles, if I remember. Thomas, hmm, James?” Lucas was trying his best to put on straight face but failed miserably.

“Oi,” Tom responded. “Lucas, you didn’t waste any time joining in when you were over in OZ. I remember someone thinking it was like all their Christmases had come at once, because the legal drinking age is eighteen. Hmmm.”

“Who was the one that got locked-up for kissing a cop?” Tom was pointing his finger straight at Lucas with a ‘don’t you dare’ look.

Lucas had now sat up and was grinning away like the town fool. “Okay. But to be fair, I didn’t know that that was the guy’s wife on patrol with him. It was just some fun.”

We all started to laugh. That was a total blast of a night - Lucas getting locked up for kissing a guy, because Tommy and I had dared him to. And the cop’s wife or girlfriend something driving past in a patrol car spotted it and lost her shit big time. What’s the odds?

“That, Jamie, was all the encouragement you needed.” Lucas’ voice snapping me back to the here and now. “Next minute your shirt, chucks and cap were coming off and flying across Tom’s lawn into the crowd. They gathered around your truck going nuts.”

“Damn, Jamie, gotta say, although you’re my cousin and all, you looked pretty hot, buddy. That time in the gym burning off all the frustration and shit from your ex has been well spent. Got tongues wagging.”

“Even flushed Ryan out,” Tom chimed in. “I was sure he played at least both sides of the card. Reminded me a bit of you, Jamie, just a year or three younger.”

“Oh god, no, please no more!” I thought my face was going to literally burst into flames.

“Lucas, look at your cousin - he’s gonna catch fire.”

I just shook my head, I was so embarrassed. It was all coming back with a rush now. I’d gotten my shirt and stuff off, and was sliding my board shorts off, slowly to the music. Letting them fall around my ankles, kicking them of them with one leg then flicking them into the crowd with the other foot.

Lucas had returned from the bathroom deciding to join back in. “The best bit, Jamie, was when Ryan pushed thru the crowd waving an Andrew Jackson at you chanting, ‘Take it off.’

“Tom, did you see that look on the boy’s face? You know the one right before…”

“Oh yeah, Lucas, the one Jamie gets, just before he goes all mischievous. That was it for sure,” Tom happily added.

“You two guys are having the time your lives reliving last night, aren’t you both? I just want to slip under the sheets and die. Fuck! What does Josh think of me?”

“Don’t stress, buddy. It was pretty awesome to watch actually.” Tom rubbed my forearm.

“Josh jumped up beside you and the two of you started dancing up close. Next minute the two of you were rubbing against each other, which was just setting the crowd off now. Even the guys had stopped helping me pack my boat away and joined in the cheering.”

“Next, you signalled for Josh to take his shit off. Next minute, the two of you were doing something that resembled the Cha-Cha, but up close and very, very hot. Did you learn that dancing recently? I don’t remember you doing that when we were kids, Jamie?”

“I took up Latin dancing classes last year, as a distraction from all the shit going on.”

“Julie - you remember her, right? Mason’s now ex - she came along too. The instructor thought we were a couple.”

“What the fuck? Mason and her have split? What did that fuck wad do? Jules was always so much fun when we were at high school and college. I bet her brother is gonna bust Mason in half when he catches up with him. But what the fuck Jamie?”

“Yeah Tommy, I busted Mason at it again, with some girl he picked up. I told Julie so she didn’t find out like the last time. Anyways, she kicked his ass out, and then moved out herself anyway, selling the house and they’re all done, over apparently. She’s been hurt one last time by him. I still felt so bad for Jules. She so doesn’t deserve that. My brother is an ass.”

The old stories and laughs from a few boozy nights years ago, plus the whole Julie-Mason thing, had distracted me from that realization, last night. It was coming back to me now as the coffee was starting to turn sour in my stomach.

“That brother of yours is a prick anyway, Jamie.” Tommy spat with venom in his voice. “Back to you and Josh dancing in the back of your truck.” A huge smile washed over Tom’s face. “One moment you’re standing next to Josh, talking into his ear, next minute you’ve got Josh’s jeans unbuttoned and slipped your hands inside cupping his butt in your hands and pulling him in close.”

“Oh my god,” I shoved my face into my hands, “if this hangover doesn’t kill me, the sheer glee on your face, Tommy, and now fuck, Lucas too, as you replay the night’s exploits with total delight. You love seeing how much this is killing me, don’t you?” I tried my best to deliver a serve of stink eye to them both, but they were oblivious.

“Yeah, Tommy-,” Lucas dives in now, of course, “I liked the bit when Jamie, slipped Josh’s jeans down enough to expose the dark blue briefs he was wearing. Jane went crazy, shouting, ‘See - I told you briefs looked better!’ It was funny as.”

I threw my head backwards looking to the heavens for salvation or some mercy, which I know I wasn’t going to get from these two bastards.

“You two, Tom-Lucas, are having the time of your lives, aren’t you, retelling my exploits from last night?”

“Jamie,” Lucas jumped up out of bed now, looking like he’d just won the state lotto, walked over and stood beside Tommy, who, by the way, had been laughing so much his face was all red, with streaks of the tears from laughing had trailed down.

“You, my young cousin, were nodding your head like you’d just spun up a jackpot on a slot machine when you slipped your hands into Josh’s jeans. The onlookers, including some of my neighbours, were agreeing with you.”

“I didn’t, did I? Lucas please? Fuck, how much had I been drinking? Christ!” And what-the fuck, young cousin bullshit! You’re only fourteen days older than me, fuckwad.” Lucas just blew me a cherry and tapped his butt.

“Fourteen days is fourteen days buddy. You’re like the youngest off all of us, Jamie,” he replied, shaking his head with a googled-eye look.

All I could think of was, ‘meh.’ Lucas is right, but not ever going to admit that to him or Tom, for that matter.

“Tom?”

“Yeah, Jamie?”

“Please, tell me I didn’t pull his cock out or mine, did I?”

Lucas and Tom looked at each other all serious like for a moment, then started to laugh.

A voice came from the doorway at that moment. “No I asked you not to, not there. You could somewhere more private if you wanted, and you smiled back at me, and what a smile Jamie.”

It was Josh. He’d obviously stayed over too, and was smirking away.

“You had had a few drinks, but I think not enough food was the problem. Much to the disappointment of the crowd, you grabbed Josh’s hand and both leapt off the truck and disappeared from view, didn’t they Lucas?”

“Yep, Tommy… didn’t see them for the rest of the night.”

I looked up at Josh, trying to read what had happened. I couldn’t really remember much of the night after that, the next thing I knew it was morning.

Well, I didn’t feel like I’d had sex - you know that feeling when you know the boys been playing even if your mind is out to it - so maybe I wasn’t a total idiot, or was I? Maybe I tried, but the boy wouldn’t play. I started to freak myself out.

“I guess the combination of a bit of booze, flights, not much food and being ridiculously tired took its toll on me.”

“Lucas,” Tom called out as he was heading for the bedroom door. “Come and give me a hand for a moment?” nodding towards the door with his head.

Lucas jumped down off the bedside drawers, giving me a wink before heading towards the door with Tommy. Within a few seconds, they’d left Josh and me in the bedroom together in silence.

Shit, did I have stuff to apologize for? Was I an idiot? My god, I hope not. I looked around the room, for something, anything to distract me from the mess I’m sure I’d made with Josh, settling for covering my face with my hands and gently rocking back, leaning against the headboard.

“Josh,” I mumbled uncovering my face. “I just want to–” he cut me off, holding his hand’s up in an all-cool type of wave, coupled with a calm, almost understanding, look on his face as he walked over toward the bed.

“Can I sit down, Jamie?” His face was full of compassion and understanding, I think, well it didn’t look like anger, but what it is was? What if this is how he looks when his angry, cool but how would you know if you’ve done the wrong thing? It’s like when you hurt yourself physically it hurts right, so you learn not to do that, what if-. Oh god Jamie, get out of your own head.

“Sure,” I smiled, wriggling over a bit as Josh sat beside me about halfway along my thigh. His hand came to rest just above my knee. I could feel the warmth of it, and that cologne again… what the hell was it?

‘Replica’ that’s it! Fuck, that’s nice.

“Jamie.”

Josh’s firm voice snapped me out of my man daze.

“Look nothing happened last night, you know, after the show… outside… well, that you or I didn’t want to. I heard you say to Tom that you didn’t remember much of last night. I’ve come to know that you tend to have long conversations in your head, stressing about what might have or did happen, don’t you Jamie?”

“Yeah, kinda.” Yep, face is all red again. How the hell did he know that? Oh, for fuck’s sake, I’m doing exactly that, STOP IT JAMIE!!!

“Well, we came back here. You disappeared for a moment, then came back with your ‘party pack,’ you called it. – Pringles - so we could do flavour stacks, because you said you hadn’t eaten since being on the plane and didn’t want to get too drunk. Sorry sexy, think that bus had already left the station. And a bottle of Jack Daniels and some shot glasses.”

“Um, they were in the band of my boxer briefs weren’t they Josh?”

A totally heart-warming smile broke across his face. Fuck, this guy is hot.

“Yep, ah-ha, and I had to get them out with only my mouth, you insisted.”

I rubbed my face with my hands, “I’m sorry Josh, I shouldn’t have done that. I hope I didn’t.”

“It’s ok Jamie, I wanted it to. It was fun.”

“So, we did a few shots. Then, you made me a ‘BBQ stacker’ you called it - wasn’t too bad. And we ended up on the bed.” Josh nodded towards the bed we were now sitting on.

“Josh, I really don’t remember much past coming in here. I think the shots of JD wiped me out. I’m sorry to have to ask, but...” I was so nervous, biting my bottom lip, and my hands started to tremble. I slipped them under the covers out of sight, but Josh noticed.

“Jamie, we didn’t do anything more than make out and some grinding while rolling around on the bed. Not that we both didn’t want to - you were very up for it.”

“But then you told me about Sam. I could see how conflicted you were about him and knew it wasn’t right to, you know,” he followed, delivered with a look of sincerity that just melted my heart - Damn Josh, damn! “I couldn’t do that to you, Jamie. I respect you more than that. You’re clearly not a slutty guy and I didn’t want us to do something that either of us would regret in the morning.”

I blew a short breath out, and slightly shook my head. Wow, this guy, James Spence, a lucky man you are!

“We just made out in here for a while and you fell asleep on my chest. Then Lucas came in and said that there were two people on the pull-out couch in the lounge and both wanted him to sleep with them, and not in a platonic way. He was asking you for advice as to which one he should sleep with or should not at all. Mind you, he was almost as wasted as you were. And your judgement was a little off by then, I think. Saying ‘go three up’ was not the best idea to suggest to Lucas on your friend’s lounge. So, I jumped off the bed, and directed Lucas around to the other side of the bed, slipping his shoes off and pulling the covers over him, and I went and slept on the couch, alone too, okay.”

I was dumbstruck and in awe of this guy. Yes, I’m still hung up on Sam, but Josh showed me that there are nice guys out there too, and he’s certainly a good one. He could have just let me have my way last night and chalked it up to ‘you were keen for it Jamie.’ Maybe it’s time I started thinking more about the near term and not the immediate so much. I guess I am like a man-child at times.

Look at Josh - he looked after me and my drunken cousin too, in fact, sleeping out on a sofa with drunks and all sorts of crap going on around him, no doubt.

Why Josh, why Jamie? Why do I meet nice guys when I’m not in a place to do something about it? Then karma, or maybe fate, bites me in the butt. It’s like the more random a situation is, the nicest guy appears out of the blue, and they’re the best thing that has happened to me in so many ways. Is this my journey through life - stumble from one fuck up to another?

Just then my cell started ringing. Looking across to the bedside table, I could see it was Mom. ‘Yeah, there’s no way I’m taking that call.’ I let it go to voice mail.

Then I heard Lucas’ cell ringing from the other room I could hear him answering and from the tone of his voice knew it was Mom.

I looked at up at Josh. “Thank you, Josh. Really, you’re a good guy and I appreciate what you did or didn’t do last night.”

Josh’s face flushed red for a second and he smiled back at me. “It’s okay, Jamie. I had fun anyway. Maybe not as much as we could have,” he started to laugh, “but it was fun.”

Like the stealthy ninja that I am, I pulled myself up into a kneeling position in front of Josh and managed not to fall over or knock him off the bed - bonus points Spence. I leaned in close and kissed him, just a gentle, soft kiss. “Hmmm” rumbled in my throat, as Josh deepened our kiss. Bringing up his hand and gently cupping the back of my head, while his other arm snaked around my side, his palm resting against my back, his fingers digging into the groove of muscles in the centre my lower back.

‘Okay,’ I thought to myself. ‘I’m not drunk, and Josh’s not getting away a second time.’

“Oh, hi aunty Kate. I’m well thanks. How are you and Uncle Rob?” I could hear Lucas’s voice getting louder, somewhere off in the distance.

Damn, Mom wanted to talk to me. I hadn’t checked in since arriving at Tom’s place. Shit Mom, I’m thirty, not five. She’d clearly just called Lucas when I didn’t answer.

I broke our kiss, “Damn-it! That’s my Mom calling. I’m sorry Josh.”

I rolled my eyes and rocked back on to my heels, bracing for what was coming no doubt.

“I didn’t answer so she’s called Lucas. The woman’s relentless. Although we live in Australia obviously, you can hear out of the south, but not the southern Mom out of her. Sorry Josh.”

Lucas strolled in, with a smart ass look on his face, gesturing with his free hand that I was now in trouble. “Okay. Bye, Aunty Kate. Say hi to Uncle Rob, Katie and Steph for me. Here’s Jamie.”

He handed me the cell, giving me a ‘you’re gonna die for that’ look boy.

“Hi Mom.”

“No,” I physically ducked my head down. “I wasn’t ducking your call. I just didn’t get to the phone quick enough, I’m sorry.” Liar written all over my face and probably in my voice too.

Josh signalled he was going out to the lounge and quietly left.

I was momentarily distracted by his leaving, when snapped back into the conversation with, “Photos, what photos did Lucas send to Katie?”

I’m gonna pitch a fit at Lucas when I get off this call.

I think Mom sensed my instant anger about Lucas breaking the rules - no photos to family when were out playing around, and she changed the subject swiftly and smoothly too.

“So that nice Adam Yates, he’s been helping Julie move her stuff into a rental that he’s located for her. It was so lucky that Adam called in to drop off some papers for you and your father to keep, regarding the property settlements, and bumped into Julie.”

I could hear some sounds in the background - sounded like drawers being opened and closed, with hushed instructions being issued. Mom must have been supervising operations from the kitchen while talking, probably directing traffic in the house like always. Our family house operates like a fire station sometimes, the kitchen being the watch room.

“Anyways Jamie, Adam is taking Julie out for coffee after moving the last load of her stuff, it was okay for them to use your truck wasn’t it? Your father said you knew about it.”

“Ah-yeah, Mom, no problems. Adam is a nice guy, I’m sure he’ll help Julie out shifting everything. He’s the sort of guy she should have ended up with, not Moron-Mason.”

“James, that’s enough name calling.”

I just shook my head at being chided by Mom because I called Mason out. I couldn’t stifle the snort I let out. “Mom, did Adam say when my place would be ready? Are they still thinking a couple of months?”

“Yes. Your father was asking him the same question.”

“Adam is quite firm that your townhouse will be ready in eight to nine weeks tops. We drove past the worksite today and there’s plenty of movement out there - machines going in five directions at once, almost.”

“Hmm, maybe I’ll see if Julie still wants to take me up on the offer of being my roomie for a while - you know, ‘til she gets back on her feet after splitting from–”

“That’s nice of you, Jamie,” she replied, nicely cutting me off before I could bag my brother out again.

“Okay sweetheart I have to run now, your father is taking me out to dinner, so I have to get ready. Now please call me in a few days, once you’ve hit Texas. Okay, James?”

James - she called me James. There I was - five-years old again, being called James because I’d either didn’t follow orders or meant way to, and would be in trouble if I didn’t. Fuck it.

Clearing all that away I simply replied, “Sure Mom, will do. Love you, bye.”

..o0o..

After showering and getting into some clean clothes, we all piled into Josh’s truck and headed out for a day at Disneyland.

I was enjoying the sunshine and warm breeze as Josh steered us along the highway to Anaheim. Oh yeah, Lucas was in the back too, chatting away to Ryan, who’d joined us for the day.

“Yes,” I turned to Josh with a smile that any kid would be happy to have. “I’ve been waiting for this for about the last five years. “

The last time I was at Disneyland was with Lucas - we were in college, I think. I couldn’t sit still. We’d not even pulled up in the car park and I was acting like a five-year-old that had just downed a whole red raspberry soda.

“Okay Jamie, okay,” Josh smiled, trying to calm the instant over-excited man in the front seat of his truck. “Let me park the truck and if you’re a good boy, we can go straight in.”

“You want me to be good?” I said while wiggling my eyebrows with the best suggestive face I could muster.

“Nah,” Ryan chipped in, “I’d like to see just how bad you can be,” with a sly look on his face. “I think you would have been a bit of fun last night if you’d stayed out and played.”

The look that Josh shot Ryan after that comment was, well… if looks could-kill.

“Come on tiger,” Lucas grabbed Ryan’s arm and gently pulled him out of the truck. “Think you might be better to leave that alone, buddy.” Lucas pointed between Josh and me. I was just sitting there like a deer in the headlights. ‘What the hell is going on here?’ was all I could think.

As we walked up to the entry, I bumped into Josh. “Hey, want to go on some scary rides with me, Joshie?” I said, grinning at him like a loon.

“You make me laugh, Jamie.” Wrapping his arm around me, he pulled me into a side hug, laughing.

As Josh pulled out some cash to pay for our tickets, I couldn’t help it “No, Josh, please let me pay. I’m not some poor alien who can’t afford to take a guy on a date.” Damn! I must get that passport stuff sorted like Mom and Dad keep telling me. I turned on my sweetest look, fluttering eyes as well.

“But Jamie, what sort of person would I be if took advantage of your kindness, letting me sleep on the sofa and all last night?”

We looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Josh just ignored me and paid for our entry.

“Okay then Josh, lunch is my treat, okay?”

“Okay Jamie, you can by me lunch.”

“Deal Josh,” and we shook on it.

Lucas and I started chanting, plus some jumping up and down like hyped up kids again, as we walked past the statue of Walt and Mickey. “We want to do the mountains, we want to do the mountains, can we, pleaaaseeeee?

So, you guessed it - first stop was the Matterhorn. I thought Lucas was going to lose that hot dog he’d stuffed down on the way along Main Street.

Josh, Ryan and I had been smart and not eaten anything until we found our ride legs. I’d not even stopped spinning around when we were getting on the Big Thunder Mountain.

“Fuck, Jamie, you and your cousin are going to kill us! What do you think, Ryan?”

Ryan didn’t even answer. He just waved his hands at us, as he was way too busy trying to hit on my cousin. “Sorry bud,” I shook my head, “Lucas can act as camp as the next gay, but when it comes to it, girls are his thing. Josh, should I tell Ryan he’s just plain wasting his time?”

“Nope - let him go,” Josh answered with a smile. “Might do him some good to strike out.”

Somehow, I don’t think Ryan and Josh were on the best of terms. Maybe those baby blues Josh had a hidden tinge of green in them. “Hmm.”

Lucas and Ryan had caught back up with Josh and me. “So, boys, time for a sneaky beer and we can head over to Space Mountain and Splash.”

“My god you guys, do you ever slow down,” Josh and Ryan both complained in unison.

“Come on you two, harden up! Get our Mickey on!” Josh and I ran off towards some of the smaller amusements.

“Oh shit, Josh. I’ve got to get some Mickey hats with names sewn on them for the family back home. Can’t forget my little niece and nephew. I want to retain my favourite uncle status and all, plus the guys will get pissed if I don’t get them something.”

Josh looked at me and smiled, “Well, come on then. I don’t want to be the cause of you getting into hot water at home for letting the kids down, Jamie. Let’s go.”

And at that, Josh grabbed my hand and dragged me off through the crowd.

“Hey guys” I yelled out “Josh and I will meet you guys at the Main Street Cinemas,” leaving Lucas and Ryan for dead. Josh was a man on a mission now. It took those two about thirty seconds to spot a bar and they were heading off for a couple of sneaky beers.

..o0o..

After spending the equivalent of a small country’s GDP on personalised Mickey ears, it was time to check out the cinemas. And they didn’t disappoint. It was just as I remembered it - standing room only and almost totally dark with the lights going low.

“Josh, have you ever made out with someone in the Disneyland cinemas?” I asked as we were let into the cinemas. They were screening Steam Boat Willy and something else that didn’t catch my eye.

“No. Have you?” he whispered back.

“Not till now I replied.” The lights had dipped down and only the half-light from the screen was throwing a small amount of light around. With that I slipped my hand up, along his flank, his arms slipped around behind me, pulling me in closer, but ever so gently.

I could feel his warm breath on my lips. His scent was a mix of sweet musk from all the running around today. His cologne, ‘Replica’ by Mason Martin, was just doing my senses in. I remembered it from last night, yummy.

Slipping my hand up to his neck and resting my thumb against his ear, I leaned in kissing him gently at first, and pulled back. Looking at his face for cues, “Was that okay?” I whispered in a hoarse voice.

I was totally focused on him - the rest of the world had disappeared from my consciousness. He answered by pulling me back in. Our bodies now were almost in full length contact. He closed the gap again, kissing me, in a way that I thought was not possible. It was closed mouth, but ever so sensual. I could feel slight hints of him pressing deeper against my lips then tempering it. I felt like I was riding a wave - it was fantastic.

“Oh god,” fell out of my mouth as we finally broke apart.

We stood there for a few moments resting our foreheads together, looking into each other’s eyes. I think I could have stayed like that for hours, but the house lights were coming back up, and even though we’re in a new world these days, let’s not rub people’s faces in adults making out around a near sea of kids.

Josh took my hand in his. “I need to hold one of those bags for you,” he motioned towards the gift bags at my feet, “else I’m going to draw some attention to myself, I think.”

I looked between us and yeah, we both needed to place some bags as cover. Somehow our shorts weren’t hiding what we were both now packing.

Smiling back at him, I picked up the bags and divided them up between us. “This should do the trick Josh.”

“Thanks, Jamie.”

There was pure lust burning in his eyes. If I could have seen my own, I think I’d have seen the same thing. As we were heading out of the cinema, a middle-aged lady that had been standing somewhere near us apparently turned to us and spoke. “That’s was very sweet of you two. You make a lovely couple.” She had a soft and happy smile on her face. I guess the world had changed a lot in her time and will in mine too, I guess.

I went to correct her. Josh signalled with the smallest of squeezes on my hand to let it go. “Thank you, ma’am,” I replied.

As we spilled out on to Main Street, I spotted Lucas and Ryan standing over by the sidewalk getting a photo with the man himself, Mickey Mouse.

“Hey guys,” I yelled out waving.

They looked at each other as we walked over to them. “What have you two been doing?” Lucas teased.

Josh, without missing a beat, shot back, “The same as you two by the looks of it.”

Josh, clearly noticing how scrunched up their shirts looked, almost hurriedly tucked in. And both were doing some ‘adjustments’ to their underwear that had seemed not to fit as well as before.

I tilted my head back at Lucas. He just smiled with an ‘I don’t know’ look.

Yeah, we’ll see… questions for my cousin, I think, later.

..o0o..

A little over an hour later, we were coming into Castaic. Josh, the two boys in the back seat and I all had a fantastic day.

“Thanks again, Josh, for today. I haven’t had so much fun in years.”

“Not a problem, Jamie. I had a blast too. Hey, you up for a quick drink at a bar I know around here? It’s got a nice outdoor deck area.”

“Sure, love too. Lucas, Ryan you right to have a few beers on the way back to Tom’s?”

Ryan, who had been napping in the back, piped up, “Oh nice… we’re heading to Schooner’s Bar and Grill yeah? Love that place. I wouldn’t be surprised if the boss – ah, I mean Tom wasn’t there with a few of the guys. It’s the end of the swing, so we normally have a drink and let off a bit of steam.”

“Let me check,” and I pulled out my cell, texting Tommy,

[J] Are you at home? Going to stop for a few beers on the way back if you want to join us?

[T] we’re @ Schooner’s bar - call in.

“Ha-ha, you were right, Ryan. They’re at Schooner’s.”

We pulled up a few moments later and I sent Lucas and Ryan in first, leaving Josh and me alone in the front of his truck.

“I wanted to thank you for everything. You’ve been such a great guy - the best day today, stopping me from being an idiot last night, too.”

Josh leaned in and kissed me. It started like the one at Disneyland, but the gloves were off now. If people wanted to see, well, they could come and look, right?

It started out all gentle at first, but this time Josh deepened it quickly. I felt his tongue swipe across my bottom lip, and I opened for him. His tongue speared into my mouth. We melded into one.

Climbing up I slipped across that massive centre console, as he slid his seat further back. Okay it was cramped up on his lap, but I didn’t care. I needed my hands all over him and his over me, and now was not fast enough.

After a lot of grinding, groaning and kissing, we were interrupted by Lucas tapping on the truck window.

“You two coming in or going to get a room?” He turned around and yelled back to someone, who I found out later was Tom. “Yeah they’re almost eating each other. Told you they would be.”

Lucas winked at me and walked off, turning his head sideways. “Hurry up, clumsy ninja.”

“Come on, Jamie. If we don’t go in now, I’m not going to be able to stop myself.”

“Maybe I don’t want you to, Josh.”

“Well, I know I don’t want to, but your buddy and cousin are in there.” Josh nodded his head in the direction of the bar.

“Okay Josh, one round of beers, then we’re leaving.”

“You going to show me some of those gymnastic moves you’ve got, Jamie?”

“Yep... something like that.” I answered, as I unfolded myself and almost fell, but saved it, climbing out of his truck.

..o0o..

Three hours later, we fell in the front door at Tom’s. One of the guys, who wasn’t drinking, had driven us back to Tom’s in Josh’s truck. We’d all managed to get into the beers and there might have been some table top dancing going on too - no photos, so it didn’t happen.

We’d all split for an Uber for Lincoln to get back to his car. Tom and Josh were chatting away about some football team, somewhere. No, it was soccer I think. Anyway, I didn’t want to chat. I could hear bed calling me, so I said my good nights and headed toward the hallway.

Standing just in the hallway, I poked my head around the corner in to the lounge.

“Joshua…” and his head spun around in my direction.

I flicked my head backward toward the bedrooms and made a clicking sound with my tongue. He didn’t need to be told twice.

“Night all,” Josh said as he stood up from the kitchen counter, crossing the room in almost record’s speed. I was walking backwards signalling with my index finger for him to follow me along the hallway. Stopping briefly at the door, I grabbed a handful Josh’s shirt just as Lucas appeared, walking down the hallway towards us, not even looking up, and was asking Josh something about the new ‘Deadpool’ movie.

I’d had enough of the delays and yanked Josh’s shirt somewhat forcefully, pulling him into the room and wrong-footing him, with both of us falling towards the bed. My ninja skills worked! Managing to kick the bedroom door closed in one swift movement with my foot, I called out “Night Lucas,” as the door slammed shut.

“Night indeed, Jamie,” Josh growled as he grabbed me, pulling me on top of him as we rolled across the bed, hands frantically pulling at clothes that needed to be removed. “Code 3-hot response.”