Fleeting Eternity - 2. Just for Fun

Christopher frowned at his fingers. He scrubbed them hard, but he never could quite get all of the grease and grime off of his skin and from under his fingernails. That's what he got for being a mechanic.

Finally, he gave up. He rinsed his tough, calloused hands and then turned off the water. Chris dried them on an old, threadbare towel, and turned away from the sink.

It was Sunday night and he had just gotten home from his job at the auto dealership, though his new place on Wabash certainly didn't feel like home. Regardless, the tiny apartment was now his reality. Instead of greeting the end of each workday with joy and anticipation, now he felt merely numb.

Three weeks earlier he had walked away from the man who still meant everything to him. While Tad looked at him with stunned, disbelieving eyes, Chris had packed his things and left. It felt almost as if he were in a dream. As if he were merely an actor in a tragedy, and that any moment the play would be over, and he could go back to living his life with Tad.

There wasn't a final curtain. There was no one to tell Christopher that the nightmare was over. Instead, there was only the pain of knowing, and the deep ache of loss.

Chris went through the motions of dinner. He was living on autopilot and had been since the breakup. He put a packaged meal into the microwave and hit the timer.

So much of his world had been wrapped up in Tad that he didn’t know what to do without him. He stood in front of the microwave and stared blankly at the appliance as it worked to heat his food.

The machine beeped, and Christopher removed the hot plastic tray. He walked over to the kitchen counter and peeled back the plastic film. Steam rose from the vegetables, meat, and corn nestled in the tray sections.

Chris grabbed silverware and sat on the high stool next to the short bar counter. He ate stoically, robotically.

Once he finished, he threw away the tray. Then the silverware clattered into the sink. There were now over a dozen forks and spoons in the bottom of the sink, all still dirty from his previous meals. Usually, unwashed dishes would bother him, but now he just didn’t care.

The tall, broad man walked to the used futon in the living room, which served both as a couch and as his bed. He sat and pulled off his boots. It was only six thirty, but he had no reason to be up and he slept a lot lately.

He stripped his clothes, then lay down and draped the thin blanket which lay over the back of the futon over himself. He didn’t bother converting the futon to a bed.

He lay on his back and he stared up at the slowly darkening ceiling in his apartment. Christopher swallowed, rolled in the blanket and onto his side, then he curled up into a ball.

With a tired, desolate sigh the young man went to sleep.

∞

“What are you doing for lunch, Kent?” Nate gave his stocky, blond coworker his most winning smile. It was Monday, almost time for Nate's lunch. The young man, Kent, was on his second week of work at the bookstore and thanks to a few lingering looks from the fellow, Nate decided to feel him out a bit.

Kent frowned slightly. Nate knew that Kent had already been cautioned about him. He caught Elizabeth warning Kent only yesterday as the two cataloged used textbooks donated to the store. "You're new, so I'm just going to tell you - Nate's nice, but, well, he's gay. And I'm pretty sure he's interested in you."

It had irritated Nate at first but he couldn't deny the accuracy of her assessment. Kent was cute, sex was fun, and Nate had no problems admitting that he enjoyed both sex and the chase. Though he was thankful he had heard the exchange between them, because now he could tailor his approach in a way that might be more successful.

"Uh, I'm just gonna eat some leftovers." Kent watched Nate as if he might try to jump his bones right next to the counter where the two guys worked. He shrugged. "I don't have a lot of money right now anyway."

"Oh, I'll pay. We can go to Five Eleven, the place down the street. It's a nice spot, but it doesn't have to be expensive. We can split a pizza and get a beer." Nate watched him as Kent relaxed slightly. Nate smirked. "You've probably heard that I'm a player," he waggled his eyebrows, and his blue eyes were bright with mischievousness, "and I am. But sometimes a guy just wants to have lunch with his coworker."

That earned Nate a snort from Kent and the young guy relaxed a little more. "Yeah, I've heard that about you." He put a few books which needed to be returned to the shelves aside, and gave a somewhat non-committal nod of his head. "All right. Pizza sounds good. But I can't drink. I'm nineteen."

"Whoa. Really?" Nate made a surprised face, then smiled. "Oh yeah. You started last semester at Humboldt State, right?"

"Yes. I'm just a freshman. I'm doing Forestry. They've got the best program in the state." Kent looked down at his hands. "Let me go wash up. It's dusty in here."

Nate waited at the front door of the bookstore. It was located in Old Town Eureka, his favorite part of the city. The store saw a lot of foot traffic from both locals and from those folks passing through town, or parents visiting their HSU student children.

Kent walked from the employee area in the back of the store and put on his raincoat. He stepped outside and looked suspiciously up at the gray sky. "I don't trust this place's weather."

Nate laughed. "That's smart!" He held the door for Kent and looked at the desk. Elizabeth had only just returned from her lunch, and she frowned across the store at him. Nate grinned and waved at her. That only caused her frown to deepen as she watched the guys leave the building. "See you in an hour, Liz!"

The two walked a block, and they entered Restaurant Five Eleven. It was modern, with sleek light fixtures in yellow and red stained glass, cement floors, and exposed metal ducting on the ceiling. The tables were all simple wooden squares with black metal legs along with sturdy chairs to match.

They were seated by a young, blond woman. Nate couldn't help but notice that Kent didn't watch her when she turned and walked away. Instead, Kent looked around at the surroundings. "I've not been in here." He smiled slightly. "It sorta reminds me of the newer places in San Diego. Almost like they're trying to be a cool city joint."

Nate's eyebrow went up. "Yeah?" He shrugged. "Us country mice are always so envious of you city folk. Can you blame us?"

Kent made a face. "Well, I prefer the country. I didn't mean anything…"

Nate snickered, and now Kent could see that the man was messing with him. He laughed and pushed playfully at Nate. "Suck my dick."

"Hey, don't ask for what you don't want," Nate said, and watched Kent flush bright red. Nate laughed as Kent squirmed. "I'm just kidding, man." Then he shrugged. "Maybe."

Kent eyed him. Then he shook his head, and chuckled. "It's a little weird." He scratched his head. "Ah, I've never really known a gay guy before."

"You have. You just didn't realize it. It'd be tough not to if you went to public school." Nate looked over the menu on the table. "Okay, let's pick a pizza." Nate blinked innocently at Kent. "Do you like sausage?"

Kent started to answer, then his jaw clenched shut and he shook his head with a snort. "Okay. I can tell I'm gonna have to be on my toes with you."

Nate snickered. Kent grinned at him and the two continued to look at one another. Nate watched him swallow, the sound of it audible. Finally, Kent cleared his throat, and his eyes found the menu. "Uh, can, can I take a look at that?"

"Sure thing." Nate slid the tri-folded paper over to his younger co-worker. Kent bit his lip, and picked it up, then his gaze moved over the lines for a few moments. Kent’s tongue wet his lips, and he glanced up.

Nate still watched him and when their eyes met, he smiled at Kent.

For his part, Kent blushed, and worked his jaw. "Ah, how about the one with pepperoni, basil and goat cheese? It sounds good."

"Yeah." Nate grinned. "Whatever you want is fine with me." There was a definite undercurrent of suggestiveness in Nate's tone and it wasn't lost on Kent.

The young man's voice dropped, and he licked his lips again. "Whatever I want, huh?"

Before Nate could respond, their server returned. "Have you guys decided?" She looked back and forth between them, pencil and pad in hand.

Nate looked up at her as she stood beside their table. "Yeah." Then he leveled a smoldering gaze at Kent. "Though I think we're gonna get it to go." Nate turned on his most charming smile as he held Kent's attention. "That work? Take it back to my place so I can show you my pad?"

Kent swallowed again and then a half-sure smile twitched on his lips. "Uh, yeah." He nodded and turned to their server. "Yeah, the pepperoni, basil and goat cheese pizza, to go."

The server left and Kent studied his hands, which lay stretched out in front of him on the table. He looked a little as if he couldn't quite believe what he was doing.

Nate sat back, sipped his water, and waited for their food to finish. His place was a short walk away - a great apartment in a refurbished building in Old Town, near his work and many of his favorite haunts. "It's close by. We'll have plenty of time to eat." Nate grinned when Kent looked up at him. "And whatever else we decide to do."

Kent nodded slowly. He too picked up his water glass. "Sounds good."

Soon their food arrived, boxed up and ready to go. Kent took the box, and then they stood, but not before he adjusted things under the table. Nate let the moment pass without comment. The guys walked to the counter and Nate pulled out his wallet.

"Hey, thanks for lunch," Kent said. "It smells really good."

Nate finished paying, and put away his wallet as they headed toward the door. "Oh, sure." He debated a moment, then lay a single hand on Kent's shoulder and steered him outside. "Let's walk fast. I'm pretty damn hungry if you know what I mean."

Kent nodded once, and allowed the companionable hand to remain on his shoulder. "I think I do."

They arrived and Nate let them into the foyer of the old apartment building. Then he led the way upstairs to the second floor. He opened the door and motioned at Kent to enter, a subtle smile on his face.

Kent stepped inside and looked around the living room. Nate's place was small but neat. Over the two years he'd lived there, he had accumulated great deals from the various thrift stores around town. There was a nice couch, a coffee table, a long, tall, slim table against the wall beside the door, and a colorful rug over the glossy hardwood floor. A simple, paper-covered lamp was also on the table beside the door to add a diffuse yet warm light to the space.

Kent smiled. "Nice place."

"Thanks. I'm pretty happy with it." Nate closed the door behind them and stepped around Kent. "Come on in."

Nate walked him over to the couch. Kent put the pizza box down on the coffee table and sat on the couch. Nate could tell he was on edge. 'Is this your first time?' Nate thought, and watched Kent as he took an audible breath.

"Hey," Nate smiled, and put a hand on Kent's back, just below his neck. "You don't have to be nervous." He shook his head slightly. "We can just have lunch, and we don't have to do anything other than that." He took on a chagrined expression. "Okay, yeah, I want to, but we don't have to."

Kent's jaw shifted, and he looked over at Nate. His eyes moved over Nate's face, and he swallowed nervously. "I ah, I guess I just don't know what's expected of me."

'It is his first time.' Nate slid his hand up until it rested on his neck. Kent's mouth opened slightly, and Nate watched him blink slowly and breathe through his parted lips. "Well, all you need to do is tell me if I do something you don't like. How's that sound?"

Kent nodded. That was all the permission Nate needed. He leaned in and the two men gently kissed, his hand still on the back of Kent's neck. At first, it was just lips. But soon, Nate felt the tip of Kent's tongue as the younger man tentatively explored the experience of kissing another guy.

Nate's tongue eagerly met Kent's. Soon enough, there was nothing tentative about the way that the men kissed.

After a few minutes, Nate stood up. "Come on." He gripped Kent's hand and led the blonde to his bedroom. Now in the moment, Nate's desire ramped up. They made out there beside the bed and Nate soon had both of their pants undone and pushed down to their knees.

He looked down, and there was a big, wet spot on Kent's light blue boxers at the apex of the tent created by his erection. Nate grinned as he reached down. He gripped Kent through the material and the younger man groaned. He firmly rubbed through the cloth, and felt Kent's breath against his face.

Nate nibbled on Kent's lip and slipped his hand through the fly of the boxers. As soon as his fingers closed on Kent's warm, turgid member, the young man's jaw dropped and he made a small, desperate sound.

Kent grabbed Nate's wrist, and he gasped. At first, Nate wasn't quite sure what was happening, then he felt the warmth and wetness of semen as the blonde orgasmed in his shorts.

"Shit," Kent was breathless and clung to Nate as he shuddered with his swift finish.

Nate grinned at him. "Well, I guess that worked for you." He pulled his hand out of Kent's fly, and he looked at the sheen of come on his skin. Nate was still painfully hard and it stuck out, evident to both of the guys.

For his part, Kent flushed red. "Uh, sorry." His gaze drifted down to Nate's erection hidden beneath Nate’s underwear. "I... I can help you if you want."

"Sounds great!" Nate pushed his briefs down, then lay back on the bed, his legs over the side. He was perfectly average and with his slim waist, it suited his body well.

Nate watched as Kent stared at his cock. Kent reached and gently gripped the shaft. The young guy glanced at Nate's face, then he began to stroke, his grip loose and careful. "Like this?"

Nate reached, and he closed Kent's hand a little tighter. Then he let his head lay back on the bed. "Mmm. Like that. Yeah."

Kent continued. His pace never varied from the slow, steady stroke. Nate was excited, and he wasn't going to take long himself. Sex with a new guy always made things happen quickly for him. He pulled his shirt up so that he wouldn't make a mess on his clothes.

Nate worked his jaw, felt his climax build then released with a grunt, and he spurted on his almost hairless belly. Kent watched and seemed fascinated by the whole process.

Nate finished and Kent slowly released him, leaving his hand resting warm and wet on Nate's flat belly. Nate breathed out a satisfied sigh and lifted his head. He grinned at the blonde. "Great lunch, huh?"

Kent smirked, and then he stood up. "Yeah. Though we still need to eat." He looked down at his crotch, at his wet, sticky underwear. "Uh. I'm gonna take these off. I guess I'm freeballing the rest of the day."

While Nate wiped himself up and grabbed a slice of pizza, Kent went to the bathroom to clean up and dress. He came back to the living room to see Nate working on his second piece. The husky blonde frowned at Nate. "Hey. Save me one." Then he purposely bumped Nate as he sat down.

The guys laughed, and they companionably ate their lunch. When they finished up and were leaving the apartment, Nate gave Kent a lustful look as the young man walked ahead of him, and he couldn't quite help where his mind went. 'Next time, let's see if you can last long enough to get naked.'

∞

It was Tuesday, just after five p.m. Tad sat in a chair he had pulled up to the window and watched the street. Usually, the thought of any sort of date with a stranger, even the platonic kind, would set off his mind scurrying down various spirals of worry. Tad was just coming off of a long-term relationship with a man he loved very much, so it was a bit of a stretch for him to allow any sort of new connection to begin with someone new. But he was learning to put that sort of anxiety where it belonged - far down on his list of stressors.

Kali took full advantage of his stationary body, and she jumped up into his lap. He smiled and looked lovingly down at her. "Hi, little missy." She was a rescue and it had taken a few months before she would allow them to pet her. But now, she couldn't get enough of it. His hand began to stroke the black feline, and she turned around and around as she strained up into his touch.

Tad continued to pet her, then he started when his phone vibrated. His eyes widened and he picked up the device from the windowsill. It was a text from Nate and he had to crush his disappointment. His first hope was that Christopher had reached out, but no luck there. Tad exhaled and read the text. 'I'll be there in five! See you then!"

Tad tapped out a reply. 'Ok. See you soon.'

He let the hand with the phone relax on his lap with the cat. She couldn't understand why that hand wasn't petting her, and she headbutted it even though Tad's other hand was busy doing exactly that. He looked down and shook his head. "You are greedy." He put the phone in his pocket and rubbed her head with both hands. "You are greedy for love. Greedy!" He grinned at her loud purring and the way her eyes squeezed shut under his touch.

It wasn't long before the little red Civic parked on the street outside his building. Tad stood, disturbing Kali in the process, and then snagged his coat on the way out.

He closed up his apartment and walked over to the car. He opened the door and smiled at Nate. "Hey." Tad slid into the seat of the fragrant, clean car. He noticed the little pine air freshener hanging from the mirror as he did.

Nate grinned over at him. "Hey." His eyes roamed over Tad's clothes. Tad had dressed nicely in a pair of black slacks, a gray turtleneck sweater, and his very short black hair was on display. Though his hair was too short to style, it was glossy and added to his look. "You clean up nice."

Tad returned the scrutiny. Nate's red hair was styled up to a soft point, and his narrow, smooth, handsome face was complemented by his deep blue eyes. "Same to you." He motioned with his chin at Nate's brown pants. "Are those corduroys?"

Nate grimaced, and he pulled away from the curb. "Ah, yeah. They're my best clean pants." He shrugged. "I need to hit the laundry room."

Tad smiled. "I like them. They work with your shirt." Nate looked briefly down at himself, at his cream-colored button-up shirt. Tad decided to play with him a bit. "Though I'm not sure a platonic date is worth a button-up."

"Hah!" Nate barked a laugh, and he turned onto 4th Street, the main highway heading south through town. "I guess we'll see, huh?"

Tad relaxed a little. Nate was a cute, attractive guy, that was certain. He was also funny, outgoing, and self-assured. Though that brought Tad to another line of thought. 'What are you doing? Why are you here right now? Are you just biding time?' He frowned to himself as his mind began to circle. 'What are you doing?'

They arrived at the restaurant and Nate looked over at Tad. He grinned at the black-haired man. "Do you want me to platonically open your door for you?"

The timing of Nate's comment couldn't have been better and Tad guffawed. Then he rolled his eyes. "Yes. Absolutely. I demand it." Tad folded his arms over his chest and looked expectantly at Nate, calling what he thought was a bluff.

Nate got out, walked around the vehicle and opened the passenger door. He looked so pleased with himself as Tad stepped out that Tad wasn't able to hold back a laugh. Nate's blue eyes sparkled with mirth as Tad reacted to the over-the-top display.

The two guys walked close to one another and chatted on their way to the restaurant. As they got to the door, Nate again opened it for Tad. He motioned with a flourish and grinned at Tad as he did.

Tad gave him an entertained smirk. He entered and waited for Nate to step up beside him. As he did, he let a new idea bloom in his mind. 'I'm done feeling guilty about having fun. And right now, this is fun.'

∞

From behind the wheel of his truck, Christopher watched Tad walk into the restaurant with the redhead. He had barely finished with his job and he still wore his grimy, greasy work clothes. He had just arrived at Tad's apartment to check on him only a few minutes before he saw the little red car pick Tad up. He debated when the car pulled away and decided to follow them. Now, Chris stared forlornly at the front door of the eatery where Tad had disappeared with the stranger.

He struggled with how he felt. 'You did this. You let him go.' Christopher forced the thoughts into his mind and made himself internalize them.

Chris sighed. The sound was heavy. It carried both his sadness and some relief. 'Is he dating?' Christopher flinched at his own mental question. He hated that he felt conflicted over the idea, and so he pushed back on the realization until he sat straight up.

"He's dating, and it's good," Chris whispered in the still air of the truck. He squeezed his eyes shut. "It's good." He bit his lip. "God, he looks so good."

Chris swallowed and took another breath. His chest still felt as if there was a band of iron around it, but he had felt that way since he ended things with Tad. He tried hard to ignore the sensation.

Without any additional hesitation, the tall, broad man put his truck into gear and pulled out of the parking lot - back to his lonely studio.