Confused - Until Bart Met Noah - 4. The First Overnight Together, Plus

Noah led Bart to his bedroom and helped him undress. Noah had hoped their first full night together would culminate with sex, but under the circumstances, he knew it wasn't the right time to bring up the subject. Bart and he climbed into Noah's bed and spent a few minutes cuddling and kissing before sleep took Bart. Noah laid awake, watching Bart for some time before he fell asleep himself.

The next morning, Bart awoke to the smell of bacon and coffee. He put his boxer briefs back on and headed to the kitchen.

"Coffee smells good."

"I bet it does. There's an empty mug next to the coffee maker, sugar in the cabinet right above, milk in the fridge. The bacon and eggs are just about done."

"You didn't have to go all out."

"It's not like I made eggs Benedict or anything, just scrambled eggs."

"Good point."

"How are you feeling this morning?"

"I'm okay. I think I've made peace with myself over skipping the funeral. He doesn't deserve my time after the damage he did to me before he left."

"Damage?"

"Yeah. Well, I never told you this, but he pounded into me that two men shouldn't be intimate together ever since I was old enough to have a friend."

"I see."

"Yeah. I hope it doesn't happen if and when we get to that point, but I'll have to warn you, having sex won't be easy for me."

"Well, when we get to that point, I'll be there to guide you along."

"If I don't chicken out and break up."

"Why would you do that?"

"Never mind. Forget I said that."

"You're not getting off that easy, fella. I'll let it drop because of your current mental state. But we'll revisit it, guaranteed."

"Oh, joy."

They sat down to eat their breakfasts, discussing everything other than Bart's dad and sex. As Bart was getting ready to leave, Noah made sure one last time, that he was okay.

"You're sure you're okay, right? I can call out sick and spend the day with you."

"I'm fine. You head to work; I'll head to the Bestbet casino and waste some time playing poker."

"Don't gamble your savings away."

"I won't. Twenty-dollar minimum buy-in, two- and four-dollar blinds, that's where I'll be."

"Okay. Well, have fun and I'll try to talk to you tonight."

Bart drove to the casino, walked into the poker room, and up to one of the twenty-dollar minimum, limit Texas Hold 'Em tables. He sat down and handed the dealer two hundred dollars and started playing. He happened to sit where the big blind would be for the next hand. He put in a pair of two-dollar chips, and the game was on.

Bart won three of the first five hands he played. Small wins, but a good start. He got lucky and was sitting at a table apparently loaded with tight players. Not that Bart was a loose player, but he did bet more hands than most of the others there, causing them to quickly fold often. One other thing was, he didn't bluff often and when he showed his cards, it was apparent to the other players he didn't bet when he had a bad hand. That, of course, made bluffing later a little easier. He was feeling like a shark in a lake full of minnows, he was doing so well.

After around four hours and getting six hundred and twenty dollars richer, he headed to the in-house sports bar and had an early dinner. He had two limits when he played poker. The first was if he lost what he put down initially, he'd quit without another buy-in. The second was quit if he trebled his money, as he did that day. Otherwise, time and his level of concentration dictated when he’d stop playing. His spirits were better that evening than the previous two nights. The next day at work wouldn't be quite as tame.

That Tuesday started going south soon after he arrived at work. When asked, he told the other employees the truth, he was estranged from his father but heard he passed away. He needed to be there for his mother. They were sympathetic, as expected. At a little before nine AM, he was called to the front desk to help calm a belligerent customer.

"You're the manager?"

"Yes. Bart Hamilton. What is the problem?"

"The problem is whoever handles the wake-up calls fell asleep at the switch. I asked for a wake-up call at 6:30 so I could get to the airport for a nine AM flight. I woke up at 8:30 and have been complaining to your desk person for ten minutes."

"I'm sorry about that, Mr. ..."

"Logerman."

"Mr. Logerman. I assure you, there was nobody to be asleep at the switch. Our wake-up call system is automated. As long as the request was made properly, you should have received a call. Let me look at the logs. What room were you in?"

"304."

"Alright... I see you made the request at just after 8 PM last night. According to the system, the call was initiated at 6:30:02, with a repeat call exactly five minutes later. Both resulted in a message being left. Bennett, make me a key for 304 and I'll take Mr. Logerman back upstairs and take a look at his phone. Please put his bag in the back until we get back."

Bart accompanied Logerman to room 304. The message light was blinking, the display screen clearly said the ring volume was set at the lowest level.

"Did you set the ring level sometime during your stay, Mr. Logerman?"

"I, um. Yes, I took a nap Sunday after I arrived and didn't want to be disturbed."

Bart called down to the front desk, "Bennett, after I hang up, can you ring 304 again, so Mr. Logerman and I can see how loud his phone is set?"

"Sure thing, sir."

"Thanks."

Bart hung up. Seconds later the phone rang. While the ring was quieter than one might expect, it was plainly audible.

"Thanks, Bennett."

"You're welcome, sir."

Bart hung up and faced Logerman, "It appears you possibly slept through the calls. I obviously can't do anything about your flight, but for the inconvenience, I can give you a complimentary card valid for a free one-night stay at any of the Hilton family of hotels, to make up for your trouble."

"The airline is charging me four hundred dollars to change my ticket."

Bart didn't think Logerman was hurting for the cash, based on the likely cost of his bag and the suit he was wearing. Not to mention staying at a Hilton. He decided to give Logerman more, regardless.

"Sorry to hear that. Are you all packed up?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Let's go back to the desk. I can give you three free nights. Would that be better?"

"Yeah, that'd be great. Would it expire any time soon?"

"I can go as far out as five years from today."

"OK. I can live with that."

Logerman went on his way with a Hilton 'gift card' valid as Bart had described.

Bennett was impressed, "Wow. He was loud and obnoxious when he came to check out. You had him walking away with a smile."

"It is amazing how a little compensation changes attitudes."

Bart went back to his office until the next time he planned a walk through the hotel. There were no more customer issues that day.

Noah called as he left work that night.

“Sorry I couldn’t call last night. Got out real late. Are you broke?”

“It’s okay. No. Actually, I’m six hundred and twenty dollars richer. Minus the cost for dinner at the casino.”

“Good. How’s your frame of mind?”

“I’m good right now. I can’t guarantee I won’t have some bad moments, though.”

“Understandable. If you do, feel free to call. I’ll do my best to make myself available.”

“Thanks.”

“OK, goodnight then, Hammer.”

“Goodnight, Nomes.”

Bart did have a few minor meltdowns, and in the end, he took a day off and flew to Raleigh to visit his father’s grave with a hope to get that infamous concept, 'closure.'

“Well, dad, I guess you got exactly what you deserved. Walking out like you did to mom, Lila, and me was a pretty shitty thing to do. An early end from cancer must have been karma’s way of getting back at you. I can’t do anything to you now. You’re just lucky I’m not spending a night here. It would be too tempting to come back in the dark and piss on your grave. Don’t rest in peace.”

Bart went back home and resumed his relationship with Noah. It wasn’t without difficulties.

Next up - "Progress Interruptus"