by
Mark 'Ponyboy' Peters
Chapter Thirty-Two
We took our time with our breakfast, watching the world go by as we did so. The Saturday morning shopping traffic began to gradually build as we ate and spent time discussing everything that had happened in recent weekswith Bryan, including the assault and its aftermath, and all the issues with work and with what my father was going through.
There was a lot of ground to cover, and Bryan wanted to know absolutely everything that was going on, so we didn't hold back. I even shared with him our theory that Animal was the one responsible for my assault.
'Well, if that's the case, and if Mike was the one to make the call, then I guess the cops will be onto him soon enough.'
'Hopefully . . . provided they can find him,' I replied.
'So what about your boss, Mike? What's happening with him?'
I could only shrug my shoulders at that one. 'I'm not too sure exactly. Personnel have said that he's taken some more leave, so he isn't at work, and I've been asked to step into his position now, at least for the short term. I've sent Mike a text message but nothing back yet.'
'Maybe he's just laying low. If he knows all about this Animal guy and his goons, and assuming it was him that dobbed them into the cops, then he might just be trying to stay clear of them all as well. At least, if he's smart that's what he will be doing.'
'Yeah.'
'I just hope you two are being careful and not putting yourself in any situations where you are alone, just in case,' Bryan added.
'What? You don't think they would try something again, do you?' Raffa asked.
'With a nutjob like this one, nothing would surprise me. He knows you both, and I'm guessing by now he may possibly also know that the two of you are an item, so screwing with either of you would hurt the other as well.'
'Geez, you must watch a lot of mysteries and detective stories,' Raffa remarked.
Bryan just grinned. 'Yeah, enough, but I also lived with a cop for a while, so learning all about how fucked up we humans can be with our fellow man, that kind of came with the territory. Absolutely nothing surprises me any more.'
'No, you've only got to watch a few episodes of CSI or Criminal Minds to see that,' I offered.
We lapsed into silence after that, as each of us finished off our breakfasts, and I couldn't help but have Bryan's words bouncing around inside my head, telling us to be careful and not put ourselves in any dangerous situations. Even after my assault I hadn't seriously thought too much about there being any ongoing danger. I guess that way of thinking might need to change now.
After ordering another round of coffees we stayed there chatting for a while longer. I was amused at how Bryan was gently probing into just how far our relationship had developed, and I could see that Raffa had also picked up on the line of questioning. I know that Bryan was only looking out for us, but it still felt a little odd, at least to me, for a family member to be delving into my sex life, particularly as that sex life was still only in its infancy.
Before I'd had any more time to think about it, however, I spied a shock of multi-coloured hair coming up the footpath amongst the Saturday morning crowd, which soon revealed itself as belonging to Chase Evans, the nurse from the sexual health clinic. He was also spotted by Raffa at almost the exact same time, who gave me an elbow in the ribs.
Quickly seeing our attention being focused on something other than him, Bryan turned around to check what it was we were looking at.
'And who is this exotic creature?' asked Bryan. 'A friend of you guys?'
'Yeah. He's the nurse from the sexual health clinic,' I replied, as Raffa made a move to grab Chase's attention.
When Chase spotted us, his whole face lit up, then he changed course and came directly toward us.
Raffa and I both received firm hugs before he then looked Bryan up and down.
'Chase, this is my uncle, Bryan,' I said, to introduce them. 'Bryan, this is our friend Chase Evans. He's the nurse at the sexual health clinic that you made me go to.'
'I didn't make you do anything. I just strongly recommended it . . . and now you have a new friend because of my anal ways.'
'Oh, anal. One of my favourite words!' exclaimed Chase, which simply broke us all up laughing.
I heard a lady at a nearby table gasp as he said this, but when I looked her way I noticed she was sitting with her back to us, so I couldn't get a look at her expression. The grey, permed hair gave me the impression she had to be at least sixty or seventy, while the guy sitting opposite her and facing us, who was quite hot looking and appeared to be in his forties, didn’t show any sign of disapproval in his expression. In fact he was smiling and his eyes were eating us up.
Bryan held out a hand, which Chase duly shook, before he was then asked to join us. Raffa and I exchanged amused glances. It seemed Uncle Bryan might have just made a new friend as well.
'So, what's happening with you two?' Chase asked us. 'Fucking like jackrabbits yet?'
Bryan almost spat out the coffee he was sipping on, before looking my way, his eyes asking for an explanation.
'That's what he told us we should do once the all clear came through,' I offered.
'And?' Chase urged.
'And . . . yes,' I replied, as I took hold of Raffa's hand once more, somewhat surprised at my own newfound openness, especially with my uncle sitting directly across the table from me and looking on proudly.
'Good for you two!' Chase exclaimed. 'I knew you were made for each other.'
'Really?' asked Raffa.
'Oh, yes. It only took one look at you together, and the way you were fussing about him, to see you were crazy for young Grayson here. And now it looks like the feelings are mutual. So sweet.'
I glanced at Bryan and could see him smiling, but I could also see that his eyes were now fixed firmly on Chase. That was an interesting development.
Despite some frowns coming from the cafe staff, probably due to the fact we had spent so much time at the table and were also making a bit of noise with our chatter, we continued to talk and laugh for another half hour or so. At this point we figured it would probably be a good idea to order another round of drinks, so that seemed to smooth out the frowns, for the moment at least.
With Bryan and Chase chatting as if they were old friends, it was difficult for Raffa or me to get a word in edgeways, only managing to add anything to the conversation when asked something directly. When we finally did pay our tab, with Bryan picking it up and paying for everything, we made our way back out onto the street. I watched with some amusement as Bryan pressed a business card into Chase's palm as they shook hands and said to each other, 'It was nice to meet you.'
Oh dear, I thought.
They were still talking when we left them and headed back in the direction of my car. We gave each other a few odd looks as we walked the short distance to the car, but nothing was said by either of us until we were safely inside and with the doors closed.
Raffa looked my way and let out a strangled cough or laugh or something that I couldn't quite identify. I looked his way and gave exactly the same sort of sound in reply, but then the floodgates opened and we both burst out laughing.
'Well, that was certainly interesting,' Raffa said, once he had regained some composure.
'You think?' I replied. 'Looks like some fun times ahead, for somebody, I'd say . . .'
'But?'
'Oh, nothing. I suppose they're both around the same age and if they liked the look of each other, then what's so wrong with that?'
'Well, Bryan is a fairly hot guy. So yeah . . .'
'I've never really looked at him like that, but I can tell you Hoppy certainly thinks so.'
'Hoppy? What's he got to do with it? I didn't see him anywhere today.'
'Oh no, he saw me talking to Bryan that day a couple of weeks back and wanted to know who he was. It was that day I got the crank message asking if I fancied a fuck and I freaked out, then ended up calling you.'
'I remember it,' he countered. 'And what did you tell him at the time?'
'To mind his own business!'
* * * * *
Being a regular Saturday morning, and by that I mean it was a morning where my family would be otherwise occupied with golf and soccer and whatever else they usually did on a Saturday, Raffa and I decided to head back to my place. He was keen to see how 'the other half lived' - his exact words. From my point of view, however, I just wanted to be able to share more of my world with him as each of us continued to learn more and more about the other.
It was a daunting, yet exciting process to peel back the layers to see what makes another person tick, but it was a process that I was keen to continue. I wanted to know all there was to learn about my man, and I wanted to share with him all that I could about myself. If we were to succeed as a couple, I wanted him to see the real me, and all my faults, as scary as that may seem.
I parked on the street, instead of my usual spot near the carportin our yard, as I knew I would only be heading out again later to take Raffa home. It would be nice to be able to have him stay over, but that wasn't something I intended asking for just yet. One day though.
We walked down beside the house and to the side door near the carport and I let us in, before setting my keys and phone on the kitchen counter.
'Welcome to our home,' I said to Raffa as I turned to face him, before placing my hands on his hips and pulling him close to me, our bodies touching from chest to groin.
'Why thank you, kind sir,' he replied, before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me even closer. His lips soon found mine, and for what I knew was far too short a time we stood there swaying in each other’s arms as our mouths gently worked against each other and our tongues lazily wrestled; at least until we were jolted back to the present by the starting of a lawnmower in our neighbour's yard. There had been no real urgency in our actions, we had all the time in the world it seemed, and that was a feeling I truly loved.
After the kiss had ended, we continued to hold each other, gazing into each other's eyes while our foreheads rested together. This was as comfortable as I could ever remember being with another human being, and I didn't want it to end.
'So,' Raffa eventually whispered.
Oh God, his breath smelt of coffee, but somehow that seemed heavenly to me.
'Am I going to get the grand tour? I showed you mine, so now you need to show me yours.' I let out a laugh as he took hold of both my hands.
'Of course,' I replied, before I led him from the kitchen and into the hallway, briefly showing him the lounge room before we stopped at the door to my bedroom. Letting go of my hand he then stepped inside, glancing back over his shoulder at me and grinning, while I propped myself against the doorway, my arms folded in front of me.
I watched as he looked around him, before then taking a few steps over to my bookcase and desk, casting an eye over their contents . . . a collection of books, my laptop, some CDs and DVDs, some old sporting trophies for soccer and ten-pin bowling that I just couldn't bear to part with, and various odds and ends and nick-nacks. Across the back of the chair at my desk hung a t-shirt that had been recently worn, which he picked up and put to his face, before breathing in.
'What the fuck!' I exclaimed.
'Sorry . . . I just love the scent of you.'
'Whatever floats your boat, I guess,' I replied, while grinning at him.
Turning back to my bookcase he picked up one of my bowling trophies and read out the inscription.
'Under 14's Weekend League. Champions. Way to go,' he said. 'But you kept them all!'
'Of course! Blood sweat and tears went into those babies. Couldn't bear to part with them when I gave the room a makeover. Think I was about thirteen and had decided I wasn't a little kid any more.'
Putting the trophy back in its place he looked around once more, then walked over to my double bed, giving the mattress a few pushes with his hand before sitting down and patting the spot beside him. I crossed the room and sat down beside him, allowing our bodies to brush against each other and feeling the thrill of his touch.
'Well, I love what you've done with the place. It's so . . . you.'
'And just what is that supposed to mean?'
'Well, let's see. It's neat, sporty and smells great,' he said, before pointing at the posters on the wall and adding, 'And with interesting tastes, just to start with.'
Scooting back on the mattress until I was leaning back against the headboard, it was now my turn to signal for him to join me, which he quickly did.
'I'm glad I brought you here,' I whispered to him, as I wrapped an arm around his shoulders. He snuggled in closer and we settled down beside each other, holding each other.
'I'm glad you brought me here too. I want to know everything there is to know about you. I need to know everything there is to know about you. I need you in my life,' he whispered back to me.
'And I need you in my life, Rafael de Silva,' I echoed, before gently kissing him on the forehead.
And it was in that embrace we somehow managed to doze off, taking comfort in each other's arms, oblivious to the world around us.
Sometime later I woke with a start. What was that? Was it a noise? Something outside?
I lay there, still holding onto Raffa, listening intently for any sounds but hearing none, at least not at first. But then there was a noise . . . a footstep, followed by another, and another.
I quickly sat up on the bed, then as I looked towards my bedroom door a figure appeared.
It's my father.
Our eyes meet, but I find it difficult to read his expression as he looks us over, running his gaze up and down Raffa's body, before focusing on me once more. Then his face softens, and I see the faintest of smiles and a slight nod before dad turns and leaves us.
I shake Raffa and he stirs.
'What's wrong?' he asks when he sees my ashen face.
'We just got busted by dad,' I whisper. 'I better go talk to him. Can you just give me a few minutes with him before you come out?'
'Of course.'
'Thanks, babe,' I reply, before kissing him and then scooting down off the end of the bed.
When I make it to the kitchen I find my father pouring himself a glass of juice, before placing the container back in the refrigerator.
'Hey, mate,' he says. 'You have a good morning?'
'Errr . . . yeah. Thanks. Ummm . . . sorry about that just then. I didn't want to, you know, ummm . . .'
'Hey, it's okay, Grayson. Really,' he replied. 'You two are obviously getting pretty serious and I'm fine with that. I've had a few days to think things through and I'm getting used to the idea, so you have nothing to worry about.'
'Okay. Thanks. I just didn't want to, you know, flaunt it or anything, especially while you're still dealing with stuff.'
'I appreciate you thinking that way, son, but it's all good,' he says, before inviting me in for a hug and wrapping his arms around me. 'You're a good kid, Gray, and I'm proud of the man you are becoming.'
'Thanks, dad.'
'Ummm . . . I hope I'm not interrupting anything,' we then hear.
To be continued . . .
Authors Note:
Hi there. It has been a while since I have posted anything new on Nifty. I guess life gets in the way sometimes.
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