Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2015 08:49:46 -0500 From: TCHASE MCPHEE Subject: FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS ~ ?...boWL oF CheRRieS...? 02 The story below is a work of fiction, set in the format of reality. Any resemblances to real people, alive or in the hereafter, is entirely coincidental in nature. It is not meant to accurately reflect upon persons, of continents or islands, in countries, counties, cities, towns, villages, neighborhoods, streets, cul-de-sacs, nor governmental or non-governmental areas, which the story is staged. If a sexual scene involving male-to-male relationships offends you, then why are you here? Seriously, if guy-to-guy sex stuff makes you barf or is going to screw up your mind, you should not read this story. Various states and countries have various rules regarding reading or viewing `adult material'. It is up to the reader to research this subject, abiding by their own laws. The pages of this story contain `adult material', intended for an `adult audience'. Bypass this warning at your own risk. % Sexual safety matters. Remember guys, this is fiction. In real life, use protection. Hey dudes, if you have enjoyed reading NiFTy stories as much as I have, over the years, consider adding some support for `internet $pace'. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html ^o^ Concluding remarks ~ reading this story could make you stiff or gooey, so I would suggest not reading it at work... just sayin'! :) % FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS ~ `...boWL oF CheRRieS...' 02 WriTten by T. Chase McPhee ^o^ Next morning, bright and early, Jared is greeted at the front door of The Nook, "You're late!" Bit embarrassed, Jared laughs it off, "Right," he finds excuse, "and remember that, if ever you become a boss yourself, Sean!" "I'll be sure to add it to my list of things to do and not to do," Sean tells him. Tipped off by Marco, Sean also gave the place a walk-through, Elroy pointing out standard stuff Jared would pick up on, unfinished work, quality standards, things particular to design and little quirky stuff, indigenous to Jared's tastes. Many a times, Jared knew what Jay would like, but in particular, all parties concerned knew to go for a `surfing' motif. Not which Elroy didn't raise a hand in `hello', when he came in, Jared says, "Nice to see you too, Elroy. I take it you two are still comparing notes?" The wisecrack was meant to revisit Jared's rule, before rescinding the infraction, not mixing relationships with business, for which Elroy says, "Oh, much, much more, boss!" A wink seals the thought, just what Jared was thinking. "Hmm," is all Jared replies, sending a tiny message of disapproval, not which he was not in acceptance of the new rule, which outlawed the old rule! Sean, he would have been cool with saying the same thing. Not knowing Jared as well as Elroy, Sean sensed, long as it remain in the joking sense, it could not be justified as offensive. "Like I said," neither would recall it later, Jared saying, "long as it doesn't interfere with business. Now," he didn't wish to dwell on personal matters, "what about progress on the house?" Jared had typed up a little checklist for himself, "grand reopening of Westside Marketplace..." "About that," Sean cuts in. Elroy smiles, originally thinking it would be better if he broke the bad news, but admired Sean for having the balls to spring it on Jared. "Which? The house or the market?" "Market," Sean replies, "I got a call from Jarrod Harrison, working on the signs?" "Yes," Jared sets his words, like walking on glass, "I know Jarrod is in the sign business and he is working on our accounts?" "The company which does the `big' jobs for him, goofed on how it reads." "Is that all?" Jared replies, picking up his cell, dialing. "But I handled it," Sean felt comfortable enough to latch onto Jared's hand, which held his cell. "Oh?" Jared nodded towards his phone, like saying, `get your fuckin' hands off, `or else!' Call it support or egging Sean on, Elroy knocked knees with him, first hurdle down, Jared's phone placed on the table, without Sean getting his lights punched out. Sean, he took the gesture as keep going, but with caution, troubleshooting, "What happened, instead of `Westside Marketplace', the signs read `Island Marketplace'. So, I..." Jared had ended the call, put his cell down, but still handy, "And who's fault is that?" he picks up the device, setting it on its side, flat, turning it on the side, flat and so on, as if a touchy reaction. "If you would just wait?" Sean again touched Jared's full hand, but let go, remembering the dirty look he got earlier. Elroy followed with open mind, mentally recording errors in Sean's addressing both the boss and the situation, which, if remembered, he would bring up later. "I've been waiting since I walked in the door, Sean?" The conversation wasn't getting unfriendly or anything. After all, not even the dress code was that of a board room get together, khaki slacks of different shades, Jared in a buttoned-down shirt, Elroy and Sean in tee shirts, Elroy's shirt embossed with the last `One Erection' concert he attended, "I know, but unless you get the whole picture, you're going to get on your cell and blast Jarrod for something which is not at all his fault. I told him, it sounded catchy and I'm sure you would like it." Jared thinking on it, his cell phone more aggressively tipped from side to front to side to back. "It does sound more appealing," Elroy finally jumps in, "I mean...where really is the west side? Better yet, `island' encompasses the `whole' and not just a geographical district," Elroy shrugs his shoulders. "Which would mean what, Elroy?" Jared shifts his gaze. "Business everywhere and not just where it is, I guess," Elroy says. Good with his hands, drawing, Elroy was not too keen on making it up as he went along, verbally. Meanwhile, slowly making his way over to the table with a pot of coffee, Marco butts in, "I read recently coffee is good for keeping us alert. Anyone still groggy this morning and need an extra kick?" "I'm definitely ready for an extra kick," Jared says, "and I don't need coffee to do it!" Sean and Elroy sat back, looked at each other with deep exhales, knowing, either this wasn't going well or else something else had Jared's balls all twisted up. However, there wasn't a mean bone in Jared's bod. Sometimes his boner could deliver quite a kick in itself, but overall mental state, it was a strength of his character not to jump to conclusions, nor carry the anxiety along with what comes with solving company problems. "All I want to say is," Sean says, holding up his coffee mug, Marco walking around the table to pour, "if you have anyone to blame, it's my bad. Sure, the wrong name will be on the signs and Jarrod offered to correct it, but I didn't think it necessary. I think it was your brother who said you needed to downsize yourself and with it, comes putting responsibilities in other peoples' hands?" Elroy gulped. Last night in bed, he noticed Sean's big balls, gave them a licking, but this was a different type of `big balls'! Knowing the rule about employee relationships, totally bent out of shape with these two, Jared turns his attention, "And I suppose you are in full support of this, Elroy?" Not which he ever was afraid to speak his mind, it was just Jared was giving Sean such a tough time and if he didn't care a piddly-squat about Sean, Elroy would have let his opinion go south, "Do you remember my first mistake and how you got over it, Jared?" Jared sat back, reflecting on it, like it was yesterday. At the time, all the employees at J&J Marine were ready to run for cover and it wasn't because of the yacht hitting the big doors which opened into the showroom. Elroy in particular, who designed the doors, was fearful for his life and not from the big panes of breaking glass, but the hideous look on Jared's face. As it jarred Jared's memory, it too threw him back in time, a month before Jay boarded the plane to the west coast. More of an effect on whether the doors were properly designed, or the fact they could not withstand a hit like a yacht, Jared wipes a hand over his face, like a wave, "Excuse me. I need to use the mens room." Marco, still with the pot in hand, says, "What was that all about?" Elroy, knowing the story, says, "It wasn't about our mistakes, that's for sure." With Sean wanting to know more, he turned to Elroy for answers. Marco, sensing something dreadfully wrong, passed by the coffee station, setting the pot on the burner and headed to the mens room. Entering the mens room, no lock on the door, he found Jared, both hands on either side of the sink, head hung down. "Y'know, I think it's against the law to pee in the sink?" Looking up, at Marco, reflection in the mirror, Jared says, "Oh, it's you." "Remember I was talking about my brother, the twin?" "Geo?" Jared remembers hearing, sticking in his mind the `gay issue' being a problem with their parents. "I didn't get to tell much of the story, but it was like the battle of good and evil and because I was the `good' one, Geo, he naturally resented most things I did. We have yet to reconcile. On the other hand, you have a relationship with Jay I know, with love that runs deep." "But you said you and Geo had some `gay' times?" "Was about the only closeness the two of us experienced, much like guys who go out looking for action, never looking for a long-lasting relationship. We had our own friends, activities and the like, but nothing where we crossed paths much. Our senior year of high school, I don't know what happened, other than him coming out, but it split us apart." Jared wanted to guess, but rather know the facts as they are, "Question? You said Geo came out, but you didn't?" Silent for a moment, Marco explains it, whereas a person could draw their own conclusion, "Our folks thought the world of us, but when Geo told them he was gay, he looked for me for support. I didn't say a thing. I suppose you can say I was a coward." It would be easy for someone else to think the same, Jared saying, "On the other hand, I think it's for the individual to do that on their own. How would you have felt if Geo implicated you in his own decision?" "That I thought of. He didn't though and because of not outing me, I thought things were cool with us. They weren't. He never got his diploma, that I know of, instead, running away." "To California," Jared guesses. "Strange thing, shortly after graduation, I came out to our parents. I think I wanted to set things straight before heading off to college." Jared asks, "Did your folks ever contact Geo?" "Not to my knowledge, but my strong guess is, `no'. More, it would have been Geo calling them, to say he was sorry, that he would change, but I think you know, as well as others, being gay is not a choice." "Of course," Jared seconds it. Deciding the last minute not to correlate the conversation, towards brotherhood, Marco says, "You have some good guys working for you. If I were you, I wouldn't be too tough on them. I didn't mean to, but I heard the whole issue over the name goof, but if I were you, I'd go with it. Sean's doing all this work for you and really, it's your own fault." Jared, turns around, stunned, like everyone this morning has been dishing it out, cruisin' for a bruisin', "How do you figure that?" He sat on the ledge of the sink, arms folded, suddenly realizing it was wet! "Oh shit, now it's going to look like I peed my pants!" "Can't blame Sean for that one!" Marco smiles. "No," the real reason for Jared's anxiety surfaces, "and even though Jay has told me over and over, I still blame myself for allowing him to go on that surfing trip to Oregon." "Put yourself in his shoes, Jared. Would you have begged your brother, if it were you going?" Older, Jared felt he should have been wiser, "I was his guardian. I was supposed to know better." Marco rationalizes, "Oh, so you can tell the future, now?" "No, but..." "You didn't answer my question." "Which was?" Jared unfolds his arms, forgetting, sits, pops up! "If Jay was your guardian, you were crazy about surfing and you really wanted to do something all of your buds were doing..." Marco says. "I get the point, but it wasn't that I didn't let him go. He put up a fuss because I went with him. You know, big brother tagging along?" "Then you were there. I don't understand. What's the problem." Back to his comfort zone, Jared hugging himself, "When he fell off his board, we all acted like it was just another wipeout. When he didn't move in the water, that's when we knew something went terribly wrong." It hit Marco in the heart, not exactly the nature of the story, sad as it was, but Jared sniveling, wiping both eyes with his whole forearm, which made him step forward, "And you've been blaming yourself ever since." "Yeah," Jared let out a meek response. Grabbing the tail of paper towels, Marco rips one off, "Here. Collect yourself," though he did hold one of Jared's hands. "I'm sorry for breaking down like this." "Geo did the same thing, only...I wasn't sympathetic for him. Instead I ridiculed him, told him he should not have said anything until we were in college. That's really where the shit hit the fan. I was really thinking of myself and what was best for me in a way and that's how we became divided," Marco shares. A knock on the door, Elroy sticks his head in, "Are we okay, Jared?" Marco answers him, "Give us a minute, will ya?" "Sure," and he was gone. "You know," Marco tread lightly on this one, "Sean was partially correct, but I don't think he presented it too swift, when he said it was `your' fault?" "Yeah, it's something I don't really get," Jared replies. "Responsibility is key here. I learned this from a professor at school, that once you place someone in a higher place, you also need to give that person some leeway. Did you ever explain to Sean, exactly what his duties were?" "Sure. He's my right hand man." "Are you left or right handed?" Marco asks. "Left or right-handed? Like, what does that have to do with it?" "Really, neither. The idea is, you conduct business not only with your brain. When you have to decide something, you have others to consult with. You should be happy Sean has Elroy to carry that burden. I mean, other than Elroy's first big blunder, has he come through for you on all other occasions?" Mellowing out, whether it were words of wisdom spewing from Marco's lips, or just the idea Jared was liking the idea that he cared so much, as to follow him into the mens room, "Does that include burning the buns at the company picnic last summer?" "You're supposed to wear tanning lotion when sunning, moron!" Cracking a smile, just because Jay's name for `idiot' was in circulation, "Okay, well I can't leave them hanging forever out there. What do I do?" "Oh, that's an easy solve." "How so?" "You leave the `old' Jared in here and put on a new outlook when you walk out there. Um, is what Sean decided so terribly wrong?" Biting a lip, Jared asks, "You like the name `Island Marketplace'?" "I think it's kind of snappy, but I have another suggestion," Marco proposes. "What's that?" "This summer, hire me to stand by the grill? I promise not to burn the buns!" Marco was expecting a handshake, but accepted the affectionate hug and one word of `thanks'. Returning to the table, it was as Jared had left it, Sean and Elroy in the same chairs. "Look, Jared, Sean and I have both agreed we overstepped your authority and..." "Really?" Jared began turning over that new leaf, "How would that go?" "Well," Elroy was ready to trip over every word of the little speech he had prepared, "being that you..." Like he never heard a word Elroy said, Jared focuses on, "Give Jarrod a call, Sean and tell him to go ahead with the new name." "Really?" Sean was shocked, expecting on having to agree with a giveback deal on his salary he hasn't made yet. Without dwelling on it, which Jared knew would be wasted words of apologies and the like, he ventures onto, "Now, what about the house? Can we move in this weekend?" "This weekend?" Elroy acts surprised, having already heard the progress report from Sean. He was also surprised when Sean slid past the negative, "They inform me some of the rooms are livable. Plumbing works very well." "You don't need heat, so I told them not to focus their attention on something unnecessary," Elroy kicks in. Putting the screws to Elroy, Jared says, "Oh, so you're helping Sean with this?" Sean answers for him, in his usual brash manner, "Of course he is. It's Elroy's design, isn't it?" Delivering a fresh round of coffee, Jared glances up at Marco, who shrugs his shoulders and smiles. "Of course," Jared says, "that's what I meant. You `should' be helping Sean on this, Elroy." Agreeing, Elroy states, "I thought you would want me to." "Getting back to it, you're certain we can get in..." Smiling, like he had it all in the bag, Sean says, "You can start packing your bags this afternoon!" He had already thought on it, Jared all prepared, having mostly clothing, everything else dear to himself and Jay, buried alive in the house which caved in, after most of it burned up in the fire of their previous home. There still was some of their stuff back at the mansion in Jersey, but the important stuff, if they weren't able to grab or have on their person, was history. "That's good news I like to hear," It lifted Jared's spirits. "Oh, and one other thing?" "Shoot," Sean's favorite word for `ready for the next assignment'. "You two can fight over it, but I'd like one of you to help Giles run The Nook, while I borrow Marco to help `pack'?" "Well," Sean gulped, knowing this wasn't part of his expertise, "I don't know much about making coffee." "No problem," it's a shrug off the cuff for Elroy, "I've designed plenty of coffee shops. How hard can it be?" Jared says with a smile, "Just don't burn the buns!" Sean smiles, thinking of a different flavor of buns! % Meanwhile, Jay took his sweet time getting ready, taking whomever was around to help him. By now, there wasn't much trouble he could get himself into, except, like now, "Dumb door-frame," wheel hub getting caught, like not the first time! "What seems to be the problem here?" If it had to be one person, Jay would have wished for him, "Problem? What problem do you see, Homer?" For Jay, it was a major obstacle, but for Homer, "I'll have you out of this mess in a jiffy. Hold on, now!" Coming a long way since days with Evan and training with Peter, Jay is able to cast himself out of bed, into the chair and has mastered strapping himself in...sort of, "If I go to fall out, forget about the chair and catch me." "Why?" Homer bends over the top of Jay, checking the straps. "That's the thing, Homer. Until this morning I had everyone doing just about everything for me." "Oh," Homer pops up, "then I should leave you here to fend for yourself?" Accordingly, Jay's perspectives, Homer didn't have that much fur on the front, but he sure had a worked out bod, for an old man of 44 years! Not having eyes in the back of his head, Jay could still tell which part of a dude's bod parts touched his head. "I need you to help get me through the door, okay?" "It's nice to feel wanted," Homer laughs. Again, Jay's head had that feeling of touch, which since the bottom half could not sense anything, he thinks it's why any touch from the waist up felt more sensuous. Chair fully on the other side of the sill, Jay looks up, smiles, "Thanks Homer. You're a lifesaver." Reaching over the back of the chair, patting Jay on the cheek, he says, "You're a nice boy." Even though Jay thought of saying the same thing to Thor, in so many words, he didn't mind the human-dog approach. Though, it was on his mind to ask, "So, how are you and CK getting along?" "Okay," Homer says modestly, taking Jay the rest of the way, to where guys usually headed to the head, first in the morning! Taking it out, doing his thing, Jay asks, "Just okay?" "Maybe a little more than okay," Homer stands there, still clutching the chair handles, keeping tabs on Jay's squirting dick. "Sometimes," Jay stutters a moment, making sure he's hitting the mark, explains himself, "if I'm not thinking about it, it doesn't `go'." Leaning over the top of the chair, the 44-year old man remarks, "`Go?' What doesn't go?" Even though twice his age, but knowing Homer for a short time, feeling comfortable with their building friendship, Jay says, "Moron...my cock, shooting piss?" Well, `shooting', Homer would more equate to white, gooey substance, shooting out after heightened erection, reduces his thinking to Jay's level, nicely telling him, "You're right. How could I even possibly think anything different!" Slowly losing his grip on reality, Jay thinking he could ever mess around again, like he's done in the past with Jake, nor Jared, "Of course," he does make light of how Homer thinks, "what did you think `I' meant!" Done piddling, shaking off the drips, Jay says, "All done. Um, like you don't happen to have to go, do you?" Very well knowing Jay's incapacities, Homer was a little surprised by the comment, "Uh, no. I think I'll save that for a private moment, thank you!" Light touch on the wheelchair, Homer loses his grip, Jay doing an about face, "You don't need to be shy. I mean, we're both guys here?" Sensing something here, Homer was fickly, "Just what are you driving at, mister?" he cocks one eye. "Um," Jay treaded lightly, "y'see, people don't understand it, I think, that just because I can't get it up, it's not that I don't enjoy watching...it?" "It?" Homer kind of had an idea here. "In plain English, another guy?" "Of course," Homer was keeping his secretive thoughts undercover, giving Jay the benefit of doubt, "why would anyone think differently?" Wondering what Homer thought about things now, in a different light, Jay quizzes, "So?" "So?" Homer played the cat and mouse game, not sure exactly what to think of all this. With such the extent of pause, Jay sums up, "Unless...I know when you guys get `old', size and substance diminishes...if..." Groping himself, Homer outrightly says, "Not this fuck-tool, baby. Seven and half inches of sausage! If a guy didn't know it was me coming up from behind, he would think I wasn't a day over 20!" Homer, thinking it funny, laughs out loud, Jay smiling, feeling a bit embarrassed. Much like his buddy, Joseph, down at The Spin Club would dictate to his willing victim, Jay demands, "Show me!" Fresh from the shack out back, Homer was dressed in only boxers. Making use of it, without feeling like exposing himself to Jay, a bit reluctant to do so, he says, "Very well." "Cool," Jay finally shows that delayed happy smile. Smiling, Homer does do a little porn, pulling the elastic of his boxers out, enough to tuck five digits inside. Revealing the growing size within the limits of the boxers, Homer watches, much like his first time with Joseph, bulging size, then, at The Spin Club, on knees, with hands bound behind his back, looks upon Jay with the same conviction, the excitement of a dude watching, waiting until that final moment comes...expectations. For Jay, the whole enactment was hidden from view, but he still thought the entertainment superb, "Wow, I can see." "What can you see?" Homer wanted more of a vivid, erotic detailing. "Your, what is it, 8 inches?" "Feels like more with your eyes watching me?" "Cool!" Jay was excited nonetheless, gazing upon Homer's shaft outlining the fabric. However, Homer had come already one-and-a-half times this morning, first time spouting out a `quart' of goo, second shot, a little less, both times down CK's gullet, "Not promising anything big." Giggling, out of nervousness, Jay asks, "Want some help?" Not feeling it, like it was really with another man, equally active in some kind of masturbation, Homer knew he wasn't going to shoot off, stops. "No, don't stop!" Rather than disappoint Jay with the truth, he wasn't feeling it, Homer resorts to, "With all the goo, which was spewing out like Mt. St. Helens, a few minutes ago, I think the reservoir is running on empty!" Still, it satisfied Jay, Homer forming the fabric of his striped blue and gray briefs around the semi-tube. Enough of a bulge for him to comically react, "Well, if that's what you call modest, I sure wouldn't want to be on the receiving end!" Taking it as the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to him, Homer bends over, extends his gratefulness with a kiss to the forehead, "I envy the guy you finally hookup with." "Me?" Jay didn't have much confidence in that either, "Nah, not gonna happen." Trying to boost morale, Homer says, "Are you kidding? Just look at how hard you got me, mister!" Thinking Homer sweet in playing along, Jay says, "I hope I helped refill the tank." "I'll let you know later," Homer winks. Seconds later, Jay's cell, placed on `vibrate' was tickling his thigh, "I gotta take this," hands search for the source. Knowing the predicament with the narrow doorway, while Jay picks up, Homer wheels him out, barely missing scraping the wheel hub on the door frame. Eavesdropping on the conversation, he hears Jay speaking with crucial words, "But I'm here by myself!" Then, looking up, not at the usual person that helps with transport, "Oh wait, Peter. Homer's here with me. He can..." Homer could very well have wheeled Jay over to Warrior One, but Peter dashes all hopes of that, Jay saying, "What do you mean, `come by myself?'" On the other end of the phone-waves, Peter got busy and had to go, Jay saying to Homer, "He hung up on me." "So," Homer very well knew, "what did Peter say?" "Said he'd be very disappointed in me if I didn't show up for training today," Jay lamented. "So? Show up!" "Does that mean you'll take me?" Rather than tell Jay he would not, following along on Peter's guidelines, therapy so to speak, Homer says, "Isn't this something Peter wanted you to do, try to get around on your own?" "Around the house, yeah." Standing tall, like a boss over his employee, folding arms across that finely chiseled bod, Homer states, "No, I think Peter was trying to get at something more?" Jay very well knew the directive here, what Homer was talking about, like Peter stood there, backed him up, "Yeah. I suppose." "Besides, isn't The Nook and your surf shop on the way?" "They are," Jay waited for more explanation. "So, if you start out and feel like you're losing your navigation, just stop in at either place. I'm sure Peter would not mind at all, would feel proud of you, that you are doing this all on your own." "Ya think?" Jay is sensing the intimidation of a solo journey, even without leaving the house. "What I think," Homer unfurls his arms, leans that sleek man-bod over Jay's chair, resting hands on the rails, "it's not going to matter when you get there. What Peter will be looking for is showing up at all, on your own?" "I suppose," Jay is already biting his lips. "And of course, feel free to use your cell often along the way?" "Um. Yeah. I could do that." "What I will do, is help you get ready and as you leave the front gate, I'll watch out as you roll down Surf Walk Lane, until you're out of sight. How's that?" "Sounds cool," though much less excitement was in Jay's voice. More humdrum. Regardless, even though more a snail's pace, Jay got ready. In preparation of striking out on his own, Homer tried playing less of a part in some unnecessary duties, like finding a tee shirt and stringing it on overhead. Often he ducked out, like right now, asking, "Do you need to pack a lunch?" "Um, no. Day before the day," Jay meant the 4th of July, "Jesse says it's a half day for clients. I might even be the only one there, because people already told Jake they might not show up." "I see. Okay, well let me just check on Cayman and..." "He's still here?" Jay asks, surprised. "Not only that," Homer says it, like great pride is attached, "but he's spending the weekend!" "With you?" Assuming the pumped up position, arms L-shaped, biceps bulging, Homer says, "What? You don't think I'm a match for those other pretty-boys who hang around his mansion?" Smiling, Jay replies, "I think you would make a great model for older men's clothing, Homer." "If you weren't in that chair, I'd wrestle you to the ground, Jay!" "And let me guess...you would rub yourself all over me, until you were hard as a rock?" Jay muses. Glad he hit a humorous nerve, pulling Jay out of an anxious moment, Homer replies, "Of course. I love getting it on with hot, young men!" "Thanks," Jay smirks. However, it did pull Jay out of his latest funk. All ready to go, Homer was like a heckling mother, making sure Jay had downed some breakfast. Though, before Warrior One Jay wasn't too enthusiastic about woofing down a full menu. "Here's a protein bar, for later," he tosses it to Jay. On purpose, he didn't put hands up to catch, `catching it' in the fold of his legs, "Trying to make me hard, Homer?" "I hope it works!" Taking stuff like that as a joke now, not always comfortable about the plumbing broke, Jay says, "Wouldn't that be sweet?" "Stick it in your pocket. Maybe you can fool some guy along the way." "Yeah," Jay laughs, "and then it'll be just like in the olden days!" Right now, Homer thought, if only Jay could get it up, he wouldn't mind messing around with a 21-year old college frat, "Well, I better go check on Cayman." Rethinking, as he walks away, Homer knew they could always be friends, but not anything past a warm hug or friendly kiss! While by himself, Jay decided to take the first baby steps to exiting on his solo journey. Really thinking about it, it intimidated him just to open the front door. Though, he had made the roll up the potholed flagstone once already, it not being too frightening. Thinking about just that one time he literally ran into a surfer, approaching the gate, he was more confident. Although he ran into the same problem, the gate opening in, "Dammit!" "Problem here?" On the flagstone, with the little holes, Jay could not make the turnaround as swiftly as the wooden floor, "The gate, Homer. I can't grab the latch and if I did, my chair keeps it closed. I don't know what to do." "Hold on. I'll be right back." Still trying to remain cheerful, Jay says, "Like where am I gonna go?" Coming back, Homer was tying to sneaker lace to another one, "I should have done this eons ago," he loops through a hole already in the top of the latch. Complaint, Jay says, "I hope this doesn't have sneaker stink on it," he wraps the lace around his hand, backs up. It wasn't any problem after this, except after the gate sprung open on its own, Jay had to scoot forward, propping his chair against it closing. "How's my invention working?" "Cool," Jay replies, "only you need something thicker than the string?" "Sorry about that," Homer says, looking down at the place on Jay's hand, molded by pulling of the lace. "I suppose that's something to put on my agenda today." Smiling, mind off his travels for a minute, Jay says, "Don't forget about CK!" The mother hen, seeing Jay out the front gate, Homer wasn't satisfied with watching Jay roll up Surf Walk Lane, stepping outside the boundaries of the yard, tailing him. Of course, Jay thought he was on his own. Twice, two bellyhole-boys, boards tucked under their arms, stopped to ask Jay if he needed help. Though, Homer felt slighted, not being asked if he needed help! Stopping at the end of Surf Walk Lane, Jay looked cautiously, as if he was ready to enter a lane on the NJ Turnpike, traffic zooming by. However, this time of the morning, early, 9am, traffic was at a minimum. Gulping, he strolled out, made the right turn he needed to accomplish and then rolled. He stopped a moment, thinking he was all alone. Then, to his surprise, 2 joggers stopped and asked if he needed help. All through his traveling, this was the case, dudes stopping and asking if he needed assistance. The one, long block he needed to roll was the toughest part, getting farther and farther from the beach house. Regardless of the anxiety, just as Jay was ready to sink into depression, two joggers came by. "Hey, are you out here all alone?" one stood in front of his chair, still jogging in place. He didn't realized the tank-topped muscle dude wasn't alone, until `blondie' asks, "Which way you headed?" This went on and on, until Jay made his way to the first left turn, onto the main boulevard. From there, he told the two Samaritans, "I can go on from here by myself." "Are you sure?" as Jay found out, was partner to the blond guy, asks. "Yup. I can see The Nook from here," and even though Jay could claim ownership himself, "My brother owns it." Knowing they were joking, they asked if they could get free latte's, but didn't even stop in, kept on with their routine jog. First thing Jay hears, upon entering, is Giles' voice, "Jay, you here by yourself?" Apparently, Jay says, "Yup. All by my lonesome self." He didn't mention the 6 or 8 hot dudes whom helped out along the way! Not picking up on Giles, but his brother's familiar voice, "Jay! What are you doing here? You're not by yourself are you? Please tell me Peter is outside?" "Chill, bro, I'm doing it on my own today. Aren't you proud of me?" though Jay was still feeling a little shaky. "Of course, but by yourself?" Again, Jared reiterates, "Where's Peter?" "At Warrior One. He had a dude before me and told me to come by myself," Jay still glowed with accomplishment. Going back to his `office', same table as yesterday, the day before, day before that, Jared picks up his cell, "Well," touch-dials, "I don't think that's a good idea, `specially not checking with me, first?" Rolling over there, Jay was disturbed at his brother, "That's just not right!" "Bro?" Jared sat there, shocked, Jay stealing his cell right away from his ear, left wordless. "I did real good. People are friendly. Lots of guys stopped what they were doing to ask if I needed help. Besides, it wasn't Peter's choice. If I didn't think I could do it, he or Homer would have come with me." Then, still clutching the phone, which unknowingly, had been answered on the other end, Jake asking `hello' five times, "It's about time I did stuff on my own." In reality, Jared had forgot his real intentions, setting up home and business on the `island', giving Jay a small space to create a new life, "Can I have my phone back?" he backs down a little. Keying it off, Jake having hung up a minute ago, Jay says, "Long as you don't call Warrior One." "I won't," Jared starts tidying up, "but I'll accompany you the rest of the way." "No." "No?" Jared was mildly shocked. "No. I want to do it by myself. Besides," Jay states adamantly, "I'm okay with it. Okay?" Mildly styled hair, when Jared exhaled, bottom lip extended, it made the little bit of hair over his forehead, fluff up, "I don't know. Are you sure? I could," he looks over to the counter, picking the first employee catching his eye, "let Todd go with you?" "Todd?" Jay looks in the direction his brother stares. "You know Todd, right?" "Um, yeah. I think." "Maybe you don't recall. He only works Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday." Eyes set on Todd, Jay didn't want to remove them from the ginger-brown-haired dude, until he had fully memorized `the picture', "Maybe that's why," he admits to. Turning back to Jared, as much as he wished to make friends with Todd, Jay sticks by his guns, "No, I want to do it on my own." Relinquishing, Jared makes Jay promise to call when he got to Warrior One, or 10 minutes from now, whichever came first. Leaving though, Jay thought it polite to wave to the fire-orange, curly-headed server, "Hi, Todd!" Halting the pouring of coffee into a mug, Todd replies, "Hi there." Really, Jay thought he had made a connection, Todd lethargic in returning to the pouring out. Bad luck, he would have stayed a second longer, only some kind person was holding the door for him! Back on the trail, a no sweat journey, it being a walkway and not vehicular street, except in an emergency, Jay found it simple to continue straight on down the road and soon remembered the right turn, which took him past his own surf shop, bearing his name, making him stop, look up, smile, spelling out the name, "Jay's Surf Shop." For himself, it had a nice ring to it! He thought about going in, but if he wasn't at Warrior One in 8 minutes, he would need to phone both Jared, and Peter. About ready to roll on by, a very good looking guy comes out. With no intentions of saying anything, the other dude says, "Are you on your way in?" holds the door. `What a fine specimen,' Jay is thinking, skimpy tank top, all that luscious fine, dark brown fur fanning out from within, "No thanks," and like he was working there, "find what you wanted?" Thinking it kind of a queer question, the dude replies, "Have we met?" "Not until right now," Jay replies, smile on his face. Witness to a random act of kindness, it's cool, the door still being held, another dude, much younger than the door-man, exits, saying, "Thanks, dude." It prompts Jay to just roll his eyes, language passed between, man-to-man smile, "You can close the door now?" "Oh," the guy says, allowing it to slowly close on its own, "right." With much in common, Jay finds out `Chase' is more into beach volleyball than surfing, works at Korbeau's for the summer and at 26-years old, is still pursuing some graduate credits. Liking the guy, Jay invites him to his birthday party, site yet unknown. After each puts their cell number into Chase's phone, Jay is on his way. Korbeau's was next along Jay's path. Without time to stop, he is on his way again. Gliding right past HOODWINK'd, out steps one of the bartenders, "Hey, is that you, Jay?" Awkwardly throwing on the brakes, hands grabbing the slow-moving wheels, Jay says, "Yep. It's me, Timofey!" Timofey wore his age well. At 36-years old, Jay could swear him still in his mid to early 20's, "Where you off to by yourself?" Nodding, it came across as not much, Jay still having to say, "Up the block, Warrior One for my PT." "Isn't someone usually with you?" "I know," Jay replies to Timofey's concern, "but today I'm trying out, doing it by myself. It's just an experiment." Leaning on one of the people-corrals, Timofey says, "And how is the experiment working out?" If only Jay knew, back at the beach house, Homer having gone to tell CK about Jay's excursion, arranging for some of his and another agency's models, a set up to meet Jay along the way, plus Todd, a former CK model who lost interest to the science field, perhaps he would have breezed through the course. However, opposed to the idea at first, the idea grew on Homer. It would have stopped there, at The Nook, had it not been for Jared, phoning Joseph, after Jay left. Joseph, busy for the moment, could not drop things, so phoned HOODWINK'd, knowing it was part of the Jay's course. He had it in mind to speak with Scott Tavener, a fun victim to his roleplaying, not to mention great at mixing drinks, but got Scott's voice message. Cursing, Joseph touch-dialed the main number, Timofey picking up. Of course, it cost Joseph, a favor for a favor, but told Timofey, Jay was worth giving up the next hot boy he would be meeting. With all said and done, Timofey says, "I have a wedding coming up and need to get fitted for a suit. Okay if I walk with you to Montero's?" So there, another leg of the route covered, it took Jay to one long block before Warrior One. Jake `just happened to be' on his way for coffee, meeting up, offering to walk the last leg back to Warrior One. In the door, he runs right into Peter, "I made it!" "You sure did," Peter congratulates him. Looking up at Jake, he says, "Thanks for the special delivery!" Seeing his best bud get paid with a hug, Jay says,"Well, don't I get something for it?" "Sure," Peter breaks from Jake, "got the foam pit all ready for you!" Acting grumpy, but not feeling it, Jay responds, "Damn the pit!" The gym was like a morgue, which was good, because Jay and Peter could work at the climbing wall without anyone else in their way. First time, Jay accidentally wound up in Peter's arms. Second time, Peter says, "I know your game now, Jay. Stop it!" Jay knew Peter half-kidded about gloved hands sliding down the rope, "You're onto me, huh?" "No sweat off my back, but you're only hurting yourself by not trying?" "Okay, dad," Jay mocks. Even Thursday, nonessential businesses were closing their doors at noon. Warrior One, such were the demands of business, was the exception: one on one training, surf school, surf `after-school', then the evening leased out to a rock-climbing club and yoga group. It seemed, if not kept to certain hours, the facility would never close! However, it had been Sean who curtailed activities, business coming to a halt after the one-to-one training sessions ceased. It paid off, having Jesse Spenser poll the surfing students, whereabouts for the holiday, almost all saying even if they weren't traveling off the island for the 4th of July holiday, partying with friends was in order. Everyone he knew and some of mere acquaintance, Jay asked if they were coming to his birthday party. Without knowing the logistics, he gave out his brother's cell, if they needed a contact. It's why, for the whole afternoon, Jared's cell rang sporadically. Soon as he hung up, "Geesh!" he would exclaim, the tone playing. Sometimes he answered before looking at the display. Around a half hour after Jay left The Nook, Peter gave him a `progress report' call, which Jared sarcastically tells him, "Thank my brother for calling me after 10 minutes!" He heard Peter tell Jay, `Jare says thanks for calling him after 10 minutes, whatever that's about?' "Holy cow! I knew I forgot something!" Jared smiles after hearing Jay's voice. He would have really been getting his balls all twisted up, if not with the heads up about CK setting up his pawns, to meet Jay along the way, or Joseph phoning Timofey at HOODWINK'd. Of course, Jared did get a little ball-throbbing entertainment, hearing Joseph tell about paying back the bartender. "Okay, well have a good time and if Jay is tired, please have someone accompany him home." Todd, bringing Jared over a cold drink, asks, "How did Jay make out?" Beyond the incredibly good looks, Jared liked Todd's performance on the job, "Very well." Fibbing, Jared not knowing, pro nor con, how his brother felt towards Todd, "Jay likes you, you know?" "Really?" Todd says, bright white smile. Right after Jay left the shop, Todd, filling Jared's cup, had mentioned his brother being, `cute'! "I hope you're coming to Jay's birthday party on Saturday?" "I'd like to," Todd replies, "but I might have some babysitting at the marine center." "Isn't there someone else who can entertain the whales?" Knowing the 22-year old, part time waiter worked also at the island marine center, because of age, could be a good pal for Jay, "I suppose I could beg a guy," Todd laughs. "Beg?" Jared smiles. "Let me put is this way, Todd, be there or you're fired!" "Really?" Todd acts like he's scared shit! "No. Not really, but try to get someone to cover for you Todd?" Jared smiles. Trying to cut another `not funny' joke, "Maybe the whales and dolphins could play tag?" There were no whales, a few tame dolphins, indigenous to these waters, Todd tries better humor, "Whales, they don't even like to eat them more than mate!" Not sure if this was meant as a joke, or having some sexual overtones, Jared play it safe, laughing, then quickly exiting to something else, "Well, I'll let you get back to what you were doing." Giles had already explained to Todd, how Jared could be a real s.o.b.-businessman, but deep down inside, a genuine good guy, rarely losing his cool, `Like you have to have done something really bad to set Jared off.' "I'll really try, I will," Todd responds, much like giving an oath, "to get to the party?" "Right," Jared's mind still lingered on sea creatures, trying to decipher Todd's `riddle,' was it? % The day running its course, business went along as usual, until the clock struck 1:00 around town. All morning long, businesses, as well as individual citizens, had put into the second phase of pulling off 4th of July celebrations. Down at `the hub', one of the bands playing tomorrow, `One Erection,' were polishing off the finishing touches of their act, doing a sound check. There was really nothing much one could do, keeping outsiders from listening, an outdoor venue, but the promoters had come up with something unique. `Clothing' the double layered stage with thick, giant panels of gauze, obscuring what was behind it very well. Sight was like listening to a recording, without full view of the performers. Though, some linger, hoping to sweet talk the security guard into allowing them to walk onto the listening space, "Hey, what would it take for me to sneak in there and snap a picture with my phone? It would really mean a lot to my impending journalism term paper?" Of course, man-on-duty, having slowly backed out of the security position at Korbeau's, working part time or less, Joseph eyes the youth up and down, "Where have we met before?" Maybe Joseph didn't have all the inside information on Derek McLaren, but he knew all about Joseph, smiling, like he had it all together, "The Spin Club, most likely. I'm hired to literally, hang around, for special effect...you know, one of the `live' props?" Ready to flog himself, like a slap to the face, Joseph was ready to get out the strap, "Oh-h-h-yeah-h-h, now it's all coming back to me." It would have made a difference to Joseph, if Derek wasn't wearing the boardshorts and tank top. "So, you recall, now?" "Yeah," the sweet attributes start becoming more vivid, "Smooth? Big cock?" "Well," Derek doesn't intend on getting in a fight about it, yet wouldn't mind tangling with Joseph, "they really hired me for my big balls `and' hard shaft, when it's big!" Smiling, Joseph says, "I'd sure like to get with you when you're not on duty as a prop?" his face shines. "Great," Derek tells him, having it made way for ulterior motives, "then how about the photo and after you've made good on allowing me to sneak up to the stage, we can set a date!" Joseph knew he was being bamboozled. After all, he was `the master', `head honcho' and any other foremost titles which described the top position when playing at The Spin Club. Lifting the chain, which felt kind of awesome, hand touching the linked metal, "Go get your picture." "Thanks," Derek replies, ducking under the chain, "you won't regret it, Joseph." "Hmm," Joseph rubbed the stubble he hadn't shaved off this morning, thinking how Derek knew his name, when they hadn't properly introduced themselves. Yet, it made Joseph smile, fully knowing, at least, getting past the first name! % After winding up the session, coming right out the front door of Warrior One, Jay was surprised, "What are you doing here, Jare?" All afternoon, Jared had been on edge, thinking of the remodeled house taking shape, readying it to move in. Planting Hans Hobstaken as his eyes and ears, on the construction crew, had paid off. Not in a bad way, Jared found the men to be working at full speed, an honest to good band of construction workers, set on doing a superb job. The only problem which had arisen, the designer furniture he had ordered 2 months ago, he had a choice of having it delivered the day before the 4th, or wait till after the weekend. Jared was delighted, part of the extension of Jay's birthday present, both furniture and house, could possibly be all ready to spring on him today. "Taking you on a little detour," Jared furnishes reasoning. He knew the house was mostly finished, but the fine details would not be missed. Too, having the furniture delivered, it was like the icing on the cake and would add to the small final touches. "Cool. Taking me out for pizza?" Peter, he stood behind. In reality, springing Jay's good progress was supposed to be the apex of excitement. However, Peter didn't mind, long as Jay was bubbling over with happiness. "We could," Jared couldn't almost contain himself, "after I take you to your little surprise?" "Wait," Jay act melodramatic, "is this one of my birthday presents?" It didn't quite work to even things out, Jared planning and executing Jay's birthday surprises, getting a wrapped gift from Jay every year. Jay didn't have access, or even thought about spending tons of money on Jared, a $50 shirt or shorts, compared to hundreds of thousands of dollars he would receive in Jared's gift-giving. "One of them," Jared replies, not really counting on his fingers how many there were! Of course, there would be oodles of presents from those who were invited to Jay's beach party. Jared, he made it a point to be there `with a present' or literally, `don't come,' but also cautioned people not to make it an offensive present, like a bicycle or pogo stick! "Cool!" Jay's face lit up even brighter. Whatever was on topic, Jared would always remember, "How did Jay make out today?" Peter, his news was good, but candle-watt and not like opening game at Yankee Stadium, "Jay did well scaling the wall..." Like a hint for Jay's brain, obscured by his bro's news, he remembers, "Oh yeah, it was real cool today, Jare. You should see how I pulled myself up, climbing the wall. I was really on it," Jay's voice takes a dip, "until I let go a couple of times." Walking behind Jay, it was easy for Peter to give Jay a noogie, "Oh be quiet!" Turning Jay's failures into a joke, "I was more than happy to be there to catch you!" It wasn't a surprise, Jared having called Jake, making sure Jay was ready for a long trip, hearing how his brother had fallen three or four times, Peter there to be his cushion, "I hope there's no permanent damage, Peter?" "Uh, no," Peter makes it up as he goes along, "but I'm thinking of going down to The Spin Club sometime and seeing which is worse torture, Jay or being at the scruples of your friend, Joseph!" They laughed, Jared thinking of how he would love to get with Peter. Lately, thinking over the past few years, he pictured himself as total top, fucking dudes like it was going out of style. Now, after several jaunts with his brother, reduced to the lowly bottom, he's uncertain of the outcome. Would be nice standing behind Peter, tickling his hole, but also on his knees in front. What an insightful way of thinking... Jay, carrying on without his brother, says, "Cool, Peter. Let me know when and I'll get Joey to help you out with that!" Finally popping out of his daydream, Jared asks, "Help who, with what?" "Um, like what planet are you on, bro?" Knowing very well, if he spoke about what he was thinking, it would uncomfortable news about himself, or Peter, "Uh, I was just thinking about your birthday surprises. That's all." Peter could have come back with, `Is that why you have your hand in your pocket, Jared?', but instead, "I can't wait," bending over the top of the chair, again making the connection, top of Jay's head with his chest, "what about you, Jay?" He thought it cute the first time, looking at Peter's smile, upside down. Unlike the first time, Jay replies with a kiss, "That's what I think, you upside down moron!" With Peter popping up, standing tall, Jared tells him, "Are you going to take that abuse from him, Peter?" "Yeah," Peter, lacking self-confidence, says, "but Marco and me, we'll make sure he gets his due, later!" First time Peter has referenced himself as a `duo', Jay beats Jared to it, "Is that what we are now, Peter?" It wasn't exactly what Jared was thinking, more on the partner level, 2-of-a-kind, but waited it out, for Peter's opinion on the matter. "I suppose that's what we are, though I hope you're okay with me, not talking to you about it first. It probably would have been nice if Marco and I talked to you about it, before finding out about our intentions publicly?" Jay, he didn't care, but Jared, always on the lookout for his bro, "It might have been a better way, Peter, also throwing me a clue?" Sometimes Jay didn't like it, Jared stifling his freedom to think and act, but he knew it was putting his best interests first. Going with it, instead of against it, Jay says, "Yeah, it probably would have been nice for both of us to know." "I suppose it was a matter of just busting to tell the news," Peter replies. "Really, we did not discover how this would all work out until talking it out, Marco and me. It just didn't seem right that we got to meet you first, Jay and after doing so, we became `fond' of each other." Hitting main street, it was too busy to talk, especially about matters so private, walking along in silence. Other chatter, purveying silence, it gave each of the three time to observe, rather than taking up matters which pertained to themselves. Jay, he was amazed at how so many people either nodded or said an all out `hello' to his brother. It did make him insatiably inquisitive, enough to call, "Hey, Jare?" "What?" Jared almost tripped, making a fast turnaround. Matters became cloudy, Jay laughing when Jared, facing him, bumped into two hot dudes. Turning back to Jay, yet trying to keep a bearing on walking forward, Jared asks, "Can this wait?" "Sure," Jay replies, though set on getting his question answered, "all I wanted to to know is how come you know so many people?" Especially, Jay had thoughts about the `guys', whether they were cute or not, fat, skinny, men of color, others, was there more than a hand shake involved? "What?" Jared yells back. More effort than it's worth, Jay yells, "Never mind, I'll ask ya later!" Once more, "What?" Peter, a smile on his face, thinking of it as a comedy routine, yells out, "He says he'll tell you later!" Instead of a verbal response, Jared gives him the thumbs up! % Sean and Elroy had gotten the call, shortly after Jared left them, to drop what they were doing and get over to the house, quick, that the furniture deliveries were about to take place. Uniquely, the company, was used to transporting furniture and appliances to homes of communities which had walkways, instead of truck transport. Much like a Navy transport, they would bring goods up on the beach and haul them up to a dwelling on `sleds'. At first, the couple complained, not to Jared, knowing better, but to each other, gripes upon gripes. However, when Sean and Elroy realized whom they were supervising, they didn't mind at all watching furniture brought from the beach to the house, shirtless guys hauling it in, sweating profusely from the almost-100 degree weather. "Maybe one of us should go fetch some lemonade?" Elroy suggests. Sean comes up with more brilliance, "Nah. Beer. Get'em drunk and then we can have our way with'em!" he laughs his ass off. Joking, Elroy says, "Just remember, you cheat on me, I'll do it unto you." "I like your religion," Sean replies. There was beer, except for the guy who was at the wheel and pizza, Sean exercising his right to spend some of Jared's allowance, in the name of business relations. However, right after the work of moving began, Sean felt he was getting too sweated up, for being Jared's right hand man and watching out for Elroy, approached Hans Hobstaken, "How about taking over supervising the moving crew?" Having watched Sean and Elroy and whatever it was between them, transpire, Hans felt comfortable even to clutch his junk, "Sure. I don't mind doing anything for the company, long as there are fringe benefits!" Elroy says, "I think we've been had, Sean." Sean, on top of things, replies, "Yeah, but in some ways I don't mind being taken advantage of by a hot stud!" "Really?" Elroy says, watching Hans strip off his tee and get in the swing of bossing the beach-deliverers around. "If I had only known that last night!" Last night, their first night of really getting down and dirty with the man-sex, Sean assumed the position of wanting to be orally worked over, without any returned affection. Though, he did like lapping up and down Elroy's tall shaft before poking him in the ass, "Don't get any ideas Elroy!" "Oh, excuse me," Elroy smiled, thinking how hot it was to feel Sean inside him. Yet, there was that lingering unknown, how it would feel to trade places. % When Jared arrived at the dead ended walkway, also suited for getting a pedestrian vehicle in there if need be, but a tight squeeze, he asks, "Well, this is it...Happy Birthday, bro!" Jay knew when they were getting out of the business district, into `homes', what sparked his interest was the distance between. Many homes on the island were box-types, gradually encroaching on each other to the point, if you reached a hand out the window, you could shake your neighbor's hand. He wasn't sure, even though if a person stuck a telephone pole out the window, it would not touch the side of the next home, "Like, what am I supposed to be looking at?" Having met Peter at the back of Jay's transport, Jared had instructed the driver to curb to the right, "What you think you're looking at, bro!" "It's...so-o-o big," was Jay's opinion of the double-decker house. Neither he, nor his architect, Johnston Mc Seain knew what to officially call it, Jared having coined the phrase, "Of course, bro, there's one for you and one for me, all under one roof, a `bro-condo'!" "What kind of moron name is that?" Jay looks up. Peter, he still was making up his mind if he liked the brick exterior and multi-colors of rectangles. Jared looks down, smiling, wanting to bust out laughing, "2 condos for 2 bro?" He goes giggle. "I still don't get it." "You will," Jared tells Peter, even though he asks, "Mind if I?" Stepping back, Peter surrenders Jay to his brother, "He's all yours." Peter was kind of relieved, being turned into a spectator. What would happen, the wrought iron gate would be closed, opening with a flick of a switch. Now, it stood wide open, allowing construction and others access. Wheeled through, Jay looks about, "I feel like I'm entering a Hollywood mansion!" Even though setting foot on the property several times over the past two months, Jared had to admit it to himself, the monstrous look of the exterior. "I can see where this can be for two families," Peter says. Up the drive, a shoulder-high wall separated the public from the private. The gate was off its hinges for the moment, Jay zooming right through. What he found, "Oh cool! Looks like my birthday party is off to a rolling start!" After the furniture was all hauled up to the house, unpacked, outside, then taken in, before the movers could get away, Sean took the liberty of inviting them for a cool swim in the weird-shaped pool. Neither Jay, nor Peter saw a problem in it, but Jared was a little bent out of shape, "What the hell does Sean think he's doing?" "I don't see anything wrong," Jay was cool with watching dudes in and out of the pool, in and out of their briefs, diving, jumping, having a little horse play. Not immune to the excitement of seeing smooth and hairy, hot men frolic, to Jared it wasn't the eye candy, but directive he gave Sean, everything pristine and set in place when Jay arrived, "Do you see Sean?" "No," Jay says, watching Jared scan the scene. Then, "Oh wait. There he is, talking to some guy." Peter, he `took the 5th', safely minding his own business. "Wait here a minute." Jared was ready to take his first step, pulled back by the tail of his pants pocket, "Hold on a minute, Jare!" Looking down, as to the reason he was being held back, "Damn, Jay, you almost tore my pants!" If it were a time for laughing and joking, Jay would have said something like ripping his pants off, seeing his brother's hard on, but this serious business, "I thought you were starting to cut Sean some slack?" His mind busy on the unannounced pool party, intentions on Jay being the first to set a foot into it, Jared says, "I was, but I specifically told him I didn't want anyone using the pool, not until you were the first one in." Being sarcastic, Jay says, "Oh, like my feelings are really hurt." "That's what I thought," Jared didn't know the difference! "I'm pulling your chain," Jay still hung on Jared's pocket. "What?" Jared couldn't take his eyes off Sean, yet the gaze was starting to weaken. "Let it go. It's no big deal. Besides, who could ask for anything more than being welcomed to my new house by a backyard full of hot guys?" "He's got a point there," Peter agrees. Jared gives him a cold stare. Peter retorts, "I'm just sayin'. That's all." "Hmm," Jared was still a little heated under the collar, the hot sun not helping. "Well, if you guys aren't interested, I am!" "Hold on there a minute, Jay!" Peter chases after the chair. Seeing it himself, no harm done and if Jay didn't mind the pool and backyard being `used', Jared might find it in his heart to `forgive' his `strategic assistant'. He then discovered, not much time to think, seeing from a distance, Sean acknowledging to Elroy, being seen, the two hastening their pace over to see him. Rolling up to the pool, even Jay has never met any of the movers, they all seemed to know him, but first thing to grab his attention, was hitting a rut at the pool edge, "What the hell is this?" he looks up at Peter. Peter wasn't there! "Peter?" Jay suddenly panicked, near the water, without an escort. "I'm right here," Peter steps over to Jay's side. "Where'd you go?" "To show you, if you're not doing over 10 miles per hour, the high flange around the pool will stop you, keep you from going over the edge?" "Where?" Jay asks. He couldn't look to the side. Peter, commandeering a couple of the swimmers, says, "Mind providing a little `muscle' assistance?" Jay thought they were cute, dudes probably in their 30's, tilting Jay's chair forward, "Oh yeah. I see it now." Setting Jay back on the wheels, "Get a good look?" the older one asks. More than cute, Jay wanted to feel it, gazing upon the hairy nips, stripe, t-trail, soggy bulge, "Thanks." The other dude had gone back to his buddies, "No problem." However, Jay could just tell, not a facet of the dude's interest, introducing, "This is Peter." "Hey, how's it going," the dude says, "I'm Steve McNulty." Flashback from hours ago, Jay asks, "You wouldn't by chance have a brother or cousin named Todd?" Jay chances it, even though Steve had medium-brown hair, Todd a ginger-red lad. "Step-brothers," Steve replies. "Same father, different mothers, but no matter to us. We're close as brothers can be. Where do you know him from?" Feeling left out of the loop, plus eager to meet some of the other swimmers from the moving company, Peter asks, "Mind if I leave Jay in your care for a few moments, Steve?" "Not a problem at all," Steve replies. "If I'm keeping you back from having fun with your buds, Steve..." "Nah. I have to look at them all day," Steve laughs. Not knowing about Steve, yet, Jay tries to find out, "Nice looking bunch of guys!" "Yeah," Steve already knew, from a roundabout way of Sean mentioning something, which outed both `Jay' and his brother, "I'd definitely have to agree with you there, Jay!" Conscious of it, Jay asks, "Um, did someone, like, say something about me, to you, about...you know?" Rather than a direct answer, Steve comes around to the backdoor, "How well did you say you knew Todd?" Knowing, Jay responds, "Not in the way you're thinking it, Steve!" "Oh," Steve replies, snapping the elastic of his briefs, annoyed from the wet band clinging to his torso. "Don't mind me, if you want to get out of that!" Jay laughs. "It is getting that `annoying-wet' feeling. I'll just wrap a towel around," he grabs his bud's towel, since the chair was empty. Jay got the biggest laugh, Steve trying to be discrete, wrapping the towel around his waist, then trying to lower the briefs, causing the biggest towel-fail! "I don't even know why I bothered," Steve stands there, towel on the ground, peeling his briefs down. "Lookin' good!" Jay jokes, the wet pubes only 2 feet away, all that dark brown hair around the perimeter of dangling cock and balls. A little embarrassed, not which Steve knew he had to be, only because he wasn't into flashing himself to strangers, "I look good to you, do I?" Like the olden days, when he could get it up, Jay replies, "I'd do ya!" Steve smiles, dropping the wet briefs on the empty chair, wrapping the towel around himself, "The others," he quickly scans the pool and surroundings, guys choosing to be in their briefs or skinny-dipping, "they can do what they want, but I'm a little more conservative." "Same here," Jay says, though probably if he didn't have limits, he would be parading around with his cock and balls swinging to and fro, too, "some peop's, they have no shame!" Seeing Jay struggle to remove his shirt, Steve asks, "Need a hand?" "More than one," Jay replies. Their conversation revolved around Steve and Todd. It started, Jay wondering about the age difference, Steve at 32-year old, Todd ten years younger. Finding out they were of the same father, different mothers wasn't anything out of the ordinary these days. "Whoa, close call," Steve's hand to Jay's chest, keeps him from falling forward, not into the pool, but faceplanting into the concrete apron. Under other circumstances, it might have been a strange feeling, hands on a stranger, but in the line of duty, it didn't add up. Still, Steve feels guilty, shying away from the feeling, "Nice tank." "Oh this?" Jay holds the Warrior One tank up, hanging it by the corners by fingertips, staring at the logo. "Looks like the owner knew what he was doing, when planning the design." Figuring Todd hadn't told his brother everything, regarding his employment at The Nook and the other businesses of the Evan empire, "That would be Jared, but I think Elroy designed the shirts." "Wait," Steve does a double take, looking towards Sean and Elroy, seeing Jared, turning back about, "I thought Jared owned the Nook?" It didn't occur to him, `more.' Jay rattles off, "And Warrior One and Jay's Surf Shop, me being the `Jay' and Westside Marketplace and... gee, I think that's all. Every time I turn around, there's Jare, buying up some other place!" It stuck in his mind, "So, you own your own surf shop?" "Uh, yeah, but it kind of runs itself right now, because I have PT every morning at Warrior One. Besides, other than the cool clothes we sell, it doesn't really interest me to run a store." Pulling the chair over next to Jay, Steve sits. Hopping up, he exclaims, "Oh damn!" Jay laughs, seeing the wet suit hanging from one hand, Steve trying to clutch the slipping towel in the other. What transpires, is Steve holding the towel, covering up only his pubes! "Hey, we're both guys, right?" Jay sits there, smiling like his appetite has just been satiated. "I know, but as you probably already can tell, I'm not as loose about strutting the family jewels around, as my crew?" "You're the manager?" "I wish," Steve returns. "I could sure use the bucks a manager makes!" "Okay," Jay has the answer, "you can run my surf shop." "Wha-a-a-t?" Steve wondered if he heard right. "Run your shop?" "Sure. You want to be a manager, right?" Not which he wasn't surprised, Steve says, "But you don't know me from Adam?" "Adam who?" "West!" Steve answers, like the punchline to a joke. "Well," Jay reckons, "I might not know much about you, but I sure like what you look like!" Playing along, knowing where Jay's mind was, Steve says, "Like, size matters?" he tidies up the towel and sits. "Anyway, we had a problem at my surf shop since it opened, Jare saying it was the wrong mix. He blames himself though, saying he should've let Clark do all the hiring, which Clark did the same thing, busted my brother's chops, telling Jare he didn't know anything about hiring a guy, but on incredibly good looks..." There was more, but pertaining to their situation, "Is that so? Your brother hiring someone, purely on good looks?" Jay knew Steve had him over a barrel, "I'm not saying I'm hiring you because of your big dick, so get over it." "Oh," Steve acts like it's absurd, "of course I'm not thinking something as that." Very well able to blame himself for his one, thinking like Jared, Jay explains himself, "Of course not. I'm hiring you because you've got manager skills...I think. You are or were a manager once, weren't you?" he held his fingers crossed! "I have to confess, I do help out with it, but don't have the title and no, never held down the position of manager." "Oh well," Jay shrugs the idea, "a guy has to start someplace!" In conversation, Jay hadn't noticed, Jared gazing at his watch, seeing the time, then hiking around the pool perimeter, "Hey, Jay, can you play host for a while?" "Why? Where are you going, Jare?" "I've got an interview at The Nook. I should be back..." "Uh-oh," Jay says. Somewhere in his travels, Jay does recall his bro saying something about interviewing a person for the store manager job. "Um, can you go catch Jare?" He had run beyond the sidewall, Steve getting up, again forgetting about the towel around him, "Sure. If I don't get arrested in the meantime!" Clutching the place his towel came together, Steve makes a mad dash for the side of the house. He was relieved, seeing Jared just under the arbor of wrought iron, "Hey Jared!" He had almost fallen over, turning back. Racing towards Steve, Jared places a hand on Steve's forearm and in terrible worry, "Don't tell me Jay has fallen in the pool already?" "No. Nothing like that." In a quandary, Steve wasn't sure if he should, or allow Jay to break the news to his brother. In all cases, instead of causing a war between the brother's he would back out of the position. "I hate being late to an interview." "I know," Steve walked swiftly, conscious of his toweled waist. "What now?" Jared asks, coming straight at Jay, whom had turned towards the wall. "You don't have to go to the interview," Jay smiles. Cocking his head, inquisitive, Jared replies, "And why wouldn't I need to do that?" Still cheerful, bright smile, Jay says, "I hired Steve to be my store manager!" "You what?" Jared was more surprised than anything. "See that? You wanted me to be more involved in the surf shop and look...I hired my first guy. Cool, huh?" Turning a head to Steve, which Jared couldn't deny `looked' like a good candidate, right down to the bellyhole, and back to Jay, didn't know what frankly to say. On the other hand, knowing a person doesn't get hired for a position without going through channels, pats Jared on the shoulder, "Excuse me, but I know your brother acted hastily and if you have someone in mind, it's okay. Really it is," Steve says in a warm, lamenting tone. Knowing he was in a fix, almost shooing the former manager of one of the island businesses in the door, giving a young woman a break, working in a place she doesn't like, Jared turns around, facing Steve, "Tell me, you wouldn't happen to be a vegetarian, would you?" Comically, Steve says, "If it gets me out of hauling furniture over land and sea, I'd give up meat!" Seeing his brother was giving Steve a way out, covering for himself, Jay thought to throw a little humor into the works, "But not all meat, right Steve?" In the dark, Jared looks back and forth, from Jay to Steve and knew he was missing a page. Steve explains, "While you were speaking to your man, Jay and me had a little talk about each others' history." "Uh, yeah, I kind of get the picture," Jared guessed the facts, glancing down to the towel and back. Conscious of the ever-slippage, Steve readjusts, "Maybe I should think about getting back into uniform." "Don't forget to say goodbye," Jay tells Steve as he walks away. Using the power he had over his brother, which could be easy, twisting him around his little finger, he persuades Jared to hire the woman he had in mind for the surf shop, to manage the vegetarian luncheonette when it reopens. When he returns, buttoning up the khaki shirt, Jay yells out, "Hey, Steve, you're now managing my surf shop. Cool, huh?" "What?" Steve stares at Jared. "How did that happen?" he buttons halfway up and stops. "`He' happened!" Jared says, excusing himself, that he still had an interview to conduct. "I don't get it," Steve says, checking for anything wet before sitting. "Oh, nothing," Jay smiles. "Jare was happy I got involved again in the business." "Um, like, not which I had anything to do with it?" Thinking it the case, Steve handsome, with or without the shirt and pants, mostly without, "Of course not!" Well, they hadn't covered past references, collected letters of reference, nor talked salary, Steve knowing Jay's opinion had to weigh out on something! % Copyright 2015 T. Chase McPhee FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS, and developing segments of this story, may not be sold, nor made part of any collection, without prior consent from the author.