Date: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 10:44:27 -0500 From: T.CHASE MCPHEE Subject: FiRE iSLAND BiKiNiS ~ ?TWiSTs oF FATe!? 09 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. Additionally, if you are under 18 years of age in any state (21yo in Alabama, Mississippi, Wyoming, Nebraska), or in most countries, you are not allowed to read this story, by law. Check with your local laws regarding such. Following, 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 ~ `TWiSTs oF FATe!' 09 WriTten by T. Chase McPhee ^o^ Next morning, Jared found it quite pleasurable waking up with a man beside him, rather Roy's back cozied-up to his own furry front. He thought it funny, after glancing to the clock on the night table, which read 7AM, "Hey," shoved his crotch against Roy's ass! Turning right on over, Roy had the last laugh, "I've been feeling that worm at my hole for the past half hour, Mr. Smarty!" Facing each other, Jared recollects, "I hadn't thought all my energy zoned out after all the excitement of yesterday." Fingertips up and down the embedded strip of hair, from Jared's navel, to where it integrated with chest fibers, Roy says, "I have a feeling when the sun goes down, it only serves to power you up!" "Oh. I hope I didn't leave you sore?" Roy says, "I should be, after you went at me like a jackhammer. Are you always that rough?" "Depends, on the person I'm hammering and how tight the hole needs drilling!" he laughs "So I found out," Roy says, adding, "And what's on your slate for this morning?" "What are we having for breakfast?" Ignoring him, "And after that?" "Did I tell you Jesse wanted our boys over to Warrior One to break Tom in?" Jared replies. "Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?" "It's new for everyone, including Jesse, which Jesse feels he should be around to see how things come together." Smiling, Roy says, "And check out the hired hands?" "Trust me," Jared responds, "Jesse knows to keep business and pleasure separate." "Oh, does that go for you and I?" "Not quite," Jared sums it up. "For us it was pleasure before business and it doesn't quite work out to be the other way around. Though," he sends a message, "I wouldn't let it get out that your boyfriend happens to be the boss!" "I like the sound of that," Roy rotates onto his back. "What? That your the boss' bitch?" "That's one crude way of putting it, `boss!'" "Sorry." Giggling, Roy says, "I kind of like the idea of having a boyfriend around, now that Evan is getting more independent." Jared falls over onto his own back, exhaling, "Talk of that stuff just intimidates me." "I know it does." Then, on a lighter plane, Roy says, fingers doodling with Jared's hairy chest, "That's why it's good we're boyfriends and not business associates." Jared knew there was a punch line, "Um?" Turning back over onto his side, Roy toys with Jared's hair around his navel, "Does this feel good?" "That's your big secret?" "No. I figure we can do a little insider trading, showing Jay how to get along without you?" "But I don't want Jay to get along without me." "Of course you don't, but you have to sometime Jared. It's like the baby in the jungle. Someday he's going to be without momma lion." Jared didn't need it spelled out to him, "I know. I guess I don't know how to go about it." Roy took it as asking for help. Feeling Jared's hair up to the tip of his chin, "And that's where I come in." Mocking a little, "Which is good we've decided to become boyfriends!" Then they are interrupted by a plea, "Jare, I gotta go!" Turning his head towards Roy, Jared smiles and evil grin, yelling back, "Then go!" "That's telling him. So, Jay, he's gone to the toliet on his own, before?" "No," warm horror fills Jared's face, like he's embarrassed. Roy was up and out of bed, grabbing a pair of boxers, Jared right behind him, "If he hasn't done it on his own, it's not going to go well!" "Oh shit!" Jared remarks, thinking of the Zoon residence, how tearing up rugs and tearing out floorboards `caused' the beach house to collapse. However, they were too late, in a good sense. Both boys were missing from the bed they shared and upon entering the room, they hear the toliet flush. First to exit, in his chair, Jay says, "Thanks for stopping your sex to come help me so quickly, moron!" Standing there, hands on his hips, boxer on his torso with a cocky slant, Jared says, "Would have been bad news if your pee brought down another house!" "In case you missed it, dumbass, Joey said it was a flaw in the building structure, dah?" Only time enough for certain conversation, Roy says, "So, literally you don't have a place to stay?" "Now we do!" Jared replies, grinning. Evan flushing, enters the room, "Hey guys, didn't Jay do a good job getting to the bathroom in time?" Jared caught himself from saying something derogatory, meant to be funny, instead telling, "He sure did, which I think he deserves a reward." "Speaking of reward," Jay says, "who's going to take Thor out to do his duty?" Roy volunteers, but leaves them with, "But when we figure out how you boys can do it, you'll share the chore!" About to leave, Evan says, "I'd like to go along, dad?" It was a long haul, but Roy and Jared didn't mind hand carrying the wheelchair and Evan up the stairs. Jared felt kind of good about them going together, with time to spend alone with Jay. "We heard a lot of racket going on in Roy's bedroom last night?" "I think it was the boiler," Jared says, helping Jay to wash up without entering the tub. "Or the `boilermakers'?" Jay replies. "And what exciting things did you two do, sharing a bed last night?" "Um, our lightsabers aren't working, remember?" "No, dah. Did you talk about things?" Jared asks. Going to dry Jay off, Jay grabbing the towel from him, "Evan already works out. Before he left home his football buddies used to take him to the gym. He's in good shape, which is good, because he says I'm not in so good shape." "I hope you didn't take offense?" "Nah. I like him." Then, after seconds of deliberation, "He's a nice guy. How about you and Roy?" Regardless of his immediate feelings, Jared keeps it private, "I've only know Roy for less than a day?" "But you like him enough to fuck around with him, right?" Jared forgot about Jay knowing, "We're getting to know each other," turning off the flow of words about sex and other stuff, "so," Jared claps his hands, "I thought we would go clothes shopping in between meeting up with Jesse and your new trainer?" "I guess. Evan and me aren't going to last too long sharing `his' wardrobe, that's for sure!" Knowing all of Jay's world of earthly goods, the very few they saved from the fire, had collapsed along with the beach house, clothes he had on during the fire and the few Jeremy Behrens was kind enough to donate from `The Flake House' closing, "Let's just look at it as no one was in the house when it collapsed?" "Yeah, especially my good buddy," Jay and Jared exchange looks, knowing he meant Thor. Thinking it, they hear doggie footsteps and in short time, Thor licks Jay on the face. It astounded Jared, obvious Jay wasn't thinking, "Well, look at you!" "What?" Jay draws his attention from Thor to his brother. Only way he could explain it, was how Jay would do so himself, Jared says, "Giving yourself a blowjob?" Jay had to check, to see if Roy's belt or some other restraint had been placed around his chest for chair security, "Oh my god, Jare! Tell me I did that!" He had slapped his back up against the wheelchair, afraid to move, Jared saying, "Do it again. You'll see." Frozen in place, Jay was more afraid now he could not do it again, that if he couldn't, it would be more of a failure. With a bark, as if Thor was edging Jay on, he jumps his front feet up onto Jay's lap and barks again, "Woof!" "See?" Jared says, "Even Thor knows you can do it!" "Hey, what's up guys?" Evan comes rolling in. "Oh, nothing," Jay replies. "Fuck that," Jared gets highstrung. "You move yourself or I'm going to personally kick that butt out of the chair!" "What's the commotion?" Roy enters. Evan looks up at his dad, saying, "Brothers having quality moment." Looking down at Evan, up at Jared, "Need help with something, Jared?" Jay had taken to whimpering, saying he couldn't do it. "Do what?" Roy asks. "He was reaching over, petting Thor, before sitting up. Now Jay says he can't do it." "Of course he can," Roy replies. Surrendering, Jared says, "You try to tell him that!" For now, Evan stayed clear of the situation. He knew how his father worked on him to get him into the state of where he is now. Maybe he could do something for Jay. Instead of Jay and his dad, Evan rolls over by Jared to give him some moral support. With too much thrown at him at once, Jay's eyes streamed with tears. Roy's hands on his shoulders, from behind, he softly says, "How about we do this together?" "Maybe tomorrow," Jay replies. "I think you can do it today, if I help?" Still sulking, Jay says, "Maybe." "I have your shoulders. Only part you have to worry about is reaching forward. If there's any reason whatsoever you want to give up, all you have to do is say so and I'll pull you back up. Okay?" "Um... I dunno." "Fair enough answer. Ready?" Again Jay utters, "I dunno." On the sidelines, where Thor got out of the way too, Evan coaches Jared, "Toughest part about doing something is failing, or thinking about being a failure. My dad really got me through a bunch of tough situations with getting around and dealing with my fears." Jared had sunk down to a squat, to be on Evan's level, but also it presented a better view, seeing under Jay as he perched forward, "I sure hope he gets through to Jay. It'll be a start. Tell you the truth, I really don't know what to do." Jared's arm was on the railing of Evan's chair. His attention was more on Jay, but a gut reaction had his hand ruffling the hair on Jared's forearm, "I think my dad could be a good influence on the both of you." Having some good feelings himself, last night's sex did seep back into his brain for a few short seconds, frank feelings surfacing, "He already has." Evan wondered what brought that on, how Jay was responding to his father's help with jackknifing in half, or was it Jared jacking his father last night? He decided to think it had to do with what was happening now. Jared and his dad fucking around was their business... Though it was fun to speculate! "There we go and nice and easy back?" Looking up, Jay says, "I did it, didn't I?" "Mostly," Roy didn't lie, feeling Jay tire at sitting back up. "Do you think if I can do this, I can do other stuff?" Not wanting to commit himself, Roy says, "I hear that Jesse has hired a stupendous personal trainer for you and Evan, who is also working towards a degree in physical therapy. I have no doubts he will be able to get you guys in shape and answer all your questions." After staring up, Jay, feeling better about things, says, "Can you come around front and talk with me? My neck is getting stiff!" Before dog or man made their move, Jared says, "Is it safe for your brother to come near you?" They're gotten angry at each other before, which hasn't stopped either from pulling the plug on their relationship, Jay saying, "I'm sorry I went off on you." Standing, Jared walks over to Jay, squats again and pets Jay's mane, "Hey, you need someone to let your steam off on!" Then, Jared totally forgot Roy and Evan were present, picking up Jay's chin and kissing him on the lips! "Um, moron?" Jay backs away. "Don't let us interrupt anything," Roy says, smiling. Getting clammy, Jared stands, stutters, "Um, uh, we don't do that all the time." Which, Roy translates, possibility the brothers have done something and more than a long kiss on the lips, telling Jared, "Hey, what you two do or have done, is your business!" Smart one, Jay says, "Are we ready to go shopping?" Everyone was, except Jared, still in his speedo, "Okay if I go like this?" "Not if you want to check out the grand opening going on over at Korbeau's?" Roy says. "You're treat?" Jared asks. "I'm a big manager now. I can afford it. Uh, but not at the moment!" "I suppose I can advance you some cash... Um, big manager, got any clothes I can borrow?" They were headed out to shop for clothes, but Jared felt better with jeans and a tee shirt, rather than a speedo and a tank top which had holes in it. The boys rolling along, all they could talk about is Jay, personally knowing Michael Korbeau and with the inside info, that Michael had always planned opening his own restaurant. By word of mouth, mainly from Joseph's big mouth, they had found out, not only had Michael opened a restaurant, but also a spa, which included a small village of cottages and a strip of rooms. What they hadn't a clue to, is exactly what to wear, until they entered Montero, a store with high end fashion for men. Only member of the entourage to shop at Montero, had been Jared, saying, "Boys," which he was including Roy, "get ready for a `hot' shopping experience!" Entering, they were greeted by a person, which could be equated with a maitre'd at a fancy restaurant. "Wow!" Evan says to Jay. He wasn't only wowing-up the black suit, white shirt and black bowtie, but as Jay agrees with the handsome features, "I'll say!" He had approached Jared, who took command, answering the question, "Right, my brother Jay, his friend Evan and Evan's father, Roy are shopping today. As well as myself," Jared chuckles. "Excuse me one moment," he asked them to wait. Roy jokes, "So far I like the menu!" "The pot is about to get sweeter," Jared remarks. Last time he set foot in Montero, he was personally greeted by one of the two owners. Seeing five men walking towards them, he knew Roy and the boys were ready to get the shock of their lives. When he was in last, he talked business with Edilson Montero, finding out they could get the tag price for their haberdashery, as a result of the expert service given each customer. Jared smiles, seeing the same salesman as last time approach, whom at the time, he was introduced to Aris. "It's so good to see you again, Mr. Evans," Aris says, his eyes directed precisely at Jared. "Same here, Aris." In the meantime, the dude at the door, whom they didn't get a name, was introducing the others, singling out each shopper according to who was next in line, "Roy, Patric will be accompanying you today." "How may I address you today, sir?" Patric says, sticking out his hand. Taking it, Roy wanted to send the auburn-bearded man a a message, like fall on his knees and worship what packed his pants, "Roy will be fine. Do I call you Patric?" Meanwhile, according to Jay and Evan, the salesman left, they weren't giving the door greeter time, Jay saying, "Can I pick you?" he looks up at ginger-blond, smiling back at him. Evan was interested in the other dude, because, "Hey, we look the same age. How old are you?" However, there were customers behind them. Doing some retyping on the laptop at his station, apparently Jay was to be paired up with Timmy, Evan with Sean, but worked out the other way around! Roy was no different than Evan, nor Jay, hitting his salesman with, "So, where are you from Patric?" Quite the English-looking gentleman, "Originally Wales, a few generations ago," but rather than lead Roy on, like customers whom show an interest in him being `male', "Can I show you something formal?" It was then Roy realizes he was treating Patric like some guy he picked up at a club, "I'm not sure really. We're all headed over to Korbeau's and..." "Oh, Korbeau's!" Patric says, raising an eyebrow, "Then you will need to look at some formal wear." Passing by a few blazers, Roy tried to look at a tag, but there weren't any to be seen. He finally says, "This looks expensive!" Patric smiled, which he found it a relief, Roy apparently not one of the high end shoppers who usually shopped Montero, "What's your budget like?" Roy too suddenly realizes the drop in the altitude of Patric's being, "I was wondering about this?" he fingered a velvet blazer, "I was looking for the price," he looks at the end of the sleeve. "Almost nothing in the store has a price on it. One of the first things we learn. That particular blazer is 569.99." Roy comes right back with, "Dollars?" Patric smiles, saying, "I'm sorry." After staring at Patric for a short duration, Roy says, "Y'know, I think you truly are?" "I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but we all weren't born with a silver spoon in our mouth!" Patric replies. "They must've really soaked you for that outfit you're wearing?" Patric says, "Employee discount!" smiles, straightening up the black bowtie. "It's still a little crooked," Roy gives the tie a little tilt. "Thank you, sir," Patric thanks Roy, wanting to thank him a little more properly. "So, where's the bargain basement?" Patric chuckles, "I think you'll have to try another town. The cheapest blazer we have it 349 and some change, but it is more suited for the younger generation." Surprised, Roy is walked in on by Jared, "So, what are you wearing to Korbeau's, Roy?" "Either what I've got on or Evan and I are eating hot dogs tonight!" he smiles at Jared. Then, Roy is stunned out of his gourd, Jared, like he owns the place, says, not to Patric, but the salesman who waited on him, "Aris, arrange a line of credit for Mr. Justice." "Yes, sir," Aris says, walking away. "Line of credit? What do you mean a line of credit, Jared? I've got exactly $265.00 in my savings account..." "Sh-hh," Jared puts a finger to his lips, "not in front of the employees." However, surprising to Jared, Roy says, "Who? Patric? He could care less if I don't have a penny in the bank," then turns to Patric, "you don't, do you, Patric?" Patric smiles, saying, "I'd much rather have a hot dog than a plate full of fancy French food!" Disregarding it, Jared asks, "So, Patric, what has Roy had his eye on?" Patric and Roy were probably on the same wavelength, Roy answering, "This nice blazer, but I'm not paying 600 bucks to wear something once!" "Oh really?" Jared says. "Just what do you think you're going to wear to the Evan's corporate meetings we have at Korbeau's?" Patric thought Jared cute, funny, smiling. Roy thought, "Does that mean lunch will be free?" Patric audibly laughs, saying, "Sorry." "Listen," Jared says, "I have to go check up on the boys. Patric?" "Yes, Mr. Evans?" "First, cut the Mr. Evans crap and call me `Jared' and secondly, fit Roy with a few blazers and all the trimmings. I'll be back!" As Patric pulls one of the three velvet blazers off the rack, Roy hassles him, "How long do they give you to pay off a line of credit, Patric?" "The way it works, your line of credit doesn't start today, so everything you purchase will go on the person who sponsors you," Patric says, adding, "Do you like this?" "Yeah, it's nice, but leather? It's got to an arm and a leg?" All Patric had to do is been given the go ahead, taking the leather jacket off the rack, asking as he gets to the dress shirts, "What color do you like?" "How much are they?" "Never mind the color. What size are you?" Roy saw he wasn't getting through to Patric, saying, "Large, I think." "This is not Target. It goes by number size. We'll have to measure." `Oh boy!' Roy thinks, instantly forgetting about dollar signs! They went to what he thought was a try on booth, but behind the door, it opened into a private room, equipped with mirrors and place for a customer to step up on. "You want me up here?" Roy smiles down from on top of the octagonal platform. They were the only two in the room, which Patric took advantage of, if he was reading Roy right, "I'm not measuring your dick size, Roy!" Of course, if he was wrong about Roy, he would be threatened with termination, but he didn't think so... Hopping down, Roy walks up to Patric, groping, "And how's your dick size right about now?" "Excuse me a minute please. I need to do something quite important," Patric walks over to the door and does something to the knob to make it click. Walking back, he sheds his jacket. "Is this how I get to work off my credit line?" Before he could get an answer out of Patric, Patric's lips were on him, hands working at his pants. Breaking off, Patric says, "You need to get out of your clothes to try the whole ensemble on for perfect fit!" Roy didn't have a catchy phrase for Patric, working at unbuttoning his shirt. Pulling the white tee shirt out of Patric's pants, Roy says, "Mm--mm, look at all this red fur," his hands were rubbing Patric's pecs. Suddenly, when Roy started in on making Patric barechested, his able hands stopped helping Roy strip. Instead, he just stood there, allowing Roy to take his shirt off, then work the tee shirt up his abs, make his arms go straight up towards the ceiling, the tee going over head. "Nice. Very nice. I am really liking the service here," Roy says, bending his head to slurp over Patric's left pec. >From first meeting Roy, Patric could guess he was older, reason for saying, "Oh yeah, daddy. Work me... make my nips hard!" Standing up straight, Roy, who's hand is on Patric's crotch, says, "I think I'm making something hard!" "What are you waiting for? You're the one who had a mouth watering for a hot dog!" "Waiting for you to drop them draws, son!" He was reluctant to do it himself, Roy wondering how far all this was going to go. Seeing Patric go along with things so willingly, he chanced doing the same, kicking off his sneakers, unbuckling his belt and dropping his pants. "Oh yeah. Lemme see daddy's big cock!" Patric says, stepping out of his pants. Of Patric's cock, flopping out of his briefs, Roy let's Patric know the score, "You want to see if that hot dog fits in daddy's ass, son?" Even though he played up to Roy, Patric was hopping for what suited him, "Get your ass over that platform, sonny-boy will see if he can please daddy!" It was sweet, real sweet, even more sweeter because Patric happened to have a ribbed condom in his pocket. From the force behind the power of Patric's cock, Roy could only guess it had to be a large size condom, gasping, "Oh shit, son!" He didn't stop, just kept on pulling out, pushing in, out and in, "Oh I'm so sorry, daddy!" His actions didn't dictate being sorry. Regardless, if he thought he was hurting Roy, he would have stopped, but Roy was in rhythm, moving with friction, pushing his torso back with every assault by Patric, with encouragement, "Harder, boy! Harder!" Patric, after he had come, pulls out, allows his full condom to hang from his cock, slapping Roy in the butt, "C'mon. Turn over." Turning over, Roy had to gasp, curse, at seeing how much fluid was in the bag. "That was some hot fuck, Patric!" Not given time to think, Patric pushes him down on his back. Figuring Patric is going to rip the condom off his cock and replace it, going to town on his ass again, he's fooled, "Just relax daddy." Of course, Roy had secreted some creme, but good thing he hadn't blown his load, Patric placing lips around the outside! Meanwhile, it wasn't much different, as with the last time Jared shopped at Montero. Jared approached him, "How's the line of credit going, Aris?" "Fine, but I'm more concerned about the dress pants you want to purchase, the fit?" Jared walks straight ahead, coaxing Aris, chest to chest into one of the fitting rooms. "What part do you think I'm going to have trouble with?" Jared locks the door behind his back. Staring at each other, both knew it a plot to get the ball rolling. Aris pulls the tab which unravels his bowtie. Jared walks up to him and begins unfastened his tuxedo shirt, saying like it was a warning, "I hope you didn't go and do what you told me you were going to do, Aris?" Serious mind showing on his face, the Turk smiles, saying, "And disobey you, my master?" "I told you, Aris. I'm not your master?" The 34-year old bearded man goes on to say, "I have not let anyone fuck me since you fuck me last time." Jared was afraid things would come to this, having tried to tell Aris it was just a once-thing, but how could Jared now confront him, this being their second time, "I told you last time Aris..." "I know. But here we are again..." Now Jared doubly could not say his mind, Aris taking him in his arms, kissing, Aris' hands on his belt buckle and Jared doing not a thing to stop him! Not only Aris' hands, but Jared's hard shaft was ready to beat down the door. Too, not only did Aris have a tight crevice, but sinking to his knees, there was no stopping the man in doing what he probably could do better than sell suits... "Oh-h-h-h-h!" Jared wailed, feeling warmth all around his cock. Like he found out from the first time, reciprocating, Jared finds Aris' nips in the forest of his chest, softly massaging them with his hands. With a slurp, Aris pops off, says, "Play harder," then swallows Jared down. He doesn't even think about his fingers, doing what Aris has requested, because his cock feels too, too good. After all the moaning, Aris turns, puts his ass over the platform. Jared is amazed, like last time, Aris knew exactly when he was ready to score. He doesn't know when all this roleplay stuff began, but goes with the flow when Aris says, "Shove yourself in me, master. Plow your slave's ass. Make it hurt!" Not only that, after Jared does it, not because Aris had said it, but because he has such a great urge when push comes to shove, unlike the last time, Aris takes Jared's hands and puts them up to his chest, saying, "Torture your slave. Torture your slave hard!" Aris sounded so dramatic, a very poor actor reading from a script, but Jared couldn't help but smile. Then, all was one when he began working up a rhythm, shoving himself in, hearing his balls slap against Aris' ass, backed out, that `slap-slap-slap' again. Guys with big balls could get hurt, but what is hurt when pleasure supersedes? It crossed Jared's mind, to get Aris' card, for Joseph! Evan and Jay had got to know their salesdudes on quite a different level. Timmy Baer, 20 and Sean Hardy, 21, soon after meeting their clients, had mellowed out, talking more about surfing and surfboards than clothing. It didn't matter to management. People who shopped Montero, who had a credit account, had no time limit on how long they could tie up the sales staff. Evan, who was paired up with Timmy, asks Sean, "I took notice that the salesguy for my dad is not a young guy, like you or Timmy, for Jay and me?" Jay, who found Timmy more liking to talk with, instead of Sean, assigned to him, "Yeah, I was wondering that myself!" "Security cams," Timmy says. "When either Jorge or Edilson Montero see who walks in the door, they immediately try to match up who would be more perfect for the client, mostly based on age." Already having conversed, Sean says, "Except I think Jorge made a mistake. I much more prefer muscle dudes!" It made Evan smile, the two having talked up gym activities, abs, pecs, triceps, biceps and the big muscle between the legs! Timmy was more slender, a little shy until he opened up, didn't know how to answer, saying, "I'm glad I met you Jay." Evan says, "You guys should come over to `Warrior One' when it opens." "Cool!" Sean says. With other plans in his mind, Jay says, "You don't even have to wait till it opens. Come with us today." "We gotta work," Timmy says. "Oh, right," Jay says. Then Evan brings up something interesting, "Hey, if you workout Sean, you should be a trainer at `Warrior One'!" "But I'm 21, I'm still in college. I don't have a trainer's certificate. I think I would need one," Sean says. Timmy, more the surfer, hardly the gymboy type, says, "I would never be able to teach surfing." Lending a hand, with good intentions, Jay says, "You could if Jesse taught you?" They find out something more about the two, Timmy saying, "I need the job for college, but Sean, he doesn't." Evan giggles, "What's a rich boy doing in a job like this?" Sean replies, "Showing the old man I've got responsibility!" Then it comes out, the rest of the story, finding out they are both gay, because Timmy lives with Sean. Not so much as lovers, though they've had sex, but more platonic. They live in a beach home, on the water, where occasionally Sean's parents stop in for a week or so, then head off to one of their `other' dwellings, home away from home. "Then what's your story?" Jay asks Timmy. It was short, "I ran away from home. I was looking for a place to stay and Sean was nice enough to let me live with him." "Oh good," Jay wipes his brow, "now Jare doesn't need to run a check on him." "Jare?" Sean asks. Evan slips, "His brother. Him and Jare have more money in the bank than everyone else on Fire Island!" "Uh, thanks for sharing that bit of confidential information, Evan?" Jay says. "Oops! I didn't know I wasn't supposed to... say that?" Evan had `horror' written on his face. "Get over it quick, okay?" "Over it!" Evan responds. It makes Timmy and Sean laugh, Sean saying, "We won't tell anyone!" However, if by chance the management sees tags not entered into the system after a period time, one of them, like Jorge Montero, will come out from behind the scenes, "I hope you are finding everything you need, because we can get anything overnight from our private catalog?" Seeing that perhaps they've gotten Timmy and Sean in trouble, Jay says, "No, you don't have to do that," looking up at a wall of socks, "we'll take one of each of the Mack Weldon socks, too." Evan, who knows about the money situation, falls prey to helping the two salesdudes out, reaches next to himself, starts taking one each of the speedos off the rack, "I'll take one of these and one of these and one of these and one of these and..." "Hey, can you guys fit us into those leather jackets?" Seeing dollar signs in front of his eyes, thousands of them, Jorge Montero takes his leaves, "Happy shopping!" Jay says, "He's kind of cute!" "More than cute," Sean, more outspoken says, "especially when it comes to having sex with his brother!" he laughs. "Sex with his brother?" Jay exclaims. "How despicable!" Evan is cool with it, "What's the big deal, Jay? You've never heard of a bromance?" "I've heard of it," Timmy says, but not light and hearty like the rest, more serious and down to earth. "Oh really?" Evan probes. Jay didn't think it the right time or place, breaking into the conversation, "So, Sean, when do we get to see your big, brazen, bulging biceps?" "Really? You want to?" he says excitedly. To really steer this clear of Timmy, thinking of how the `bromance' could be embarrassing to him, Jay provokes, "Of course!" Evan says, "I'd like to see much, much more!" However, not only the management, but Jared and Roy, after having put themselves back together again and measured out for their clothing, appear, saying, "So, what did you guys pick out?" "Socks," Jay replies, Evan adding, "and Speedos!" While Timmy gathered up all the extras, Sean took over measuring Jay and Evan for the leather blazers and matching pants, which were not leather. "I really, really appreciate what you did for me," Timmy tells Jay, picking which striped socks Jay wants. "What do you mean?" "About the bromance thing," Timmy waits a second, quickly analyzing the sense of trust, adding, "because I went through it with my brother." He knew he had this bound of trust with Jared, but Jay couldn't let Timmy ride this road alone, "You're not the only one." "You and..." Timmy nods to no one in particular, knowing Jared is Jay's brother. "Yeah, the big moron!" It made Timmy smile, saying, "I think he's really very handsome." "That's what everyone thinks, that we're both movie star lookalikes." Smiling, Timmy guesses, "Not Zac Efron?" "Yeah, can you believe it, Tim?" Jay responds. A shy smile on Timmy's face, he says, "I always thought `Timmy' was babyish." "Well then," Jay tells him, "now you're Tim, Tim!" "Cool." Then, feeling sorry for Tim, or else plain old `feeling' for him, Jay says, "Hey, you want to come work at my store?" "You have a store? Oh wait. You're an `Evans'. You have a lot of stores," Tim says, part of Evan shooting his mouth off. "Yeah, but we got one store opening soon and we're going to be selling surf tees and other stuff, at the old Topher's, and I'm gonna be the boss," Jay says with pride. "I don't know. Sean got me the job here. I can't up and leave, really." Slapping Tim on the back, Sean is right behind him, "Of course you can. If I leave, you leave!" "Where you going?" Tim puts it to Sean. "A job where I can check out the `babes' everyday!" It's not the first time Tim has heard the word, `babes'. High school dudes used it all the time, but coming from a gay dude, "Babes, Sean? But I thought..." Cluing him in, Jay tags Tim's forearm, "What Sean means is `guy-babes'!" Breaking into quadrants, each member of the extended Evans family took up with a conversation which pertained to them. Aris still stuck with Jared, talking more about their private shopping excursion. Even though divided, but not too distant, Roy holds up a very dressy jacket, with a $600 invisible price tag, to just under his chin, says to himself, "When and if I ever find Mr. Right, I'm walking down the aisle in this!" It's then Jared thought about him and Roy in bed last night and their morning together in the kitchen. Guilt suddenly entered his mind. Thinking up something real quick, to separate himself from Aris, in a nice way, he says, "I think I've shopped enough for today." "Really?" Aris questioned, holding only 1 pair of dress slacks, some Nouguet briefs and a few pair of those Mack Weldon socks. "Uh, yeah," he gives the brush off, not that he wanted to be so `mean', "I better make sure my brother is getting what he needs." Jared forgot, but Aris didn't, saying, "Here, take my card... in case you need some more servicing!" "Thanks," Jared said, opening his wallet to place it in a safe place, for when he next, ran into Joseph! For a few moments there, Evan corralled up next to Jay, pouting, "Sean doesn't like me anymore." "What do you mean, `Sean doesn't like you anymore?'" Jay looks up, seeing Sean on his cell phone, which he thinks, the least, "Rude!" Then, turning to his new good buddy, "I don't think it's he doesn't like you, Evan. Maybe he got a call he `had' to take, though if it were one of `my' employees, he'd get canned for doing something like that!" Looking up to Jay, realizing it could be the case, Evan smiles, saying, "I can't picture you as ever being a mean boss!" "Oh?" Jay is curious, "Then what is it you picture me as?" "Damn," Evan exclaims, "if we both weren't in these chairs, I'd be all over you, Jay!" Smiling, Jay says, "Who says we're going to be in these chairs for the rest of our lives? Wait till Jesse gets our trainer working on us!" "Yeah?" Evan's whole disposition cheers up. "Not in the way you're thinking, okay moron!" Tim comes back, saying, "Sean and me sure hope you meant it, working for you and your brother, because he's found us replacements." Jay and Evan look at one another, back to Tim, totally lost. However, not seeing Sean for a few seconds, he comes walking back to them with Jared on his tail, saying something, which still leaves Jay in the dark, "Congratulations, bro, looks like you've hired your first employee!" It could only be Tim, Jay turning to him, "Cool! You're my first employee!" Not exactly. What Jared was cheering his brother on for, first employee Jay has hired. Since he already had transitioned the store manager from the main store, Tom Gerardi, elected to have Clark Coolidge, human resources, hang around until both stores were solidly staffed, the vacuum of a few others, needing replacement, this made Jared happy, seeing the glint in Jay's eyes, furthers, "Hmm, keep this up and you might give Clark some competition!" All Jay could think about is one of the company picnics, on the beach, Clark playing beach volleyball, in a lowrise speedo, of which Jay pertains, "Oh I doubt that very much, but thanks bro!" Then Evan, who seemed so resilient, says, "Sean's gone and left me again." But in seconds he was back, telling everyone, "Everything's cool. Jorge Montero is okay with some dudes I'm sending over to fill in for us." "Fill in?" Jared misreads him. "We're not looking for temps?" Sean giggles, "That's what Jorge thinks, but wait till he sees how hot my friends are. He'll take what he can get!" Roy suggests, "Well, if they're that hot, maybe they should be working for us!" "Us, Roy?" Jared says, after a slight cough. "You, I mean... that's what I meant." Jared smiles at him. Deep down inside, deeper than the heart, he seems to think it could work out to `we'! Hanging around, but not saying much, Patric Wentworth says, "If you're hiring, I'd sure like to help myself out of this job?" Tim, who has often lunched with Patric, has looked up to the 27-year old, says, "Patric has a degree in Sports Medicine." Misunderstood, Patric says, "Almost. Still pursuing a degree. Have had some interruptions along the way." Even though Roy has thought Evan could mostly live independent, it has crossed his mind, "By the way, I've been thinking about someone to help care of Evan and wondered if you might be the right person?" he looks at Patric. Normally, Evan would disapprove of this and vocally have voiced opinion, but Patric's looks kept him silent. Truthfully, he was in love with the reddish-brown beard scathing the sides of Patric's face, the stache and short haircut, which seemed to sculpt his whole figure from the neck up. Instead of giving his father a song and dance act, he cheerfully says, "Might be a good idea, dad!" "Really?" was Roy's true feelings, changing it, "Of course!" "I'm jealous!" Jay reacts. "Keep quiet, moron," Jared tells him. "For now you're sharing him!" `Hmm,' Jay thought, not so much as what could be seen, but the unseen! Any way he chose, he replies, "Thanks, Jare!" Jared rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what was on his brother's mind. But he couldn't blame Jay for the reaction! As it wound up, they left the store with Tim and Sean helping them carry the tons of merchandise they bought. Jorge Montero `bought it', Sean's story of being good employees, by helping the customer out, since they racked up several thousand dollars on their credit line, plus reminding the boss about the two `hot' friends he was sending over! Tim and Sean had no problem hanging out after reaching Roy's house. It made it easier on Jay and Evan, being bosses, telling the two where to put clothes away. Well, it started out as two, until Sean suddenly feels clammy, stripping off his jacket, tie, dress shirt and crashes into Evan's bed, kicking his dress shoes off. Seeing an opportunity, Evan says, "Sure wish I were as comfortable in `my' bed!" Hopping out of bed, Sean, whom when he smiled, looked as if his whole, squared-off face crinkled up, "Then what are you waiting for?" "Um," Evan wasn't sure, stalling, as Sean held both rails of his chair, "y'know, if you lay on the bed with your dress pants on, they're going to get all wrinkled?" Standing up, Sean didn't break the smile, saying, "You sly dog!" It's more than Evan could wish for, watching Sean tackle his belt buckle and in no time he unzipped and was out of his pants, folding them nicely, but tossing them on the desk. "Careful. You'll break something," Evan says of his laptop and other stuff. "No problem. I can afford to replace it," he bows down once more, "now what about you?" Out loud, Jay says with purpose, "Why don't I show you the pool, Tim?" "Sorry guys," Evan says, as Jay and Tim pass by, watching, "I guess we'll catch up with you later." After leaving, Sean speaks down to Evan, "They might be, but I'm going to make sure you're not!" the 21-year old lets out an evil laugh. "You're going to have to help me get out of these clothes?" Evan smiles at him. Whimsically Sean replies, "Your wish is my command!" Evan loved that! Before, when he could move about without restraint, he loved telling a guy where to put his mouth, letting Sean know where he was coming from and wanted to go, "I hope you have a thirsty tongue!" Licking his lips, Sean replies, "I'm going to be all over you!" However, it's not how it went at all, what Evan supposed. "Hey, I got an idea!" Sean rubs hands together, like ready to munch down a gourmet dish. All cozy in his thoughts, Evan replies, "What?" "How about we jump into a couple of those speedos you just bought and join our brothers out by the pool?" "Oh," Evan's whole self went glum, "but I thought..." Sean knew what he thought, but also had his theories on how sex should go, "We'll have plenty of time for `that', when the sun goes down. Meanwhile," he's made himself fully naked, "let's get out there, surf some waves and soak up the sun!" Meanwhile, down by the pool, Tim has just delivered Jay, "Sorry for the rough carry down the stairs." Wouldn't have been a tough journey, had Tim not been sweating so profusely, but such are things when coupled with summer heat and Roy not switching on the air conditioning. Hottest time of the day, early afternoon, Jay says, "No problem. I love a hot, sweaty man." A pack on Tim's back, he finally lightens the load, dropping his parcel onto a lounge chair, "Are you okay?" he strips off the tee shirt, almost. "C'mon, let me help," Jay says, coaxing Tim over by the wayside of his chair. "Kind of got stuck," Tim says, with the bulk of his tee above his pecs. "I'll getcha out!" Rescuing Tim from his tee, Jay stares, "No offense, I love you... I mean, the way you look," he awkwardly tries getting feelings out, without offending, "but I think when Evan and me get with our trainer at Warrior One, you should tag along." There's not many guys who have struck Tim as being cute. Cute in a sense of not the vanity kind of cute, even though he thought of Jay as the most handsome dude he's ever met, but the way he carried himself, seriously and the humorous side, which is how he looked upon Jay at this moment, "Oh, you're not offending me," he flexes his sort of skinny biceps, "I'd love to do that, but probably I'll be working at your store while you're working out with your trainer." For seconds there was lingering, each with their eyes on the other and as if they communicated something silent between them, the two begin laughing out loud. "Did we miss the joke?" Sean says, pushing Evan out to the pool. Evan asks, "Hey, did you know your chair is still upstairs, Jay?" "No, moron, really?" Jay tells him, laughing. By this time Sean has walked over to the edge of the pool. His face, almost looking like he was laughing, all crinkled, says with disgust, "Ick!" "I know, it's my fault," Evan says. They all knew, but no one more than Evan, the downhill neglect the beachfront home has gone through, since much of the funds of their parents' trust has been siphoned off for medical costs and maintenance. "No sweat," Sean, always cool and collective, says, rushing off. "What's he up to?" Jay asks Tim. "Haven't a clue," Tim replies. "Sean, he's constantly full of surprises." One surprise was in the works, Sean walking towards them, cell phone in hand, chatting up a storm. Putting it down on a table, he reports, "Help is on the way!" Evan was just about to open his mouth and inquire, when there's a knock at the side door to the wooden enclosure. "We know you're in there, Sean!" "Aris?" Sean says, heading for the locked entrance. With a turn of the wrist he unlocks it, admitting not only Aris, but Patric as well. However, Aris enters first, complaining, "You fuckin' asshole!" Looking as if his life was on the line, Sean backs up, "Wait. I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding." Good thing Sean was muscled, or else he probably would have totally caved in from Aris' aggression, a fist to the gut. Regardless, it was Patric responding, "Aris! Control yourself, for god's sake," he stops Aris from further destruction of Sean's abs, scooping him up in a full nelson! Holding himself around the middle, Tim arrives on the spot, "You okay, Sean?" he lends a kind hand to Sean's back, joins him in being doubled-over. "Fine." Taking it in stride, like no big deal, Sean rubs his own stomach, "Can't say I approve of how you thanked me for unlocking the door, Aris!" Tim, most of the time shy, speaks out, "What's this about, Patric?" "You know Jorge..." Patric is cut off by Sean, who first off smiles at the gap the full nelson has put the angle of Aris' shirt, pulled from his pants, exposing the lush, black foliage below the bellyhole, "Let me guess... He figured since Timmy and me walked, you two were going to do the same and cut the umbilical before it happened?" Slowly, Patric's grip had relaxed, to the point Aris no longer was held captive. Thought, tightened when Aris says, "And since it's your fault, we're not leaving here until you find us some new jobs!" Patric scratches his head, like an iffy situation, "I kind of mentioned to Aris, since your father was in the pool business, he could..." Sean had it together, an answer for every question, simply saying, "No problem. I've got just the thing!" Of course, they all knew Sean's filthy rich family made their fortune from pools, building them, chain of pool maintenance, serving the whole tri-state area. As Sean tags Aris' shoulder, quickly shrugged off, nevertheless coaxes him, "How would you like a job working on your tan all summer and," he giggles, "because you've got management potential as I see it, Aris, a future in the pool cleaning business?" Bringing them right to the source, a green, slimy pool, Aris says, "Fuck that! You're not getting me into this cesspool!" "No, Aris. You're taking it all wrong," Sean quickly changes his tactics, "You're not going to touch green water. As manager, you'll order others to do so. What do you think of my offer?" First thing to strike him was water, which meant, shirts would have to come off. He could work on the bottom half afterwards. Next, looking into the green, lifeless water, Aris says, "What are you gonna pay me?" Again that mathematical, calculating, cunning mind kicks in, "Depends on how you do today, if they ever get here!" `They' got here, like right now, walking in upon the six men, one of them saying, "Hell, Sean, you've got some terrible sense of timing. We were right in the middle of..." Suddenly, laying eyes on the man standing with Sean, "Fuck, Sean, who's your hot friend?" He knew it was biased, but Rafael, 36-year old manager of one of Sean's father's business associates, knew all of Sean's friends were gay. Without making him the exception, walks right up to Aris, throws a hand around his neck and reels him in for a kiss. Sean knew it a mistake, Aris drawing an elbow back, plowing a fist right into Rafael's... "Oh shit!" Rafael belches out. Nothing much more than like he just chugged a couple of gulps of beer, he straightens up and smiles, saying, "That the best you can do?" Sean warns, too late, "I told you someday you would go too far, Rafael!" Both knew the score, Rafael welcoming the treatment, "Hell yeah! Bring it on! Bring it on!" Even though victim to Aris' fist, Sean steps in between, "You can have a lover's quarrel later. Right now we're dying for a swim?" It wasn't Aris' intentions. At the moment he secretly was drinking in Rafael's hot looks. Obviously a gym rat, the muscled pecs looking like two big, juicy watermelons, covered with dark fur, smoother abs, a stripe running to... Rafael interrupts his dreamy thoughts, "Well, you going to fight me or work with me?" Sean knew the answer, like he did with a lot of situations. For one thing, the men piling in, with all kinds of equipment, tank tops, tee shirts, it was Rafael's call for them to get comfortable. "Mm-mm," Jay says to his friend, "I can't believe I would like a dirty pool so much!" "You've got that right," Evan says. "How about it, Tim?" Jay asks. "About what?" he responds. "Which one would you pick out?" Tim, again returning to his shy self, says, "None." Evan jokes, "Pinch him Jay, to make sure he's for real!" Before Jay goes to the trouble, not that is was feasible to lean to his right and do it, Tim says, "I kind of just like you, Jay. I'd pick you." "Oh how sweet," Evan says, turning his attention back to guys stripping their pants off, only to have bikini suits underneath. He's awarded by Jay, "Shut up, moron!" "Why don't you bring your chair closer, Tim?" Tim gets up, pulls the chair over. "No, closer." Closer, closes up the gap between, so Tim has to remount from the opposite side, settling in. Figuring the chairs are wide enough, Jay smiles, says, "No, closer!" "Any closer, I'll be, like almost on top of you, Jay?" Tim throws his hands up! Sinister in nature, Jay laugh!. Eavesdropping, Evan gets the giggles as well and in not thinking, "Your boyfriend has some sense of humor," puts an index finger to the side of his head and twirls it around, making Jay out to be a crazy man! Sean and Rafael had taken Aris and Patric around to meet all the other members of the crew. They could tell, by the way they were applying sunscreen, not one of them were straight, or if they were, didn't mind being gay for a few short minutes! Then Sean walks back to them, Patric with him. Getting closer, hints, "Patric doesn't think he fits into doing pool stuff." Jay says softly to Tim, "You think that's meant for me?" "How so?" Tim asks. "Back at the store I already hinted to Patrick about working at Warrior One?" Patric, walking towards him, Jay was all ready to sign him up... for something! Out onto the patio, from the beach house, Roy and Jared's hands are full of takeout. "Are we at the right house?" Jared asks. Roy, spotting the wall of man-flesh, says, "If we're at the wrong house, we're staying!" Walking over by Jay, Jared almost tripped over Roy, their attention glued to the pool scene unfolding. Rubbing off on Evan, he says, "Watch it, morons!" laughs, because it's the first time he's called his dad something other than `dad'. It grabs their attention, Roy saying, "What was that young man?" Jared gets Evan off the hook, "He called you a moron, because you let me trip over you!" Rather than pursue the respect issue, Roy shoves it off onto to Jared, "Oh, I guess he meant `you' then!" The guys were way ahead of them, current of wind blowing their way with whiffs of Asian food, "Drop it right here on my stomach, Jare!" Right off, Jared says, "Did you put your sunscreen on?" "Yes, mommy!" Jay smiles at Tim, for being good with his hands. The food was hot, Jared reaching in the top of the bag and tossing him some fortune cookies, "This is all you get for sassin' Roy and me!" It hit Jay in the chest, but the little waxy packet rolled right down the hill, stopping at his caged in pubes, "Wanna get that, Tim?" Tim had only tried to wedge in next to Jay, only half his butt fitting in the chair, saying, "Okay," he gulped. Wiping some shit off the patio table, Roy and Jared lay out the pints and quarts. Patric had already made up his mind. He knew Korbeau's was just opening and maybe they had some positions, saying, "It's really nice knowing you, but I better go check out some job opportunities." "Knowing me?" Jared turns around. It had occurred to Jared, with suddenness, why Aris was stripped down to a speedo, Patric standing there, holding his white tee shirt, which should be under his dress shirt. The shirt, hanging outside his pants, was parted down the middle, providing some auburn colored eye candy, which Jay claimed the view all to himself. Roy, the perfect hostess was waiting on the boys, but kept an ear open. Patric was ready to tell his story, Jay opening his mouth, "Sean and Tim quit today and their asshole boss thought Patric and Aris were going to do the same, jumped the gun and fired them." Jared, hand on his hip, looks to his brother, saying, "Thanks for clearing that up, `Patric!'" "Oops!" Jay says, grabbing an egg roll off the paper plate Jared held. Tim keeps Jay from stuffing it in his mouth, a touch to his hand, "It's really hot." Glancing up, Jay wondering if the eggrolls were as hot as the view, but says, "Thanks for saving my tongue, Tim!" Tim had an idea where this could go, but kept silent! Roy continued serving, Jared walking Patric around the pool. Jay calls it like a play by play move, "Jare is trying to talk Patric into giving him a job." "How can you tell?" Tim asks. "First, because he's my brother and I know Jare's mind. Secondly, Patric is like so damn hot... wait... that might be the first reason..." "Does it matter?" Tim replies. "Cool!" Jay switches thoughts, "You're awesome when you're feisty!" "Feisty? I didn't mean to be feisty. Sorry if I was," Tim says apologetically. "No, feisty can be good. In school they called it being `assertive'." Stopping a moment Jay remembers, "Oh shit I just thought of something!" "What?" "Day of my surfing accident I was being assertive. Maybe if I wasn't... but dammit, if it wasn't me it probably would have been one of the other guys. I guess it's just a twist of fate that I was feisty." Tim replies, "I think it makes you a hero without saying so," he wedges himself in sideways next to Jay. "I never thought of it like that, though I heard one of the cops, who came to visit me in the hospital, say, `It would've happened to someone,'" Jay says. "Is there more to it?" "Yeah. I still have a lawsuit going. Apparently they had been gathering signatures to have signs put up, but the county was giving them a hassle over it, so some ordinary citizens took it into their own hands." Tim asks, "Did they finally get the signs up?" "I don't know, but with maybe having to pay out a couple of million bucks, they might get the message." Tim, who couldn't even imagination that much money, says, "What are you going to do with it?" Taking a sip of water, Jay says, "First I'm going to buy you a Lexus!" He skates a finger down Tim's sweaty arm. "No good." "Okay. How about a Porsche?" "Jay, I don't need that stuff. I'd be happy with something simple, but remember where we live?" "Oh yeah," Jay looks towards the beautiful blue sky, drop his eyes to the ocean, "Fire Island. I forgot. Well, you need something for when we go south for the winter?" "Aren't you going to live here?" "Heck no... freezes up the wheels, know what I mean?" Having eased his way into the conversation, Evan says, "My dad thinks we're going to stay here. Our house is year round equipped, you know?" Right now, Jay didn't know which end was up. Well, he did if it were sex, but his life right now, with one beach home burst to a crisp, the other fallen apart at the seams, the only sense he could draw from all this, "I'll have to see what Jare is going to." One thing is, he didn't want to have to worry, "All I know is, and this is up to you, because I'm not forcing you to do anything you don't want, Tim, but where I go, you can go too!" Throwing his 2 cents in, Evan says, "Can I come too?" Jay turns a head towards Evan, "I thought you wanted to stick it out in the freezer?" "I just thought," Evan replies, "where you go, I could go, too?" Finally, walking around the pool, stopped at the food to pick up plates, Jared says to Jay, "Remember our quest to find someone to hang with you all day?" He wasn't an idiot, Jay saying, "Cool, Patric's going to be staying with me?" "And Evan," Jared says, facing his new boyfriend, "if Roy doesn't have a problem with it?" However, Roy did have a problem, "I can take care of Evan and when I'm not around, Evan can take care of himself!" It didn't phase Jay right, boasting, "Yeah, right, Roy and who's going to get us up and down the stairs when you're not here?" For the first time in god knows when, Jared got his brother, "Don't talk to Roy that way. It's not your place to say. Apologize!" Panic set in. Not that Jay wasn't willing to take the heat for doing something wrong, but whatever it was that screwed with his brain during the accident, tears began to fill his eyes as he said, "I... I'm sorry... Roy." Jared had forgotten. Whereas he was bold in his response, his shoulders now sagged as he walked towards Jay. Holding up a straight arm, blocking Jay, Roy says, "I got it." Squatting down next to Jay's chair, Roy adds a comforting hand, "Now, now, no harm was really done, but I think from this happening to you in the future, Jay, you've got to think before you speak?" "I know. I'm sorry." Both Roy and Tim `working on him', Jay soon recovers. "I know we've had a lot of bad curves thrown our way," Jared says, having butted in, Roy going to speak with Evan, Tim reporting to the takeout, pretending to taste this and that, "but we've survived thus far and trust me, I'm not going to go off and leave you. We're together to the end." "You make it sound like I'm going to die, Jare." "Or me? That's why, we've got to find a circle of friends who can carry on for either of us, if something should happen," Jared explains. "We've got Joey?" Jay names one dear friend. "And Jesse and I'm sure there are others in our lives who will step in if anything happens." "You say `if anything happens'. Is there something you're not telling me, Jare?" "Like, if I'm dying of any rare disease?" "Something like that," Jay replies. "No, but in any case we need to be prepared, which is why, when I heard Zack Zoon is headed back to New Zealand and no longer has an interest in the house you burned down..." "I didn't burn it down. It was an accident!" Jay gets riled up. Placing a hand to his brother's chest, Jared says, "I know. Just pulling your chain bro, but what I was getting at, I'm having it rebuilt with modular units. I've already had it cleared with harbor patrol. They can bring them right onto the beach and fit it together." "Does that mean we're moving in tomorrow?" Jay asks, a little tension off him. "Not exactly. It'll be a month." While walking for takeout, Jared and Roy had a little chat, "And when it's ready, the four of us will be quite comfortable in our new home." "Four?" Jay was counting five. "You, me, Roy and Evan of course. You're not happy with that?" "Sure, but where is Tim going to live?" Jared throws his head over his shoulder and looks at Tim, munching on a spare rib, "Oh, Tim." Looking back to Jay, "You two are friends, I take it?" "I'd like it to be more?" Jay smiles. Right away Jared thinks, if it drew a smile on Jay's face, he would have to rethink the floor plan, "Well, it looks like it's going to be the five of us, then." "Six," Jay says, "though I don't know for how long that's going to last... And Jare?" "What?" he's thinking how much Jay's next idea is going to cost. "Don't forget a doggie house for Thor?" % Copyright 2014 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.