Chapter 34: Tim

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Tim



After running into Hank at the diner, Pete dragged me to the jeep. I climbed in and left the parking lot, driving towards the job site.

I couldn't keep my thoughts off Hank. I hadn't seen him in so long. He was so handsome, even better looking than when I last saw him. He had grown his goatee back and shaved off his moustache, just like I used to like on him. His silky black hair was cut in a short, professional style. His dark navy blue police uniform showed off his hot athletic body.

I know I must have looked like a mess to him. He was probably disgusted by me. And he saw Pete yelling at me and grabbing me. My arm was hurting a little bit. I'll probably have a bruise by the end of the day. I was so embarrassed that Hank saw me like this.

"You know that cop?" Pete asked, snapping me out of my daydream.

"Um, yeah, he's Jeff's best friend."

I pulled into the job site and before Pete got out of the jeep, he grabbed me behind my neck and squeezed.

"We're gonna continue our little talk later, boy. Don't think I forgot what you did to me."

Pete walked back to work and I sat there gripping the steering wheel unable to move. I was upset and angry. Angry at Pete and angry with myself.

I jumped when my phone chirped and I heard Clark's voice.

*CHIRP* "Tim."

I pulled out the phone and pressed the talk button. "Go 'head, Clark."

"When you get back from lunch, see me in the trailer."

"I just got back. I'm on my way."

I sighed and walked to the trailer. Clark was sitting inside on one of the chairs with his feet propped up on the other chair. He swung his legs down and nodded for me to sit. I sat down and he pulled out the budget papers I brought over earlier.

"We made some changes. Jack wants you to re-do everything with these changes."

I looked through the report with him and noted the scribbles made in pen.

"Okay," I said.

"He wants it done today... So, you should probably get back to the office. He wants it tonight. Before you go home. Okay?"

I nodded.

"Is he mad at me?" I asked quietly.

"He's not mad at you... He's mad at the situation."

I nodded again and let out a quiet sigh. Clark looked at me sympathetically. He squeezed my shoulder, then gave me a pat on the back and stood up. "If you have questions on any of the notes, give me a call."

I got up to return back to the office. I waved 'bye' to Clark as I left. He gave me a warm smile, but he looked at me with pity.

***

I went back to the office and I worked on the new budget. I left Pete a voice mail and told him that I was working late. He'd probably be out anyway. I finished the budget just before 8:00. I emailed it to Dad and Clark, then shut down and locked up the office and headed home.

When I got home, I was relieved to see that Pete wasn't home yet. Unfortunately, that meant he was out getting drunk. I made dinner and wrapped his plate in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. I wasn't very hungry and I mostly just pushed my food around on my plate.

I got ready for bed at midnight and he still wasn't home.

I got undressed and pulled on a t-shirt and pajama pants. I picked up my dirty clothes and put them in the basket in the closet. My eyes were drawn to the cardboard box in the back corner of the upper shelf. I stood on my tiptoes and pulled down the box.

I sat down cross legged on the closet floor and opened the box up. I smiled when I saw Hank's teddy bear smiling back at me. I pulled out Teddy and gave it a hug. I sat him down next to me and dug through the box and picked up the framed picture of Hank in his football uniform. I used to have this one on my nightstand back when I was in high school. I had another framed picture of Hank at graduation. I picked up a stack of pictures and flipped through them. There were lots of pictures of Hank.

I paused at a picture of Hank only wearing a pair of shorts. His t-shirt was tucked into the back of his shorts. His bare, hairy chest was so sexy. It was a hot summer day and he was a little sweaty. I could make out the outline of his big dick in the shorts. It was one of my favorite pictures.

There were also lots of pictures of the both of us together. I was smiling and grinning in every single one. It seemed so long ago. When I look at myself in the mirror these days, I look nothing like the happy boy in these pictures.

I sniffled and wiped the tears away and packed everything back into the box. I put the box back in its place and went to bed.

As I laid there, I thought of Hank and pictured him in his cop uniform. My dick quickly filled with blood and I lazily ran my fingers over it over the top of my pajama bottoms as I fantasized about making love with him and running away with him. I drifted off to sleep pretending that he still loved me.

The motorcycle pulling into the driveway woke me up with a start. I looked at the clock and it was 2:30 in the morning. I laid curled up on my side of the bed as still as I could be. I heard Pete come in and go to the kitchen. He heated up his dinner and ate. He went to the bathroom and then came into our room. I squeezed my eyes shut. I could hear his clothes hit the floor and I felt him crawl into bed. I could smell stale smoke and beer on him, plus sweat and B.O.

I let out a deep breath I didn't even realize I was holding when I heard him snoring.

The next morning, I woke up early and quietly got out of bed without waking Pete. I took a quick shower, got dressed and started a coffee pot of coffee. I was sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee when Pete stumbled naked into the kitchen.

"Good morning," I said.

He just stared at me. I swallowed nervously.

"I'd better get going," I said.

I stood up and he reached over and grabbed my tie and pulled hard.

"Ow!" I moaned.

He jerked the tie down, pulling me down to my knees.

"You think you're just gonna leave without taking care of me first?"

I hated it when he got like this. But I didn't have a choice. I took care of him right there on my knees in the kitchen. Before he came, he grabbed a handful of my hair and jerked my head back hard. He used the other hand to jack off and he sprayed his load all over my face and chest. When he was done he shoved me backwards and I fell onto the floor.

"You're a fucking mess. Clean yourself up."

Bastard.

I got up and went to the bathroom and washed my face. I pulled off my shirt and tie and threw them as hard as I could into the dirty clothes basket in the closet. I kicked the basket in frustration. I then put on a clean shirt and tie and left for the office while Pete was in the shower, slamming the door behind me.

***

When I got to the office in the morning, I made a few calls to several vendors and got updated pricing. I updated the database with the new prices and updated the web site and emailed new price sheets to Dad, Jeff and Clark.

I was startled and let out a surprised gasp when the office line rang. It hardly ever rings.

I answered the phone, "Matthews Contracting Company, this is Tim Matthews."

The person on the other end of the line chuckled.

"You sound so professional. Hi, Tim. It's Hank, by the way."

I smiled. "Thanks, Hank."

"Or should I say, 'This is Officer Ballatori'," he said in an official sounding voice.

I let out a quiet laugh.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he said. "You seemed shaken up a little bit."

"Yeah... But I'm better now."

"So, was that your boyfriend I saw you with?"

"Yeah. That was Pete."

"I haven't seen you in so long. I was nice to run into you."

"Me, too, Hank."

"I was wondering-- Shit. I gotta go, but we'll talk again soon, okay? Bye, Tim."

"Bye."

I hung up the phone and laid my head on the desk. I wondered what he wanted to ask me. It was really nice to hear his voice.

I really hope he calls me back.

***

That night Pete didn't come home until long after I was in bed again. I laid in bed trying to sleep and I started to feel pissed off. When I ran into Hank at the diner, I was so embarrassed. I couldn't shake the way he looked at me.

I let Pete walk all over me. I laid there getting more and more upset with myself.

What was wrong with me? How did I let myself get like this?

I heard Pete come home sometime after 3:00 AM. He stumbled into the kitchen, and he warmed up his dinner and ate. I heard him shuffling and stumbling into the bathroom, then to the bedroom.

I laid there quietly and as still as I could when he came into the bedroom. He stubbed his toe on his nightstand and cursed loudly. He then fell into bed with a grunt.

"I know you're awake, boy," he slurred.

I gulped and turned to face him. In the dark, I could see him staring down at me through bloodshot eyes.

"Was dinner okay?" I asked quietly.

"It was actually pretty good. You might be learning to do something right for a change. Besides for cock sucking. You're already a pro at that."

Pete laughed at me and I could smell the stale beer on his breath. He hiccuped and then laughed again. I started to get mad again.

"But a little more practice wouldn't hurt," he said huskily.

He grabbed a handful of my hair and pushed my head to his crotch. I knocked his hand away and moved back from him.

"Stop it," I said. "You're drunk."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

He grabbed at me and started to climb on top of me. I pushed him hard and knocked him onto his back.

"Get off me, Pete. Not when you're drunk."

"You're lucky I'm tired," he said and then hiccuped.

He slumped back on the bed and started snoring loudly.

I curled up on my side of the bed and let out a breath of relief.

***

When I turned down the road to the office the next morning, I was surprised to see someone standing in front of the door waiting. There weren't any appointments that I knew of. I looked at the clock. It was only 8:20, so I wasn't late. As I pulled into the parking lot, I knew exactly who it was.

I parked the jeep next to his truck and grabbed my bag and walked towards Hank. He was leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette. He was dressed in a Marines t-shirt that showed off his big chest. It was tucked into a pair of nice fitting faded denim jeans. I could see the mound of his big dick in the worn jeans. And he was wearing the cowboy boots that I had bought him all those years ago. They were a little worn and scuffed, but I was pretty sure they were the same ones. I could see his tribal tattoo on his left arm, but I saw the bottom of a tattoo on his right arm peeking out under his t-shirt sleeve. He didn't have a tattoo on his right arm when we dated. I wondered what it looked like.
 
He looked hot as hell leaning against the wall like that. I covered my crotch with my messenger laptop bag so he wouldn't see what he was doing to me.

He pushed off the wall and dropped his cigarette butt and stomped it out with his boot. "Hey."

"Hi," I said with a nervous smile.

I unlocked the door and he followed me inside. I turned on the lights and walked down to my office.

"Business Manager, huh?" Hank said nodding towards my name plaque.

I smiled and said. "Yeah, that's me."

I unlocked the door and turned on the light and set my bag on the desk.

"Are you looking for Jeff? I doubt he'll be in today."

"Nah. I'm off duty today, and I wanted to stop by and see you. Make sure you were okay."

I wasn't okay. I was far from okay.

"I'm fine," I said with a false smile.

Hank pulled me to him and gave me a hug. He pressed against a sore spot on my side and I flinched a little. He looked at me when we moved apart, but luckily, I don't think he noticed. I sat down in my desk chair and he sat in one of my guest chairs.

"You've got a nice office," he said as he looked around.

"Thanks."

"You the only one here all day?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Dad comes and goes. Clark is never here unless it's raining and everyone has been sent home, and Jeff works out of his office every couple days. Sometimes he stops in when his guys are done for the day. Thought lately, he and Dad haven't been coming in."

"No? Why is that? Busy?"

"Jeff and I aren't really... I don't know... and Dad..."

Tears welled up in my eyes and I almost started to cry. I choked up and sniffled and blinked back the tears. It really upset me that Dad was mad at me.

"It doesn't matter," I said with a shrug.

"I'm sorry, Tim," he said quietly.

"It's okay."

"So what do you do here all day?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"Well, I call vendors and update the price sheets they use for doing quotes. I make sure the employees and suppliers and subcontractors get paid and make sure that we get paid by our customers. I track the supplies and inventory. I do the budgets and costs for the jobs and try to keep Jeff and Clark on track. I do the financial worksheets and reports. It's not too bad. All of it is done on the computer now. I've also been working on overhauling the website."

"Fuck. You're running this place, aren't you?" Hank said with a smile. "Your dad must be really glad you're here to keep this place going."

"I guess so. He's not really talking to me right now. Anyway..."

"So, what's going on with this Pete guy?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're living with him... but you don't seem very happy, Tim."

I swallowed nervously and my voice quivered as I responded, "I'm fine, Hank."

"Do you love him?" Hank asked. "Are you in love with Pete?"

My eyes filled with tears again and I looked at Hank and I couldn't lie to him. I shook my head. "No."

Hank's expression changed and he looked very serious and concerned. He took a deep breath. "Is he hurting you, Tim? Does he hit you?"

A tear fell down my cheek and I couldn't look Hank in the eye. I was so embarrassed and ashamed that I had let myself get into this position. I turned away and whispered, "No."

Hank stood up and came around the desk and turned my chair and squatted in front of me so that we were face to face.

"Tim. You know how much I care about you, don't you?"

"You do?" I asked.

I was totally caught off guard. I didn't think he cared about me or even thought about me anymore. I looked into his blue eyes and I struggled not to totally lose it. My jaw started to quiver and I swallowed nervously.

He looked at me with a pained expression on his face. "Of course I do."

He cupped my face with his left hand and gently stroked my cheek.

"I never stopped caring for you, Timmy. It kills me to think that you are unhappy or in pain."

Hank's eyes brimmed with tears and he took a deep breath and continued on in a whisper. "I never stopped loving you, Timmy. I am still hopelessly in love with you. Don't you see it?"

I let out a sob and slid off the chair onto my knees and fell into Hank's arms. We held each other tightly and rocked back and forth and cried for a long time.

He moved back to look me in the eye. He cupped my face with his hands and kissed me gently on the lips. I let out a little gasp and pulled him closer to me.

Hank kissed me again, this time with more passion. Our arms wrapped around each other as we knelt in my office kissing. When we broke apart to catch our breath, I nuzzled my nose into his hairy chin and inhaled a big whiff of his scent. I closed my eyes and sighed.

"Hank... I lov--"

*CHIRP*

The Nextel phone had chirped and I heard Clark's voice over the speaker. "Tim."

"Shit," I mumbled. "I hate this thing."

I pulled my phone out of my bag and sat back on my heels. I pressed the 'talk' button. "Go 'head, Clark," I said then let go of the button.

"What's your location, Tim?"

"I'm in my office."

"Jack wants you to head over to the Elm Street remodel. Something's going on over there with the subcontractor and Jeff is busy at Terrace Lane."

"Okay. I'm on my way."

"Thanks."

Hank helped me up to my feet.

"I gotta go," I said.

"Yeah. It sounds important."

"I doubt it."

"Your dad wouldn't have asked you if it wasn't."

"Dad's mad at me. He won't even call me to tell me himself. He has Clark tell me."

"I'm sorry, Tim."

"It's okay. It's my fault. I was being a brat to him and I embarrassed him."

I shut the light off and locked my office door. Hank walked out with me. He lit a smoke as I locked the front door. He seemed a little nervous. But I understood. I was nervous, too.

We slowly walked over to our cars.
 
"So, what are you doing on your day off?" I asked.
 
"I'm gonna look at a new truck. Well, a slightly used truck, but new to me. The Ranger is starting to give me problems. I hate to get rid of it. I had some real good times in that old truck. Remember?"

Hank gave me a suggestive grin and wiggled his eyebrows at me and I blushed and gave him a bashful smile.

"I had my first kiss in that truck," I said with a smile.

"Yeah, I think I was there," he chuckled. "If I get it, I'll have to take you for a ride," he said.
 
"That sounds like fun," I said with a smile.
 
Hank opened my car door for me and I got in. He shut it for me and I rolled down the window. Hank rested his arm on the roof and leaned down towards the window.

"I'm gonna help you, Tim. I know you're scared right now, but everything will be okay. I promise."

I nodded. Hank leaned down and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

"Bye, Hank," I said with a smile.

"Bye, Tim. I'll call you soon, okay?"

I nodded and watched Hank walk to his truck and start it up. I pulled out of the parking lot and drove to the Elm Street house.

I glanced at myself in the rear view mirror and saw that I had a smile on my face.