Chapter 634 – Mellowing Out After the Big Meeting then Conner Has Bad News
Landon, better known as Tink by all of us, was asked by his father to talk about his relationship with us and what valuable lesson or lessons he’d learned after his association and friendship with us, working with us closely as his job as a server at the CNB. I don’t think we were all prepared for what he was about to say.
“First of all, I want to thank Josh, Jake, my pal Luke here, and all my brothers that have befriended me and cared about me since they all accepted me as a friend and taught me how powerful friendship could be when you all supported one another. I’ve never felt this accepted anywhere I’ve ever been. I never felt comfortable in high school, like I was different from all the other kids somehow. Oh, I know, I wasn’t that much different, but I wasn’t horned up chasing girls continually and lying to them just to get in their pants like my brother and cousin Rod were doing, not to mention the craziest of all just because he had a big dick, that’d be Lonnie,” Tink said, although everyone was holding their breath as to what might come next.
“Language, Landon,” his father warned.
“I was once Landon, even sometimes Lanny or Lan for short, and then I was branded Tinker Bell by Rod, Tyler and Lonnie, because I was different from them. I always admired their athletic abilities and their way with the fairer sex, girls fawning over them all the time, as if the rest of us guys didn’t exist. When I was able to connect with a girl, I found them difficult to talk to and really wasn’t impressed with all their bullshit fakeness and craziness. I’d much rather hang with my buds and do guy stuff, not pretending to hang on their every word as if it all mattered when it was all bullshit anyway. Tyler, Rod and Lonnie were that way, but it was so fake and wasn’t me. I was looking for deeper meaning and understanding people and relationships, not just trying to score, like the rest of the guys,” Tink continued, obviously making Tyler, Rod and Lonnie squirm some.
“We were trying to make money to supplement our living allowances that were tight, obviously by design, which now, I can appreciate what our dads were trying to teach us. Josh offered us employment as a way to earn money so we could drink beer occasionally and have a little left over. During my work at the CNB I was greatly impressed by all the guys that were working together for the benefit of Stoney Enterprises, some gay, some straight. They were all genuine guys, no facades, no pretentiousness, as most of them are poor and this is a way for them to lift themselves up, get their education paid for, have a place to live with guys that respected them and they respected. And they had a place to work after they graduate and partake in the profits they helped produce. I thought, where the hell else could you do something like that. I thought I found the most fantastic place to work and to enjoy the fraternity of friends that I longed to have, those that understood me, the guy that wanted just to feel like he belonged and didn’t have to put on an act to be accepted. I could be a real person and have genuine caring friends. During that time, Dad and Uncle, I discovered who I really was and what I loved in life more than anything. Actually, I was someone that Lonnie, Tyler and Rod were always accusing me of anyway, so I guess it was finally true. I’m gay, Dad and I have no remorse or no shame for being gay. In fact, I’m rather proud of the fact I am, and I’ve found a family that will support me and care about me. Luke is my boyfriend, and we genuinely love each other far beyond anyone’s imagination. I couldn’t be happier now and have never been this happy before in my life. I have a family of guys that truly care about me and will support me in all my goals and endeavors, and that’s made me the happiest guy on the planet in my mind,” Tink said, laying it all out. I thought Rod, Tyler and Lonnie were going to faint, but to my delight, Tyler spoke up.
“I had a long talk with Tink on several different occasions, sometimes arguments, to see if this was really something he believed or if it was a passing phase, Dad. I have to say, he’s never been happier. He and Luke really love one another and support and care for one another as if they were a very much in love heterosexual couple. I know this may come as a shock to you, as it certainly did to me, when he first came out to me, but Tink has a very strong conviction of being gay and supporting those that are. He’s extremely happy and very supportive. Plus he has all of Josh’s organization behind him supporting him. He will never be an outcast because of their care and support for him,” Tyler strongly stated in support of Tink. Everyone held their breath until Milton, Tink and Tyler’s father spoke.
“Landon was always an unusual child but truly loveable. He was extremely excitable as a child, very joyful and happy. He admired his older brother, only a year older than him, but he was the older brother. He was never quite the athletic jock his brother was, but he was still happy being in his brother’s shadow. It didn’t help that the boys branded him Tinker Bell, only I’m sure that didn’t make him gay. Being honest, his mother and I always kind of suspected he might be or could become gay, even though he’d never shown any outright signs of being that way. But still, as a parent, you know. We figured this day would come sometime, Landon, and I have to say, this doesn’t change the love we have for you one little bit. You’re our son and we love you no matter what. If Luke loves you and you love him, then we’ll have to love him also. I’m just so proud that you could stand up to us and the world and be proud of who you are and not have to fear those that might find out. You’ve been extremely honest with us all, and that is to be admired more than anything. Like I said, we’ll love you just the same. Seems as if Tyler supports who you are, as does Rod and Lonnie. They should all be proud of you for being honest and willing to stand up for what you believe. I know I’m proud of you, son,” Milton said, then got up from the table to go hug Tink. They gave each other a strong embrace, then Milton motioned for Luke to stand up so he could give him a hug also, telling him he was a nice-looking young man. He was even more delighted to hear he was Jake’s cousin of all things. “What do you have to say about all of this, Luke?” Milton asked. Luke smiled.
“Don’t know exactly what to say, other than Tink and I love one another and love spending time together, having fun and working all at the same time. There isn’t anyone else in my life, other than Jake and Josh, that I trust more than him. We just love one another so much and have such a great time together. I’m proud to be his boyfriend, and I’ll always be there for him,” Luke confessed, getting him another hug from Milton.
“I’m learned from experience that love is a very powerful and motivating force in one’s life. I’ve never felt so sure about anything as the love I have for Luke and my friends. I’m happy now. For the first time in my life, I actually feel confident as to who I am and what all I can do. I’m not lost anymore,” Tink told his Dad, as Milton continued to hug him.
“I’m proud of you, son. Very proud of you,” Milton told him. “Your mom might be a little disappointed you’re not going to give her grandchildren, but like I said, we always kind of suspected that might be the case.” Tink smiled, giving out a little chuckle. “The main thing is that you are happy in life and find it meaningful, however it is to be for you,” he added. Milton let Tink go, then Luke grabbed Tink and hugged him, saying how brave he was, and that he loved him.
“Well, this has been a very enlightening evening in more ways than one. Seems as if we’ve had some interesting revelations on both sides here. I hate to leave all of you, as I’m sure Milton and I could spend a week picking your brains and learning things, but as we negotiate more with Ty, we may be able to come back more often, at least one can hope,” Rod’s father Sterling mentioned. “For now, we have a crew waiting for us at the Uni airport, on our Gulfstream, and we’re way overdue for. We’ll try to get back again in the not too-distant future, and spend more time with this group in particular. I have to say, from what we’ve seen and learned tonight, you all make us proud of what the next generations can be like. We are both delighted that whatever influence you had on our boys, Josh and Jake, it has certainly pointed them in a successful direction, a direction we sometimes had doubts as to whether they could get there. We’ll be in touch about the line of credit and loan to the boys, and we’ll consider the pickup request you asked for also to help you with your building materials so you don’t have to bother Josh for everything,” Sterling added.
The meeting broke finally, with a lot of handshaking and hugs. Milton wanted my phone number in case he needed to discuss anything with me regarding Ty’s marketing program or the payoff of the construction line of credit we had for the boys. After that exchange, we followed the dads to the parking lot. The boys, girlfriends, boyfriend and Jake and I bid them a fond farewell, thanking them again for spending time with all of us. They said the pleasure was all theirs, and they looked forward to future visits.
We all waved to them in the parking lot as the big Cadillac Escalade took off for the airport. “I think we finally got some wheels, guys,” Lonnie said, all excited as Tyler went over and hugged Tink, telling him how brave he was and how much he admired him. Damn near gave me a little tear seeing them embrace the way they did, Tyler showing strong support for his brother, probably in a way he never had before, this important moment in Tink’s life bringing them closer together than ever. Mary Ann, Sue and Ginny also hugged Tink and Luke, showing their support.
“Well, did everything turn out okay?” I asked Rod. Rod raced to me, picked me up in a bear hug, telling me he loved me then kissed me quickly on the lips as he put me down.
“I love you, Josh. I might risk being gay, but I do love you, bro. You, Jake and the rest of the guys have changed our lives more than you can ever imagine, and our dads are proud of us for like the first time ever. They were blown away, let me tell you. They were sure they were going to find us just the way they left us when they dumped us off at the beginning of school, in that dump of a house we live in. Boy did we show them. Wow, this is the greatest day ever,” Rod practically screamed, with Tyler and Lonnie agreeing. Even the girls were relieved, finally seeing their guys relieved of stress and apprehension, able to relax finally.
“Beer, we need beer and lots of it,” Rod said, excited to finally have this visit over with. We headed back inside the CNB. Blake and Kyle were waiting for us to come back, after watching what they believed to be a fond farewell, with everyone’s body parts intact. That boys and the girls had plenty to tell them when we all sat down for a beer. Tink and Luke couldn’t be happier, snuggled up together, after declaring their love to the world.
“I think my heart stopped beating when you told the dads you were gay, Tink,” Rod commented. “But no one shouted or screamed. Everyone remained calm, and you handled it gracefully. We all loved you at that moment. Tyler, you came right in with your support, which only added credence to what Tink told them,” Rod added.
“I noticed you didn’t jump right in there to help out,” Tyler told Rod, who looked a little surprised, then a little guilty.
“Hell, you said it all for all of us. That point was made and made well,” Rod replied with a big grin. Tyler shook his head at Rod, as if he could have helped some. “I’d have just screwed it up, after your elaborate and heartfelt, sometimes gushing, explanation, Cuz,” Rod teased. Tyler threw a wadded-up napkin at him.
“Tyler did a great job supporting his brother,” Sue piped up, holding onto Tyler’s arm, showing her pride for her boyfriend. The two looked cute together, I had to think, but not without concern.
“I’m just glad it’s over and I can breathe again,” Tink replied. We all chuckled.
“So, Landon, shall we call you by your real name now, or do you prefer the name of Tink?” Lonnie chided. Tink rolled his eyes.
“Hell, I forgot my real name was Landon until my father called me by that name. I’ve been Tink for so long, I forgot about Landon a long time ago,” Tink chided. We all patted him on the back. “I wouldn’t remember to answer to Landon, which is a strange name anyway, so I might as well stay with Tink.” We all laughed, telling him that was a cute name anyway. It was classic. Luke said he was good with Tink also, as that’s who he fell in love with, hearing Tink’s real name of Landon for the first time tonight.
“I didn’t know who they were talking about when they brought up the name Landon tonight. Guess I know now,” Luke commented. Tink gave him a quick kiss.
“I guess there were a few things I forgot to tell you, but we’ll get go them in time,” Tink told him. “Besides, I still don’t know everything I need to know about you yet either,” Tink replied. Luke smiled.
“You know the important things, the things we like to do together,” Luke replied, in a sexy tone, getting Tink half-excited. The rest of us gave them the raspberries.
“Damn, Josh, I thought our dads were going to adopt you and Jake before the night was over. Talk about impressed, or maybe just relieved you rescued us and converted us into thinking like them. Who knows?” Rod teased. Jake and I smiled.
“So they were impressed with everything about Stoney Enterprises?” Blake asked.
“Seems as if they were, thankfully. Oh, and get this, Blake, they’re going to do some kind of grant to the Business School earmarked for Marketing for Ty to expand his program as they’re extremely impressed with what Ty is doing. They might even give out scholarships for future marketing execs to entice guys interested in the field to go to school here. That could be great,” I told Blake rather excitedly, excited for Ty myself.
“Damn, that could be great for all of us, Josh. See, I knew when you told me about the program, the night we met in Ft. Lauderdale, this program was going to be fantastic. I just knew it, and it is. I’m just amazed at how much my life has changed in just a semester. Gees, I switched schools, got into the best marketing curriculum in the country, joined a fantastic company with some wonderful new friends and allowed to play a great role in it, turned gay and found someone to really love and care about,” Blake said, looking at Kyle. “I couldn’t be happier with what all happened in a very short time.”
“I think we can all say our lives have changed for the better having met Josh and Jake and become involved in Stoney Enterprises overall,” Kyle noted. Rod, Lonnie, Tyler and Tink all said Amen to that.
“Gees, I wish I would have known you before you turned gay,” Mary Ann said to Blake. “I might have been able to salvage you. Once you’re under Josh’s spell, it’s almost hopeless. Us girls are lucky we only lost Tink in that battle. We could have lost all you guys,” Mary Ann teased.
“Not this kid. I like women way too much. I have to say, the guys know how to treat one another, from what I’ve been told from Tink’s experiences,” Lonnie remarked, “but there’s nothing like a woman’s touch and the warmth of her body up against you when you’re making love or sleeping together afterwards.” Rod and Tyler looked at Lonnie.
“That’s not what you said when you woke up beside me this morning,” Tyler chided, teasing Lonnie.
“In your dreams, mother fucker. That never happened and never will,” Lonnie said, not liking the teasing he got. Rod told him he had doubts about him every so often too. Lonnie told them both they were full of shit.
“Well, I’m just glad we saved three of them out of four, because there are three of us,” Em commented. The guys all looked at one another and smiled, as if they had a secret between them, they weren’t saying. The girls gave them a strange look.
“You know it’s a damn good thing our dads never asked us what we did working here at the bar. They knew that Tink helped serve, but they never asked what we did. I guess we’d have told them we helped with the entertainment,” Rod stated.
“Great, Rod, then they’d have asked what kind of entertainment we helped with. It would have been interesting to see how you explained that one,” Tyler commented. Rod rolled his eyes.
“Might have come up short on that answer. I guess we could have said we served also, as we do in a way. We serve our customers by entertaining them, both male and female,” Rod replied. I had to admit he was right about that.
“What happens if your fathers find out you’re wagging your willies in front of girls and boys?” Ginny asked, since neither Sue or Mary Ann did.
“Uh, we don’t want to go there. Somehow, I don’t think they’d see the humor in that at all. Let’s just say Tink coming out, with almost no consequences, would be accepted far better than the three of us straight guys doing what we’re doing,” Rod replied.
“Ain’t that for sure,” Lonnie added, shaking his head. You guys would just probably blame that on me as you hanging around the wrong crowd again.
“So, listening to your fathers talk about what they expected they might find, I want to know what you guys were like in high school. Sounds like you may have been womanizers, the love ‘em and leave ‘em type,” Mary Ann suggested.
“Oh, that was Tyler and Lonnie. I had a steady girlfriend until I got dumped for another guy. Pissed me off. But, she wasn’t going to come to Uni anyway, so we would have parted sooner or later, but it could have lasted a little longer,” Rod replied.
“Don’t blame that shit on us, Rod. You had your fair share before you settled down with the last one. You just couldn’t keep her happy, that’s all,” Lonnie chided. Rod shot him the finger.
“Just because I’m not hung like you doesn’t mean I can keep a girl happy, right Mary Ann?” Rod asked. Mary Ann chuckled, saying no comment. Rod got all upset. Mary Ann laughed.
“You’re fine, Rod. No complaints here,” Em added.
“I’m not looking or a ‘no complaints’ answer. I’m looking for, ‘WOW’ he’s the best!” Rod replied with great enthusiasm. Mary Ann laughed.
“I haven’t found that one yet. I’m still working on that,” Mary Ann replied, chuckling.
“Oh, spear through my heart. Your words just killed me, my love. What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Rod asked, as if he was emotionally hurt. Mary Ann just smiled.
“Nothing of importance, Rod. Don’t get so weirded out over what I said. All is fine. Just leave it at that,” Em replied, but not as convincing as Rod would have liked.
“What is it? Am I not passionate enough, not charming enough, not large enough, what? Do I not kiss you in the right places? Tell me, my love, and I’ll do whatever you want to make you feel excited and happy during our love making,” Rod pledged. Mary Ann shook her head at him, telling him she really didn’t mean what she said, and all was well so he should drop it. Rod looked concerned now. Mary Ann leaned over and gave him a kiss, telling him he was more than fine, and she was just dicking with him. Rod wasn’t so sure.
“Do you get this kind of shit, Josh? Your guys complain about the way you dick them?” Rod asked. I laughed.
“Are you kidding? We get so lost in the moment, sometimes we forget who we are until the ‘big O’ happens and then it takes a while to come back down to earth. No problems when we go at it,” I replied, with a big smile on my face. I think the girls all sighed, as if only that could happen to them. “Think about it. A guy knows what a guy likes, therefore who’s better to service a guy, than another guy? Huh?” I asked. You should have seen the look on their faces.
“Boy, that’s for sure,” Tyler said out loud, longingly, then caught himself. “I mean that’s true, that guys do know what guys like, of course, but then there’s nothing like the fairer sex to share it with and not another dude,” Tyler quickly interjected, Sue giving him a weird look. I thought Jake, Blake and Kyle were going to spit a gut.
“Is there something you want to share with us that you’re holding back?” Rod asked Tyler. Tyler looked guilty as hell. “Maybe you and your brother are more alike than we thought,” Rod added.
“Just trying to dick with you and Lonnie, Rod. Good grief, don’t take it so seriously. I have all I want right here,” Tyler replied, hugging Sue beside him and giving her a kiss.
“Speaking of which, if we leave now, we might have some time to make out with our sweet girls and maybe give them a treat for helping us out tonight,” Rod stated, as he looked longingly at Mary Ann. She smiled.
We adjourned our beer fest, and the guys started to leave with the girls. Mary Ann gave me a big hug, whispering in my ear, she dreamed of having me in bed, that’s what she was waiting for when she told Rod what she did. I chuckled, telling her that would never happen so to quit thinking about things like that. I told her she better not tell Rod anything like that. She just smiled. We got hugs from all of them, and bunches of thanks for helping them out with their parents before they took off. I told them we’d see them tomorrow night in their thongs. They told me never to tell their fathers what they did for money. I just laughed, jokingly asking them what it was worth to them. I got all kinds of threats for that statement.
Tink and Luke were still sitting at the table, when we sat back down. Trent brought us another round of beers. “Well, Tink, Landon, Lanny or Lan, how do you feel right about now?” I asked.
“Liberated,” he said proudly. “It’s like the weight of the world is finally off my shoulders. I always believed like you do, Josh, that honesty is the best policy. You sleep at nights as you say. Luke and I are going to sleep great tonight, but that’s after we have some hot celebratory sex for sure,” Tink replied.
“Hey, you were very brave to say what you did tonight, and you couldn’t have said it any better, Tink. You were honest as to who you are and proud of the fact you can say it, and not be afraid or ashamed to say it. Your father took it very well, I thought. I know that’s because he loves you with all his heart. You are his son, and nothing will ever change that. How do you think your mother will take it when she finds out?” I had to ask. Tink smiled.
“Mom? Oh she’ll be fine. Mom and I were always close, more so than Dad and I. She’ll ask me to help her pick out dresses now and want to share recipes, that kind of queer stuff, but I’m not into that stuff, so I’ll have to let her know nothing has changed, other than I sleep with boys, primarily one boy, but then Luke and I love all of you so we don’t mind sharing with this group only,” Tink replied, smiling. Tink’s phone rang a strange ringtone. “Speak of the devil, Mom is calling right now,” he told us, then answered his phone. “Hey, Mom, what’s up? Dad called from the plane and said I had something important to tell you? Uh, okay. It couldn’t wait until he got home? Good grief. So what important thing do I have to tell you? Brace yourself, Mom. Well at our meeting tonight with everyone, we were all talking about how wonderful our friendship was with Josh and Jake’s team and how we loved working for them and all. We each talked about the attributes of the friendship we had together and how meaningful the relationship was and what all we learned from each other as we worked together. I was the last one to speak and Dad asked me what I thought about the friendship we had here. I told Dad and Uncle Sterling that I loved them all, and that I was gay. Mom, you still there? Say something, please. What do you mean, did I finally figure it out? You knew it all along? What took me so long? Seriously, you knew I was gay? Well, why the hell didn’t you tell me? I mean it might have been nice to know,” Tink said, somewhat confused as to his mother’s questioning. “Oh, that’s for you to know and me to figure out? Gees, I wish I’d have known that. It might have been nice to know. Yes, I have a boyfriend. His name is Luke. Yes, he’s cute as hell, Mom. I love him so much. We’re good for each other. He’s actually Jake’s cousin. Jake is our COO and the boyfriend of Josh’s who I’ve told you about before that’s really helped me in so many ways. Yes, Luke is a great guy. I’m not telling you how well he’s hung. But, he is nicely hung, if you really want to know. Should you be asking me these things as my mother? I guess we do tell each other everything, now that I think about it. Okay, okay, so I didn’t call you right away when I figured it out, but we’re talking now, so you know everything I know at the moment. Dad was okay with it. He told me he would always love me no matter what. Tyler has known for some time now and is very supportive. Yes, Rod and Lonnie are too. They tease me but no more than they always have so what’s the difference. If they didn’t tease me, I wouldn’t think they liked me. You know how it goes. Yes, Luke and I sleep together every night. We’re staying at the house that Stoney Enterprises has for all their shareholders, and life is great there. We have our own bedroom and everything. The guys are all great, Mom. We all support one another. I’m becoming a shareholder at their next initiation so I’ll be official then. They’ve already started putting aside so much out of my earnings to buy my stock and it’s appreciating already. Can’t wait to become official though. Soon, the initiation is soon. I don’t know what’s all involved, but the guys all tell me it’s very meaningful, something to remember for your entire life. I’ll see, Mom. Not sure it’s public information, but I’ll check. No, it’s not like graduation. You and Dad can’t come to the initiation. It’s a secret initiation between the current members and the new ones being accepted into the organization, a sharing of great magnitude. Everyone has told me it’s very meaningful and fulfilling. I’m really looking forward to it. I trust all my friends and know it will be very inspirational to say the least. Okay, Dad should be home soon, so you can tell him you’ve got the skinny on me now. I’m sure he’ll be pleased he didn’t have to explain it to you. Yes, you can call me anytime. I love you too, Mom. Things won’t change between us at all, except you’ll have another son to care about named Luke. Okay? No, you don’t have to go tell everyone you have a gay son. I’m sure they’ll find out soon enough. That’s my business, and no one else’s, not that I’m hiding anything because I’m not. It’s just not something you brag about, but I hope you’ll defend the fact that I am and you love me all the same. Good, we’re on the same page. Love you too. Goodnight, Mom,” Tink said, then ended the call.
“I’m sure you all got the jest of that conversation. Sorry you had to endure that call. That’s the all-knowing, all-seeing Mom of moms. I think she was rather excited about me being gay, asking me if she can now proudly say she has a gay son. I’m sure they’ll all think it’s Tyler, so I don’t care what she says,” he joked, then laughed. We laughed with him. “She seems happy about it and happy I’m happy. Everybody is fucking happy. What do you know?” Tink chided. Luke hugged him.
“One of these days, I need to drag your ass home with me to meet my parents and tell them our good news,” Luke told Tink.
“Oh shit. I may have to go with you for that,” Jake commented. “You know my parents weren’t that excited about me being gay. In fact, I’m not sure they still don’t believe I’m kidding or kidding myself. Josh and I even bought them a trip to Hawaii to help ease the pain, but I still don’t think they’ve told anyone. I know my sister has, but not sure they have. Your parents are like mine, Luke. That news may not go over as good as Tink’s did. I wouldn’t mind meeting your mother sometime, Tink. She seems like she’d be fun,” Jake commented.
“She’s quite the mother, let me tell you. I’m fortunate to have a mother like that. Like I said, we’ve always been close. I can’t believe she thought I was gay all this time and never mentioned it to me. Damn, was I acting like I was gay before?” Tink asked. We laughed, telling him no more than any of the rest of us.
“Mother’s intuition,” I told Tink. “My parents knew all along also. They just know. They weren’t surprised at all when Zach, Jake and I told them when we were home for my grandfather’s funeral. If the truth were known, I think there was a little of that going around with my dad and my grandfather also. They loved their friends and had exclusive poker nights with their farming buddies, the fathers of the guys I loved and messed around with. We could be looking at third generation gayness here in my neck of the woods,” I confessed, stunning Tink, Kyle and Blake. “Hey, I’m not ashamed I loved my friends like I did and still do. We’ll always be there for each other all the way through life. Girlfriends come and go for straight guys, but gay friendships built on trust and support, I think, more or less, last forever.” Tink said he could definitely see that happening.
Dale and Cam came walking in and joined us at our table, giving all of us a hug. Trent brought them over some beer. I thanked him for that, asking him how Cody was these days.
“Cody is fine. I’d love to see him leave security at the hospital, as you know what kind of kooks he has to work with up there,” Trent told me.
“He hasn’t had any more problems with Jerome, has he?” I had to ask.
“No, Jerome is keeping a low profile these days. I guess he realized how deep in trouble he was from before and decided to behave himself for once. It’s just not a great environment there, as you very well know when you had to visit your friend Dawson when he was in the nut ward. Still, you know him, he’s very loyal and he’ll do whatever he can to help,” Trent told us.
“Hey, we’re going to need someone to head up security at the new office building. You might want to mention that to him and see if he might be interested in that position. I’m sure we can do better than what he makes at the hospital,” I suggested. Trent grabbed me and hugged me.
“Josh, that would be wonderful if he could work with professional people and not have to work in the crazy environment he’s in now. I know he’d be much happier,” Trent said, excitedly. I told Trent to run it by Cody, and if he was interested, then we’d talk. Trent was all excited. Off he went to call Cody, presumably.
“I told Jordan the other day, we needed to get that position filled before something happened. You just never know these days. We have a security office off the lobby and a security desk there for day and night guards. We need to fill those spots. Jordan thinks with all this new technology with our phones, no one can get where they’re not supposed to be. You don’t know though. I’d rather having someone watching cameras to make sure no one gets to where they’re not supposed to be,” I commented.
“You’re right, Josh. We have all kinds of expensive computer equipment on the 7th floor and who knows what our tenants have. We don’t need someone sneaking in and planting bugs in our equipment to find out what we’re up to,” Blake replied. I agreed.
“I doubt that they could get away with that with what all Garth has developed, but you never know. And then who’s to say that something might happen to one of our other tenants’ IT department, that doesn’t have a Garth to write code to protect everything. I know we have public WiFi set up for guests to use, but that limits places where you can go. Garth says he has a strangle hold on that, and he can tell what site every user’s on that WiFi looks at. That might be good to know sometime, although I told him it seemed like it was some kind of invasion of privacy. Garth told me we needed to know who was friends and who was foe. I had to laugh, guys, but he might have a point. Still, I think he’s nosey after what all he’s dug up on some suspicious characters for the AG’s office,” I told them.
“Cam, how’s your mother and aunt doing?” I had to ask, thinking we’d all but ignored him and Dale since they got here.
“Getting drunk, I suspect,” Cam replied, making us chuckle. “I know, I shouldn’t say it that way, but it seemed to help them some, so who cares. They’re at home, so no one on the streets are going to get hurt, which is a good thing. They were kind of giggly when we left. That’s the best I’ve seen Mom in months so I’m glad the two are having a good time,” Cam said.
“How about you, today? Are you okay?” I asked him. He smiled.
“One day at a time, but the worst is over, Josh. Kyle and I am not going to forget that man too easily, but we have his great memory to remind us what a great guy he was, and that he expects that out of us also. We have a lot to live up to, but we can do it,” Cam replied.
“You already have in so many ways, Cam. You and Kyle both are a testament to Hal’s memory. If you love him, you have to love the two of you also. No way around it,” I told them. They gave me a heartfelt smile.
“Hey, you guys should congratulate Tink tonight who just came out to his father and mother as being gay,” I told Dale and Cam. A big smile came across their faces. They both got up and hugged Tink, then Luke.
“Congratulations, Tink. Way to go, buddy. Wow, how’d that go over?” Dale asked, rather excited.
“Great. No problems at all. Seems as if they knew it before I did, from what they’ve told me. My mother even said it was about time I figured it out, then she wanted to know if I had a boyfriend and if he was cute. I mean, really? Anyway, I’m glad that’s all over with and out of the way,” Tink replied. Dale and Cam both said how happy they were for him.
And if it wasn’t enough for us to be sitting there and just enjoying ourselves, basking in the fact that Tink was liberated and happy, in came Conner and Neal in street clothes, only they didn’t have happy faces. “Hey guys, you slumming tonight and decided to visit us?” I asked. Conner and Neal slid up a couple of stools and joined us. “Don’t you two look kind of hot in your street clothes. Love the bulge in your pants there, Conner,” I chided.
“Josh, it’s not a good night,” he said, obviously concerned about something. We were all ears.
“Do tell. What’s going on?” I asked, as I motioned for Trent to bring us more beers for our two law enforcement friends. Conner pulled out a picture.
“You ever see this guy in here before?” Conner asked, as he passed the picture around. The face on the picture looked vaguely familiar. Jake thought so also, as did Blake.
“Should we know him from somewhere?” I asked.
“Well, he is gay, so I’m not sure if you’ve seen him on Saturday nights or not,” Conner mentioned.
“Hey, there are a lot of gay guys here on Saturday nights, if you recall since you and Neal are here also. What’s the deal with him and how do you know he’s gay?” I asked.
“He and I went to school together, and let’s just say, I know he’s gay,” Conner added. I rolled my eyes as if a light just went off in my brain.
“So, maybe there’s some history between the two of you? I mean, he’s a hot looking guy, but then so are you,” I replied, smiling.
“Was a hot looking guy. He was found murdered earlier this evening in his apartment. It’s a homicide investigation at this point,” Conner said, half shaken up.
“Wait, you can’t be serious. This guy, murdered? We don’t have homicides in this town, do we?” I asked. Conner looked at me as if I wasn’t being serious enough.
“Hell yes we do. You get guys like Spence and Simon floating around and if they don’t like you, or you owe them money, you’re liable to end up dead. That’s why I was so worried about Kyle staying at his apartment when all that crap was going on. Hell, it damn near got Lucky killed trying to run after that one guy that night in the rain storm, when you supposedly saved him,” Conner replied.
“Yes, my lucky night with Lucky. How could I ever forget that night?” I said, with a slight smile.
“Oh, had that been me, Josh, I’m telling you, Conner and I might be separated today,” Neal chimed in, getting a look from Conner, which made me crack a smile. “That boy just really gets my juices flowing. I think he knows that also, as it just seems like he’s teasing me these days. That boy has no business being straight as hot as he is. Damn, what guy couldn’t have fun sleeping with that,” Neal said, somewhat excited. Conner told him to can it, there were more important things to discuss and to keep his cock in check. That made us chuckle, but Conner was dead serious.
“Okay, so what’s up with a homicide with this guy and how can we help?” I asked.
“I’ve lost touch with him over the years since school was out and I’m not really dating these days, since Neal and I kind of got together,” Conner started to say.
“Kind of got together? What’s that supposed to mean?” Neal asked, somewhat miffed. Conner gave him the look again.
“Became a steady couple. Alright?” Conner asked. “Neal, sometimes you take everything too literally. You know I love you, so there. I said it in front of all these guys as my witnesses. We’re a couple unless you continue to lust after Lucky, and then maybe we need to talk,” Conner replied. “Besides, he’s probably in love with Josh now that the two danced naked dick to dick in Kyle’s bathtub with Kyle and Blake there as witnesses,” Conner rattled off.
“I think both of them got just a little bit aroused before it was all over, but I’m sure it was just the shock of what was happening,” Kyle chided. Neal almost lost it.
“I knew it. I knew something happened to Lucky that night that changed him. He never looked at a guy before. Never. Now he wiggles his ass in front of me and even dropped his briefs to scratch his bare ass in front of me yesterday in the locker room. Damn, that was one hot ass,” Neal commented. Conner was shaking and scratching his head.
“And what did you do, Neal?” I had to ask.
“Well, I popped a boner, what else is a girl supposed to do when a hot guy drops his briefs and scratches one beautiful nicely sculped naked ass? Honey, I’m not shitting you, that was awesome,” Neal said, fanning himself as if he was in heat.
“Neal, sometimes you can be so gay, it’s crazy,” Conner stated. “Now will you just shut up and get your mind off Lucky’s sculped ass so I can talk to these guys about what happened here?” Conner asked Neal. Neal took his fingers and ran them across his lips as if to say he just zipped them. Conner shook his head.
“Now, as I was saying before my partner went into heat over Lucky, this guy I showed you a picture of was murdered last night sometime from what the coroner said. His name was Harold. Harold hung out with some of the wrong crowd from time to time. He’d been picked up a couple of times for possession. He’s a known acquaintance of Spence and Simon so that tells you something. He wasn’t a bad guy, but lacked some good sense at times. I’ll tell you someone that might know him better and that’s Duncan, your old Real Estate professor. I’m sure he was at some of the same parties that Duncan was. Ole Spence and Simon did a number on Duncan and it took him some time to get his act together and get clear of all that mess. Harold seemed to be doing okay from what I knew of him. He worked for Weinstein and Seward Construction as just a regular construction guy. He was pretty built. Nothing wrong with his looks,” Conner said, as he looked over the picture again, somewhat fondly, as if he did have some good memories of the guy.
“Was he good in the sack?” Neal asked. Conner glared at him.
“Neal, that’s not a question you want to ask me right now or one I want to give you an answer to. The guy is dead. He was murdered. A gay guy was murdered. I think we should be pretty pissed off about that right now, if you ask me,” Conner replied. Neal zipped his mouth shut again.
“So why are you telling us this or how can we help? I asked.
“Not sure, but I felt compelled to tell you about this, as I highly suspect it has something to do with Spence and Simon’s drug operation, maybe even something to do with this Kenny guy that Kyle got messed up with that caused him all the pain,” Conner said, looking towards Kyle. Kyle looked surprised.
“Don’t recall ever seeing this guy, Conner. Although Kenny seemed to know a lot of guys and we had several around from time to time doing different jobs of fixing things for us. He might have been there, but I don’t remember him. How long did he work for W&S Construction?” Kyle asked.
“According to Homicide, he was an employee there for the several years. Seems like he went to work for them right out of high school. I kind of lost track of him when I went to college. Spence and Simon were just a year or so younger than me so we were all kind of the same age, when I think about it. Some of the guys that knew him said he used to party pretty hard with Spence and Simon, so we know what that means. The dude was built and strong, so he might have even been doing some of their strong man work also. Who knows? It’s a shame, because he was a decent guy in high school. Must have gotten mixed up with Simon and Spence when he went to work for their old man’s construction company. Gees, if we could just nail those guys and get them the hell out of our society, clean the rats out of our world,” Conner said, obviously this homicide having an effect on him, him being somewhat close at one time with the victim. I patted him on his back.
“We’ll help any way we can, Conner. Just tell us what you need and if we can help you with it, you know we will. You have our undying support,” I told him. He seemed to appreciate that.
“Any closer to getting anything out of this Shelley girl, that your friend Clay is working on?” Conner asked.
“Not yet, but he’s supposed to have a few more sessions with the girl so maybe there might be some pillow talk that might yield something,” I replied.
“I don’t know what DEA is doing with monitoring what’s going on with Dickerson and Hastings and that Kenny guy. We need to nail his ass to the wall,” Conner told us, indicating to me, this was getting a little personal now. “Kyle, to your knowledge did this Kenny guy prone to any violence?” Conner asked him. Kyle had to think for a moment.
“He was kind and gentle around me for the time I knew him. I heard him argue with his girlfriend a few times. Actually, I was hoping they’d break up and he’d see the light and leave her for good for me. Glad that didn’t happen, as who knows what shape I’d be in today. I did hear him threaten a guy one day, and he was pretty pissed, telling him to get his ass off the property and he never wanted to see him again if the guy knew what was good for him. I heard the guy ask him what he was going to do about it. Fucking Kenny told him he knew what he was capable of. He said, if he didn’t want that to happen to him, he’d better get the fuck out of there and never let him see his ass again. I never saw that guy again after that. I asked Kenny what that was all about. He told me not to worry about anything as he was protecting our business and me, and wouldn’t let anything happen to either the business or me. I asked him if I should be concerned. He told me, not as long as he was around to take care of me. Not sure what that had to do with anything, but I assumed it was him telling me something I may not know was coming, like the bank was going to take my property after he left and wasn’t there to protect it. That was a bunch of shit, because he caused all that at the request of Weinstein and Seward. I could just strangle him myself,” Kyle told us all.
“How was he murdered?” I had to ask. Conner put his head down in his hands. I could tell this was really getting to him. I motioned for Trent to bring us more beer.
“Not really supposed to say, as it’s an ongoing investigation and we don’t usually give the details of an ongoing homicide investigation. I’ll tell you guys, but don’t tell anyone else. The guy had his throat slashed and was stabbed several times. It had to be personal or someone was sending a message. He was naked and there was blood everywhere from all the stab wounds. That tells me it was very personal,” Conner said, getting a little shook up. We all gulped at that thought.
“Was he tortured, or did death happen immediately?” I asked, cringing at the thought. Conner shrugged his shoulders.
“We don’t know for sure. Hopefully the coroner will tell us he died a quick death. There was quite a lot of blood at the scene, so we’re not sure if he was killed with a knife wound to the heart or his jugular severed when his throat was slit or if he was, well you know what I’m about to say,” Conner said, obviously moved by what he just told us. I put my arm around his shoulder.
“If there is anything we can do to help you with this, you have our total support. Is this a crime of passion or have something to do with Spence and Simon trying to rally the troops from a possible mutiny and them joining up with someone else since those two are in jail?” I asked. Conner shook his head.
“Don’t know. That’s what’s puzzling us. We’ve had homicides before in this town where wives shoot their husbands, and vice versa, but never one that’s as brutal and bloody as this one. This just stinks. Who knows, maybe he had it coming to him for some crazy fucked up reason, but no one deserves to die like that. No one does,” Conner said, still somewhat beside himself. I had never seen Conner this troubled over something before. He was always the strong guy, the guy with the answers, the warnings, always defending us every way he could. Now, he seemed so helpless and forlorn tonight. My heart ached for him. “Gotta take a piss. I’ll be back,” Conner said, getting up to head for the men’s room.
“Neal, he seems to be taking this very personally. Do you know why?” I asked. Neal shook his head.
“I don’t know. He won’t say. If I was to guess, I’d say there was something between them in high school. He doesn’t talk much about those days at all. Today after he recognized the guy as the victim of a homicide, it really got to him and that is the first I ever heard his name mentioned or that Conner even knew the guy. I’ll almost bet you they had sex together back in the day. There was something between them that made this so personal for him. Getting him to talk about it is another story. You know how he is. Me, I can just jabber away and tell you everything, even that I get a boner too often these days just marveling at Lucky. Crazy fool, getting me all excited like he does. I just know he knows he’s turning me on,” Neal went on.
“Hold that thought, I think I need to pee also,” I said, then got up and headed for the men’s room. I wanted to catch Conner for a one on one, knowing he was hurting, and I wanted to help him anyway I could right now.
Conner came out of the men’s room and I grabbed him, pulling him to the dressing room where we entered and shut the door. “This case has you rattled, Conner. I know you well enough you don’t get rattled. It’s personal, isn’t it? Tell me, as you need to talk to someone about this as it really has you down. You’re never that way,” I told him. Conner grabbed me and hugged me. I think he had tears in his eyes, but he’d never let me see anything like that with him. His head was up against mine in an embrace. “Talk to me, Conner. You need to talk and get this out,” I urged.
“Josh, it was so horrible. I saw the body, being one of the first to show up when a person called in to say Harold was missing. I was in the area and a sergeant and I were the first there. It was so horrible, Josh, just horrible. I swear the sergeant threw up, it was so bad. I didn’t tell you this with the other guys there, but Harold’s penis and balls were missing, cut from the body and removed from the scene. It was just terrible, I’m telling you,” he said, hugging me tightly, me cringing at the thought of what he witnessed.
“Tell, me was he dead when his genitals were removed?” I cautiously asked. I actually thought I heard him whimper, his arms around me tightly.
“We don’t know yet. I’m sure the coroner will tell us when he finishes his report. We should have that sometime tomorrow. Don’t tell anyone, please. Please don’t tell anyone that I told you this. I have no right to disclose that information, but it just killed me to see what I saw,” Conner said, but struggled to say it, obviously very emotional right now.
“Okay, this is obviously personal to you. Tell me why, Conner. You can tell me, as it will help you to get it out. I sense you don’t feel comfortable telling Neal for some reason, and I can understand that, I think. But, you can tell me and I’ll understand,” I urged him.
“Josh, Harold was my first,” he said, then he did break down. I hung onto him. I had never seen Conner in this shape before or ever believed it could happen to him. He was a rock if there ever was one.
“Oh, Conner, I’m so sorry. So sorry. How horrible a thing to have to see when it was someone that meant so much to you in an earlier time. I know you said you’d lost track of him and he hung out with some unsavory guys in later years, but no one forgets their first,” I said sympathetically.
“For some reason, I guess we were just stupid kids at the time, but we thought we loved one another and we sure as hell tried to prove it back then in so many ways. I mean we couldn’t keep our hands of one another or our dicks out of one another, Josh. It was bad and it hurt like hell when we finally broke up and went our separate ways. He got into drugs and I couldn’t talk sense into him anymore. I couldn’t take his drug usage and abuse, and told him it was either me or the drugs, but he couldn’t have both. He chose drugs over me, so I guess he made his choice. I sure as hell wasn’t going to put up with that shit especially when I loved him so much. I would have just watched him end up like he was today. Still, I loved him at one time, a long time ago, but I did love him. To see him like this today, just ripped me apart,” Conner told me as he continued to hug me. “Oh, Josh, this is a terrible day. Just a terrible day.”
so keep it coming FT, keep it cumming 
who wouldn't 
