by Alex Tempera
“If you like him, make sure you really like him. If you really like him, be patient and don’t give up. He needs someone to truly love him and take care of him, if you know what I mean. He’s not some fem or anything, but if there was anyone in this world who needed love, it would be him.”
“I get it. I do. I won’t ask because some day he can tell me himself what happened to him,” Evan smiled.
“Good,” Janet patted him on the shoulder. “Be his friend and let him know he can trust you and your words. Take it from there.” She got in her car and started it.
Evan sighed and instead of getting in his car, he headed across the street to the police station. He was about to walk in, when he changed his mind. He turned on his heels when he heard a voice behind him. “Manetti?”
He turned around and smiled at Washington. “Mayor,” he grinned.
“I’m sorry I took so long but I’m finally out of the office,” he said, as he approached him.
“Fred, don’t worry about it. I just took care of getting my law office and I have some things to do before it’s completely ready. I kind of like it that you’re still around.”
“Thanks,” he said. “So, how’s it been going with you and our Police Chief?”
“I don’t think he likes me much,” Evan said.
“Give him time. I think he likes you and that’s why he’s ignoring you or staring at us from inside the building.”
“What?”
“Don’t turn around,” Fred said. “He’s watching us.”
“We got close and then he ran off. It was bad, wasn’t it?”
“I can’t say anything about it, but, yes, it was. No one really knows what happened, but we all knew it was bad,” Fred said. “Why don’t you and I get dinner tonight? I have to meet Chance for lunch.”
“Oh, well, don’t let me keep you,” Evan said as he headed across the street.
Chance walked out of the police station and shook Fred’s hand. “What was that about?”
“Oh, I invited him to dinner,” Fred said. “He likes you, Chance.”
“Maybe for one thing,” he said. “I can’t keep doing that.”
“Well, at least you two got the first time out of the way. The next time will be easier,” Fred smiled. “And don’t say there won’t be, because eventually, there will be.”
“Let’s eat,” he said. “I’m starved and I don’t want to talk about Evan or sex.”
“Good,” Fred said. “I need your advice anyway.” The two men headed down the street toward the diner that was at the corner of Broad and West Elm Street.
Evan watched as the two men walked down the road and then he headed into City hall. He smiled at Agnes. “Do me a favor,” he smiled.
“Anything,” she asked.
“Tell me where the vital records are,” he said.
“Down the hall,” she pointed. “Do you need me to pull a file for you?”
“It’s kind of private,” he said. “It’s just something I have to do myself.”
“Oh, well, all right,” she said. “If you need me, I’ll be at lunch. I usually take an hour.”
“That’s fine. I’ll be in my office, though it’s not official until Monday. My law office won’t be ready until next month.”
“That’s fine. Fred is a judge and always worked out of the one office,” she said.
“I figured. I wonder where his chambers will be now,” Evan said.
“There are chambers at the courthouse, but now, he will use it as an office full time, I guess.”
“Well, good,” he smiled. “Enjoy your lunch.” He headed down the shiny, long hall toward the door labeled Round River Vital Records.
He smiled as the young woman looked up. “Yes,” he grinned. “I’m Evan Manetti.”
“Oh, right, the new mayor,” she grinned. “I’m Carla. Carla Washington.”
“Fred’s daughter?” he smiled.
“You know it,” she laughed. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, since I’m new to the small town, I’d like to pull some statistics. I didn’t know if I needed the records or if they were on the computer or something.”
“Well, we have been trying to put things on servers. We’re starting with recent records and working our way back. What did you need, sir?”
“Just typical census information. Marriages. Divorces. Births. Deaths. And I’ll need an average of population.”
“You want all that?”
“Just for the past five years. It gives me something to look at,” he said. “I’m a lawyer and I have a thing for facts and figures. Can’t help it.”
“I can pull that for you and have the records sent to your office,” she said.
“Yes, the mayor’s office down the hall would be fine. My law office won’t be done until next month.”
“Give me about an hour,” she smiled.
“Great, but if I’m interrupting your lunch, you can go eat first.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll do this for you,” Carla smiled.
Evan walked out of the room and down the hall toward his office.
Evan smiled as Carla walked into his office. “Thanks.”
“Sorry to walk in but your door was open,” she smiled.
“It will only be closed if I’m in conference or something,” he said. “Just set the piles on the table in the corner.”
“I separated them based on divorce, marriage, and so on. I also put a top sheet that gives the stats for the past five years. If you need stuff beyond that, let me know.”
“Thanks. This is good,” Evan stood up, walked over to the table, and picked up the report on the marriages. “Hmm, interesting,” he compared it to the report on divorces. “Not bad.” His eyes caught a folder that was on top of the pile. “Waldorf v. Endicott.” He opened the folder and read the first page Dissolution of Marriage. Todd Waldorf v. Charles Endicott. He closed the folder quickly. “Now I know the bastard’s name,” he muttered.
6
Evan walked into the police station and smiled at the man behind the desk. “Yes, I’m Evan Manetti, is the Chief in?”
“Yes, sir,” he said. “You’re the new mayor?”
“Yes,” Evan smiled. “And you are?”
“Sergeant Steve Wilson,” he said. “Desk Sergeant, Day shift.” He saluted.
“At ease, Sergeant. I may be the mayor but I’m just a lawyer,” he chuckled.
“Oh, that’s your office across the street?”
“Yeah, I’m in civil litigation,” he said.
“Oh, like law suits and stuff?” Steve asked.
“Yeah, but I also handle family law, like pre-nups, custody, divorces, and mediation,” he explained.
“Should I let the chief know you’re here?”
“Yes, please, it’s official business,” Evan said. “And make sure you say that specifically.”
“Say what specifically?”
“The words official business.”
“Oh, all right,” Steve picked up the phone. “Sir, yes, Mayor Manetti is here to see you.”
“I don’t have time,” Chance said.
“He said it’s official business,” Steve looked at Evan.
“Oh, all right. Will you escort him? I don’t think he’s been here before.”
“Yes, sir,” Steve hung up and looked at Evan. “I’ll show you to his office. Follow me.”
“Great,” Evan said.
“You’ll have to go through the metal detector, though.”
“That’s fine,” Evan said.
Steve knocked on Chance’s door. “Sir, Mayor Manetti,” he pointed inside the room.
Evan walked in the office as Chance stood up. “Thank you, Sergeant,” Chance said. “Please close the door on your way out.”
“Yes, sir,” he saluted and then left the office.
Evan extended his hand. “Um, nice to meet you, Chief, I’m Evan Manetti,” he smiled.
Chance stared at his hand and raised an eyebrow
. “Um, Sir, we know each other.”
“Really?” Evan tilted his head. “I don’t think that we do.”
Chance looked in Evan’s eyes and then back at his still extended hand. He shook his hand. “Mr. Mayor,” he gulped.
“Chief,” Evan smiled. “Please, call me Evan.”
“Call me …” Chance took a breath. He wasn’t sure what Evan was doing but he played along. “Charles, I mean, Chance.”
“Thank you.” It was a start.
“So, um, what brings you to my office?” Chance pointed to the chair in front of his desk, and then he waited for Evan to sit down.
Evan sat down and crossed his legs. “Please, Chance, sit,” Evan smiled.
Chance sat down and realized what he did. He waited for permission. This is not a game he wanted to play. He didn’t want to be a slave, he didn’t want to be a submissive, he just wanted to be a bottom. A bottom to Evan but he couldn’t be anything to Evan. He wasn’t worth the time. “What can I do for you?”
“Well, I’m trying to get a feel for this town. I was wondering if I could shadow you for a few days.”
“Shadow me?”
“Well, I know you work two shifts, right?”
“Yes, chief during the day and I patrol at night,” he said. “I did give you a tour of the town.”
“It was part of a tour,” Evan said. “It’s not the same thing for getting a feel of the town. Maybe tomorrow or even get started tonight?”
“I guess we can do that,” Chance said.
“Great,” Evan stood up.
“Sir, wait a sec,” he sighed.
“First, don’t call me sir. Call me Evan,” he smiled.
“I apologize.”
“No need,” Evan smiled. “Did you want to ask me something?”
“I was just wondering something. It’s been bothering me since we first met.”
“Of course, ask me anything you want. I’m an open book,” Evan smiled.
“When I first pulled you over, you know in the rain that night,” Chance released a slow breath. “You didn’t identify yourself.”
“I gave you my ID. I told you my name. Is there a problem? Am I not who I said I was?” he flirted slightly.
Chance smiled slightly. “That’s not what I mean. You are who you say you are,” he sighed.
“And you know that because you checked me out?”
“Yes, anyway…” Chance smiled.
Evan walked over to the desk and leaned forward. “You checked me out?”
“Protocol,” Chance said.
“Good. So, I did identify myself. What is the problem?” he leaned his fists on Chance’s desk.
“You didn’t identify yourself as the mayor.”
“I wasn’t the mayor yet,” he said. “And, if I was, I would never use my position to get off on breaking the law or to abuse my authority in any way. That’s why I didn’t tell you who I was. You didn’t identify yourself as the Chief.”
“I never do when I’m on patrol, my car does it for me,” he laughed slightly.
“I understand,” Evan smiled. “I can be here tonight. I have no plans. Hell, I have no life yet.”
“Six,” he said.
“Sounds good,” Evan turned around and headed for the door.
“Um, sir, um, Evan,” Chance gulped nervously.
Evan turned around and smiled. “Chance, what is it?”
“Don’t you want to talk about the other… well, you know… the other night?”
Evan walked over to Chance and gazed into his eyes. “There is so much I want to say to you but I can’t do it here. It’s not professional. We won’t be talking about it tonight, either. Not professional. If you want to talk about it, we can,” Evan bit his bottom lip. “But not here, not in your squad car, and not in the mayor’s office.”
“What about your new office?” Chance smiled.
“It’s not ready yet,” Evan said. “You know about my new office?”
“The whole town does, all two thousand of us,” he nodded.
“Great,” Evan said. “You decide when and where, and I’ll be there.” He strutted out of Chance’s office.
Chance sat back in the chair. “Who the hell is he and why do I like him?” he whispered.
7
Evan walked out to his porch, dressed in his khakis and red polo shirt. He looked up as Chance walked across the street from his own home and up his driveway. “Chance? We’re meeting at six, right?”
“We’ll have to change that. I need to take the night off. I just wanted to tell you.”
“Oh, I hope everything is all right,” Evan said.
“Actually,” Chance sighed. “I took the night off so that I could talk to you.”
“We were meeting,” Evan sat on the railing of his porch. “We could talk then.”
“No, not really,” Chance said. “You said no personal stuff when we’re working.”
“Oh, so it’s personal?” Evan asked. “Well, are you still on duty? It’s hard to tell when you’re not in uniform.”
“No, not on duty. I just signed out,” Chance said.
“Beer?” Evan asked.
“Um, sure, I guess,” he followed Evan into the house. “This is coming along.” He looked around the room.
“I have so much more to do. The whole upstairs is being gutted and then down here will be. Excuse the mess. I’ve been sleeping on the couch.”
Chance’s eyes diverted to the sofa, where they spent their time together. “Oh, comfortable?”
“Not bad,” he grinned. “It’s a pull out.”
“I’ll have to remember that for the next time,” Chance whispered.
Evan smirked as he heard the whisper. “Follow me,” he said as he led Chance down a hall. “Eventually, this dining room will be part of the kitchen and living room. I’m opening up the whole thing.”
“Wow, sounds great,” Chance said.
“I love open floor plans. Please, have a seat,” Evan smiled as he pointed to the table. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out two beer bottles.
“Thanks,” Chance said as he took a bottle from Evan’s hand.
Evan sat down and looked at Chance. “You wanted to talk?”
“I need to apologize to you.”
“For what?” Evan asked.
“Having sex with you.”
“What?” Evan raised an eyebrow.
“Well, it was wrong. I don’t usually have sex with someone I just met.” Chance sipped his beer.
“Well, I’m not sorry,” Evan said. “But I think we should start over. That was what I was trying to do today.”
“Oh?” Chance said.
“I want us to have a professional relationship,” Evan said. “We have to work together.”
“Oh,” Chance stood up. “Well, we can do that.”
“Um, I’m not finished, please don’t leave.”
“I wasn’t,” Chance said.
“Yeah, you were,” Evan said.
Chance stared down at the floor. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” Evan said. “I’d like for us to be friends. Seriously. I could use a friend.”
“A friend? Only a friend?” Chance said.
“You said something the other day, when you walked out on me. Now, you also said it when I tried to talk to you. I’m not sure where that came from and I don’t want you to think that you’re only good for sex. Hell, Baby, you are very sexy and delicious and I would love to fuck you again. I want to suck your cock until your eyes bulge out of your head, but I want something else, too.”
Chance licked his lips nervously and raised his eyes slightly to meet Evan’s. “What’s that?”
Evan cupped Chance’s chin and raised his head. “To show you that you’re worth much more,” Evan kissed his cheek.
“Oh,” Chance stepped back. “I don’t know.”
Evan looked at Chance. “I want you to be honest with me. When you look at me, what do you want?”
<
br /> “To drop to my knees,” he said automatically.
“Seriously?” Evan asked.
“Yes,” Chance said. “Like I said, only good for two things.”
“Because you want to suck my cock?”
“Yes, it’s wrong,” he said. “I’m a man. I shouldn’t want to…”
“What? Be gay or be with me?” Evan crossed his arms.
“Be the bottom,” he said. “I’m not closeted. I hope you don’t think that. I’m proud to be gay.”
“So, when you said you wanted to fuck me, you lied?”
“No, I just thought that’s what you wanted to hear,” he said. “Most guys do.”
“Oh, Baby, that is so not true,” Evan took Chance’s hand. “It’s perfectly fine to want to be the bottom. Not everyone can be the top or we’d all be fucking our own hands.”
Chance laughed slightly. “I know there is a top and bottom, but he said … but … I’m not a slave!”
“Of course you’re not,” Evan said. “Chance, please sit down.”
The two men sat down and Chance looked into his eyes and then diverted them to the floor.
“Don’t do that either,” Evan said. “You’re not a submissive. You’re a bottom and there’s a difference. Just because I come across as a dominant asshole, doesn’t mean I am. I like being on top. I like having control, but, Baby, I love sucking cock, too. I love having my cock sucked. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“You keep saying that word,” Chance said.
“What word? Cock? You don’t like that word?”
“Not that word, and, yes, I like that word,” he licked his lips.
“Then what word, Baby?”
“That one. You keep calling me baby,” Chance said.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Evan said. “I just find that I want to spend my free time with you. It’s not love, it’s friendship. If you don’t want me calling you that, I won’t.”
“I just wondered why you did,” Chance said. “I’ve never been called anything but my titles or Chance. Sometimes, Charles, but only if my mother is really, really pissed off at me.”
Evan leaned forward to where his lips barely touched Chance’s. “I call you that because I’m attracted to you. Before I fucked you, I was attracted to you. Hell, your wet uniform, the other night, in the pouring rain, made me extremely hot. Baby, I think you’re sexy and hot, and I can’t wait until we’re physical again,” he kissed his cheek. “But for now, we’re friends. Can we be friends?”