There Goes My Bailey

by LL Dahlin

  “Could you take someone back to their hotel or find him a hotel… whatever, just get him out of your club?” Scott hated the way he was feeling and normally wouldn’t ask for help, but there wasn’t anything he could do about this without help. His sanity was on the line.

  “Is someone causing trouble that you can’t handle?” Mark said, getting up like he was off to kick ass. Scott chuckled, and Mark looked over at him. “I’ve never known you to back down from any fight and if there is someone who’s got you in here tapping out, I’ve got your back.”

  “It’s not like that. You know I don’t let anyone get the best of me,” Scott said. “If it got that bad, the ambulance would have to pull me out of here.”

  “That’s what I figured, but your vibe is throwing me off.”

  “Let me process it before I get into it with you. For now, could you take a friend of my brother where he needs to go?"

  Mark stared at Scott for a minute and he hoped the man’s intuition just shut the fuck up for a few minutes and he didn’t ask—

  “Tell me it’s not the infamous Bailey that I’m taking out of here.” Mark’s wide eyes and piercing gaze dared him to lie and Scott wanted so badly to say no.

  Scott didn’t answer, he just sat with what he hoped was a blank look on his face.

  “It is him? The man whose name you moan in your sleep. The reason you seem to like bear-like men with dark hair…hell, the reason you saddled up to me when we first met years ago?”

  “Yeah, this run down memory lane is great, but I asked a favor and you don’t seem to be doing much but having fun at my expense. So get your ass in gear and get him out of here.” Scott put his head back on the couch and closed his eyes. His heart was beating harder and faster than it should be for this extended amount of time. It was a good thing he had the ability to keep what he felt off his face because he didn’t want Bailey to know how happy he was to see him again, but he didn’t want Mark to know that information either.

  "Alright, I'll do it for you."

  Scott sat there with his eyes closed and knew that this wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d hoped because Mark was still in the room and it didn’t appear that he was moving in the direction of following his request. Scott took a deep breath, opened his eyes and spotted his buddy leaning against the door. “I guess there is a catch.”

  “I want you to introduce me to him.” The smile on Mark’s face indulgent.

  “What? You don’t need one. Just go out there to the man I describe to you and tell him you’ll be taking him back to his hotel.” Scott almost couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but the look on Mark’s face didn’t change so he knew that his demand probably hadn’t either. “Why?”

  Mark looked away from him for a few seconds like he was thinking up a reason. Scott knew that whatever he came up with would have a sprinkle of the truth, but there was going to be a portion of fabrication within his words.

  “I just want an introduction.”

  Scott frowned and stood up. “You’re being an asshole, and don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. I told you, I made a promise to my brother not to mess with his friend again, so this jealous boyfriend act is unnecessary and stupid.”

  “If you want his departure expedited then that’s the only catch.” Mark opened the door and waited for Scott to walk out in front of him.

  “Fine.” Scott stood up and walked past Mark determined to get this damned introduction done and Bailey away from him with those questioning eyes that, if he wasn’t mistaken, were filled with interest. All Scott wanted was a simple life. Find a guy who knew he was gay and had made peace with himself and the world about it, set up house, have hot sex and intelligent conversation at the ready any time he wanted. That wasn’t too much to ask, was it? He was done with impossible dreams or straight men who wanted to see if they were gay. All he had to do was get through this, the welcome home dinner and then he could concentrate on ignoring the man who was always on the sideline of his mind.

  Scott approached Bailey, who was sitting on a bar stool, noting how his stomach knotted up when he tapped him on the shoulder, but that knot had nothing on the release of butterflies that fluttered low in his belly when he turned around and those deep blue eyes found his. He’d just do this like ripping off an adhesive bandage. Quick and painful as hell.

  “Hey Bailey, this is Mark, the guy I told you about who owns the place. He's going out and can take you where you need to go. Mark, this is Bailey, my brother Ollie’s best friend, in from the military.” Scott could feel Mark standing so close to him, he could feel the man’s warmth and practically the outline of his cock. What the fuck was going on?

  Mark moved from his place of possession behind Scott to get closer to Bailey when he stood up. The two men sized each other up and Scott saw a lot of similarities with the build and coloring, but that’s where the likeness ended.

  “See you at the dinner tomorrow, Bailey.” Scott wouldn’t run from anything anymore, but he was going to do a fast walk away from this fucked up situation. He was caught by his arm and spun around.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here, but it was good to see you.” Bailey pulled him into a hug and Scott gave him two slaps on the back before he pushed away. Being that close to the man in the bathroom was startling in how intense nostalgia was, but the feeling he had just now wasn’t anything like that. It was new, fresh, lust that was as powerful as an explosion. The smell of Bailey was something he'd never forget, but he'd not been in contact with it for so long Scott had told himself he wouldn't be affected like he'd been before, but with that one whiff, his thought process changed. Pushing away from Bailey he took a few steps backing away from the pure temptation that was Bailey.

  “See you tomorrow.” Scott then turned, walked away from the pair and went back to his post at the door. That man was potent and for the first time he wondered if he’d be able to keep his promise to his big brother.

  Chapter 3

  Watching the quickly retreating back of Scott the night before was like a splash of cold water, but the smug look on Mark’s, the man Scott had foisted him off on, face made him wonder if the two of them had something going on. Either way he was going to back off Scott. He’d see him at the dinner, be cordial and then work on getting his life back together. Find a job, get physical therapy started and start his life as a civilian. He’d taken a taxi back to the airport and stood outside waiting for Ollie to pick him up. The midsized luxury car stopped in front of him like the man thought he’d be late and his very best friend hopped out of the driver seat.

  “Fuck, it’s good to see you man.” Ollie said in his ear since he had the man in a tight squeeze.

  “It’s good to see you too.” Bailey couldn’t hold his smile back at the unusual display of affection from his typically laid back friend. He also couldn’t believe how much he’d missed Ollie.

  “I didn’t think you’d ever come back. You haven’t returned since you left for basic training, right?” Ollie pushed away from him giving a few slaps on his arm before turning to walk to his trunk, nodding at Bailey’s shrug.

  Bailey followed along and felt a sadness that he’d stayed away so long and wondered if the emails and the few packages he’d sent hadn’t been enough. “Well, I’m back now and I don’t think I’ll be heading out anywhere soon.” Bailey grinned at Ollie and was glad to see the smiling nod from his friend.

  “You’d better not.” Ollie slammed the truck door closed and went to the driver’s seat, sliding in and waiting for Bailey to get situated. “You cut it close. Your mother has called me three times to make sure I’d be here to get you.”

  “That sounds like her.” Bailey looked out the window as they pulled off. He shook his head wondering who all was going to be there.

  “She’s not that bad. The woman just wants to see you and soon. Nothing wrong with that.”

  “Nothing at all but I couldn’t stand to live at home again. It would be too much, but I promise to visit
her a few times a week so she can get tired of me and then we can settle into a more maintainable schedule.” Bailey looked over to his friend who was now acting like he was focused on driving. “What’s up?”

  “Nothing…nothing.”

  Ollie couldn’t lie for shit and Bailey knew something was wrong, but he also knew he’d only get the information when his friend was ready to give it. “Well, I guess I’ll find out what nothing is eventually.”

  “I’m working up to it.” Ollie kept his eyes on the road as he worked out whatever he needed to say. Bailey knew he’d hear it eventually and since he’d made his friend wait for his return he could show some patience too.

  “Fine.” Bailey shook his head and amazed that they could fall into the familiar patterns they’d been in so long ago. “I’ll be ready when you are.”

  They’d fallen into talk of sports and people who remained in the area. Whenever he spoke with Ollie it was like no time had passed. It was as though they just picked up like they’d hung out the day before. Bailey had missed the easy camaraderie and looked forward to spending more time with his best buddy.

  They pulled up to his childhood home and Bailey was surprised at how much he’d missed everything. He’d taken off that summer after high school and in the beginning he’d not wanted to come back and confront all the questions Scott had stirred up within him, but later he’d really not had the time. His parents decided that they’d come to him and had visited wherever he was. Mom thought it a fabulous reason to see the world. He’d been a coward before, but the day he woke up in a hospital because he’d run into a burning building to save a mother and small child, he made a few decisions. The fact that he could have died before ever finding out the answers to questions he had about himself, his sexuality and his best friend's brother Scott, had made Bailey grow a bigger set of balls and a new leaf at the same time. He was offered early release because he was going to need a bit of rehab and by the time he’d have been up to par it would be time for his release. Normally, he just rolled the old term into a new term, but not this time. It was time to stop running and start living…whatever that meant he was going to do it.

  “Ready, Bailey?” Ollie sat on his side of the car and Bailey looked over at him. Unsure of how long he’d been sitting there staring at the house he could hear the concern in his voice. “You know, no one would blame you if you didn’t want a big coming home party. It was just yesterday I learned from your mother that you recently got out of the hospital. Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?”

  “I didn’t want anyone to make a big deal out of it. I had decided to come home and you know how much I hate pity parties.” Bailey stared at the house for a couple reasons, but the main one is he knew his statement would probably not be taken well, because when he really thought about it, his reasoning seemed selfish as hell.

  “You’re such an asshole,” Ollie scoffed. “It would have killed us all if you’d had died.”

  “I know.” Bailey hit Ollie in the stomach with the back of his hand playfully before he opened the car door. “That’s why I’m back. I missed this place.”

  “Well, this place and its inhabitants missed you too, jerk.” Ollie got out of the car and walked up beside him elbowing him softly. “That would have been harder, but I don’t know the extent of your injuries and I don’t want to break you before your party.”

  “I have an injured shoulder. It popped out of socket when half the roof fell on me, but I’d done what I’d wanted to do by then so all’s well that ends well.”

  “I know about your superpower of understatement, so I’m going to assume you were halfway dead when someone got to you.” The concern in Ollie’s face made him want to tell his friend that his injury wasn’t as bad as it seemed or at least it wasn’t that bad now.

  “It was over six weeks ago. I’m a little sore sometimes, but all in all I’m back to normal. Feel free to elbow me with full strength next time.” Bailey was glad to see the smile back on Ollie’s face.

  “Don’t ever stay away that long again, man. This place has been way too quiet without you.”

  “I plan on being here until I figure out what to do next.” The closer they got to the door the more excited Bailey was to see the occupants of the house. It was like he could feel the warmth and happiness of the people inside.

  “Then I plan on finding you some inspiration to stay,” Ollie said as he opened the door and walked in.

  Bailey knew he should have stopped his buddy in that vein of thought because women loved Ollie and he had no doubt that his friend would bombard him with all types of women to see if anything stuck. It was too late to say anything now as he followed behind Ollie thinking of how to get his friend not to find him inspiration. When the man had gotten his first real girlfriend in high school, he was on a mission to make sure his best friend had one too. Not that Bailey particularly wanted one. He was happy playing volleyball and shooting the shit with his friends, but he’d settled down with Honey. Beth-Ann Honeywell. She was a sweet girl who was the minister’s daughter. No one could believe he’d picked her to be his girlfriend including Honey. The loud squeal brought his thoughts from the past back to the present.

  “I’m so glad to see you.” His sister, Hazel jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck in affection while giving him a kiss on the cheek. He set her down to the floor, but she kept her hands on his shoulders. “I was told you don’t want a big to do like usual, but tough nuggets.”

  “It’s good to see you too, sis.”

  “Did I hurt you? I’m sorry I didn’t think about your arm.” Hazel stepped back.

  “I’m okay.” Bailey hated to see anyone overly worried about him, but he really hated when he upset Hazel.

  “You’re probably not, but I’m so glad you’re here. We have to do something soon.”

  “Definitely,” Bailey told her as she pushed him into the kitchen.

  His mother was making a feast for the whole community apparently as it seemed she had made all of his favorite foods at one time. “Mom. When you asked what I wanted when I came home, I said something simple. This doesn’t look simple at all.”

  “Harold, I can do what I think is best when my favorite son comes home.” His mother hadn’t turned from the stove but was stirring something and replacing lids.

  “Mother, I’m your only son.” Bailey told her this each time she said called him her favorite son.

  “You do like to remind me of that fact, but it’s still the truth and I’m sticking to it.”

  He walked over to stand by the stove and she grabbed his hand. “I could hear your sister shrieking in the other room so I didn’t want to do the same thing. I’m trying to hold back.”

  “I don’t like a lot of fuss, but I’m not that bad, Mom. I’m not going to run away because you are happy to see me.”

  His mother turned and hugged him. Damn am I so adverse to affection people are afraid to show it to me?

  “We are going to have dinner and then let you get settled at Ollie’s place.” She held one arm around him and checked pots with the other.

  “There’s no rush, Mom, I’m glad to be back. What can I do to help?”

  “You can get yourself a drink and then talk to everyone who wants to see you.” She gave him one more squeeze and then let him go.

  Bailey pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and could see friends and family gathering outside on the patio while others looked like they were preparing to enjoy the pool. The person he really wanted to see wasn’t out there and he wondered if he was going to come. He decided to go to the bathroom before all the ‘good to see you and what are you going to do now’ talk started.

  He walked up the stairs and stopped every few steps to look at the pictures on the wall. They hadn’t changed a bit and he noticed how many had cameos of Scott somewhere in the background. When he made it to the bathroom someone was already in there, so he leaned against the wall and waited. He could have gone into his parents' bathroom but it wa
sn’t that urgent. When the door opened, he wished he’d have taken his own suggestion.

  Scott walked out and immediately Bailey got hard. Son of a bitch. Then he remembered that this wasn’t new and that it was a common occurrence when Scott made an appearance. How had I forgotten that?

  “Welcome back, Bailey. I don’t think I said that last night.” Scott sounded matter of fact, but Bailey’s body only seemed to hear ‘last night’ and went back to the date he’d had with his favorite fantasy and his right hand.

  “Thanks, Scott.” Bailey didn’t have to think about holding a conversation as the man had walked away after his welcome and Bailey was offering his thanks to the back of Scott’s head.

  Bailey did his business in the bathroom and washed his hands but couldn’t help missing the old Scott. The one who would have waited for his response eagerly with a smile. The one who would have waited the few minutes it took to go to the bathroom to share a few private moments while they walked to the patio. In the stark morning light the situation wasn’t much different than it was the dim bar area with a few drinks in his system, the answer was the same. Scott had changed and he was not interested, but that still wasn’t going to stop him from getting some answers to some sexually based questions. Thoughts of sliding his cock into a male mouth and videos of frottage shouldn’t make you come harder and faster than you could ever attempt to do with thoughts or videos with women in them. Should it? The fact that the mental images all changed to Scott when he was ready to release was something he was going to have to change. He could do that…no problem. With that resolved, he decided to try his best to act normal around the man for the party and then leave that man alone.

  ***

  With the party winding down and everyone’s bellies full of food and drink, Bailey could say that he’d been hugged and kissed more this day than he’d been in his whole life. He’d lived to tell the tale and was honestly humbled by the warmth and appreciation his very neglected friends and family seemed to have toward him.