Freeing

by E. K. Blair

  “Yeah? You guys gonna commit to that?”

  “I think so. The money is really good and saves us the headache of trying to find gigs around the city.”

  Opening the door, we walk through the back and into the bar. The place is packed, but then again, it’s after nine o’clock on a Saturday night.

  “Hey, man.”

  “Hey,” Mark says to a guy whose arms are covered in tattoos. “Chas, this is Jase.” Looking over at me, he says, “Chasten plays drums.”

  Nodding my head, I say, “Yeah, I think we’ve met before.”

  We shake hands and then he tells Mark, “Everyone’s ready, so we should—”

  “Hey, guys, can you get the others and meet me in my office real quick.”

  “Yeah, no problem,” Mark says to the guy that is approaching us. “Ryan, this is Jase, the guy I was telling you about.”

  Ryan reaches out his hand, and I shake it as he says, “Jase, man. Good to meet you.”

  “Yeah, same here,” I respond, and I wonder what Mark has told him. I start to feel a little insecure being with Mark like this around these guys. I wish I didn’t. I wish I could be as comfortable as Mark is, but I’m not. Not yet.

  Chasten follows Ryan to the back and Mark tells me, “I gotta go with them. I’ll catch up with you later though.” I nod my head, and I tense up when he kisses me. I know he senses my reaction by the look on his face.

  “I’m gonna go get a beer. I’ll see you later,” I say before Mark turns away.

  I walk over to the large bar and have to wait a while before one of the girls comes over.

  “Hey, sorry about the wait. I’m Mel. What can I get you?”

  “You have Full Sail? Amber?”

  “Yeah. In the bottle,” she replies as I nod my head.

  “Jase.” I turn to see Ryan standing beside me, leaning his elbows on the bar top. “You ever been here before?”

  “Yeah. This crowd is a bit insane though,” I say when Mel hands me the beer.

  “Here you are.”

  “Don’t bother with a tab, Mel,” Ryan tells her.

  “Thanks, man.”

  “No problem,” he says when I hear Mark’s band starting to play.

  The music is loud and blasts through the bar. I take a seat on the stool that opens up next to me and drink my beer. Leaning my back against the bar, I watch Mark as he plays. He looks hot with his guitar slung low on his body. Muscles flexing in his arms and shoulders as he plays.

  “Your guy’s band is fuckin’ popular. They brought in a huge crowd last time they played here as well.”

  Having him refer to Mark as my guy makes me uncomfortable. The fact that he knows I’m gay and that Mark is my boyfriend, embarrasses me. Not because of Mark. It’s me, and I know this. Ryan doesn’t seem to be phased by it at all, which surprises me. To look at him, you can tell he is all man.

  “You go to school together?” he asks when I don’t respond to his last statement.

  “Yeah,” I holler over the music. “We’re in the same major.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Architecture.”

  He turns around and yells for Mel to grab him a beer when a guy approaches him from behind and claps his shoulder.

  “Ryan! Fuck, man!”

  He turns around and questions, “What?”

  “That chick you flung on me last night was a fuckin’ psycho.”

  Ryan shakes his head and introduces us. “Jase, this is my dick of a friend, Gavin.”

  “What the fuck ever,” Gavin says as he laughs at Ryan. Looking at me, he says, “Watch out for this dipshit, and don’t let him hook you up with anyone. His matchmaking skills suck balls.”

  “Find your own ass, Gav. I’m not your fuckin’ hookup.”

  “Not anymore. What the hell has happened to you lately?”

  “Nothing,” Ryan tells him. “Just sick of wasting my time.”

  Turning to me, Gavin says, “Ryan’s been a bit of a pussy lately.”

  I laugh at him and take a swig of my beer.

  “Don’t waste your time buddying up with Jase,” Ryan tells him.

  “Sad. I guess it’s just me trying to get laid, huh?”

  “Sorry. Looks like it,” I say.

  “Are these the same guys that played here last week?” he asks Ryan.

  “Yeah, they’re gonna be playing here every Saturday now. They just signed a contract earlier.”

  “They looking for a label?”

  “Ask this guy. I have no clue,” Ryan responds as he tips the neck of his bottle towards me.

  “You know them?”

  “Yeah,” I say. “But I dunno. I only know Mark and just met the drummer.”

  “This is Mark’s guy,” Ryan tells him, and fuck if that doesn’t make me want to leave this bar. But Gavin doesn’t even blink when he says, “Yeah, I met Mark the other day. Cool guy. Well, if they are, I work for Sub Pop Records. I’d be interested in talking with them.”

  I nod my head, still feeling awkward, and turn to holler for another beer. Ryan wanders off while I wait for Mel to get my drink. Sitting down next to me, Gavin says, “How long have you known Ryan?”

  “Just met him tonight,” I say as Mel hands me the beer. I turn back around and watch Mark while listening to Gavin talk about some of his history with Ryan. From what I’m hearing, Ryan doesn’t seem too far off from me. Well, from who I used to be before I started seeing Mark. I don’t judge him ‘cause I have to wonder what demons he must be trying to cover up. I can tell Gavin fucks around for the sake of fucking around. This kid is obnoxious, but he’s hot; I’ll give him that much credit.

  I look over and spot a tall blonde running her hands down Ryan’s stomach, but he clutches her wrist before she can slip them in his pants. Whatever he’s saying to her is pissing her off. He lets go and starts walking back toward the bar.

  “What the hell is up with you? That chick was all over your nuts,” Gavin says.

  Ryan ignores him and leans over the bar to holler at Mel. “Mel, I’ll be up in my office. I’ll come down later, okay?”

  “Yeah, no problem, Ry,” she says as she’s mixing a drink.

  Gavin catches Ryan’s arm and questions, “Dude, seriously? What the hell is going on with you?”

  Jerking his arm back, he says, “Not in the mood.”

  “You haven’t been for a couple weeks.”

  As he shakes his head, looking frustrated as hell, he says, “You wouldn’t get it, man,” before turning and walking away.

  “That guy used to be so much fun. Used to bang anything that stepped in front of him. Dude’s been in a fucked up mood lately.”

  “Maybe he just got tired of using people,” I say, and he looks over at me, eyebrows raised.

  “It’s not using when they willingly give.”

  I don’t expect him to understand, so I don’t bother saying anything else, and luckily I don’t have to when that same blonde approaches him and diverts his attention away from me. I just sit back, drink my beer, and watch the one guy I know I would never use the way I did so many before him.

  I spend the next hour drinking and getting to know Mel a little better. She’s a pretty cool chick. Her husband is a drummer in a local band. We talk off and on while she works, and eventually Ryan returns. Sitting next to me, he looks worn out. Mel sets down a cup of coffee in front of him and after he thanks her, he turns to look at me.

  “Did Gav leave?”

  I look over my shoulder when the band stops playing. Mark slings his guitar over his head, and I turn back to Ryan.

  “I don’t know. He ran off with some girl over an hour ago, so probably.”

  Shaking his head, he says, “Sorry about earlier. He’s a lot to take at times.”

  I turn around when I feel Mark’s hand on my shoulder. He looks hot as hell. His sweaty shirt clings to him and my conflicting feelings start colliding.

  “Hey, you bored yet?” he asks.

  “No. I ha
d the pleasure of hanging out with Gavin for a while,” I joke and hear Ryan laughing.

  “That guy’s crazy, but funny as hell,” Mark says as he wraps his arm around me. I move back slightly when he starts to pull me closer to him. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, just tired.” I lie to him. I hate that. I’m not okay. Fuck. I wish I was, but I’m not. I hear my sister’s words replay in my head: “The Jase I know wouldn’t care what others think.” But to not care takes more strength than I think I have. Mark has never done anything wrong; he’s perfect. He deserves to be with someone like him. Someone sure of himself and not so damn awkward and scared for people to see him for what he is.

  I know Mark senses my hesitation because he quickly removes his arm, grabs the beer that Mel set down for him, and walks towards Chasten, who is still on stage working on his drum kit.

  “You guys okay?” Ryan asks as he sips his coffee.

  I try blowing it off and respond with, “Yeah. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks.”

  “You have no idea, man,” he says and then lets out a sigh. Clearly this guy has a lot on his mind, but I don’t say anything as we sit there and drink.

  For the next half hour, Mark’s band finishes their last set. A couple of girls approach Ryan, and he pushes them away without giving them a glance. Mel walks over to him and whispers, “Why don’t you head home? Max and I can close everything up.”

  He doesn’t speak when he pushes his coffee mug towards her and stands up. Giving me a nod, he turns and walks away. Mel takes the mug, and when I look at her, she just shakes her head and quietly says, “Don’t ask.”

  When the night winds down, Mark packs up his stuff, and I follow him out to his car. He seems irritated from earlier, so the drive back to my place is silent. When we get close, I say, “Park in the garage,” because I don’t want him to go to home. I need to talk to him. I need to figure out how to move past this, and I need to be honest with him.

  He doesn’t respond; he just turns the corner and drives down into the underground lot. When we walk inside my place, he heads to the kitchen and grabs a bottle of water.

  “You mind if I take a quick shower?”

  “No,” I say as he is already walking to my bathroom.

  When he turns the water on, I text Candace to check in.

  Just got home. Interesting evening.

  I go to my room, strip out of my clothes, and throw on a pair of gym shorts. My phone chimes as I slide into bed.

  Is that good or bad?

  Bad. Everything was weird.

  With Mark?

  It’s me with Mark. I was really cold to him because I was embarrassed.

  You have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of.

  But I am, and Mark knows it.

  What did he say?

  Nothing. He’s in the shower now. How are you?

  You need to talk to him, and I’m fine. About to go to bed. Just been studying.

  I’m gonna talk to him. I love you, sweetie.

  I love you too. Tell Mark the same.

  I hear the water turn off and I shoot one last text.

  I will. Call me tomorrow, okay?

  Mark walks into the room with a towel slung low on his hips and water still beaded on his smooth skin. Fuck he’s hot. He looks over at me when my phone chimes again. I pick it up to read the text as Mark opens my dresser to get a pair of my shorts.

  I have to work early. I’ll text when I’m off. Night.

  Night.

  “Candace says she loves you.”

  He doesn’t say anything when he slips under the covers with me. I turn to face him and tell him, “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but I don’t know how to let it go.”

  Mark just lays there, his hair still wet, and looks in my eyes. I let down my walls and open up. “I don’t want to hide parts of me from you, but I don’t know how to do that. I get scared. I’m afraid people are judging me.” I close my eyes for a second before looking back at him. “You seem so sure of yourself, and I’m so far from that. I want to give that to you. I don’t want to mess this up, and I don’t want you to change the way you are with me because everything you do, you do it perfectly.”

  When he reaches his hand around the back of my neck, he shifts closer to me. He barely presses his lips to mine when he whispers, “It’s not always that easy for me either.”

  I look into his eyes and can see the honesty there. Having him give me those words takes some pressure off. I wrap my arms around him and kiss him. When I seal my lips with his, he slides his tongue along mine, feeling me, and I roll on top of him. I drag my mouth down and along his jaw as he tangles his fingers in my hair. Running my hand down his cut stomach, I softly bite the curve of his neck when I slip my hand down his shorts and grip him firmly in my hand. He throbs against my hold, and it intensifies my desire to have him. As I let out a deep moan, I inch myself down the length of his body and between his legs. Slipping his shorts off, I toss them aside before lowering myself and taking him in my mouth, tasting him.

  “Uhh, fuck,” he moans out and tugs my hair.

  This isn’t something I’ve ever done with guys; they’ve always done this to me. The shame that has always come along with me giving a man anything like this would dredge up all of my feelings about how uncomfortable I am with being gay. Like the idea of me giving another guy head would somehow take me to a new level of gay. It’s stupid; it’s my own fucked up way of trying to rationalize things. But I want to give this to him. I want to leave those screwed up thoughts behind because I love him, even though I’m not quite ready to say it. I’m scared, and I know it. I feel closer to him than anyone else, but I still need more, and this is the only way I know how right now.

  I take my time and focus on making him feel as good as I can. I give, not wanting anything from him in return. My mouth is clenched firmly around him as I use my hand to add more pressure, and when I squeeze tighter, his moan is deep. “Oh God, Jase.”

  Hearing him say my name like that does me in, and I quicken my pace and suck harder. I know he’s close when I feel him swell even more. He bucks his hips, and I grip him with my free hand as he begins to come.

  “Oh God, don’t stop,” he pants, and I don’t. I let him ride it out for as long as he can hold on, and when he relaxes underneath me, he reaches down and pulls me up to him. I hover over him as he stares up in my eyes, his face flushed. He gives me a sexy grin before he lowers me down to him and kisses me. There’s something about this kiss that’s more intimate than any of our others.

  Giving Mark this, something I have never given anyone else, makes me want to give him even more. There’s no shame, no regret; there’s only love for the man that is showing me that it’s okay to be me. I rest my body on top of his, and we wrap each other up in our arms as we continue to slowly move our lips together. It’s all we do for a while. It’s all I want to do; getting lost in him is peaceful in a way I can’t describe. He calms me when we are together like this, and I don’t want this with anyone but him.

  Not wanting to stop, I mumble against his lips, “I just want you.”

  He pulls back and places his hands along my jaw. “You have me.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “I don’t know,” Mark says in frustration as he stares at the smoke rising from the pan.

  I laugh and nudge him away from the stove. Flipping the bread over, it’s charred black. “You are completely helpless in the kitchen, you know that?”

  “I told you; it’s pointless trying to teach me how to cook.”

  “Dude! It’s grilled cheese,” I say as I toss it in the trashcan. “Any child could make that, but you, you turn that shit on high and scorch it.”

  Mark laughs as he says, “Babe, can we just order a pizza? I’m done trying to cook.”

  Rinsing out the pan, I look up at him and smile while shaking my head. “Hopeless.”

  “We’re eating pizza,” he asserts as he plucks his cell from the counte
r.

  “Hey, can you plug in my laptop? I think my battery is about to die.”

  Nodding his head, he gets my computer from my backpack and plugs it in as he’s ordering us dinner. The past couple of weeks at school have been busy with our project’s initial presentations to our professors. I’ve fallen a little behind with everything, so although Mark insisted on coming over and hanging out tonight, he promised to help me with some of the drafting I need to get done.

  “Okay, pizza is on its way.”

  I wipe down the counter and walk over to the couch where my laptop is plugged in and open it up.

  “Do you have any heat packs here?” Mark asks. “My shoulder’s been killing me ever since we left the gym this morning.”

  “Yeah, I have some in my bag in the closet.”

  When he comes back out of my room, he takes his shirt off and sits down next to me, holding the pack against his shoulder. I never knew that Ryan worked out at our gym, but last week Mark had run into him, so we’ve been meeting up a couple times a week to lift weights. Ryan is pretty quiet for the most part, but despite what Gavin had told me, he seems like a good guy.

  “I think Candace left some Tiger’s Balm over here if you want to use it,” I tell him.

  “She’s crazy with that stuff,” he laughs out. “She is the only person I know who smears that crap on and then wraps her legs up in Saran Wrap.”

  I bust out laughing at all the times I have seen her do that. “She swears it works better that way. She’s been doing it for years.”

  Shaking his head, he says, “That girl cracks me up with how serious she is.”

  “Yeah,” I sigh out as he props his feet on the coffee table and leans into me. He grabs the remote and turns it to SportsCenter as I get some AutoCAD work done while we wait for dinner to get here.

  When a commercial comes on, Mark asks, “Has Ryan said anything about Gavin? I haven’t been seeing him around lately.”