"Well, your next job may not be as good as your old one, but it'll pay. You will find something." Ken's phone then began to ring. He grabbed it as fast as he could and pushed it to his ear.
"Hello? Yes, that's me. Yes. I did," Ken looked over at Mike as he spoke, nodding his head. "Tomorrow? Yes, I can. All right. Perfect." Ken clicked off his phone and almost instantly his face fell.
"What? What's that?"
"That was the job I most wanted to get."
"That's great! When's your interview?"
"That was them calling to ask me to resend my resume."
"Oh. Well, that's good. They want to read your resume."
"Yeah, but I need a job! I need something solid on the table." Just then, Ken's phone rang again. He looked over to Mike.
"Maybe lightning is striking twice." Ken put the phone up to his face.
"Yes? That's right. I did. All right. Sure. Okay." Ken's voice sounded almost disappointed as he spoke and once he was done, he clicked off the phone and looked even more disappointed than last time.
"Well?"
"I have an interview." Ken said gravely.
"That's great! Where?"
"The one place I really didn't want to hear back from. Of course."
"Where?"
"You know that video store in Canoga Park? The one by the church." Mike's face screwed up in disgust.
"Ewww. You mean that sleazy dump next to the laundry mat?"
"Yeah."
"You're kidding."
"I was desperate! I had no idea they'd call. I'm meeting with the store manager tomorrow."
"Well, it'll be something, won't it?"
"Everyone knows that place just sells porn."
"The sign out front says they have movies of all ratings."
"That's code for porn!"
"Look, it's better than nothing. Besides, how busy can it be? I hardly ever see anyone there. Of course, I don't drive by it too much, but it's a video store. How many of those are there any more?"
"True."
"It could be an easy way to earn some extra money and get yourself back on track."
"You're right," Ken said as he took a restorative breath. "This could be a good thing that looks like a bad thing."
"Exactly. And at least you know you've got this."
"You think?"
"Easy. You'll breeze in there and get the job just like that."
"You know? I think you're right. I mean, if anything, I'm overqualified for a job like this. I can swoop in there and just get it."
"It's yours!" Ken smiled a bit and looked back to the shirt in the window.
"And since I'm going to be employed again, I think I can afford to blow thirty bucks after all."
That night, Adam opened up the door to their apartment and was struck with the scent of fresh herbs. He followed the aroma into the kitchen where he found Ken tending to a large pot on the stove.
"What is all this?" Adam asked as he came up behind Ken and slid his arms around him.
"I just felt like cooking." Adam looked in the pot and he saw that Ken was preparing a delicious looking tomato sauce and after a few seconds, it dawned on him. He looked around and he saw what was left of the heirloom tomatoes on the cutting board and several bags that once contained fresh herbs.
"You're making my recipe!"
"I know how much you like it, and I just wanted to do something special. I even got the organic pasta you like." Adam placed his lips on Ken's cheek, but then pulled back when another thought dawned upon him.
"The organic pasta? Isn't that kind of expensive?"
"It was."
"And all these other ingredients. Fresh herbs. How much did all of this cost?" Ken turned to Adam and placed his hands on his shoulders.
"Before you break a blood vessel, I'm also doing all this to celebrate."
"Celebrate what?"
"My unemployed days are over."
"You got a job!?" Adam asked as his eyes lit up.
"Not exactly. I have an interview." Ken said. Adam stepped back slightly.
"An interview? Just an interview?"
"It's slam dunk. There is no way I won't get this one." Adam paced away briefly and then turned back to face Ken.
"You're this confident?"
"Yes. Come on, babe. I know my lack of income has been putting a strain on things, but I am going to get this job." Adam walked back over to the pot and took a little taste.
"Needs more Rosemary."
After dinner, Ken looked over at Adam. He had cleaned his plate and was looking happier than he had in a long time. Ken took Adam's hand gently and smiled at him.
"It was good?" Ken asked.
"It was."
"I will get this job."
"Of course you will."
"You think so?"
"I do think so. I just really want you getting back into a job because once you are; we can finally begin our first steps."
"First steps?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
"Adam, I know you're real gung ho to start this family thing, but I don't know."
"I think it's right for us. When I saw Cynthia's little boy, something just cried out in me. With you earning a paycheck again we can start getting serious about it."
"Hold on. I'll be lucky if I get minimum wage with this job."
"It's better than nothing. We don't have to be millionaires to be parents."
"And you don't have to be black to be in the NBA, but it helps."
"You said you were on board with this."
"I know, and I am. I'm just scared. This past year has shown me how truly unpredictable life can be. Are we really ready to place our bets on another life?"
"We love each other and I want to raise a child with you. Time isn't going to wait."
"No. I don't suppose it will."
Chapter 10
Published Is Published
Jason was over at David's place and they were curled up on his sofa watching television. David was focused on the show, but Jason's mind was drifting. He was biting his lip and squirming under David's grip.
"Are you all right?" David asked.
"I'm fine. Why?"
"Because you've been pushing against me for a solid half hour so far. You don't seem to want to sit still. I thought you liked this show."
"I do."
"Then how about watching it?" Jason then pulled away from David and looked at him and took a deep breath.
"I have something to show you."
"What?"
"Close your eyes."
"Is this an anniversary I forgot or something?"
"No, I just need you to close your eyes. Please."
"Fine." David then shut his eyes and he felt Jason get up off the sofa and run across the room to the bag he usually brought with him since he had been spending the night there more often. He heard him dig around for something and soon everything went silent and he felt Jason sit back down.
"Okay. Open them." David's eyes opened and he saw Jason sitting across from him holding a book in his hands. His eyes scanned the title and then it registered in his head.
"Your book! That's your book! You got it published!" David leapt up and pulled Jason into a tight squeeze, but then his thoughts caught up with him and he stepped back. "Wait. How did you get this done? It takes a publisher months to get a book out." Jason smiled and took David by the hand and urged him to sit back down.
"I know. Let me walk you through this. I swung by the bookstore after work one night and I found this kit that claimed to help cure writer's block. It was on sale, so I bought it. When I got the receipt, there was an ad for a website that claimed they could publish your book for free."
"Oh, Jason. You didn't." David said in a disappointed tone.
"Hold on! I went onto the site and checked them out and it looked legitimate, so I did it. I self-published my book. Look at it. A good binding job. I love the cover, don't you?" David looked back down at the book and saw t
hat Jason was right. It was rather well put together, and the cover looked almost professional. He opened it up and leafed through the pages and found himself rather impressed with the look of it.
"It looks like an actual book."
"Because it is! Look, I would have rather waited to get my book published the traditional way, but the fact is that might never happen. I spent almost ten years of my life trying to break down the door to Hollywood. I'm not going to spend another ten breaking into a new industry. If no one is going to do it for me, I have to do it for myself. I got this proof earlier this week. All I have to do is go onto the website and approve it and then it will be officially on sale."
"In stores?"
"Well, no. It'll only be available online, but most people buy their books online these days anyway. What do you think?" Jason asked. David continued inspecting the book in his hand. The paper was good. It was as good as any book he had ever seen in a bookstore or library. He looked over at Jason and smiled.
"I think it's great! You're taking control of your life. You're doing what you want to do. I love your story and now everyone else will."
"I hope so. Since I'm kind of the publisher, all the publicity is on me."
"A good story will find its audience. It doesn't matter if it's self-published."
"I actually prefer the term 'independently published'."
"So, if you got this proof earlier this week, why haven't you approved it?"
"I've been going over it ever since I got it trying to find any mistakes."
"Have you found any?"
"No. As far as I can see, it's perfect."
"Then?"
"I'm scared. I mean, right now it's just between us and you love it and I feel like that's enough, but if I send it out there, other people will read it."
"They'll love it."
"What if they don't? What if they hate it?"
"Well, there is that, but you can't worry about people who don't like your work. Bad reviews are going to come. I mean, I'm sure guys like Stephen King get their share of negative press."
"Maybe, but I'm not Stephen King. I wish I were Stephen King. Why couldn't I have been Stephen King?"
"Stop it. That's negative thinking. Here," David then got up and hurried over to his computer and switched it on. "What's that website called?"
"Bookworld.com."
"Okay. Here. Log on."
"What?"
"Log on." David then got up and pulled the chair out. Jason sat down and logged onto his account, as he was instructed. He clicked through the menu to the page where he could approve his proof. There were two buttons at the bottom of the page. A red reject button that would set the whole project back and a green approval button. Jason moved the cursor down and took a deep breath as he clicked on the green button. The screen changed quickly and a message of congratulations came up and informed him that his book would be available for purchase by the public in two to three days. Jason leaned back in the chair and looked up at David.
"There it is. I'm officially published." David gripped Jason's shoulders and squeezed gently.
"This is only the beginning, baby. Just the beginning."
"I hope you're right. I could use the money."
"What?"
"Well, I know I won't get rich with this, but if I could just earn a little extra income. I've heard other people supplement their income like this."
"What about your job?"
"Keeps the bills paid barely, but I got a notice this morning that my rent's going up. I was having enough trouble as it was to keep up with that. I don't know what I'm going to do."
"Well, maybe I can help"
"No. I'm not borrowing any money. I vowed a long time ago never to let money interfere with a personal relationship."
"No, I didn't mean that. I've actually been thinking about this for a while now." David said. His voice was shaking and Jason saw a glint of fear in his eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
"Jason. Will you move in with me?"
"With you? Me?"
"Yes. I know it may seem rushed, but I really love you and I want us to be together. Day and night."
"I wasn't expecting this."
"So?" David asked. Jason looked in his eyes and the fear had been replaced with excitement. He could see David's eagerness. Jason ran through all the scenarios in his head in that instant, but the more he stared at David's face, the fewer arguments he could find to say no.
"Yes," Jason said. "Let's move in together."
Chapter 11
Playmates
Mike was standing behind the bar at the bistro just staring into space. His thoughts had been dominated by his parents. Ever since they disclosed that they were opening up their relationship, there was little else he could think of.
"Ahem!" Haley's voice rang through his head and he looked over and saw her leaning toward him across the bar.
"What?"
"You doing the books or connecting the dots?" She asked. Mike looked down and saw that he had been doodling a set of crazy lines all over the ledger that was sitting before him.
"Damn it! I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Doesn't look like we were doing that great today anyway. What's going on? You've been zoning out a lot lately."
"It's my parents. You know they're doing the open relationship thing, right?"
"You've mentioned it." Haley then came around the bar, popped open one of the cheap bottles of wine and poured two glasses, as was the drill.
"I don't get it. They've been married for over forty years. Why the bugs up their asses now?"
"Maybe they just want to try something new. It's not uncommon for people their age to do these kinds of things. They've raised their kids. It's time for them to live their lives for them again."
"I know. I get that. I do. I just don't know why they couldn't just take a cruise or take some night classes. I really don't know why they had to tell me!"
"Again, nothing I can answer for you."
"I'm just not comfortable with this."
"Why not? I mean, what is it to you anyway? Do you think they're going to break up over this? At your age are you really worried about being a child of divorce?"
"No. I don't know. I guess it's more like I had this image of them and their marriage. To me it looked perfect. They hardly ever fought, and when they did they'd make up quickly enough. They made it work and seeing them make it work made me think that I could make it work too. They gave me hope that there was such a thing as true love. Now that they're doing this, that's all gone to hell. They've become just another open marriage."
"I guess that can be kind of a bummer. It does seem rather hopeless these days, doesn't it?"
"Nearly all the guys I get messages from on my dating sites are already in relationships and are just looking for a little fun on the side or looking for a third for their party. I want my own guy." Haley smiled and slipped her arm around Mike's shoulders and pushed her head against his.
"I know you do, sweety, but just because your parents aren't perfect, doesn't mean what they have isn't within their grasp. And so what if they open up their marriage? They still love each other, don't they?"
"Yes."
"It's just sex. It's only a physical act. What matters is where their hearts go at the end of the day. Maybe you're seeing this all wrong." Mike turned to Haley and at first felt the need to defend his position, but her logic cut through his emotion before he could speak. He knew in his heart and soul what she was saying made all the sense in the world, but it was his parents. That one fact changed the entire conversation.
"What if it were your parents?"
"I don't think that's a fair comparison."
"Just play with me on this. Say you had a perfect little family and one day your parents come up to you and tell you that they're bored with their sex lives and are going to become swingers. What is your response? And be honest." Haley stepped back and took a big sip from her glass, emptying it.
"I would be shocked, I admit that, but after enough time I would see that it's none of my business what they do behind closed doors and as long as they still love each other, what does it matter?" Mike's lips pursed together and his breath was whistling through his nose.
"You would come unglued and you know it."
"A little bit, yes, but you have to eventually see reason here."
"Like Hell I do!"
"Mike! They are your parents. You can't seriously be this upset forever."
"Try me."
"You know I'm right."
"What if I do know you're right? What can I do to get past this?"
"Talk to them. Tell them how you feel. I think if you're open and honest with them, you'll feel a lot better."
"My parents and I have never talked about sex in any way shape or form. Ever. Telling them I'm gay was about as close as we ever got to The Talk." Haley reached over and took Mike's glass away.
"Well, now the time has come to man up."
"You mean now? Now now?"
"Sure. Why not? It's dead here. Go over to your parents' and talk to them."
"I don't know."
"It's the only way you're going to get past this, and until you do, you will not be allowed anywhere near those books again." Mike looked down at the scrawls he left on ledger and let out a deep sigh.
"Fine. I'll talk to them, but I don't think it's going to do any good." Mike then stormed out from behind the bar and hurried out. Haley then came around to the other side of the bar, sat down in one of the stools and propped her feet up as she poured herself another glass of wine.
"Working out great for me so far."
Mike drover up to his parents' home. The street was quiet as always. Their house was so quaint. It was a faded yellow color with large vines of ivy growing up the sides and they had a large tree in the front yard that afforded enough shade to keep almost the entire yard shielded from the sun.
He got out of his car and marched up to the door. He knocked but he heard nothing from inside. It was late afternoon and he had expected his mother to be home at least. He pulled out his keys and opened up the door for himself. He poked his head in and it was quiet as a tomb. He walked on in and went straight to the kitchen. He saw nothing on the range or in the oven. He peered out the window to the backyard and it was deserted. He looked down at his phone and thought to call but he barely wanted to be there. He certainly didn't want to have the conversation he had in mind over the phone. Instead, he decided to leave a note. He went over to the fridge and pulled a leaf of paper off the magnetic pad and snagged a pen from a nearby jar. He leaned over the counter and was about to write his note when he heard footsteps upstairs. Mike set the pen down and went over to the stairs. As he approached, the footsteps grew stronger and as Mike started up the stairs, he stopped and was frozen in place. He found himself staring right into the eyes of one of the most beautiful men he had ever seen in his life. He had medium length black hair and a body that was all muscle. His eyes were a piercing shade of blue and to top off the whole image, he was sopping wet with only a small towel wrapped around his waist. Water was dripping down from his hair and down his well defined torso.
Beautiful Days (Jason Of The Valley Book 5) Page 7