Nick stripped to his boxers when they got back to the room, but Bobby stayed dressed while they waited for their room service meal, telling Nick that one of them had to stay dressed to receive the food trays. But that didn’t stop Nick from getting up and walking unsteadily in just his boxers to the extremely cute delivery guy and slipping him a ten-dollar tip.
After they ate, Bobby had run out of reasonable excuses to stay fully dressed. Nick talked him into watching TV with him in their underwear. Halfway into a program, it looked like Nick might fall asleep, and Bobby started plotting his escape. But then Nick suddenly turned off the TV and turned to Bobby on the other side of the bed.
“You’ve been awfully quiet, young man,” Nick said, scratching his balls through his boxers. “What’s on your mind?”
If you only knew, Bobby thought to himself.
“Not much, Nick. It’s been a long day and I’m not used to so much alcohol. Maybe we’d better take our showers and hit the hay. You go first.”
“Not yet, Bobby. Let’s talk some more. Tell me about yourself – you’ve been pretty coy about your home life. What’s it like – you’re a single guy, aren’t you?”
“Mmmm, yeah. I live with my parents and my brothers. I had to move back up to Evansville from Nashville last fall because my dad had a heart attack and we – my brothers and I, that is – had to keep his business running until he got well enough to take it back.”
“You’re gay, aren’t you, kid? You can tell me.”
Bobby’s chest started pounding as he searched his mind for how to react to Nick’s inappropriate directness.
“I’d rather not talk about my personal life too much, Nick. We have a business relationship, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Hey, Bobby – you don’t have to hold anything back. I’m not the judgmental kind. Anything you tell me will go no farther. Who’ve you been talking to on your cell phone? I saw you with it twice since last night.”
“Just a friend, Nick.”
“Or maybe a boyfriend?”
“Why don’t you go take your shower, Nick,” Bobby said with as much insistence as he could muster up. He was growing tired of playing this game.
“No, you go first, kid. I need to make a phone call of my own.”
Bobby was trapped and knew it. He had hoped to make an escape from the room while Nick was in the shower, but as usual Nick was playing things his way. As Nick picked up his cell phone to make his call, Bobby reluctantly got up and went to the small room with the toilet and tub and stripped off his briefs. He figured he could still pack up quickly and leave when Nick was in the shower.
Shaking with fear and dread, Bobby quickly soaped himself up and rinsed off, then started shampooing his hair. With his eyes closed and the water running, he didn’t hear the shower curtain open behind him. He practically jumped out of his skin when he felt Nick starting to stroke his back. He could feel, with considerable revulsion, the older man’s erection against his bare buns.
“Nick, don’t! I’ll be out in a minute and you can have it.”
“I want to have it now, young man,” Nick said, reaching around and sliding his hand down Bobby’s chest. “You know you want this as much as I do. You’re just about the cutest guy I’ve seen in a long time, and ol’ Nick here knows just what to do to make you feel real good. Just relax and I’ll soon have you begging for more.”
Bobby had never taken a self-defense class, but he seemed to know instinctively what to do as he turned, grabbed the safety bar on the wall, and kneed Nick solidly in the groin. Nick’s feet went out from under him, leaving the older man on the floor of the tub gasping for breath and unable to move. Bobby had landed a good one. He furiously got the shampoo out of his hair and beat a hasty exit from the tub. He closed the curtain and quickly toweled himself dry as Nick cursed him with every four-letter word he could come up with.
Bobby quickly threw on some clothes, stuffed the rest of his belongings in his bag, and exited the room. Not waiting for the elevator, he ran down the stairs to the lobby.
“There’s a guy in 704 that may need a little help getting out of the shower,” he said as he threw his key on the desk at the startled clerk. “He’ll take care of the tab.”
Still shaking and half running, Bobby made his way down the street in nearly blinding snow whipped up by strong winds until he spotted a cab. He wished he’d had time to dry his hair and was quickly chilled to the bone. Hailing the cab down, he asked to be taken to Union Station, where he purchased a one-way train ticket with his seldom-used credit card to Indianapolis and called Grant to meet him there.
“Grant, I did it – you were right about Nick, but I managed to get away from him. I’m sorry I didn’t call you sooner, but my phone was turned off most of the day.”
More than greatly relieved to hear his lover’s voice, Grant asked him if he was okay, and Bobby assured him that he was.
“Can you meet me in the morning at the Indy Amtrak station? I get in about 6 a.m. I’d come all the way to Evansville if I could, but the train doesn’t go down there.”
“You bet, sweetie. I’m just so glad to hear your voice. I’d drive all the way to Chicago for you if you’re willing to wait for me.”
“No, that’s too long a drive for you, and Nick might come looking for me here. I’ll be okay on the train.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you all about it in the morning. I can’t wait to see you again. Try to get some sleep and don’t worry anymore about me.”
“Okay. I’m just glad you managed to get away from that creep.”
“Me, too, but I guess this means I’m out of a job again.”
“Well, better that than something that could have turned out much worse.”
“I guess so, but I’m going to lodge a complaint with the temp agency and see to it that they never send anyone else to Nick again.”
CHAPTER 27
Bobby and Grant had said goodnight from nearly 300 miles away and looked forward to seeing each other in the morning. His train didn’t leave until after midnight, so Bobby tried to find a comfortable seat in the station to wait. There weren’t many available, and some of the patrons looked as creepy as the guy he had just escaped from, so he sat down next to a young well-dressed man who looked safe enough.
“Hey,” the young man said, his eyes brightening, as Bobby sat down next to him.
“How’s it going?” Bobby said, not expecting an answer. The young man put down the Kindle he’d been reading from and turned his direction, suddenly interested in some conversation with a guy who looked like he might be of similar persuasion.
“Oh, okay, I guess. I just hope it’s warmer in Indianapolis than it is here. There’s nowhere colder than Chicago when the winds whip up like this.”
“I guess,” Bobby said. “I’ve never been here before. I’m headed for Indy, too. You live there?”
“No, I’m a student at IU-Bloomington. I just came up for the week because my dad died. I’m from Evanston.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’m Bobby, by the way.” He offered his hand. "Was your dad ill?”
“Ian. Nice to meet you,” the young man said, gratefully accepting the handshake with a firm grip. “Yeah, Dad had pancreatic cancer. He passed in only four months.”
“I'm so sorry, Ian. So where’s Evanston? That sounds a lot like the name of my hometown.”
“Evanston’s just north of Chicago. Where are you from?”
“Evansville, Indiana.”
“That’s quite a ways from here. What brought you up to Chicago, Bobby?”
“Well…” Bobby paused. “It’s a long story. I came up here with my new boss on Friday for a trade show. I thought he was an okay guy, but I found out otherwise and now I’m having to get home on my own.”
“What happened to change your mind?”
“To make a long story short, he made a move on me in our hotel room and I let him have it where the sun doesn’t shine.
”
“Ouch, but good for you. Why were you in the same room?”
“It wasn’t my idea. I thought I’d have my own room, but he was footing the bill and decided we’d share a room at the Palmer House. It didn’t even have two beds.”
“Sounds like you were lucky to get away from him.”
“Yeah, but now I’m out of what I thought was a good job, and that sucks.”
“At least you kept your virginity,” Ian said with a well-intentioned smile. He hoped his remark might get Bobby to reveal his orientation.
“Very funny, but I managed to lose that in college.”
“Where did you go?”
“Browland College, in Nashville.”
“I don’t suppose I get to hear about who you lost your cherry to, do I?”
“You got that right,” Bobby said, with a smile. “But let’s just say I have no regrets. He was worth it.”
“‘He,’ huh? I kinda thought you walked on my side of the street.”
“You too?” Bobby said, with increasing comfort with the handsome, blue-eyed college student. After spending two days with Nick, he was glad to be talking to someone he could actually relate to.
“Yeah, me too. Oh, God, look at us – we almost missed our train. It leaves in 10 minutes. Want to find a seat together?”
“Sure – sounds good, Ian. After what I’ve been through this weekend, I could use some decent company.”
Bobby and Ian found two seats together and settled in for the five-hour ride to Indy. They continued to talk non-stop until Ian fell asleep on Bobby’s shoulder. The conductor had passed out light blankets to the passengers for the overnight trip, and Bobby put one over Ian and himself. Feeling content and happy to have a new friend – albeit a temporary one – Bobby leaned into the young man and fell asleep himself.
Somewhere south of Lebanon – 25 miles north of their destination – Ian woke up. It wasn’t daylight yet, and Bobby was still asleep. Ian listened to him purr away and reached out to lay his hand carefully on Bobby’s jeans-clad leg. It had been several months since Ian had felt this close to anyone new, and he felt his heart beating faster and his cock hardening as the train rolled through the flat Indiana terrain.
Leaning over, he inhaled the sweet smell of Bobby’s freshly washed hair. He hadn’t intended to make such a move on this near-stranger, but he worked up his courage and kissed his new friend gently on the forehead. This gesture woke the slumbering Bobby, and he felt Ian’s hand on his thigh, squeezing it gently.
At first Bobby didn’t know how to react. He knew he didn’t have any business letting Ian touch him like that, but it felt so good to have a positive touch after his weekend with Nick. However, when Ian took Bobby’s hand and placed it squarely on his erection, Bobby withdrew it like he’d been burned.
“No, Ian, I can’t. I’m sorry – I like you a lot, but I have a boyfriend back home.”
Profoundly disappointed, Ian removed his hand from Bobby’s thigh and sighed.
“Of course, you do, Bobby. You’re too cute and too nice not to. It’s the story of my life. What’s this lucky guy’s name?”
“His name is Grant, and we met last May when we were working together in a bank in Nashville. He called on me for some help a week later, after he got laid off and broke his ankle. It took a few weeks for anything to happen between us because he already had a boyfriend. But eventually he dropped him and we fell in love. Now he lives with my family and me in Evansville and works for my dad. I love him with all my heart – he’s been so good to me.”
“Good for you, Bobby. I’m happy for you. I just wish I could be so lucky myself.”
“You will someday, Ian. I’m sure of it. You’re good-looking and nice, and any guy would be lucky to have you.”
“Thanks, Bobby. You don’t happen to have a twin brother, do you?”
“’fraid not, but it’s funny you should say that. My younger brother Kenny just started dating a guy who’s a twin, and he and his twin are taking turns helping Kenny and me take care of our older brother.”
“Why does he need care?”
“Max is in a wheelchair and needs help with things like bathing and dressing.”
“I see. I’ll bet he gets the best of care if the others are anything like you.”
“Well, we try. So tell me more about yourself, Ian. When do you graduate from IU?”
“I’m done in May. I’m getting a degree in business.”
“What then?”
“Well, I’m not sure yet, but before my dad died he put me in touch with one of his friends in Boston who may be able to hire me. I’m going out there next week for an interview. I hate to leave my mom in Evanston so soon after Dad’s death, but jobs are hard to come by now, you know.”
“Tell me about it. I’ve been struggling with that ever since I graduated last May. Boston, huh? This may be a long shot, Ian, but I have a close buddy in Boston – he was my roommate at Browland – and you really should look him up while you’re there. Philip came to Evansville for Thanksgiving and had a little unexpected fling with my brother Kenny, but that seems to be over now that Kenny’s met Ethan. Here – write down your e-mail address for me and I’ll send you Philip’s contact information. You’d really like him a lot – he’s almost as cute as you are,” Bobby said with a grin.
“What’ve I got to lose? If I can’t have you, I may have to settle for one of your friends.”
Bobby remembered then that he had a picture of Philip in his cell phone.
“Here’s Philip – what do you think?”
Ian studied the small picture with a smile.
“He’s a real hottie, isn’t he? He reminds me of Sal Mineo in ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ – only older. I guess I just might have to get in touch with him. Thanks,” Ian said as they rolled into the Indy Amtrak station.
“Bobby, can I give you a little kiss of appreciation? No strings attached and no tongue – I promise.”
“I guess there’d be no harm in that,” Bobby said, tilting his head up. Ian gave him a quick but sincere kiss and ruffled Bobby’s hair. He hated to break it off, but he knew he had to.
“I’m sure glad I met you, Bobby. Can we stay in touch?”
“Sure. I’m going to be real curious whether you meet Philip or not and what you guys think of each other. How are you getting down to Bloomington this morning?”
“I don’t know – Greyhound bus, I guess. How are you getting to Evansville?”
“Grant is meeting me here and driving me home. We’d be glad to drop you off in Bloomington. It’s right on the way.”
“Thanks – that would be fantastic, if Grant doesn’t mind.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t,” Bobby said, guessing incorrectly.
CHAPTER 28
Grant had hardly had a wink of sleep all weekend – first from worrying about Bobby spending the weekend with his boss Nick in Chicago, then learning from his old frat brother about Nick’s shady past, then not being able to reach Bobby by phone, and finally leaving Evansville at 2:30 a.m. Sunday to drive up to Indianapolis to meet Bobby’s train.
In his groggy state while standing on the train platform as Bobby’s train arrived, he thought he saw the back of Bobby’s head in one of the windows. Another man was kissing him!
“That can’t be Bobby,” Grant thought to himself. “He wouldn’t do that. I must be seeing things.”
Bobby saw Grant immediately when stepping down from the train with his bag and ran to greet him, giving him a huge hug.
“I missed you so much,” he whispered in his ear. Thoughts of his close call with Nick had been pushed to the back of his mind on the train with Ian, but they all came flooding back as he saw the strain written all over Grant’s face. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you, too, Bobby, and I’m so glad to have you back in my arms again. How are you?”
“I’m okay – really. I slept on the train for a couple of hours, and that helped.”
Grant noti
ced another man standing nearby and wondered why he was looking at them and not moving.
“Sweetie, I met a nice guy on the train, and I want you to meet him,” signaling for Ian to come closer.
“Ian, this is my partner, Grant. Grant, this is Ian. He’s a student at IU and we struck up a nice friendship on the train.”
Ian held his hand out and smiled broadly at Grant. He was surprised to see that he looked to be about 10 years older than Bobby.
“Nice to meet you, Grant. Bobby told me all about you.”
Grant took the handshake warily, wondering what was going on. Had this man been kissing Bobby on the train? Not having had a clear view, he wasn’t sure, but he strongly suspected so.
“I told Ian that you wouldn’t mind if we dropped him off in Bloomington on the way home. That’s okay, isn’t it?”
“Sure,” Grant lied. He really wanted private time with Bobby all the way home to discuss what had happened in Chicago, but now that would have to wait until after they left Bloomington. “But I think I’d better have some coffee before we head home.”
“Let’s all have breakfast together,” Ian said. “It’ll be my treat for the ride to Bloomington.”
The three men grabbed a quick fast-food breakfast, and by then Grant felt awake enough to drive home. Ian and Bobby chatted away like old friends, but Grant didn’t say much on the hour’s drive down U.S. 37 to Bloomington, home of Indiana University – widely known for its stunningly beautiful wooded campus.
Ian directed Grant to Foster Quadrangle on the north side of the campus, near the football stadium. As he got out of the car with his bag, he thanked Grant profusely through the driver’s window for the ride and shook his hand.
Bobby, however, didn’t intend to settle for just a handshake. He got out of the car as Ian walked around to the passenger side. The two shared a warm embrace.
“Thank you so much, Bobby. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed your company these past few hours. You’re a great guy, and I’m not going to forget you. I’ll e-mail you after I go to Boston and let you know if I was able to meet your friend Philip.”
Someone to Bank on Page 26