“Let’s be honest.” Both of Tony’s hands were deep in his shorts. “You’ll always regret it if we don’t do this.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
“Stephen, why are you being difficult?”
“Have faith, Tony. You’re a catch for someone, but not for me.” And not for Aaron, he thought but didn’t say.
“Just put it in my mouth. We don’t have to finish. You don’t even have to get hard. I want to remember the taste of you.”
“You are one freaky dude,” Stephen grabbed him by the ass and pushed him to the door. “Out. I need to pack.”
Aaron was right there. “Hey, Tony,” he said.
Tony suddenly perked up. “Aaron.”
Silence. Near-naked Tony between two guys. Was this a standoff, that time in an old-fashioned western when someone—or everyone—got shot? Stephen knew it didn’t look good. Please, he tried to seer Aaron with his thoughts, you have to know Tony and I didn’t fool around.
“I’ve changed my mind,” started Aaron. “I’m not driving you to the train station.”
Everything crashed down. How could Stephen have thought that one weekend could be an ending and the perfect beginning, goodbye Victor, hello Aaron? What dreams ever came true?
Tony was giving Stephen I told you so eyes.
“Instead, I’m driving you to Tampa.”
“Huh?”
“I’m driving you back to Tampa,” repeated Aaron.
“Four hours one-way. It’s too far,” said Stephen.
“Exactly. Four more hours with you.”
Tony shook his head, scoffed, and left.
“Did he show up like that?” asked Aaron.
“Yes.”
“Poor guy. He’s a trip.”
They just looked at each other.
“Stephen, you’re right. It is too far for a day trip, especially if we’re starting late, and I’d like to start even later. My parents would love to see you. Dad likes to think it was something about his dynamic Spanish classes that planted the seed that got you to Chile. But if we leave later, that makes a long day. Would it be okay for me to spend the night in Tampa with you? I’ve taken Monday off.”
Was Aaron kidding? Was this happening? He took a deep breath. Go for it. “While we’re talking big, should I mention that my language school has a location in Miami, if ever that were relevant for us?”
“That very much would be a good thing to mention. But I already checked that out online.” Was it possible for Aaron’s smile to be more endearing? “Perhaps I should also mention that I do so much flying for work, that Miami-Tampa is nothing for me.”
“Seriously?”
“Some people even spend workweeks in one city, weekends in the other. Anything is possible.”
“Anything?”
“Everything.”
SCUDDER JAMES JR believes happily ever after begins today. Junior high was terrible, boarding school better, and college the place he met the boyfriend he married (despite a pit stop in a fraternity). He started in finance because he thought he had to, but instead became a counselor for refugees, a fundraiser, and a teacher of sex and spirituality classes. After Chicago, Seattle, London, and Japan, he’s back in Boston where it all started. His favorite place to write has a harbor view of two colonial ships.
Scudder loves telling stories in print and on film. He’s thrilled that his short LGBTQ films have shown around the world in places as unexpected as Alabama and East Africa. Twenty years ago, he was diagnosed with a debilitating neurological disease that doctors are bewildered has disappeared. Scudder is an avid meditator and passionate about appreciating every moment.
One of his favorite mornings has been waking up on a boat in Patagonia with his perfectly imperfect partner and hiking an island of 130,000 penguins.
Website: www.scudderjamesjr.com
By Scudder James Jr
Boca Dreams
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Boca Dreams
© 2018 Scudder James Jr.
Cover Art
© 2018 L.C. Chase.
http://www.lcchase.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64405-047-7
Digital eBook published December 2018
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America
Boca Dreams Page 5