Maybe This Time

by Shawn Lane

  Randy nodded. “Everyone in the entertainment industry has had to at one time or another.”

  Win walked over to the coffeemaker and began to set it up for coffee. “Sorry it didn’t work out in New York.”

  “Yeah, me, too.”

  “You seemed pretty excited about it that night.”

  Randy smiled, feeling a little wistful. He’d just turned twenty-one and had been a little naïve. “Stars in my eyes, right?”

  Win nodded. “Well, yeah.”

  “I thought I was going to be a big star. Funny how that didn’t happen.”

  “I’m sorry, Randy. I wish it had.”

  “Life goes on,” he said, forcing himself to sound more cheerful than he felt. Dancing on Broadway had been his dream. Not everyone got to live their dream though. He knew that. His own grandmother had wanted to be a Rockette. She’d gone to New York, eager to try out, but had her hopes crushed when she’d measured under the height requirement. Even now, years later, she would talk to Randy about it.

  He went back to the table to remove more dishes, as did Win, and then he started rinsing plates and putting them in the dishwasher.

  “Why did you decide on being a paralegal?” he asked, more to change the subject from his failure than anything else.

  Win shrugged. “No real reason. My dad was a lawyer, so I guess I sort of thought of being in the legal field. But I wasn’t interested enough to go all the way through law school. Back in high school I kind of wanted to be in a band.”

  “Like a rock band?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. I wanted to be a singer. I played the guitar some, got pretty decent.”

  Randy grinned. “Really? That’s awesome.”

  “Not too awesome. It never happened. I never found anyone who wanted to form a band with me.” Win shook his head, leaning against the counter just in front of the coffeemaker. “Now, I’m a paralegal.”

  Randy went to stand in front of Win. “I’d love to hear you sing sometime.”

  “Not sure I still can.”

  “I’ll bet you can. In fact, there’s a bar down the street from here. Joey’s. You know it?”

  “Vaguely.”

  “Let’s you and I go there tomorrow night. They do karaoke Friday nights.”

  Win looked affronted. “Karaoke?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, indulge me. Or you can sing for me right here if you’d like. Come on, I want to hear you.”

  “How do you know I’m not terrible?”

  “I don’t have a clue. But so what? Please?” He smiled his best smile. The smile he used when he wanted a guy to fall at his feet and think he was the sexiest man alive.

  Win sighed. “Okay.”

  Victory.

  Chapter 3

  Win checked his appearance in the bathroom mirror for the third time. He was pretty sure he was dressed all wrong. He hadn’t been out on a real date for over a year. After all, he’d only been dumped by Dean a month ago, and during the time he’d spent with Dean, they didn’t go out much. And never to bars. Dean didn’t like them.

  Dean had been Win’s normal type. Dean was also a paralegal and they’d met at a work function. Quiet and unassuming, Dean was a nice guy, if not terribly exciting. Win guessed Dean probably thought the same of him.

  Sex had been good and with having so much in common it made sense for them to live together. They’d come to that conclusion logically, both of them. The whole year together Win couldn’t remember either of them saying they were in love.

  Still it had been something of a shock when Dean came to him and told him he was quitting the firm and moving to Chicago. Without Win.

  Win figured the black designer jeans he wore weren’t bad, but he wasn’t so sure about his shirt. He didn’t have colors like Randy apparently did. No one would find canary yellow or hot pink in his closet. He’d worn his long sleeved red T-shirt the night before so that was out.

  He’d put on a navy buttoned-down shirt. Boring. That’s what he decided. He looked exactly what he was. Boring.

  Sighing, he turned away. He didn’t have anything better so he might as well go with the navy. He left his bedroom and ran immediately into Gran, who seemed to have been waiting for him. Her eyes were sparkling with a bit of merriment.

  “Oh, don’t you look handsome.”

  “You think so?” he asked doubtfully.

  “Of course. This is so exciting.”

  “What is?”

  “You going out with Molly’s grandson. We hoped you’d get on.”

  Win frowned. “I told you no setting me up.”

  She sighed. “I know, dear. And I didn’t really. But it’s wonderful just the same. And to think you’d met before.”

  He felt himself blush. He definitely didn’t want to go over that with Gran. So he just smiled. “Well, I have to go. I’m stopping to get him in just a minute.”

  Gran walked with him to the door. “Oh, and if you know, you decide to bring him back here, to your room or anything, that’s all right.”

  “My room?” Win noticed the words came out in a sort of strangled sound, but really he wanted the floor to swallow him.

  Gran patted his arm. “Yes, dear. You know.”

  “Uh, thanks.” He leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Don’t wait up.”

  “No, of course not. Have fun!”

  * * * *

  Randy leaned in close to his oval beveled mirror and applied bright blue eyeliner around his eyes. He stood back and surveyed his handiwork. He reached for his sparkle powder and dusted it lightly over his face.

  “Randy? Winston is here,” his grandmother called from the other room.

  “Coming!”

  He’d chosen to wear a pair of ass-hugging jeans and a skin tight peach colored sweater. The evenings were cool enough he could get by with a sweater, plus the few times he’d been in Joey’s he recalled it was pretty chilly.

  After slipping his feet into a pair of Vans, Randy stepped out of his room and down the hall to the living room where Win waited.

  Win stood just inside the front door, like he was afraid to step farther into the room. His hands were clasped in front of him. The darker clothes Win wore suited him. And if Randy had it his way, by the end of the evening Win would be out of those suitable clothes.

  Randy wasn’t exactly sure when he decided for sure to pursue something with Win since dinner last night, but he had. He didn’t know if it would be long-term. In fact, it was doubtful. He’d gotten the word that very day that there was a very good chance he’d get to audition for the choreographer of a big Las Vegas show in a few weeks. He’d know for sure if the choreographer wanted to see him in probably in a couple of weeks. If he got that show, his time back in California would be short-lived.

  If that proved to be a bust, Randy would seriously have to look into teaching. But for now, what he wanted was to spend time with Win. When it ended, he just hoped his grandmother would be all right with it.

  “Hi, Win,” Randy said. “You look fantastic.”

  Win blushed and shifted awkwardly. “Thanks. You look good yourself. Ready?”

  “Sure am.” Randy gave his grandmother a hug and a kiss. “See you later. Much later.”

  She laughed. “Have fun. And no drinking and driving.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I mean it. Call me if you need a ride,” she said as they walked out the door.

  * * * *

  “You’re not really going to make me sing karaoke, are you?” Win asked as they slid onto a small booth in the back of the bar.

  Randy scooted as close to Win as possible without sitting in his lap. He might end up there after a few drinks there.

  “Not if it’s going to stress you out, sugar.” Randy put his hand on Win’s thigh. “I want you to have a good time. But I wouldn’t mind if you sang.”

  Win dipped his head. “We’ll see.”

  A cocktail waitress stopped by their booth. “What’ll it be?”

  “I’ll
have a chocolate martini,” Randy said. “Yum. They’re so good here.”

  Win shook his head, like he thought Randy might be a little crazy. “A glass of chardonnay.”

  Randy waited for her to walk away and then turned his attention fully to Win. “Grandma says you moved in with Molly about a month ago.”

  “Yes, that’s right. I thought she could use someone to watch over her, plus I needed a place to live.”

  “Oh?”

  Win nodded. “I’d been living with my boyfriend but things didn’t work out.”

  “That sucks,” Randy said. “But it’s good for me. How long were you together?”

  “About a year. We worked together. He decided to move to Chicago.” Win shrugged. “Gran’s my only family so it made sense for the two of us.”

  “No siblings?”

  “I’m an only child. My parents divorced when I was just a kid,” Win explained. “My dad remarried and moved to Indiana, where he set up his law practice. But he had a heart attack year before last.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah. And my mom actually died of cancer when I was in high school. So, really, Gran is my only family. How about you?”

  Randy sighed. He didn’t really like to talk about his family, other than his grandmother. They were not a warm, accepting family. Those were the breaks sometimes. “Sure, I’ve got a younger brother and an older sister. Parents live in Laguna Beach. I haven’t spoken to any of them since before I went to New York. Grandma says they know I went because she told them and they know I’m back for the same reason.” He shrugged. “They aren’t okay with me being gay or a dancer for that matter, so I don’t have any plans to see them.”

  “Wow, I’m sorry.”

  “Life goes on. Anyway, so I guess we’re kind of the same. We both only have our grandmother.”

  Win smiled. “Probably the only thing we have in common.”

  “I don’t know about that. We’re both gay.”

  “True.”

  “And devastatingly handsome,” Randy said with a laugh.

  Win laughed, too. “Yeah, right. You’re adorable, Randy. But me—”

  Randy squeezed Win’s upper thigh. “You won’t hear any complaining from me. I like what I see.”

  The waitress arrived with their drinks and set them on the table.

  “Keep us a tab,” Randy said. “And could you bring us two more when you get a chance?”

  “Sure thing, honey,” she said, as she walked away.

  Randy picked up his chocolate martini. “Cheers.”

  Win took a swallow of his wine. “What about you?”

  “Me?”

  “Boyfriend or boyfriends in New York?”

  Randy shook his head. “Nothing serious, no. I had a few hookups. Quite a few, actually. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I like sex. But none of them lasted more than a handful of times.”

  “I see.”

  He smirked. “What do you see?”

  “Just that we’re really different.”

  “I don’t know. You hooked up with me three years ago.”

  “I’d never done that before,” Win said. “You were my first and only one-night stand. I don’t even have sex with a guy on the first date. With Dean we’d gone out four times before we gave each other hand jobs. I think we’d gone out a month before we fucked.”

  “I like that.”

  Win frowned. “Like what?”

  “How you blush a little when you say the word fuck. It’s sweet.” Randy leaned over and kissed the corner of Win’s mouth. “You did that before, last time. I remember thinking how cute it was then, too.”

  “I guess I am a little more reserved than some guys.”

  Randy smiled. “I like it though. It’s—”

  “Cute, I know.”

  He laughed. “Yes and sweet. And sexy, too.”

  “I don’t know if anyone’s ever called me sexy before.”

  “I’m pretty sure I did three years ago.”

  “Except you, yeah.”

  Randy inched his hand up higher on Win’s thigh, then rested his fingers just shy of the bulge in Win’s jeans.

  The lights in the bar dimmed then and a guy came to stand on a small stage in front of the tables and booths.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for karaoke night at Joey’s. First up is Marilyn, who’s going to sing along with Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams.’ Everyone give a round of applause to Marilyn.”

  Both Randy and Win clapped for the woman coming up to stand next to the karaoke machine. She was somewhere in her late to early forties with a rather big bosom and platinum blonde hair.

  “She’s really bad,” Randy said under his breath after a moment.

  Win nodded his agreement. “For sure.”

  “I’ll bet you’re better than that.”

  Those upturned lips twitched. “Maybe.”

  The waitress came by with their second drinks. “Either of you want to do the karaoke?”

  “What are the songs?” Randy asked.

  She handed him a list of songs. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  He slid the list toward Win. “See anything you feel like singing?”

  Win groaned and scanned the list. “Really, Randy, I haven’t done more than singing in the shower in a long time.”

  “Still, now’s the time, if you want to. There’s hardly anyone here and you can’t be any worse than Marilyn.”

  “Thanks. I think.” He stabbed a finger at a song. “I could probably sing this one.”

  Randy glanced down and grinned. “‘Friends in Low Places’? Garth Brooks? I thought you wanted to be in a rock band.”

  “Yeah.” Win smiled crookedly. “But I’ve sung that one before. In a talent contest once in school. I won.”

  “Well, hell, then you have to do it.” Randy waved at the waitress, who was across the room. “Please?”

  The waitress arrived at their booth. “Well?”

  Win grimaced. “I guess I’ll do ‘Friends in Low Places.’“

  “Your name?”

  “Win.”

  She smiled and headed to the front of the bar.

  “I can’t believe I’m letting you talk me into this.” Win put his face in his hands.

  “You’ll be great. And rich will be your reward.” Randy winked.

  * * * *

  Win had to admit as they headed out to his sedan that he’d had a good time at Joey’s. Besides the Garth Brooks song, he’d gotten Randy up to the stage to sing Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.” They’d laughed through most of the song.

  “You were so good,” Randy said as they reached the car. “Way better than I thought you’d be.”

  He laughed. “Is that a compliment?”

  Randy grinned. “Yeah. I figured you’d be decent. But, oh my God, you blew me away. You are so wasted in the legal field, Win.”

  He felt himself blushing. “Nah.”

  “Seriously. Wow. Everyone in there loved you.” Randy walked over to the driver side and threw his arms around Win’s neck. “And just think, I get to go to bed with the hot singer.”

  “I am not hot,” Win protested, but closed his arms around Randy.

  “Oh, yeah, you are.” He sighed. “I guess this isn’t the sort of parking lot one fucks in though.”

  Win looked around at the well-lit strip mall. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s wise.”

  “Your place or mine?” Randy gave him a quick kiss on the lips and then stepped away. “Or is that your grandmother’s or mine?”

  Win thought of his Gran saying it was okay if he came home with Randy. Lord, he was going to die of embarrassment though.

  “I don’t think it matters. I think it will amuse them both no matter which place we pick.”

  “All right then, mine.” Randy got into the car. “Come on, can’t wait.”

  Chapter 4

  “Are you drunk?” Win asked Randy as he tried for the third time to open the front door of R
andy’s grandmother’s condo with his key.

  “No, just clumsy.” Randy shoved the key at him. “Here. If you’re so smart, you open it.”

  Win shook his head but stuck the key in the lock and twisted it open. “First try.”

  “Show off.” Randy sauntered into the condo, Win keeping a close eye on his tight, round ass.

  The man really was too damn hot for Win’s own good because here he was once more about to have sex with Randy after just meeting him. Re-meeting. Whatever.

  “Grandma?” Randy called softly after he turned from relocking the door.

  The living room was dark save for one lit lamp, and the condo was quiet.

  “Okay, seems like she went to bed.” Randy reached for Win’s hand and led him down the short hallway back to the bedrooms. He turned to a closed door on the left, turned the knob, and pulled Win inside, flipping on the light switch on the wall.

  Randy crushed his lips to Win’s, immediately slipping his tongue past Win’s lips. He remembered Randy being very bold. Three years ago, he’d let Randy be the aggressor, practically slamming his ass down on Win’s cock. This time, he was determined to be a much more active participant.

  Win closed the bedroom door with his foot and yanked the peach sweater off Randy with little pause. His thumbs grazed over the nubs on Randy’s slim, pale chest drawing a whimper from Randy.

  Threading his fingers through Randy’s hair, he deepened their kiss, walking them closer to the double bed. He pushed Randy down on the mattress and covered his body with his, trailing his mouth from those sweet glossy lips to the pulse at his throat.

  Randy’s fingers were working at the buttons of Win’s shirt, but after a moment he huffed out an exasperated breath and started yanking, buttons popping off and flying everywhere. Then the material ripped. Win almost protested, but figured what the hell, he’d buy a new shirt.

  Win wrenched the ruined shirt off his arms and tossed it to the left. Slipping his fingers under the waistband of Randy’s snug jeans, Win tugged until the snaps gave way. Randy’s hands joined his and together they scooted the jeans off. Randy had gone commando, so now his body was completely exposed to Win’s hungry gaze.

  Holy Christ.

  Randy had a perfect dancer’s body. Strong, muscular legs, six-pack abs, firm round ass, and biceps and pecs defined but not overly done. The sight of such beauty went straight to Win’s already achingly hard cock.