Manny To The Rescue: Gay Romance

by Trina Solet

  "Really? That's so nice. Thank you. But I don't mind sharing. And your Uncle Owen pays me every week. So it's OK."

  Maggie shook the piggy bank again. "Are you sure?" she said.

  "I am. Thank you for offering. You're a good kid."

  She plopped down on the couch next to Connie and watched him polishing the coffee table.

  "That's good. Make the house smell nice," Maggie told him.

  "How about if you two help me?" Dan said to the girls.

  "No. We'll just watch," Connie said.

  "We'll watch you," Maggie echoed.

  "Not on your life. You're helping. We're all going to be cleaning," Dan told them and handed them each a cloth while he went to get the vacuum.

  "Grandma never let us just watch either," Maggie grumbled.

  After Owen got home, Dan joined him in his office. He wanted to tell him that he had a date that night, but he had trouble getting the words out.

  "Maggie just tried to give me her piggy bank," Dan said instead.

  "Those girls are sweet, and evil, and sweet." Owen then frowned. "Why did she want to give you her piggy bank?"

  "I told her I couldn't afford to get a textbook I needed. There was no cheaper option so me and a girl from my class agreed to split the cost, and now we are sharing it," Dan explained.

  "How much is it. I'll..."

  "Are you going to offer me your piggy bank?"

  "Maybe."

  "Sharing is no problem. We sometimes help each other study so it works out fine," Dan told him. He appreciated his generous impulse, but he didn't want to take advantage of Owen.

  "Are you busy?" Dan asked, seeing Owen at the computer. He was looking for an excuse to leave without telling him what he came to say.

  "No. I just got some photos Mom uploaded," Owen said then he muttered under his breath, "No bathing suits. No bathing suits."

  "That's a strange thing to want to see. Your mother and her new husband without their bathing suits," Dan said, deliberately misunderstanding him.

  "Oh, God. Now I have to make time for a lobotomy to get what you said out of my head."

  Owen called the girls in. After they were done looking and emailing Kate, he printed up a picture of his mother with a big floppy hat that both girls wanted. Maggie ran off with her copy, but Connie lingered to recruit Dan to play with them.

  "Can't I hang out with Owen for a little bit?" Dan said.

  "No. Uncle Owen is doing real estate. He's always doing real estate. He doesn't know how to have fun. Grandma is fun." She held up the photo he had printed for her as proof.

  "That's why she's cavorting around Greece," Owen grumbled.

  "She's a married lady now. Don't be jealous," Connie told him.

  "I'm not."

  "Stop being jealous of Grandma," Connie scolded him.

  "No one is jealous," Owen claimed.

  "She's cavorting around Greece. I'm kind of jealous," Dan said.

  "Meanwhile I have clients who want to retract an offer after it was accepted, and a buyer who wants the seller to throw in the family heirlooms and hand over their first born," Owen complained.

  "Kate is just setting a good example, showing you what you'll have to look forward to when you retire," Dan said.

  "Mom isn't old enough to retire, and I am only eight years older than you," Owen told him, glowering.

  "It seems like more than that. You did babysit me for about five minutes," Dan reminded him.

  "What? Who?" Connie asked peering at Owen and Dan.

  "I was babysitting Dan," Owen explained.

  Hearing that, Connie marched up to Dan.

  "Aha! I knew you were a kid," she told him.

  "That was twelve years ago," Dan said.

  That meant nothing to Connie. "Only kids have babysitters," she told him.

  After Connie went away, Dan glared at Owen who was smirking at him.

  "I'm going to lose all my authority," Dan said.

  "You think you have authority? That tiny woman who just walked out is the one in charge," Owen informed him.

  "The tiny woman is not in charge," Dan insisted.

  "Just you wait."

  "Why are you gloating?" Dan wanted to know.

  "Misery loves company," Owen told him.

  "What misery? You love being wrapped around their little fingers while playing the put upon family man," Dan accused him. "Admit it!"

  Owen couldn't lie. "They're really nice to come home to."

  "Like puppies?"

  "That talk and demand money." Owen then started for the kitchen. "Have plans for dinner?" he asked. Owen was asking him about the menu, but it forced Dan to finally speak up.

  "I do. I have a date tonight so ... I'll be going out," Dan said as awkwardly as he possibly could. He felt miserable saying it. What the hell? He felt like he had confessed to a crime, and he was now going to jail for it. This was so wrong.

  To snap himself out of it, Dan mentioned some dinner options. Owen just stared at him.

  "Don't worry about it. I'll order something," Owen said and went back to his office.

  He looked so unhappy. Dan felt like hell too. As he went up to get some studying done, Dan almost called Xiao to cancel.

  *

  Owen thought he was going to be making dinner, maybe with Dan. After hearing about his date, Owen felt life drain out of him. He could barely manage to drag himself to his office. As soon as he sat down, he dropped into a slouch. He called in an order for pizza. He just couldn't face making dinner. At least the girls would be happy.

  At dinner, he couldn't even eat one slice. Dan sat with them, but he didn't eat either. His date was after the girls' bedtime. That was probably for the best.

  All this time, Owen had been in denial, hoping that he would never have to watch as Dan went out with other guys. That was stupid of him. Of course an incredibly hot, young guy like Dan was going to be hooking up with other hot guys. He might even get a boyfriend. Guys were probably lining up for a chance at him.

  As the time for Dan to go out neared, Owen knew it was going to be painful. Why couldn't Dan be ugly so no one would want him then Owen could have him all to himself? Owen couldn't picture that. Dan was just too damn gorgeous.

  When it was near the time for Dan to go, Owen sat at his desk and resolved to do some work. Or he might at least pretend so he could act casual when Dan left, looking fuckable for the benefit of some other man, who wasn't Owen and never would be Owen. Oh, crap. Owen slumped over his desk. He couldn't even manage to pretend.

  Owen had been listening for Dan to come down the stairs, but he heard a much lighter footstep. Coming out of his office, he caught Connie sneaking downstairs. Maggie must have been asleep since she wasn't right behind her.

  "Dan said he was going somewhere. What's he up to?" Connie wanted to know.

  "Dan has a date tonight. He already told you," Owen reminded her.

  "I thought he was kidding. Don't let him go. Tell him he's grounded."

  "For what?"

  "You're always punishing me for no reason. Make something up," Connie told him.

  "I never punish you for no reason. You keep me very busy."

  "Are you letting him go?" Connie wanted to know.

  "He deserves to have fun." Owen looked up and saw Dan coming down the stairs. "See how nice he looks."

  Dan had only gone to a little trouble. His hair was a little more carefully mussed. His clothes fit him better. He was even more gorgeous than usual. Owen was ready to forbid him to leave the house looking like that, but he quickly came to his senses.

  "He doesn't look nice," Connie said. She folded her arms and turned away, jealous of the guy Dan was meeting. Like uncle, like niece.

  "Do I need more glitter on me?" Dan asked her. "Is that the problem?"

  "Stay with us," Connie pleaded, turning to him. Dan looked at Owen helplessly.

  Owen forced himself to smile. The fact was he wanted him to stay too. He didn't want anyone else to have him.
He just couldn't be honest about it like Connie.

  "Have fun," Owen said to him as he left. Then he took Connie up to bed. He sat with her while she pouted then fell asleep.

  Owen sat there as the girls slept. Thinking about Dan with another man filled him with such sadness. It had been nice to have Dan living with them like he was one of them, really a part of their lives. This night was just a painful reminder that the way things were right now wouldn't last.

  *

  It was a nice movie and then a nice dinner with a nice, good-looking guy, but Dan couldn't relax for even one second. The whole night he felt like he urgently needed to be somewhere else. It was sort of like the feeling that he forgot something. He had his keys, his phone, and his wallet. Nothing was missing, except Owen sitting next to him in the movie theater and across from him at dinner. Dan tried to force himself to have a good time, but he couldn't shake that feeling. Something just wasn't right. Maybe he just felt no connection with Xiao. How could he when he was thinking about Owen every second?

  The feeling that something was off started to disappear as soon as he got in his car to head home. It was completely gone when he walked through the front door. A surge of warmth replaced it, taking over his whole body when he saw Owen. He was sitting on the couch almost as if he was waiting for him. He didn't realize he was grinning until Owen said to him, "I guess it went well."

  "The date? It was a bust. I mean it was OK. But there's nothing there."

  Now Owen grinned but tried to hide it by turning away.

  "I guess you don't want me to have a good time," Dan accused him and sat down on the other end of the couch, facing him. Looking at him, Dan felt like he was finally seeing some hope for the two of them. There was so much emotion written on Owen's face, which he was trying to hide. It was a revelation. Owen did want him. Dan was ecstatic, but why didn't Owen want him to know.

  "I don't want anyone to have a good time as long as I'm a hermit over here," Owen said, still trying to hide what he felt.

  "That means you'll have to take me out on a date," Dan blurted out.

  "Why?" Owen asked, but he was looking at Dan like he was hoping to be talked into it.

  "To make it up to me," Dan said.

  "Make what up to you?"

  "Ruining my date," Dan told him and it was just the pure, honest truth. "I kept wondering what it would be like if you were sitting next to me in a dark movie theater, if you reached to rest your hand on my knee and then moved it up slowly."

  "Is that what he did?" Owen asked, clearly displeased.

  "What? You want to beat him up?" Dan asked.

  "Maybe," Owen admitted.

  Dan was surprised and happy to hear it. Not about beating up poor Xiao, but that Owen might think of him as someone he didn't want to share, someone he didn't want another man to touch. Dan certainly felt that way about him. If Owen had been going out on a date, Dan would have barricaded the door.

  "You want to be that guy sitting next to me, and I want you to be that guy," Dan said to him. "We have to go out."

  "And what G rated movie should we watch while Connie and Maggie fight over the popcorn?"

  If that was Owen's way of trying to weasel his way out, it wasn't going to work.

  "Don't use the girls as an excuse. Mrs. Luden can babysit," Dan said.

  Owen made no further objections. Dan stopped breathing for a second. It was happening. His fantasy was turning into reality. Owen had agreed and now he was staring into Dan's eyes, looking happy and scared. Seeing that look, Dan swore he would never again waste himself on another man. From now on, he would throw himself only at Owen. He would put his heart in Owen's hands.

  Chapter 8

  Owen had only been home a few minutes when he heard both Connie and Maggie raising their voices. He found them in the living room just as Dan came down the stairs to check on what the fuss was about.

  "I'm busy," Connie claimed and stomped away.

  Maggie scrunched up her face, mad but also like she might cry. Dan and Owen looked at each other. They each took on one fighting sister. Dan went after Connie, who was stomping her way upstairs. Owen picked up Maggie and held her in his arms.

  "What's up, my little magpie? Huh?" Owen asked as he cradled her.

  "Connie doesn't want to play with me."

  "That's big kids for you. I'll play with you," Owen offered.

  "Connie has to play with me. Why do I have to be little?" She turned her big, blue eyes to him questioningly.

  "You'll get bigger. Don't worry."

  "Then I'll be the big sister?"

  "No. Sorry. You'll always be the little sister," Owen told her. As a little brother, he knew how she felt.

  "Connie's always gonna be bigger?!" she said. Her eyes widened in alarm.

  "I don't know about bigger, but she'll always be the big sister."

  "No fair!"

  "It's not so bad. Doesn't Connie have all the good ideas?" Owen asked her.

  "Yeah," she agreed. "She thinks up lots of good stuff to do."

  "Like hiding my car keys so I would have to stay home and play with you?"

  "That was funny."

  "Kind of," Owen said. One day the girls had decided that he shouldn't go to work and hid his keys. He spent almost an hour looking for them while the girls yelled warm, hot and cold at random. "You guys are a team."

  "A team?"

  "You're stronger together. And that's true even when you fight."

  Maggie looked confused. The only one who could convince her was Connie, of course. It was up to the big sister to make things better.

  *

  Dan found Connie pouting in her room. He could tell that she didn't like fighting with her sister.

  "I can't always play with Maggie. I'm big and she's little," she said as Dan sat next to her on the bed.

  "Maggie looks up to you," Dan told her.

  "That's because she's a midget. She has to look up at everybody."

  "She's just little, like you were once," Dan reminded her. "Did you like it when big kids wouldn't play with you?"

  "I don't know," she said, frowning. "I don't want Maggie to be sad. Little kids should never be sad. When Maggie is sad, I get sad too. I just got mad at her because she was bugging me."

  "You want to go make her feel better?" Dan asked.

  "OK. Maybe I can play with her just a little," she said and jumped up.

  "Good. Grab some toys so she'll know you mean it," Dan said and took her hand.

  She grabbed two dolls and looked cheerful at the prospect of making up with her sister.

  After Connie came down, she and Maggie played downstairs for a while then they went up, getting along like nothing ever happened.

  "OK. I'm exhausted," Owen said and sprawled on the couch.

  "It wasn't that bad. How often do they fight?" Dan asked. He had only seen minor squabbles that evaporated as quickly as they started.

  "Not too often. Maggie doesn't mind letting Connie take the lead. Their age difference seems much bigger now than it will in a few years. Connie is a winter baby. She turned six in January. Maggie is a summer baby. She turned four in July. But Maggie knows how to assert herself when she gets fired up. When I took them to the park last spring, Maggie saw this little boy push Connie. Maggie let out a war cry and she jumped this kid. If I hadn't pulled her off, she would have done some real damage. She was kicking and screaming, 'Don't push Connie! Don't push Connie!' I could barely hold onto her. Everyone was staring."

  Out of all that, Dan only heard one thing that Owen said. "Some kid pushed Connie? What kid? I want a name."

  "Take it easy. Maggie already took care of it," Owen told him with a smile.

  The smile and the look in Owen's eyes made Dan want to kiss him.

  "You didn't forget about our date did you?" Dan asked.

  "How could I possibly do that? I'm going to call Mrs. Luden and ask if she can babysit tomorrow night. Is that soon enough for you?"

  "You are looki
ng at one happy guy."

  "It's just a date," Owen said, but Dan could tell he didn't mean it as Owen turned away and tried not to smile.

  "No. I went on 'just a date'. That's what gave me the courage to ask you out," Dan told him.

  "You didn't ask. You demanded reparations."

  "Whatever gets the job done," Dan said to him with a shrug.

  Slouching on the couch with his long legs sticking out under the coffee table, Owen was a tempting sight. Dan wanted to go over and straddle him. He couldn't do that yet. There was still some hesitation in Owen's expression.

  As Owen eyed him with that cautious look, Dan couldn't help smiling like a fool. He never felt more excited about anything in his life. A date was just a date, but a date with Owen was a dream coming true. Dan was sure that it was a start of something amazing. That was a good way to think about it if he wanted to crash and burn on their first date. But he had been primed for this for so long. After waiting all that time, he had finally pulled the pin, and now he was just waiting for the whole thing to blow up in his face as he disappointed Owen with his lame idea of a date. Oh, crap.

  Dan had considered taking Owen somewhere upscale and sophisticated where Dan didn't really want to go, couldn't afford, and where he would feel out of place like an art gallery opening followed by a dinner at a fancy restaurant. That just wasn't him. All he wanted to do was show him the real Dan, the guy he already knew. And hopefully Owen would see him as more than some college kid even if that's all he was. Anything else would be false advertising. After all, that's what he was offering Owen – just himself, preferably naked.

  *

  On the day of their date, Owen told the girls that he and Dan were going to have a grown up night out. Connie was a little suspicious but nothing Owen couldn't handle. He didn't want them to know it was a date. They wouldn't be able to keep things in perspective, not that Owen could either.

  Owen couldn't remember being this nervous since his first gay date in college. And that date didn't have the promise of incredible happiness or total disaster the way this one did. He was overjoyed at the thought that Dan was attracted to him. Somehow a terrible thing like Dan dating another guy turned into something so good, which was also potentially devastating. If things between them fizzled, Owen knew he would be crushed.