My Best Friend's Boyfriend

by G. A. Hauser

  “Well, I have to go.” Toby gestured to the front of the building.

  “See ya.” Gavin leaned against the low wall, watching Toby move, loving his graceful stride. Toby turned back to look, seemingly shy, and gave a small wave. Gavin waved back. When Toby vanished from his sight, Gavin exhaled as if he were holding his breath, and dropped down into the lawn chair. He held the cordless phone in his hand and imagined calling Trina to ask her if she knew where ‘her’ Toby lived.

  “It can’t be the same man, can it?” Gavin shook his head, no. He stared at the phone again. “Do I want to know?” No. Yes. No. The excitement in him grew at the potential of meeting a yummy gay man right under the same roof. Gavin entered his living room, closing the sliding door and placing the phone back in the cradle in his bedroom. He was getting chills imagining being able to touch Toby, to sleep overnight in the same bed with him.

  Then, as if slapped with reality, Gavin thought about the second man who had helped Toby clean the glass. Toby obviously had to have a boyfriend. A man that handsome with a room full of males most likely already had a partner. Slightly deflated at the prospect of wanting a man he couldn’t have, Gavin slouched on his sofa and turned on the TV, knowing things in life weren’t always as you want them to.

  And the deep worry that this could be the same Toby that Trina was dating made him uncomfortable.

  It can’t be. No way. Why would a gay man date Trina?

  Gavin thought of how many times he and Trina had gone out before he told her he was gay.

  “No. No way.” Gavin rubbed his face tiredly.

  Chapter 7

  The morning clouds gave way to patchy skies. Gavin didn’t sleep well. He drank an extra cup of coffee and filled his thermos with the rest of the full pot. Pangs of anxiety kept washing over him. What if? What if ‘his’ Toby and Trina’s Toby were the same Toby?

  The likelihood was rare. But my luck…

  Gavin shook his head. If that were the case, then there was no way he was going to pursue even a friendship with the man. It would seriously jeopardize his relationship with Trina, which meant a lot to him.

  “It’s not the same man. Forget it.” Gavin knew he had to focus when he arrived at work. You couldn’t be distracted as a lineman. Not if you wanted to live through the day. He finished packing his lunch and checked his phone to see if it needed charging. The thought of calling Trina now, just to see if she could tell him what kind of car Toby drove, or some indication that they were not the same man…

  Gavin grew annoyed and stuffed the phone into his shirt pocket, grabbed his keys, lunch, and thermos, and left the condo.

  An hour later, he and Harvey were in the bucket truck driving behind the material suppliers—or ‘Grunts’ as the journeymen called the men who operated the pole setting equipment—to a traffic accident where a pole was damaged.

  When he came to a stop at an intersection, Harvey asked,

  “You okay, kid? I’m not used to you being so quiet.”

  Gavin sat up higher in the seat. “Slept like shit.”

  “Why? Your girl stand you up or something?”

  “No. Just thinking about bullshit. It’s no big deal.”

  “Maybe it’s the ticking of your biological clock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.” Harvey laughed at his own wit.

  “Yeah. You got me. That’s it exactly.” Gavin humored him. Telling the older man he didn’t want children would only bring on a debate. He knew Harvey had two from one marriage and three from his second.

  “Just keep your chin up. All women want to get married. If you ask her, she’ll say yes.”

  Gavin laughed sadly. He kept his mouth shut as they drove up on the accident scene. Two police cars were directing traffic and had set up road flares. Gavin hopped out of the truck and began using cones to keep the cars away from their work.

  ~

  After a long physical day on the job, and a visit to the gym, Gavin arrived home. He drank from a bottle of water as he turned on his phone. While he was off the job, he was on-call for emergencies. The nice part about the work was you can earn money with the overtime if you chose to.

  While at home, Gavin wasn’t addicted to text messages, emails, tweets, or instant chats. Perhaps he was a rare breed in the day of worldwide technology. The way Trina was attached to her phone, constantly checking it for missed messages, was slightly unnerving. Gavin knew he didn’t want to live like that. He kept his phone off on the job. In an emergency, Gavin could be contacted through his work.

  But with his family living in Spokane, he knew he would be the last to know of anything amiss back home. Being an out gay man to his family immediately placed him in lowest on the pecking order of siblings. The youngest of four, his mom and dad would never turn to him for help.

  The phone buzzed with a missed message. He read the text from Trina. ‘ He never called last night.’

  Feeling mildly anxious about the ‘Toby’ issue, Gavin called Trina, leaning back against his counter, finishing the water.

  “Hi, Gavie…” she sounded sad.

  “So? No call last night?”

  “No. And he didn’t return my text. I wrote, ‘goodnight’ at around ten. Nothing back.”

  “What’s Toby’s last name, Trina?”

  “Montgomery. Why?”

  “Just curious.” Gavin wondered if his name would be on his mailbox in the lobby. “What kind of car does he drive?”

  “Gavie!” she scolded but she laughed. “I don’t know the kind of car. I don’t even think about that stuff.”

  “Have you gotten a ride in it?”

  “Not yet. Why? He doesn’t like me, right? I mean, I haven’t even gotten a ride in his car yet. I usually meet him when we go out. So? Is that how you’re judging his sincerity? Tell me. You don’t think he likes me, do you?”

  Hearing her panic, Gavin couldn’t imagine telling her about the Toby in his own building. But he asked one more question.

  “Do you know where he lives?”

  “He said north Seattle. I haven’t been to his house, and I thought it would seem strange to say, ‘hey, give me your address.’ You know? Gavin, be honest. You think he’s not interested. Why didn’t he call last night? He said he would.”

  “I don’t know.” Gavin began to worry. He glanced at his balcony as if it was the connection to Toby. Guilt flashed in him. If it was her Toby, he couldn’t see him socially. He didn’t even know if he could talk to him without Trina having fit. He wanted to change the subject so he asked, “Did you eat dinner yet?”

  “I’m not that hungry. I feel funny. Like I’m coming down with something.”

  “Should I bring you soup?”

  “You are so sweet. What would I do without you, Gavie?”

  “Same here. I don’t want to lose you either.” Gavin rubbed his hand through his hair.

  “I still don’t know when the Honolulu store is going to be ready. But if I leave, you have to come visit me.”

  Having forgotten about her possible job relocation, Gavin began thinking several steps ahead. If ‘his’ Toby was ‘her’ Toby, then when she left to work in Hawaii, he could ask Toby out for coffee and…

  “Gav? You still there?”

  “Huh? Yes.”

  “Maybe I will take you up on the soup. Can you come?”

  “Sure. Chicken noodle?”

  “Not from a can.”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “Can you get it from Szechuan Noodle?”

  “Okay. Just soup?”

  “Pork dumplings?”

  “You got it.” Gavin checked his wallet for cash since the tiny restaurant didn’t take anything else. “Do you have a bottle of booze? Or should I get some on the way?”

  “I have tons of wine. But no beer. So bring beer if you want it.”

  “Wine is fine. See you soon.”

  “Thanks, Gavie!” she sang happily.

  “My pleasure.” He disconnected the call, always happy to hang out with Trina
. It beat eating and hanging out alone.

  ~

  The bag holding the container of soup and dumplings smelling delicious as it permeated his car, Gavin drove to Queen Anne hill from the International District. He parked behind a dark green Escort in front of Trina’s house and shut off the car. As he carried the food to her front door, he wondered if she had company. He rang the bell, listening for her.

  The door swung open and she sang, “Gavie! Come in,”

  obviously not feeling sick at all.

  “Hi, Trina.” He bent down as she kissed his cheek, wiping lipstick from the spot she had smudged. “Is someone else…” He noticed a woman smiling at him, a glass of red wine in her hand.

  “Hi.”

  “Come in, Gavie. You remember Brook? She works on the sales floor with me.”

  “Hi, Brook. I can’t remember if we’ve met.”

  “Once ages ago. You came in the store and bought a Rolex.”

  “Wow, that’s four years ago. You have a better memory than I do.” He held out the bag. “You want me to put this in the kitchen?”

  “We’re starved. Just set it on the kitchen table.”

  As he placed the food down, Gavin noticed the woman checking him out.

  She was younger than Trina, if he had to guess he’d say she was in her early twenties, with a plump figure and dark hair and eyes. Both women were wearing dressy outfits, as if they were right off the sales floor and hadn’t time to change. Trina was in her usual, a smart designer red skirt and black and white print top, with high spiked black pumps, and Brook was wearing a pair of black slacks with a blousy top and scarf. He glanced down at his t-shirt with a Seattle Fire Department logo and his faded jeans, feeling underdressed.

  “Smells great, Gavie.” Trina retrieved bowls and plates from her cupboards, setting them on the table.

  “There should be plenty of food.” Gavin removed the containers from the bag. “I didn’t know we were three, but hopefully there’s enough.”

  “I’ll only eat a tiny bite.” Brook’s cheeks grew rosy.

  “There’s a ton of food,” Trina said, bringing the wine bottle to the table, as well as silverware, and a glass for Gavin. Once they were seated at the small table for four in the corner of Trina’s kitchen, they passed around the food, spooning soup into bowls and sharing the dumplings.

  Trina sipped her wine before she tasted the food. “Brook thinks Toby is trying to play it cool. You know, not calling last night.”

  Brook tasted the soup. “Mm. That is good.” She dabbed her mouth, leaving lipstick on the paper napkin. “Definitely. I think he’s trying to make you think he’s not too eager.”

  “What do you think, Gavie? You know, from a gay man’s perspective.” Trina giggled and glanced at Brook.

  “I would assume the same thing.” He dipped a dumpling in hot sauce and ate it. “The guy doesn’t want to appear too needy.”

  He tasted the wine and didn’t like it. Trina was into the heavy reds and he thought they tasted like the wood they were aged in.

  “You don’t like wine?” Brook asked.

  “Did you bring beer?” Trina appeared put out.

  “I’m fine.” Gavin waved it off.

  “I have bottled water and juice, Gavie.” Trina stood and took a bottle of water out of the fridge.

  “Thanks. That’s fine.” Gavin took it from her.

  Trina poured the wine from Gavin’s glass into hers.

  “Feeling no pain, Ms. Yamagachi?” Gavin smiled.

  “Just buzzed.” She giggled.

  “So do you think you’re still coming down with something?

  Or was it just the blues?” Gavin tipped his bowl against his mouth and drank the last drop.

  “Ha ha. Isn’t he funny, Brook?” Trina gave him a scolding look. “He never dates. Tell Brook why you don’t date.”

  “I don’t know why.” He shrugged, drinking the water. “I’m not a man magnet like you are.”

  Brook chuckled. “She is. All the guys who come into the store want Trina to help them.”

  Trina didn’t deny it. She appeared smug.

  “A guy came in today that pointed her out. She was the only one with a customer, and four of us were on the sales floor. The guy would only talk to Trina.”

  “He’s a good customer of mine.” Trina gulped the wine.

  “Another admirer?” Gavin hoped her little infatuation would end with Toby. It would be better if they went their separate ways. He couldn’t bear the idea of ‘his’ Toby being ‘her’ Toby. At first Trina crinkled her nose in distaste, but then said,

  “He’s old but he’s got a lot of money. He always buys something that’s over a thousand dollars.”

  “Must be nice.” Gavin eyed the dumplings. “You guys mind if I have another?”

  Both women nudged the food towards him.

  He stuck a fork in one and dipped it, stuffing it in his mouth. Brook said, “I wish I could eat like that and stay so slim.”

  “He works out.” Trina licked the wine off her lips. “He goes to a gym up on Capitol Hill.”

  “I just go there because I have my membership there.” Gavin could see more silent communication between them. “You don’t care that I’m gay, do you, Brook?”

  “Nope. But I get annoyed that all the good looking single men in this town prefer other men.”

  “Do we?” He laughed. “Talk about stereotyping.”

  Trina hit his arm. “Admit it, Gav. Seattle is loaded with handsome gay men.”

  Gavin thought about ‘his’ Toby, hoping it were true. He would love to talk about him, but if his man turned out to be Trina’s man, that would be a disaster.

  “Why don’t you date, Gavin?” Brook asked, nibbling a dumpling. “You’re handsome, have a great body, an exciting job…”

  “He’s a catch.” Trina gave him a wicked smile. “I would marry him in a minute.”

  “You only say that because you know I won’t ask.” Gavin wagged his finger at her. “Does Brook know about your past fiancés?”

  “Yes. I tell her everything. When it’s slow on the sales floor all we do is talk.”

  “Have you ever had a serious boyfriend, Brook?” Gavin eyed the last dumpling.

  “Once. In high school. He left for college and that was it.”

  “Anyone eating that?” He pointed to the plate.

  “Take it. I want more wine.” Trina topped up her and Brook’s glass. “Oh. I have brownies for dessert.” Trina stood and took a box out of her refrigerator. “I got them from Larry’s Market. They’re my favorite.”

  “There goes my diet,” Brook said.

  Gavin watched Trina as she put clean plates on the table, taking away the dirty ones. He could tell she was still preoccupied about Toby, but wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about it. He ate all the leftover food that neither woman seemed interested in, then stood and set his bowl and plate in the sink. Trina looked over her shoulder at him. He was about to smile at her when he noticed her attention being drawn to his crotch. He peeked down to see what she was looking at.

  When Trina met his eyes, Gavin gave her a sly smile. “Yes?”

  “Nothing.” She removed a brownie from the box and ate a bite.

  “What did I miss?” Brook put a brownie on her plate, licking the fudge frosting off her finger.

  “Trina took a gander at my balls.”

  “Uh! I did not!” She reached out like she would hit him if she could reach.

  “I can’t remember the last time I had sex.” Brook sighed, biting the brownie.

  “Neither can I.” Gavin sat back down. The brownies smelled good but he didn’t want one.

  “I can.” Trina brushed off her hands of crumbs.

  “David?” Gavin asked.

  “No.” Trina appeared shy, but smiled wickedly.

  “Tell us.” Brook ate a walnut that had fallen out of her brownie.

  “Yes. Tell us.” Gavin tried to guess. He thought Trina had told him everyt
hing.

  “When I brought Pepper back to my mom’s in Puyallup, my brother and his friend were there.”

  Brook laughed, and Gavin tried to think about their last weekend plans. He and Trina had gone to the Bellevue Square Mall on Saturday but he didn’t see her Sunday.

  “You had sex with your brother’s friend?” he asked.

  “I was going to tell you!” Trina drank more wine, maybe starting to feel a bit tipsy. Gavin could see the signs of intoxication creeping up on her.

  “Oh, God, Trina, tell us.” Brook split the remainder of the bottle between her and Trina’s glass.

  “I used to date him ages ago. Before he moved to Kirkland. He and my brother went to the U-Dub together.”

  “Why am I just hearing about this now?” Gavin was also wondering why she was mooning over Toby and screwing an old flame at the same time.

  She shrugged, gulping the wine. “It was just sex. It didn’t mean anything.”

  Gavin choked in a laugh at the comment. It seemed Brook also was in doubt.

  “Just sex? How could it be just sex?” Brook cut a quarter of another brownie and took it to her plate to nibble. Trina shrugged indifferently. “I could have sex with Gavin just to have sex, even though he’s gay.”

  Gavin had never heard Trina say that in those words. She had said, “Why are you gay?” a million times, but not that she and him should have casual sex.

  Brook seemed intrigued. “I could have sex with Gavin too. But he wouldn’t have sex with either of us.”

  “No. I wouldn’t.” Gavin tried to laugh, but something wasn’t funny here. He just couldn’t decide if it was the wine and frustration Trina felt over Toby’s lack of fawning, or…something else.

  Brook ate the sliver of brownie. As she chewed she asked,

  “Do gay guys ever sleep with women just for the sex?”

  “If you’re gay, why would you sleep with a woman? I can go to a gay bar and get laid.”

  “You would never sleep with a woman, Gavie?”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “Don’t ‘think’ so?” Brook asked, appearing drunk now as well. He could hear a slight slur to her words.

  “Are you going to text or call Toby tonight?” Gavin wanted an end to the current topic.