by G. A. Hauser
“It was partially my fault. I delayed your ride.” Gavin handed him the towel.
Toby took it, wiping his face and hair. “Thanks.”
“Mind if I look at your car?”
“No. Be my guest.” Toby turned on the garage light since thick cloud-cover had come with the rain, making it feel like night. The sound of the downspouts running with water echoed in the cement parking area. He kept dabbing the towel on his neck and arms—his riding gear was soaked. As he continued to dry off, he admired Gavin in his denim blue and tight worn tshirt. “I’m not bi.”
Gavin turned to face him after checking out the Corvette’s interior.
“Trina and I are just friends.”
“She doesn’t know that.”
“I never led her on.”
“You didn’t tell her you were gay either.”
“She never asked, and it didn’t come up in conversation.”
Gavin stared at the car, but Toby didn’t know if he was looking at it or looking through it as he thought things out. “I put a new engine in it.” Toby approached Gavin, connecting to his gaze. The blue color contrasting Gavin’s dark brown hair was Toby’s favorite combination in a man. The slight pout of Gavin’s lips made Toby want to kiss him. He broke his stare on Gavin and brushed past him to the hood, opening it, and propping it up. “Three-fifty, V-eight, four hundred and fifty HPs. It’s Tunnel Ram engine.”
“Son of a bitch. You can eat off her.”
When Gavin leaned over to have a look, Toby admired Gavin’s ass in the tight pants. He draped the towel around the back of his neck and stood closer to Gavin, feeling Gavin’s heat as he became cold from being wet. The rain pouring down against the patch of ivy, which grew above a retaining wall between the large support pillars, was so hard it sounded like hail.
Gavin took one step back and bumped into Toby. A large blast of thunder followed a flash of white light. “You got back just in time.”
“I’m sorry Trina got the wrong idea, Gavin.” Toby stared at Gavin’s lips. He wanted to kiss them.
“She did. I feel like I’m in a very bad spot at the moment.”
“Why?” Toby felt his body begin to respond to the attraction he was feeling for Gavin. Another clap of thunder shook the foundations.
“You must be getting cold. It’s freezing in here now.” Gavin connected to Toby’s gaze.
“I never kissed her, Gavin. Just on the cheek.”
“I know.”
Toby thought about it. “How close are you two?”
“Very. We either talk or go out almost every night.”
“Then you know I’ve been a gentleman.”
“I do. But she still thinks there’s potential.”
“I’ll set the record straight.”
“Good. I mean…I told her I met you and we’re neighbors, but that’s all.” Gavin looked down at Toby’s chest. “Aren’t you cold?”
“Yes. I am cooling off now.”
“Why don’t you get out of those wet things?”
Toby smiled at his sexual thoughts. “That sounds like a proposition.” He touched Gavin to back him away from the car so he could shut the hood.
“I didn’t mean it as one.”
“Why not?” Toby looked over his shoulder as it seemed Gavin’s attention was drawn there. Another resident was driving under into the parking area, their windshield wipers still on from the torrent.
“Come inside with me.” Toby gestured for them to leave the garage. Gavin headed out and Toby closed the garage door behind them, removing his keys from his shirt pouch pocket.
“Do you have a minute to come up to my place?”
Gavin opened the lobby door and stepped inside. “Do you really think that’s a good idea? Under the circumstances?”
Toby was confused. “What are the circumstances?” They stopped by the elevator door.
“You’re dating Trina.”
“Dating?” Toby narrowed his eyes at Gavin. “We met for a couple nights to get a drink and once at Greenlake. Gavin, I’m not dating Trina.”
“Are you sure she doesn’t think that?”
“How am I supposed to control what Trina thinks?” Toby began to turn off. He couldn’t understand why two men would worry about what a woman friend thought. “Why don’t you just admit you’re not interested?”
Gavin rubbed his face as if he were tired or conflicted. Toby handed him the towel. “Here. Thanks.”
“Toby…hang on. You have a habit of storming off before we can finish talking.” Gavin took the towel.
“Storming off?” Toby began to get insulted. “Look, I don’t need this kind of complication right now. You sound like you have too much stacked against this friendship already.” He pushed the elevator call button and looked down at his key ring.
“I want to be friends with you.”
“Fine. We’re friends.” Toby shot him a fake smile. The elevator opened. “Bye, friend.” He stepped inside and hit number three on the panel.
As the elevator closed Toby met Gavin’s eyes. He wanted to put out his arm and stop the doors. He wanted Gavin to do it. To make the doors open, enter the elevator, take him into his arms and kiss him passionately. But it didn’t happen.
The elevator took him to the third floor. Toby was upset as he walked down the hall. He opened his door and began stripping off the wet spandex as he walked to the bathroom and a hot shower. He turned on the water, waiting for it to heat up. While it did, he left the bathroom and hunted down his mobile phone. He found a text from Trina asking him if he knew Gavin. Toby grew angry. He liked Trina but he didn’t think he had given her the idea he was interested in her in any other way than platonically. The impulse to say something snide was strong. But he knew it wasn’t Trina’s fault he didn’t like her as something more than a friend.
Toby put the phone on the bathroom vanity and climbed into the shower. As he washed off, he thought about what to say to her to not hurt her feelings, and give him and Gavin a chance to get to know each other…intimately.
He moaned, and it echoed off the wet stall. “Gavin…this is insane. How can you not even give us one date to see if we like each other?”
The problem was, Toby already knew he liked Gavin. A lot. Chapter 10
Gavin carried the towel, sniffing it as he walked. All he could smell was laundry soap. He tossed it into the washing machine to clean with his other linens when he decided to do a wash. His phone rang. Gavin blew out a breath of air loudly and went to pick it up. “Hi.”
“I’m so mad right now.”
“Look, Trina…”
“You never did this…or did you? Did you have sex with David? Or Leonard? Or—”
“Trina! No. Are you crazy? They loved you. They were straight.”
“He’s not gay, Gavin. Toby is not gay.”
“Yes. He is.”
“He told you? He said, ‘Hi, new neighbor, I’m gay’?”
Gavin sat on the sofa heavily and slouched low. “Why would I hurt you?”
“Because you’re jealous. I keep finding men to date and have sex with and you’re the lonesome loser.”
“Ouch. That’s not necessary.”
“Tough. You hurt me, Gavie. You hurt me really badly.”
“Not intentionally.”
“He’s not gay.”
“I think if you ask him that yourself, he’ll tell you.”
“He’ll say it now because you told him to tell me that.”
“You realize you’re not making any sense.” Gavin heard the wind whipping the rain and hail against his windows and sliding glass door. The tree out in front of his unit was swaying, bending from the force.
“Why? After all we’ve meant to each other?”
“That’s what I want to ask you, Trina. Why would I make this up? Why would I tell Toby to make you think he’s gay?
You’re my best friend. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”
“Then don’t see him again.”
/> Gavin felt his stomach tighten. “Well, he lives in this building. I may bump into him.”
“Don’t say hello. Be rude and tell him to go away.”
He hunched over his lap and rested his elbows on his knees. One hand on the phone, the other rubbing his eyes and hair, Gavin said, “I won’t be rude.”
“Don’t you dare date him.”
“Trina, can’t you and Toby sort this out between you two?”
“I sent him a text. I asked him if he knew you. I never got an answer.”
“He just came back from riding his bicycle. He got caught in the rain. I would guess he’s taking a shower.”
“How do you know?” Her voice broke as she shouted.
“I saw him coming back down Phinney when I was drinking a beer on the deck.” Gavin didn’t want to tell her he had brought Toby a towel. “Hello?” He looked at the phone. “Did you hang up again?” She had.
He set the phone down on the side table and stared at the sheeting rain. The streets flooded quickly and cars sent high splashing water waves as they sped through puddles. Losing his thoughts on the sound of the storm, Gavin rested his head on the back of the couch and closed his eyes. A very light tap was barely audible coming from his door. He sat up and listened. He heard it again.
Both thrilled and nervous at whom it was, Gavin hopped off the couch and opened the door.
“Hey.” Toby was in jeans and a fresh white t-shirt, barefoot, wearing his glasses. “Sorry about earlier. I really have no idea what I did to lead Trina on.”
“She’s just hot for you.” Gavin shrugged.
“Can I come in, or is that not allowed under the new set of Trina Yamagachi rules?”
Gavin couldn’t help but laugh. “Come in.” He stepped back as Toby walked inside, checking out the unit.
“Just like mine.”
“I think they’re all carbon copies.” Gavin shut the door behind Toby. “I remember when I bought this place. They were all the same layout for the two bed, two baths units.”
Toby stood at the threshold of the living room, looking at the few paintings Gavin had hung on the wall; abstract prints done by local artists. “I’ve seen similar artwork at the Pike Place Market. The only difference between our apartments is my cathedral ceiling.”
“Yup. I know.” Gavin smiled. “Want a beer?”
“Sure.”
He removed two bottles of the Full Sail Ale and opened them up, handing Gavin one.
“Thanks.” Toby put it to his lips.
“Have a seat.” Gavin gestured to the sofa.
Toby sat and patted the spot next to him.
“That’s dangerous.”
“Come on.” Toby laughed, beckoning him closer. “Be brave.”
Gavin sat beside him and said, “I feel like I am betraying Trina.”
“Now that’s what I don’t get.” Toby folded one foot under him and faced Gavin. “We don’t have a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. We’re just friends.”
“She doesn’t think that.”
“I’ll talk to her.” Toby drank from the beer, keeping his eyes on Gavin as he did.
“She’s really pissed off right now. She thinks I did something underhanded.”
Toby shook his head. “She’s nuts.”
“Bad mouthing her won’t earn you brownie points.”
Toby’s eyes widened under the designer wire frames.
“You’re kidding me, right? What are you guys? Attached at the hip?”
“We’ve been friends for four years. Good friends. I don’t have family here. She’s been like a sister to me, and her parents welcome me with open arms at holiday dinners.”
“She’s been like a sister to me too. I haven’t done or said anything to make her think I was interested sexually.”
“You have. You flirt with her.” Gavin remembered the slightly racy texts about scent.
“It’s friendly flirting.”
“No. It led her on. It made her think you were attracted to her physically.”
Toby leaned his back against the arm of the sofa, facing Gavin full on. “If I did, I was wrong.”
“Yes. You were. And now I’m in an awkward situation.”
“If it weren’t for Trina, would you go out with me?”
“Yes.” Gavin admired the lines of Toby’s jaw, his high cheek bones. Yes, he would not only go out with him, he’d hump him like a poodle in heat.
After an intense staring match, Toby broke the deadlock and said, “All right. I have a confession.”
Gavin felt his heart break. He dreaded what that confession would be.
“Since I just got a job over at Boeing and am completely new in town, I figured if I had a pretty woman to take to some of the events, it would be fun.”
“So you’re not out at work.”
“No. I am out. I don’t lie to anyone. And even the guys who hired me know I’m gay. I just figured she would be a nice companion to do social events with. She’s gorgeous and very flashy.”
“Arm candy? You can’t be serious.” Gavin took insult for Trina.
“No… not like that. You make it sound so sleazy.”
“It is sleazy.”
Toby lowered his head as if gathering his thoughts. Gavin felt his stare on his crotch.
“I would have been honest with her. Gavin, Trina and I don’t even know each other one full week. Or I take that back. One week as of today. I met her last Friday when I was looking for a watch and a gold ring for myself.” He held out his hand and Gavin noticed the two-tone Rolex as well as a signet ring on his left pinky finger. “She was very persuasive in both selling me jewelry and in asking me out.”
Gavin nodded. He knew that was a fact.
“The few times we’ve been together, she did all the talking. I kept thinking of a good spot to chime in and say I was gay. I wanted her to know just in case she was interested in me in that way.” Toby looked back into Gavin’s eyes. “I swear I never figured out how to say it. I didn’t want her to be upset in case she did have ideas we could be a couple. I wanted to be tactful. But even when I felt the time was right, she talked over my thoughts and I never got the chance.”
Gavin had a feeling Toby was right. He’d struggled at first to tell Trina he was gay, and the fallout nearly ruined any chance of them staying friends.
Toby drank another swallow of beer, setting the bottle on the coffee table. He touched Gavin’s leg, immediately drawing Gavin’s attention to it. “I will tell her.”
“She’s furious with me at the moment. She hung up on me a minute ago when I tried to explain.” Gavin felt warmth at the squeeze of Toby’s hand.
“Do you want me to talk to her now?”
“I don’t know what the hell to do.” Gavin finished his beer and put it beside Toby’s on the low table.
Toby scooted closer. “I know what I want to do.”
Gavin shook his head with the intention of saying no, then he met Toby’s dark eyes. Toby removed his glasses, resting them near the bottles of beer. He ran his hand down Gavin’s arm. Chills swept through Gavin at the contact, racing to his groin. The thin line between right and wrong, loyalty and lust was getting blurred. It had been so long since Gavin held a man. The intensive training to be a journeyman, three years of night school, testing, basic training, then ground work on job sites, climbing school… He’d been consumed with it, overwhelmed with it. He hadn’t had the chance.
With the end of his primary high voltage work drawing near, his fifth period apprenticeship coming to a close, he was beginning to find time. And in reality, he had time for Trina nearly every night. Surely he had time for…
Gavin lost his thread of thoughts.
Toby was kissing his naked shoulder near where the sleeve was cut off. He was licking his skin. Toby’s eyes connected to his. The seduction made his cock throb in his tight jeans. Suddenly it felt like Gavin couldn’t catch his breath. Toby sucked and licked the taut skin on Gavin’s shoulder, while rubbing his thig
h, close to his groin. Toby dug his fingers between Gavin’s thighs, massaging right next to his balls. The surge of the high-voltage carnal demand between his legs was like being shocked by electricity. Gavin felt weak, pliable, and vulnerable. He parted his lips to say something, but nothing but air escaped.
Toby drew back the shirt fabric, lapping his way up Gavin’s body to his neck, his hand began to caress where he’d grown hard in his pants.
As Toby chewed on his neck and earlobe, letting the shirt drop into place again, Gavin felt a rush of chills and sexual urges. A warm breath puffed against his ear, making Gavin close his eyes and rest his head on the cushions behind him. Toby nibbled his way to Gavin’s jaw, becoming more assertive in his fondling of Gavin’s crotch.
It felt as if Gavin’s body was giving off sparks as Toby seduced him. The wind rattled the chimney flue and spattered heavy rain against the windows.
Toby popped open the button of Gavin’s jeans, tugging at his zipper pull.
Gavin gripped Toby’s hand, stopping him. “Wait.” He couldn’t stop panting he was so pent up.
Toby obeyed, staring at him. “I’m going crazy.”
“Me too.” Gavin needed to think with his head, not his cock. The only problem was his cock was shouting louder, and making better arguments at the moment.
“Gavin, I really like you. You are the sexiest motherfucker I’ve ever met.”
“I am?” Gavin couldn’t think straight at the moment if his life depended on it.
“Are you kidding me?” Toby knelt on the spongy cushions, sitting on his heels. He grabbed his own cock and Gavin could see him squeezing it through his pants.
“Fuck,” Gavin moaned.
“Seriously, Gavin, you won’t have sex with me because you think it’ll hurt your friendship with Trina?”
“Fuck!” Gavin nodded. “Yes.”
“Don’t tell her.” Toby snatched Gavin’s hand and stuck it on his own cock.
Gavin felt it throb and wanted it so bad he was in agony. Toby spread his thighs and used Gavin’s palm to rub up and down along where he’d grown hard.