Darrin knew Brad was rubbing his crotch. The thought of Brad’s more than adequate apparatus caused Darrin’s dick to plump. “Okay I give up.”
“Good, cuz I ain’t giving you any more clues.”
“When do I get this surprise of yours?” Darrin asked.
“In about two minutes. I’m down in the parking garage. I’ll be right up. Make sure the door’s unlocked, cuz I’ll have my hands full. Then you sit on the couch. When I knock, close your eyes, and hold out your arms.”
They hung up.
Darrin had no idea what Brad was up to this time. He couldn’t imagine what his surprise could be. He did as he was told, unlocked the door, and sat down on the sofa. When Brad knocked, Darrin closed his eyes and held out his arms.
He heard the door open and close. He was tempted to peek, but honored Brad’s request and kept his eyes tightly shut. Brad placed something in his arms. Darrin was startled when it wiggled. He opened his eyes and saw the saddest pair of eyes and the longest set of ears on a dog he’d ever seen in his life. Its tail was wagging furiously and when it saw Darrin’s eyes were opened it did its best to lick his face. Brad stood over them, smiling.
“Isn’t she the cutest thing ever?” he asked.
Darrin had to admit the puppy was adorable, with those sad eyes and long ears.
“She is,” he said, smiling back at Brad.
“Her name’s Dolly. She’s a basset hound.”
“Oh, that’s why you said it had to do with the team, Hounds. I get it.”
“You’re a genius,” Brad said as he sat down beside them on the sofa.
The puppy slid off Darrin’s lap onto the floor and began to explore her new home.
“So, now you won’t be lonely when I’m gone on the road or have to be tied up with preparing for a game.”
Darrin watched Dolly as she sniffed the furniture. He laughed as she trotted around on her stubby, little legs, tripping over her long ears.
“I named her after Dolly Parton,” Brad said.
“Why? Because she’s going to have big tits when she grows up?” Darrin quipped.
“Humph,” Brad snorted. “You know I don’t care about tits. I just like Dolly’s singin’ is all, and this little girl can sing. Wait’ll you hear her croon.” He smiled broadly.
Darrin snuggled against the big man, still watching Dolly roam the room. “Thank you.”
“So you like her, then?” Brad asked. The big guy always needed assurances.
“I love her. But I have rehearsals and performances. I’ll be gone most of the day and sometimes all evening. How will I take care of her?”
“Already thought of that.” Brad smiled proudly. He pulled a slip of paper from his shirt pocket. “I looked this lady up on Google. She has great reviews, all five stars, and she don’t live that far from here.”
Darrin took the paper from Brad. “Frieda Gundersen, The Furry Godmother,” he read aloud. Under the name was a phone number and web address.
“The website says she’s a full service, certified pet care specialist. Can do training, too. I didn’t call her, of course, cuz I don’t want my name popping up on caller I.D. But you can and see what you think. If she don’t work out we’ll get someone else.”
At this point Dolly returned to where the men were sitting and begged to be picked up. Darrin did, and she settled between them as if this had been her place all along.
“See, we’re a family now,” Brad said, stroking the dog’s long, silky ears.
Darrin leaned his head on Brad’s shoulder. He liked the sound of that: he, Brad and Dolly the Houghton-Grabosky family.
Brad stayed the night and the three slept happily together on Darrin’s big bed. The next morning after Brad left, Darrin took Dolly for a walk. He then called The Furry Godmother and made an appointment for her to meet Dolly that afternoon. Darrin was relieved she could fit him in, as he had an evening performance he couldn’t miss, and he was sure the director wouldn’t be pleased if he showed up with a dog under his arm.
Frieda arrived at the arranged time. Dolly ran to greet her. She squatted, picked Dolly up, and hugged her. As Frieda stood up Darrin’s eyes widened. She was wearing a Hounds’ jersey with Brad’s number on it.
“I…I…ah, see you’re a Hounds fan,” Darrin said cautiously.
“Oh, yes indeed,” Frieda said. “You, too?”
Darrin nodded.
“I’ve followed the team since I was a kid,” Frieda continued enthusiastically. “They have a good chance of going all the way this year.” She turned around. The jersey had Grabosky printed on the back. “Especially with this guy on the team. He’s fantastic, and so handsome. Are you a fan of his?”
“Ah…you might say that, yes.” Darrin stammered.
Frieda set Dolly down. “Well, we can talk football later, what can I do for you and Dolly? She is just the cutest thing.”
At first Darrin thought he might just tell Frieda it wouldn’t work out. How could it if a big Grabosky fan was going to be coming and going at all hours? They’d be sure to run into each other. But Dolly seemed to like her and Darrin was under a bit of a time crunch, so he took a deep breath and let his reservations go.
They sat and talked. They went over Darrin’s schedule and set up times for Frieda to come and care for Dolly. Then she worked with Dolly for a while to get to know her. She discussed training techniques and housebreaking. “Since you’re going to be gone so much I would suggest you crate train her. That way she can’t get into anything while you’re gone. It’ll help with the potty training, too.”
Frieda hugged Dolly, gave Darrin the name of a good pet supply store in the area, produced a list of things he was going to need, shook his hand, and left. She told Dolly that she’d be back this evening to care for her while her daddy was busy.
Darrin leaned his head against the door. He looked down and saw Dolly standing there, looking up at him with her sad basset eyes. He stood , shook his head, and picked Dolly up. “We’re going to need to warn Daddy Brad. He’ll have to know when Frieda is here.”
Dolly cocked her head to one side, then barked and licked Darrin’s nose.
“Yeah, I know. Of all the pet care specialists in New York, Daddy Brad had to pick his number one fan! Well, actually his number three fan.” Darrin smiled and nuzzled Dolly’s soft neck. “Come on. Let’s go to the pet store.”
* * * *
“Who are you going to the wedding with?” Carl asked Darrin as they left the theater through the stage door after the evening performance. There was a light snow falling. The wedding was only a couple of weeks away.
Darrin hadn’t wanted to make that decision. The fact was that the invitation to Tony and Allen’s wedding for him and a guest had opened Pandora’s Box just a crack. Before receiving it, Darrin had been content to live out his relationship with Brad in seclusion in order to keep the famous football player’s secret. Now he had to fight off feelings of dissatisfaction with the arrangement.
His feelings weren’t resentful or negative, more of the ‘Too bad it has to be this way’ variety. They nevertheless caused Darrin some stress, as he didn’t want to feel this way at all. He loved Brad. Brad was the best thing that had ever happened to him. However, he couldn’t deny he was beginning to wish things could be different.
“I guess I’ll just go alone,” he said, pulling his muffler tighter around his neck.
“You’ve still got a few days. There must be someone you can ask.”
There were lots of guys Darrin could go with. He knew Brad would understand. But the truth was, he wanted to go with the man he loved, not just anyone. Besides, he didn’t want to deal with any expectations his date might get from being asked to go with him.
Darrin shrugged. “I’d rather not.”
“Hey, you’re not a monk. You haven’t been out with anyone in a long time. I don’t remember you volunteering to be the poster child for celibacy. Come on, get yourself a date. It’ll be fun and you might get luc
ky. You know how weddings can make people horny, imagining the couple on their wedding night.”
Darrin ignored his comment. “Who are you going with?” he asked.
“Roberto.”
Roberto was another of the dancers in the show.
“Come on, ask someone and we can all go together.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”
“Suit yourself. But you’ll have more fun if you go with someone. And who knows, weddings can be the start of something, all that romance in the air.”
Darrin forced a laugh. There was only one man he wanted to romance. The two men walked down into the subway and parted company. Darrin was glad. He didn’t want to continue their conversation as it made it harder for him to dispel the feelings he was having about the restricted life he and Brad were forced to live.
An hour later Darrin came up from the subway. The snow was coming down heavier now. He hurried to his building and went up to his apartment. He opened the door, and Dolly came running up to him with her booming bark. As he picked her up, Brad came strolling out of the hallway.
“What are you doing here?” Darrin asked in surprise.
“Waitin’ for you,” Brad said, crossing the room and enfolding Darrin and Dolly in a hug. “They called off practice early, and since we haven’t been able to see each other much I thought I’d come over and surprise you.”
Darrin put Dolly down and kissed Brad. “I’m glad,” he said. Then a thought struck him. “What time did you get here?”
“‘Bout fifteen minutes ago. Why?”
“Frieda was supposed to come by and take Dolly out about nine but she’s been here already then.”
Darrin had told Brad about Frieda’s being a big hounds fan and fan of Brad in particular. Brad had first suggested they find someone else just in case there was a slipup. But since it had all been set up, he agreed with Darrin to let it be.
“Geez! I forgot all about her. I shoulda called and checked with you to see when she’d be here, but I wanted to surprise you.”
“We’re okay now. She won’t be back until tomorrow evening. I don’t have to be at the theater till six.”
“And I don’t have to be at practice till three. Think we’ll find something to keep us occupied if I stay all night?”
Darrin smiled. He pulled Brad against him. “Oh I think something will pop-up.” He rubbed Brad’s crotch.
Brad pushed into the pressure of Darrin’s hand and put his arms around Darrin’s waist pulling the smaller man into a kiss. Darrin put his arms around Brad’s neck.
Just as he did, the door burst open and Frieda, the Furry Godmother, came into the room.
“Sorry I’m late. Traffic’s terrible. The snow’s really coming down out…” She stopped in mid-sentence and stood looking at the men, her mouth hanging open.
Brad pushed Darrin away. Darrin frantically searched for an innocent way to explain Brad’s presence and the fact that they were caught kissing. But before he could say anything, Frieda said, “Oh my God! Brad Grabosky! Oh my God!”
She came across the room at lightning speed and grabbed his hand, shaking it vigorously. It was as if seeing the man obliterated any perception of what she had just walked in on.
“Oh my God,” she said again. “I am your biggest fan!” She turned to Darrin. “You never let on you knew Brad—may I call you Brad?” she asked, turning back to him.
Dumbly Brad nodded.
Then to Darrin again, “You knew I was a big fan, too. Santa’s not going to be happy with you, you naughty boy.”
Darrin knew from the twinkle in her eye she wasn’t really upset.
“I was saving him for a surprise,” Darrin said weakly.
He looked over Frieda’s head at his man and shrugged. How was this going to affect him? Brad’s worst fear had just been realized. He looked paralyzed.
“Well, it sure was. Best surprise ever. How do you two come to know each other?” Frieda asked.
“I…uh…that is we…” Darrin fumbled for words.
Dolly came to his rescue. She went to the door and scratched.
“She must need to go out,” Frieda said.
“Oh,” Darrin said, grateful for a distraction. “I thought you’d already been here so…”
“That’s fine. I’ll take her. Dolly, want to go out?”
Dolly responded with her deep booming bark. Frieda went to the closet and got her leash and fleece coat. She talked to her as she got her ready to go out. Meanwhile Darrin noticed Brad kept edging away from him.
“We’ll be back in a flash. If we’re not, send out the dog sleds. That snow is getting deep,” she said and laughed.
Once she was out of the apartment, Brad let out a breath he’d apparently been holding a while. “I better go,” he said, his voice strained.
“No!” Darrin barked, more loudly than he intended.
Brad looked at him.
“No,” he said again, more quietly. “If you go now it’ll look funny. She was so shocked to see you that I don’t think she had a clue as to what was going on.”
“At least we had our pants on,” Brad said. However, there was no humor in his quip. “What are we going to do?”
Darrin started pacing the floor, trying to come up with something plausible to tell Frieda when she returned from her walk with Dolly. Brad sank down on the sofa and absently picked up the invitation to Tony and Allen’s wedding which Darrin had left on an end table.
“Let’s see,” Darrin muttered. “You could be my dad’s nephew, his brother’s son, or something.”
“Last names,” Brad said.
“Huh?”
“If I’m your dad’s brother’s son we would have the same last name, wouldn’t we?”
“Yeah, right. Okay my Mom’s nephew.”
“What’s this?” Brad asked, holding up the invitation.
At first Darrin didn’t know what Brad wanted him to see. “Oh that? Just an invitation to a wedding. Two guys from the show.”
“Gay wedding?” Brad asked.
Darrin was still distracted with trying to explain Brad’s presence in as plausible a way as was possible.
“I said two guys! Yes, a gay wedding,” Darrin snapped. He immediately regretted it. “I’m sorry. I’m just trying…”
“Forget it. Are you going to go?”
“Go where?”
Brad waved the invitation.
“Oh, the wedding. Yes, but right now we have to figure out what to tell Frieda,”
Darrin said wondering why Brad was so concerned about the invitation.
“You didn’t send in the RSVP.”
“No.”
“Oh,” was all Brad said.
Just then the door opened. Frieda and Dolly came in, looking like the abominable snowwoman and her dog. Brad stood up.
“Really getting bad out there. Poor Dolly, with those little short legs—glad there were a few sidewalks shoveled. But I better be on my way before you wind up with a houseguest. The streets are a mess.”
“If it’s that bad, I better be on my way, too,” Brad said. “It was nice to meet you Frieda.” He went to the closet and got his coat. “I’ll send Darrin a couple passes to a game for you.”
“Oh my! That’d be great,” Frieda gushed. “Thank you!”
“No problem. Bye, Darrin. Say hi to Aunt Jane for me. Tell her I’m sorry I can’t make the family Christmas celebration. I have a game.”
He gave Darrin a sort of salute and left.
“Gosh, he’s a nice guy,” Frieda said. So, he’s your cousin?”
“Yeah. His dad is my mom’s sister…I mean brother.” Darrin said vacantly. At some point Brad’s mood had shifted from panic to…to what? Darrin couldn’t tell. All Darrin could discern was Brad now seemed calm about his close call with being outed.
“Wow, you’re Brad Grabosky’s cousin. I bet you get to go to a lot of games.”
Darrin was only vaguely aware of what Frieda was saying. He was still puz
zling over Brad’s strange behavior.
“I’ll be on my way now,” she said. She bent down and said goodbye to Dolly, saying she would be back the following evening to take care of her.
As soon as she was gone Darrin sat on the couch and put his head in his hands. How could this have happened? And, how was Brad going to handle it?
Darrin leaned against the backrest. Dolly jumped up and put her paws on his chest, bringing her snout close to Darrin. She licked his nose and whined as if she understood something was amiss. She wanted to make it better with doggie kisses.
They’d been sitting there for a while when Darrin’s phone rang. It was Brad. Darrin answered it eagerly.
“Hi. Just wanted to let you know I got home all right,” Brad said.
Darrin tried to read his mood from the tone of his voice. It gave him no clues.
“Snow’s pretty bad out there. Glad I left when I did. Is Frieda gone?”
“Yes. She left just after you did. I’m really glad you called. I was worried.”
“Did she say anything?”
“No, just that she was excited about meeting my cousin and getting game tickets.”
“You think she bought it?”
Darrin sighed. “Apparently so.”
“Okay, well, I’ll let you go for tonight. Oh…I accidently put that wedding invitation in my pocket when I left. Since I won’t be seeing you for a while, do you want me to send in that R.S.V.P. card for you?”
“You won’t see me for a while?” Darrin asked, hoping he didn’t sound as panicked as he felt.
“Well, I got one more regular season game and that’s out of town, then extra practices for the playoffs.”
“I’ll miss you,” Darrin said.
“Me, too. But what do you want me to do about the RSVP?”
“Send it in if you want,” Darrin said offhandedly. He was too concerned over what had gone on with Frieda to think about a wedding, especially one that would emphasize the restricted nature of his relationship with Brad.
“How many should I say are gonna go?”
“One.”
“You’re not gonna take a guest? It says you can bring a guest.”
Darrin sighed. “I’m going alone. There isn’t anyone I’d want to go with.” Except you, and that’s not possible, he added sadly to himself.
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