Trucker and Pup

by Drew Hunt

  “I understand,” Kevin said sadly.

  “I’m gonna come back. Can’t leave my pup on his own. We’ll go back to my place, that bed of yours is too small.”

  Kevin’s smile returned.

  Putting on his jacket, Joey said, “I’ll pick up a take away or something, so make sure you’re hungry.” Joey bent down and kissed Kevin’s lips, “And I don’t just mean for food.”

  Kevin giggled.

  Joey reached into the side pocket of his jacket and pulled out the suppositories. “Here, you’ll need these.” He tossed them towards Kevin, who got up to show his man out.

  “Whoa, careful, you’re naked,” Joey said, grinning.

  “That’s okay.” Kevin’s expression changed as he approached. “Sir?”

  “Yeah?” Joey paused, his hand on the doorknob.

  “Thank you. Thank you for today and everything.”

  “That’s okay.”

  “Sir, I’ve gotta tell you, I,” his voice cracked. “I love you. I love you with my whole heart.”

  Joey was stunned, he felt his mouth open and close a couple of times, but nothing came out. The silence in the room was deafening. Kevin’s face began to fall.

  “Um, you better get off to your, um, uncle’s.” Kevin said as he reached round Joey, opened the door, and pushed the larger man into the hallway. “I’ll be,” Kevin swallowed, “I’ll be here when you get back.”

  Joey stood in the hallway as the door closed in front of him. It took him a couple of moments to summon up the sense to start moving. As he walked along the passageway, down the stairs and out into the street, he kept chastising himself for not speaking up. Why the fuck didn’t I say anything? He knew he loved Kevin, even though he’d only really gotten to know him properly for a couple of days, he couldn’t imagine his life without him now.

  “Fuck!” Joey kicked at the rear tire of his bike before he climbed on, started the motor and roared off.

  * * * *

  “Why did I say it? Why couldn’t I have just kept my big trap shut?”

  Kevin despaired as he flopped onto his bed. Things had been going so well, so perfectly and he went and ruined it. The look of surprise, was it horror, on Joey’s face? Kevin didn’t think he’d ever be able to forget it.

  Once his heart rate had returned to normal, Kevin tried to analyse the situation. Joey might merely have been surprised and not totally freaked out. Surely he must know how I feel about him, Kevin mused. He can’t expect me not to love him when he’s been so great with me. Kevin attempted to convince himself that all was not lost, but it wasn’t easy.

  As he lay there, he felt something digging into his back. Reaching under himself, Kevin pulled out the box of suppositories. He decided he ought to use one, just in case Joey came back, he’d be angry if he found out they hadn’t been opened.

  After reading the instructions, Kevin unhooked his trousers and pulled them—along with his briefs—down to his ankles. Peeling back the protective coating on one of the bullets, Kevin twisted round to try and insert it. Just as it touched the rim of his arse, the phone began ringing.

  “Damn!” Kevin was faced with a dilemma. It might be Joey, he didn’t remember giving out his number, but Joey could have read it from the phone. Did he want to speak to him if it was? Deciding he better answer it, Kevin shuffled over to the instrument and picked it up. “Hello?”

  “Hi, mate,” Peter said. “How you doing?”

  “Okay.”

  “You heard from that new bloke of yours?”

  “Yes.” Kevin didn’t want to go into detail, just in case he’d screwed his chances.

  “You don’t sound that sure.”

  “Oh, well, no, I suppose I’m not. As you said, it’s early days.”

  “Exactly. What’s he like?” Peter seemed to be settling in for a long chat.

  Kevin stared at the suppository in his other hand, the warmth from his fingers beginning to soften it.

  “He’s tall, black-haired, strong and, um, well-built.” Kevin knew he was sounding wistful.

  “Oh,” Peter said, a note of disapproval in his voice. “I don’t know why you always seem to be attracted to the dominant types.”

  Peter continued to drone on, Kevin only half-listening. The rest of his attention was focused on the melting suppository, not sure what to do with it. He tried walking over to the pedal bin to throw it away, but the phone lead wouldn’t reach. Kevin didn’t want to put the thing on the table; after all it had been in contact with his arse. There was no other alternative; it would have to be inserted.

  “…and after Cal, you really need to make sure that this guy is right for you. Though I knew as soon as I locked eyes on Terry, that he was the one for me.”

  “Uh huh.” Kevin tried to divide his concentration between Peter’s voice and the increasingly slippery torpedo. Damn it, he couldn’t get the right angle to push it in. “What was the play like?” he asked in an effort to move his friend away from the topic of his seemingly idyllic love life.

  “A total washout. They called it experimental theatre or something like that. Terry said he didn’t like being experimented on, so we left during the interval.”

  “Right.” Kevin thought he might have more luck if he used the other hand.

  “You okay? You sound preoccupied.”

  “I’m fine. Just got a bit of a headache, didn’t get all that much sleep last night.” This was true, he and Joey hadn’t gone to sleep till late, and Kevin had woken at his usual early time.

  “You poor thing. Have you got anything you can take for it?”

  “Uh, yeah, I have.” Kevin swapped hands. The suppository had left a little residue on his right hand, which was now coating the phone’s receiver.

  “That’s good. Listen, do you want me and him to come over? Maybe we could go for tea somewhere, it’s not good you being on your own, especially if you’re brooding over this new guy, what did you say his name was again?”

  “Joey, he’s a driver at Parker’s.”

  “Oh yeah. Well what about it?”

  Kevin lifted his right foot onto the chair, this gave him sufficient access to his rear, and with a sigh of satisfaction, the medication went in.

  “Kev?”

  “Uh?”

  “I said, do you want us to come and pick you up, we can find a nice country pub or something and spend the afternoon together.”

  “Oh, um, no. Joey said he’d be coming round later.” Kevin hoped he still was. No, he wasn’t going there, Joey would be coming round.

  “You don’t want to be dancing to his tune all the time. I know you’re not the sort to make a fuss, but if he knows he can walk all over you. Well, you know, you don’t want another one like Cal.”

  Kevin knew his friend only had his best interests at heart, but he wished Peter wouldn’t interfere so much. No, that was unfair. Peter had helped him get over Cal, he knew he’d never have done it without him.

  “Joey isn’t like Cal. He’s told me, and shown me often enough that he isn’t.”

  “Well, okay, then.” Peter didn’t sound convinced. “You know I’m here, love, if you need me. Please, mate, don’t give the bloke the power to hurt you.”

  It’s gone way beyond that, Kevin thought sadly. “I know, and thanks. But honestly I’m okay. I wanna stick around here for when he comes round. He said we’d grab a bite to eat.”

  “Don’t you think it’s all happening a bit soon? I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Things are moving quickly, maybe too quickly, but,” Kevin let out a sob, “I love him, so much.”

  “Oh, Kevin.”

  “I know. I told him I loved him earlier today, and, well I shocked him I think.”

  “We’re coming round,” Peter said, brooking no argument.

  “It’s not necessary.” Kevin knew he was fighting a losing battle, and secretly he didn’t want to be alone.

  “We’re on our way.” Peter’s voice was replaced by the dial tone.
<
br />   Chapter 4

  “What’ve you got yourself into?” Peter asked as soon as Kevin opened his door. “You wear your heart on your sleeve way too much.”

  “I know. Anyway come in, come in.”

  Kevin ushered his two friends inside. Peter was slight of build; Kevin was always amazed at how much nervous energy the guy seemed to pack into such a thin frame. All this was in total contrast to his boyfriend. Terry was, well, the best term to describe him was Big.

  Kevin looked up at Terry’s pleasant, affable face, resting as it did on a pair of impossibly wide shoulders. “How you doing, big guy?”

  Kevin was treated to a broad lazy smile. “I’m fine, thanks. But you seem to be having a spot of bother.”

  Kevin sighed. “Well, yes and no.”

  “It’s too soon, love. You shouldn’t have gotten yourself romantically involved with this, um, Joey guy. It’s only been 4 months since we rescued you from that bastard,” Peter said, beginning to rise from the armchair that he’d only just sat in.

  Kevin signalled he should remain in place. “Yeah, but I didn’t have much choice in the matter.”

  “How do you mean?” Peter asked, fidgeting.

  Kevin released a long sigh. “Joey kind of just swept me off my feet last Friday night.” Had it only been Friday? He then went on to bring his two friends up to speed on what had happened since that night. “Sorry.” Kevin snapped out of his dreaming, “I haven’t offered you a drink.” He moved to his tiny kitchen area.

  “Got any biscuits?” Terry rumbled from his seat on Kevin’s unmade bed.

  Only then did Kevin realise what a mess the place was in.

  “We only had lunch less than two hours ago,” Peter said.

  “If he wants a biscuit, then he can have one. Would you like me to make you a sandwich? Joey took me to the supermarket this morning, so I stocked up.” Kevin wondered if all his conversations were to involve Joey in some way or other.

  Peter sighed, “You’ll never lose any weight if you keep eating between meals.”

  “Leave him alone. If you’re hungry, Terry, I’ll feed you.”

  “Thanks, I could murder a sandwich. We only had a salad.” Kevin was treated to a wide grin, which lit up Terry’s rather plain face.

  I’d make sure you never went hungry if you were mine, Kevin thought sadly as he prepared a round of sandwiches. He realised he was being unfair, Peter and Terry were very happy despite their bickering. Terry was good for Peter, slowing and calming him down; equally the outgoing Peter had a positive effect on the introverted Terry.

  The three friends spent the afternoon together talking over old times, though Peter pumped as much information about Joey out of Kevin as he could. Peter had tried a number of times to get Kevin to come out with them, Kevin always refusing, saying he was waiting in for Joey, but as the time began to pass, he became more and more despondent at Joey’s non-arrival.

  Looking up from the wooden stool he’d been sitting on—Kevin had insisted his guests occupy the more comfortable seating—he sighed. It was now dark outside. Maybe he should have gone out after all.

  Terry’s stomach gave out a rumble.

  “Listen, you two get off home,” Kevin said.

  “Come with us,” Peter stood. “we’ll pick up a take-away or something. It’ll be a treat for Terry.”

  Terry rubbed his hands.

  “Joey said he’d call round and we’d eat at his place. I think he wanted me to spend the night with him.”

  Peter’s brow furrowed. “You’ve only known the man for just over three days. Don’t you think you’re rushing it?”

  Kevin wished he hadn’t let that last bit slip out.

  “It just seems like things are moving very quickly, maybe too quickly. I don’t want you to get hurt. You are one of life’s givers, love. I’m just worried that this new guy will take and not give you anything back in return.”

  “I know. But what can I do? I’m in love with him. I think I scared him off when I told him this morning.”

  “Maybe that’s why he hasn’t shown up,” Peter sighed.

  Kevin’s eyes’ filled with tears. Secretly he’d feared this happening all afternoon.

  “That’s enough,” Terry said, lifting his bulk from the bed and walking over to Peter. “You’ve been getting at him all afternoon. Now look what you’ve done.” Terry turned to Kevin and wrapped himself around the smaller man.

  Kevin put his arms around Terry’s middle, but couldn’t get his hands to meet. He just laid his head on Terry’s ample upper chest and tried to absorb some strength from the huge man. He felt safe and protected; Peter was a lucky bastard and no mistake.

  Terry’s stomach gave out another loud rumble, making Kevin giggle. “Go on, you two get off home and get some food into here before you waste away.”

  “Ha, that’ll never happen,” Peter said.

  “We can just as easily ring up for something to be delivered here,” Terry said, not letting go of Kevin,

  “Why not?” Peter asked. “And don’t give me any shit about you waiting for him to come round. You’ll be hungry, too.”

  Kevin had to concede Joey probably wasn’t going to come now. “There’s a menu for a Chinese take-away in the drawer under the phone. They’re about the best round here.”

  “I like Chinese.” Terry’s rich, warm voice vibrated into Kevin’s chest.

  Once Peter had consulted the menu and determined what everyone wanted, he approached the phone. “What’s this white stuff on the receiver?”

  Kevin, who had moved away from Terry, wished he hadn’t. He wanted to bury his head in the man’s chest out of embarrassment. He’d forgotten to clean the phone after his difficulties with the suppository.

  * * * *

  Arriving at his uncle’s house, Joey was annoyed to discover that no one had bothered to get the shelving materials. “How do you expect me to build them for you, when there’s no brackets or wood?”

  “We thought you’d have all that kind of thing,” his mother said.

  Looking down at her from his position standing on a chair, measuring tape in hand, he asked, “Ma, I ride a motorbike. Where the he…um, heck would I put the stuff?”

  “Joey!” his mother said, nodding in Simon’s direction. “Young ears. Anyway I don’t know why you have to ride that bike. It’s so dangerous. I can’t sleep at night with the worry that you’ll end up in a road accident or something. Oy, every time I hear an ambulance going past…” She put a hand to her chest and sighed.

  Joey had heard the speech many times before; he knew what was coming next.

  “Now take Peter Rosenthal, he’s got a nice sensible car. He doesn’t make his mother worry.”

  Joey rolled his eyes, he’d been right. There was no point in trying to tell her that Peter’s car was the kind only a wimpy mother’s boy would drive. “Give me the keys to your car, and I’ll go down to the DIY superstore and get what I need.”

  His mother hesitated. “You’ll be careful, won’t you? There’s a couple of dangerous corners that you’ve got to watch out for.”

  Through clenched teeth Joey said, “I drive a lorry for a living.”

  He realised as soon as the words had left his mouth he’d said the wrong thing. His mother didn’t approve of his job. His jaw began to ache with the pressure he was putting it under as he listened to how much of a disappointment he was to her, and how she’d wanted him to become a doctor, lawyer or whatever it was. It seemed to change each time she made the speech.

  “Ma, car keys? They’ll be shutting in a couple of hours.” Joey managed to get out when she paused to draw breath.

  “Can I come with you, Uncle Joey?” his nephew Simon asked.

  “Sure. You can help me carry the stuff,” Joey said, ruffling Simon’s hair.

  “He’s only eight, Joey, you be careful,” his mother said.

  Joey groaned. He thought it best to escape before he said something else he shouldn’t. “Come on then, Champ
. Let’s go.”

  Joey managed to get out of the house without further incident. He loved spending time with his nephew; the boy was always full of questions, sometimes embarrassing ones. Joey remembered once Simon asking why his willy got hard. Joey had told Simon to ask his mother.

  The youngster had pulled a face. “I can’t ask mum guy stuff!”

  Joey had laughed. It couldn’t be easy for the kid growing up without a male role model around the place.

  “You had your dinner yet?” Joey asked Simon when the pair had exited the car.

  “Yeah, grandma brought round some leftovers.”

  Joey chuckled. “Any room in your tummy for a cheese burger?”

  “Yeah.” Simon treated his uncle to a broad grin.

  “Thought you might.” Joey slung a protective arm around his nephew’s shoulder, and the two walked across the car park to McDonalds.

  Remembering he was going to eat with Kevin later, Joey didn’t have much, he wasn’t overly fond of burgers anyway.

  As Simon ate, he peppered his uncle with questions and observations about things he’d done at school the previous week, his classmates, and what his mother was up to. Joey was touched Simon felt comfortable enough with him to confide his innermost thoughts. Joey knew when he was that age he didn’t have an adult man whom he could talk to.

  As they walked around the DIY store, Simon kept asking what this or that was used for. Joey was starting to get a bit impatient, Simon must have realised this, and apologised. “Mum tells me off for asking questions all the time. She got really mad with me in the supermarket last week when I asked what something was for.”

  “What was it?”

  “Erm, tamp, yeah tampons. She went really red and told me that it wasn’t for little boys.”

  Joey couldn’t help laughing out loud. He could picture his up tight sister trying to field that one. “Well…they’re something ladies use. Um, trust me, love, you don’t wanna know the details.” As a gay man, the thought of vaginas and menstruation turned his stomach.