Jamie’s eyes opened wide, and he rushed to an assumption. “Oh fuck, Angelo. Please don’t make me give some big public confession. I won’t do it. That’s too much.”
I grinned. “As fun as it might be to watch you sweat, that’s not what I had in mind. Maybe you can do something to give back to the profession. You know, you could do a volunteer project or something like that. Maybe you can help other young guys on their way up. It’s a thought.”
19
Jamie
I listened to the phone ringing on the other end of my call and whispered to myself, “Pick up, pick up, pick up. I’m about to burst!”
Finally, after six rings, Benji answered. He grumbled, “I hope for your sake, it’s an emergency.”
I paused. Glancing at my watch, I noticed that it was only 8:30 a.m. on the East Coast. I’d gotten up crazy early for a Sunday morning. It was two hours earlier in Dallas, but I couldn’t sleep. I had to share all the great news with someone, and Benji always came first.
I said, “It’s not a regular kind of emergency. That’s a good thing. Nobody’s sick, and I’m fine. I wanted to share a bunch of great news. If I don’t let you know, you’ll be upset down the road. So that’s urgent at least. Don’t you think?”
“When I’m sleeping late on a Sunday morning with Jax?”
“Oh, shit. You weren’t right in the middle of…were you?”
Benji chuckled softly. “Like I would answer the call if we were busy that way. I usually try to remember to turn the ringer off if that’s going on. I was asleep spooned up next to the greatest guy in the world half awake and half dreaming about lying on a beach somewhere a whole lot warmer than Boston. Now, since your call woke him up, he’s off brushing his teeth. He’ll come back, but we’re awake for the day.”
“Aww man. I’m sorry. Should I call back?”
“No. Now you owe me some incredible news. When Jax gets back, I’ll let him decide whether it was worth the interruption.”
I said, “It’s just that life is going so great. Have you ever had a minute like that? The future looks so incredible that you’ve got to share it. I’ve got a boyfriend for the first time who is phenomenal, and work is shooting through the roof. Benji, I guess what I’ve got to say is simple—I’m happy.”
I counted the seconds while I waited for my twin brother to speak again. When words finally came, I detected a little bit of sniffling in his voice.
“I’m so damn happy for you,” said Benji. “Excuse me for a sec.” He sniffled again. “You know me. I get all choked up when I hear great news. I want to meet Angelo. He’s the boyfriend you’re talking about. Right?”
“Well, I hope we didn’t break up between phone calls in less than a week. Of course, it’s Angelo!”
“I haven’t even seen a photo of him yet.”
I rubbed my chin. “I’ve got an idea, and I think he’d agree to it. How about we call you on video chat sometime? Then you can see his handsome mug.”
“That sounds like a great idea, and if he looks anything like his little brother, you’ve got a catch. You sent me the link for the video clip you made for the contest with the face of his little brother filling the screen.”
I said, “Angelo’s even better. Oh, and I’ve got some other great news.”
“Well, lay it on me now. I’m wide awake.”
“Mom and Dad are coming to Dallas. They haven’t been here since I moved. I guess that’s what I get for traveling to all the family events. They’ve seen me often enough that they don’t need to check up on my place.”
“Well, you know how busy Dad is. I still don’t understand how he had time for us along with Matheson and Greene, but he did. Dad’s awesome that way.”
“Except for one thing. Mom and Dad made last minute plans. Now I know where Mason gets it. I’m excited to have them here, and I’ve got plenty of space in this huge apartment, but what should we do while they’re in town?”
“I don’t think it’s a big deal,” said Benji. “Mom will want to see your office.”
“Office? I think you mean cubicle.”
Benji laughed out loud before he added, “And you should take them out for one of the best meals in town. Show Mom some great shopping and hang out with them. After all, I’m sure the main reason they’re visiting is to see you.”
“Aww, I appreciate that. And I’d like them to meet Angelo. Does that sound like a good idea to you? Or is it too soon?”
“Mom won’t ever forgive you if you don’t bring him along to meet them. She’ll want to check him out. They’ll both be gracious. We’ve got the best parents on earth. You have to make sure he’s okay with meeting them, too.”
I smiled. “Yep, they are the best. By the way, Benji, how is everything where you are?”
“Both Christian and Julia are on the honor roll, and the research for my dissertation is nearly finished. The writing, the worst part, is still to come, but I can handle it. Oh, and Tate gave Jax a promotion. We’re already talking about maybe moving to New York someday.”
I grinned from ear to ear. I’d spent the last couple of years feeling a little jealous of my twin, but now that we were both doing well, hearing about his accomplishments made me happy.
I said, “Benji, I’m not sure New York is big enough for both you and Tate. I love you, buddy.”
“Love you, too, and I’m not sure I’m ready for New York, but we’re talking about it.”
After the phone call with Benji ended, I decided to do something productive with the rest of my morning and head for the gym. My regular workouts suffered from the occasional late nights at work collaborating on projects with Angelo. I knew that I needed to get a routine back together, and 8:00 a.m. on a Sunday was as good a time to start as any.
The weight room was quiet. Most people didn’t get up early on Sunday to work out and sweat. I had the free weights area all to myself for the first twenty minutes.
Looking at myself in the mirror, I was happy to see that any lost progress didn’t show. I’d had to back off slightly on the weight I used for reps, but if I kept a regular schedule, I knew that it wouldn’t take long to be back on target.
After twenty minutes of working hard, I heard two voices. The first said, “And then the guy tried to pick me up. Honestly, I swear that I wasn’t trying to draw any attention. I was talking to Liz about the colors in her flower bed. It was almost like shop talk.”
A second, deeper voice followed. “Yep, that’s like me trying to discuss the finer points of grilling ribeye while I’m sucking down a margarita at Cucina. You can’t get away from it.”
The first guy laughed. “Exactly.”
As they came around the corner, I saw that it was a pair of boyfriends. At least, I was 99% sure that’s what they were. Their workout clothes weren’t the same colors, but they were complimentary, and they wore the same style. When the taller of the two wrapped his arm around the other’s waist, the action confirmed my assessment.
The shorter guy said, “Hey! Good morning. I thought we had the place to ourselves.”
I said, “Go ahead and treat it like that. I’m quiet, and I’ll keep to myself. You’ll barely notice that I’m here.”
The other man was silent, and they quickly followed my suggestion. I watched for a moment as they performed stretching exercises together. They used it as a good excuse to touch each other’s bodies in public.
Both men moved like they’d done the exercises a thousand times together. I envied the comfort and ease, and I thought about the day when Angelo and I would act the same way.
The two boyfriends began to carry on quiet, hushed conversation, and I returned my focus to my reps. As I switched from free weights to settle in with a fly machine, I closed my eyes and pumped hard.
My thoughts returned to Angelo. It was clear from the structure of his body that he visited the gym, too. We’d never discussed it. Doing our workouts together would give us an opportunity for even more shared activity.
As I closed my eyes,
and I heard only the low rumbling of voices in the background, I pictured using the bench press with Angelo. I could spot while he built his pecs.
It didn’t take long for the images in my mind to turn erotic. Angelo was shirtless on the bench, and I was, too, while I spotted him. Small beads of sweat dotted his chest, and he smiled up at me.
I glanced down to Angelo’s shorts to see them tented by the stiff cock underneath. It was all the stimulation I needed to think about falling to my knees by the bench and slipping a hand inside the shorts. The other hand pushed down to my package.
A loud voice broke into my fantasy. “Hey! We’ve got a little issue over here with a machine. Maybe you can help us out.”
Opening my eyes, I saw one of the boyfriends standing in front of me. The erotic thoughts about Angelo drifted toward the ceiling like a glistening soap bubble and popped. I blinked and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I was concentrating so hard that I didn’t see you headed my way.”
“You were concentrating on something…hard. That’s for sure.”
20
Angelo
I fumbled with my necktie in frustration. “Damn, I hate this! Do you know how often I wear a tie?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I know it’s between twice a year and never. Am I close?”
My nerves were on edge. I was less than an hour away from meeting Jamie’s parents. I’d turned down a dinner invitation from Charles to meet John and Petra Matheson. Jamie’s dad was a legend in the corporate advertising world, and I knew that he had powerful connections in the industry all over the country. I could eat with Charles at any time.
Tugging at the tie, I said, “Not only do I have to meet your parents, but I also have to dress in clothes like this. It must be a test from the gods. Do you hope I pass? I’m worried about being an utter failure.”
Jamie stood behind me as I gazed into the mirror. He squeezed my shoulder and said, “You’re perfect, and I’ve got fantastic parents. There’s nothing to cause you any worry. I already met your mom and dad. That went well. Didn’t it?”
I shrugged. “You’re naturally charming, and I’m a bit of a bumbler. I might trip over my own feet. It’s not a surprise that my mom thought you were amazing. You’ve got that Matheson charm.”
I wore a mango-colored dress shirt. It looked good against my darker complexion. Jamie pushed his chest up against my back and let the hand on my shoulder drift down to my chest.
Sighing heavily, I said, “We’ll never get to the restaurant on time if you get started with that.”
“Should I stop?”
I reached behind my head and slid my long, slim fingers up the side of Jamie’s head. Leaning my cheek against his, I moaned softly.
“I’ll take that as a no, but unfortunately you are right. We need to finish getting ready. Mom and Dad will love you. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t put you through this if I thought they wouldn’t. By fifteen minutes into dinner, you’ll all be laughing and joking together. Hold me to that.”
Jamie reached around to my tie and helped me straighten it. I said, “Oh, thank you. I guess it doesn’t look so bad once it’s tied properly. Unfortunately, I feel like I’m slowly strangling to death. It’s like a miniature python threatening to choke the breath out of me.”
“Oh, my poor baby,” said Jamie as he kissed my cheek. “Can you believe this is happening? We hated each other when we first met. Maybe that’s too strong of a word, but I thought it would be a long project—in a bad way.”
“Yes, maybe strong dislike is more appropriate. It didn’t take long for you to take a wrecking ball to my resistance. You’re so damn handsome and a sweetheart, too.”
Jamie kissed me again. Then he stepped back and held his arms out to his side. “Turn around and tell me what you think. They are my parents. So they’ll scrutinize my appearance even more than they do yours.”
I turned. Jamie wore a teal-colored dress shirt, and he chose a tie with tiny little pineapples printed on it. “Of course, you’re not wearing mangos on that tie to match the color of my shirt, but I’d do you.”
Jamie laughed. “You would? I guess that’s good news, and pineapples were the closest I could find. All tropical fruit is pretty similar. They’ll have to do.”
“What should I talk about with your mom?”
“Just be yourself. She loves to hear stories about growing up, particularly those that involve other moms.”
I shook my head. “No, that’s too vague. Give me a topic. Does she have a hobby? Moms love to talk, and I’ll get off on a good foot if I bring up something that excites her.”
“Sea lions.”
“What?”
Jamie said, “Sea lions. You know, the animals a lot of people call seals by mistake. Mom gives a lot of money and time to an organization that rescues sea lions. Bring them up, and she’ll talk your ear off for an hour.”
Jamie booked us all a table at one of the most expensive restaurants in town. His first choice was to bring them to Moretti’s, but I balked. “It’s hard enough to handle meeting your parents for the first time. I don’t think I could be there if I were meeting your parents and introducing them to mine all at once. Baby steps, Jamie. Big, giant baby steps.”
As we pulled up near the front door, Jamie handed his keys to the valet. He whispered to me, “That always makes me nervous. What if my car never comes back? Or what if they slam it into another one in the parking garage?”
“That’s why you’ve got insurance.”
We were almost ten minutes early, but Jamie’s parents were already waiting at the restaurant’s bar just inside the door. I didn’t have a chance to peel the Band-Aid off slowly. It was a big rip and tear, and suddenly it was showtime.
I smiled when Jamie offered his parents huge hugs in turn. The affection was clear. Both his mom and dad had huge, warm smiles on their faces. John Matheson looked distinguished with a shock of nearly white hair on top of his head. Petra dressed elegantly for the occasion. Her dress was expensive, but she didn’t wear flashy jewelry.
As soon as he finished hugging them in greeting, Jamie reached out for my elbow and tugged me toward his parents. He said, “And this is Angelo. He’s the best person on earth.” Before I could dispute the claim, Jamie pointed to his mom, saying, “This is my mom, Petra.” He followed it with, “And my dad, John.”
I reached out to shake hands, but Jamie’s dad interrupted me. He said, “We’ve got a big family, and we’re the hugging type.”
The greetings were so genuine and friendly that I couldn’t stop myself from relaxing at least somewhat. I saw where Jamie got his charm. His parents were incredibly easy to like. In minutes, I felt welcome as part of the family.
Shortly after sitting down, John ordered a bottle of wine for the table. After dispensing with the task, he said, “Angelo, I want to tell you that I’ve looked at your work online. Jamie sent me abundant links. He also shared images of some of your sketches, and I must say, you are a tremendously talented young man. With a little fine-tuning, you’d rival some of the best artists at Matheson and Greene.”
I instantly blushed from ear to ear. In a flustered voice, I stammered out, “Th…th…thank you, Sir. That’s wonderful to hear.”
“Oh, please call me John. I want to dispense with the formalities.”
Jamie grinned. “When you said, ‘Sir,’ I looked around to see who you meant because nobody calls Dad that.” He reached his hand under the table to find mine, and we wove our fingers tightly together.
John continued with a nugget of advice. He said, “Advertising is a cutthroat business, but you must always keep your private life separate. Surround yourself with treasures, both human and material, that make you happy. I suggest that you always have a favorite place as a retreat, and protect it to keep it sacred.”
I said, “Oh, that is wonderful…John.” Calling Jamie’s father by his first name would take some practice. I grew up using “Mr.” and “Sir.”
Dinner unfolded wi
thout a hitch. We had a pleasant conversation that ranged from stories about Jamie and Benji growing up as twins to the details of my grandfather’s journey from Sicily. John listened intently to my story and later said that he always loved hearing the life stories of other businessmen.
As we climbed into Jamie’s car after dinner, he turned toward me. “Did you survive?”
I patted my torso down with my hands. “I think everything is intact. Your parents were fantastic. Was I okay?”
“They loved you! You have nothing to worry about at all. Mom whispered in my ear as we hugged. She said, ‘He’s a wonderful young man. Keep him close.’”
“Seriously? Did she say that? Does she say that about everybody? I can see her coming up with something flattering to say about anyone new that she meets.”
Jamie shook his head. “No, this was beyond the usual. She doesn’t compliment everyone. There’ve been a few of Dad’s business acquaintances that she didn’t like. She let us know which ones.”
Jamie missed a turn on the way to take me home. I pointed toward the rear of the car. “My place is that way.”
“I know that.”
“So are you kidnapping me?”
“Maybe.”
It excited me to have Jamie take the initiative and take charge. It was a Friday, and we didn’t have work the next day. I started typing a text message to Tony as Jamie took the exit toward downtown and his place.
Jamie asked, “Who are you texting?”
“Tony. I told him to let my parents know I’ll be very late getting home.”
Jamie shook his head. “You’re such a good boy, and you might not be going home tonight at all. Make sure you let him know that, too.”
I soon found out that dinner with Jamie’s parents was only the beginning of one of the best nights we’d spent together so far. When we stepped into his apartment, I noticed a vase filled with roses on the coffee table. A shiver passed through my body.
Winner: The Mathesons Book 4 Page 13