He disconnected the call and put his phone on the desk before cupping my face and kissing me. “He likes you,” he said.
“I’m a likeable guy,” I replied.
“Yes, you are.”
“You were supposed to say I was lovable.”
He laughed. “You’re that too.”
I sighed. “Should we feel bad that we kind of lied to him?”
“Nope,” he said, then kissed the tip of my nose. “And we didn’t lie to him. Not exactly.”
“We led him to believe we’d broken up.”
“No, I led him to believe you left here and didn’t want to speak to me. That much was true.”
“I only didn’t want to see you because I would have burst into tears as soon as I told you what happened, and it was your opening day. You needed to be here.”
He cupped my face, his eyes sincere. “Please don’t hide from me again. You never have to hide anything from me.”
I melted into him a little. “I know. I just didn’t want to ruin your day.”
“You didn’t. He did. But that’s behind us now. He learned his lesson and he apologised. Plus, I got to say some stuff to him that probably should have been said years ago.” He kissed me softly. “I think we’ll be better for it. He’s flying out to Singapore this afternoon. Wants me to email him a list of anything I might need him to bring back . . . for the store, that is. And said we should do dinner when he gets back.”
I ran my hand up his chest, marvelling at his smile. “I’m glad it all worked out, Bry. I look forward to getting to know him better.”
“Same,” he said with a laugh. “Maybe now he’s stopped seeing me as a kid, we might talk some more. I think he was trying . . . before. Who knows. But I’ve got a good feeling.”
“I’m glad. And speaking of multiple good feelings,” I said suggestively, “what time will you be finished tonight?”
He caught on immediately. He gave me a kiss with a wicked grin. “I can be at your place by seven thirty.”
“Excellent. Because you’re behind on your orgasm quota and you really need to catch up. So, I’ll provide dinner. You provide the rest.”
He laughed. “You’re so bossy.”
“And you love me for it.”
“Yes, I do.” He kissed me with smiling lips. “I really do.”
Epilogue
Michael
Twelve months later
So, here we are at the end. Remember how at the very beginning I was going to explain how this all went down? Well, there you have it.
But before I tell you how this panned out, I want to explain something real quick.
Sex for the purpose of just sex is a thing that happens. Uncomplicated, no-strings-attached, mutual-physical-gratification kind of sex. As long as it’s consensual, safe, and satisfying for all involved, everyone wins. Right?
Only now that happens to other people.
Because now sex was a wondrously complicated, highly emotionally connective, intimately private thing. Sure, sometimes we still fucked like rabid bunnies. But it’s so much more now.
I know, I once said that not everyone needs an emotional connection to enjoy sex. Sometimes that emotional connection just complicates matters, and who needs complicated in their lives?
I once said that I certainly didn’t need that complication and that I had neither the time nor the inclination for complications.
I was so wrong.
I got absolutely blindsided and mowed down by a man called Bryson James Schroeder, and it wasn’t gloriously and spectacularly bad at all. The train wreck analogy might have been an over-exaggeration. I never said I wasn’t melodramatic.
But had my life been derailed?
Yes, it had.
Bryce was, without doubt, the best thing to ever happen to me.
I was a different man now. I was different because he loved me. Yes, yes . . . that sappy bullshit where I say stuff like that is where I’m at. I told you last-year-me wouldn’t even recognise today-me, and that was a very good thing.
So here we are, twelve months later.
I stood behind the service counter, wearing a staff uniform, complete with an apron and a huge grin. I was up to my elbows in soapy water, laughing at something Ken had said.
I still had my corporate real estate job and probably always would. Bryce had asked me to join his team, but I’d declined every time. Sure, I helped out a lot when I could, but the separation of professional and personal was a good thing.
Work was work, home was home, and never the twain shall meet. Yes, we lived together and had for several months. He basically lived at my place anyway, so it had made sense to make it official. So having work/home separation was a very good thing. Another upside was our now-shared wardrobe. I had access to all his band T-shirts and he could wear any of my tight-fitting tailored shirts. It was a win-win, honestly.
But getting back to work . . . Today I was helping out because today was special.
Why was it special?
Because Bryce was opening his second store.
We’d found the perfect location in Bondi, and opening day was huge. We got hammered; the stream of customers just didn’t seem to stop. So there I was when the store was finally closed, washing up for the fiftieth time that day, when I could feel eyes on me. I looked up to find Bryce and James at the end of the counter, both watching me.
They were smiling: Bryce’s with an edge of adoration and James’ with a hint of amusement. I pulled the tea towel from my back pocket and threw it at Bryce’s father. He caught it and shot me a look. “If you’re just gonna stand there,” I said, “I’ll put you to work. Don’t have time to just stand around.”
Bryce laughed. “Told you he was bossy.”
But, as a surprise to everyone, James took the tea towel and began to dry. Bryce laughed, his eyes wide, and I stood up, stretching my aching back. “Wanna swap? Got time to laugh, Schroeder, you got time to wash up.”
Bryce just laughed some more and went back to the point-of-sale terminal to do his end of day sales report, and James gave me an approving nod as he dried the first tray. “Glad you’re still keeping him in line.”
I snorted. “As much as I’m able.” I wiped my biceps against my forehead as I scrubbed a canister. “This work makes me appreciate my desk job, I can tell you that much.”
He chuckled and had to get out of the way for one of the staff carrying a box of some cakes to restock the fridge. “It is a good reminder,” he said, still smiling. “Has he thought any more on branching out in Melbourne?”
“I think it’ll happen,” I replied. “He’ll let this place get settled in first. He’s very cautious about overstepping his capital.”
James smiled proudly. He and Bry had come a long way, and James had accepted me being an important part of Bryce’s life. We weren’t on par with the Brady Bunch or anything, but it was pretty sweet.
“What will you do if he has to go to Melbourne for a while?” James asked me. There was no malice in his tone, just concern.
“We’ll be okay,” I answered confidently. “No matter where he is or where I am, we’ll be fine. And if I have to take a few days leave to go help him or just be with him, then I will. It’s just what we do.”