Page 7 of Let Leaves Lay Where They Fall

Discerning a tsunami of thoughts and emotions while he waits on a rideshare driver to pick him up. Elated and embarrassed. Squatting on the edge of the paved sidewalk in front of the visitor’s information building. Staring forward, his eyes wide and jaw slightly agape with the edges of his mouth turned up into a mesmerized grin. Shocked by what he had just taken part in.

He’s never allowed a stranger into his personal space like that. There had been moments in the past when men made such forward advances, but only in bars. Once in a restaurant he worked at after first moving to town. Even with a few drinks buzzing in his system he’d reject such aggressive flirtations.

Jamie had never been interested in quick flings or getting off with strangers. He’s a noted romantic with fairytale expectations and crippling anxiety when it comes to sex and sharing his body. Andrew once called it, former fat kid syndrome. Because he still harbors insecurities he shouldn’t. Reflections May change in mirrors, but the mind holds on to its own image.

Trying to decipher what was different about Dave. Did he cast a spell of some sort? Those hazel eyes were hypnotic. Was he magic? That mouth sure was! Had it just been so long since he’d been intimate that hormones took the reins on this one? Probably.

Jamie could still smell the seducer’s cologne on his shirt. Citrus and musk. Familiar, but he couldn’t name it.

He kept replaying the encounter over and over in his mind. Heart still racing from the gush of adrenaline. Unsure he was going to come back down. His dick is still twitching and damp in his pants. Humiliated at how quickly he finished but unable to recall another moment he’d ever been that turned on. He also felt proud that he’d actually let it happen. His guard stood too strong for anyone to conquer for too long now. The rush felt euphoric.

The rideshare driver pulls up. Just inches from his toes. She has to roll down her window and yell to shake him from a trance. The same blue haired girl in the silver hatchback. “James?”

His face flushes again. “Sorry! Yes, hi.” Hurrying into the back seat. She fires up a melancholy tune and the car pulls away from the lot.

***

Nathan walked home from the Sanctuary. He’d left his Jeep parked at home all day and didn’t want to bother with another rideshare expense. That blue haired girl played such whiny music. His apartment isn’t far. An equal distance to his place as the clinic is from his apartment, just in opposite directions. So convenient! There was still plenty of daylight, but the sun was moving further toward the western horizon, cooling the air quite a bit.

Mabel is sprawled on the sofa, belly up and legs poking straight out in all directions. She twists her neck around and grumbles a low “berf” at him entering the front door.

“Hey grumpy old girl.” He smiles big, cheeks pink from the walk home, or that salacious encounter he’ll probably be jerking off to for weeks to come. Who could be sure?

Mabel slowly rolls her pudgy body off the edge of the sofa. Stretching one leg and shaking off her arthritis. Her jaw drops into a cavernous yawn, and she waddles, heavy pawed toward Nathan.

He crouches down to her level. Both hands on either side of her wrinkly face. Kisses her forehead and jiggles her jowls, scratching behind her ears. Her tongue hangs out of her broad smile with big adoring brown eyes gazing up at him.

Standing back up, he plunges an arm into the big bin of dog treats kept next to the door. Gathering two bone shaped cookies and tossing them down to her. She catches them and trots off.

He pulls his phone out of the hoodie pocket. Taps on the Gaydr app and pulls up Jamie’s profile. He swipes through the gallery of four photos. The cutie’s crooked smile and warm eyes are adorable. He pauses for a moment, looking down at that sweet face he’d just defiled and thinking twice before choosing to block the cutie from further contact anyway. “Fun and done.” He speaks to himself. “No distractions. We’re only here for 2 more months.” He validates his decision, watching sweet Mabel munching the second cookie.

A new message pops up. LifeofArt000: RAWR! ;p

Nathan thumbs a button on the side of the device, the screen goes dark. “Next time Mark.” He sets it on the kitchen counter and gathers Mabel’s leash to get her outside for a quick stroll. “Come on babe.” He hitches it to her collar and leads her down the stairwell from their 3rd floor studio.

***

The blue haired girl drops Jamie off at the curb in front of the building. He leaves her another generous tip and five star review, then walks around the back. Gathering the little pink bowl and empty water bottle before heading inside.

Andrew is standing at the butcher block island, chopping a red bell pepper. “Hey.” He greets with a warm smile. The aroma of herbs and spices from the stove fill the room with comfort.

“Hey Andrew.” Jamie is itching to tell him, or anyone, about the wild rendezvous he’s had at the Sanctuary. He nearly blurted it all out at the blue haired girl during the ride home. Instead, chewed on his lip the entire time. It’s still sore. “How was your day?” He sets Rosy’s bowl under the sink and decides to keep the scandalous escapade to himself, for now. Andrew might have a hay day teasing about it.

He’s shit at keeping secrets but can’t help wondering what people will think of him when they find out. The noble romantic casting all principles aside in a moment of wanton weakness. He fully supports anyone’s sexual liberation. Reserving judgment only for himself. So engrained it’s practically a personality trait now. That pedestal he’d built himself has crumbled to a pile of dust and blown off into the sky.

In contrast, he feels fucking amazing. Floating. A caged bird set free. Dirty little slut! He smirks.

“There was a crazy tourist in the shop today. Irritated we didn’t have a dozen Lobster sweatshirts on hand for her to buy and take home as gifts.” He turns to Jamie, scans from head to toe. The gays can’t help but do a fit check on everyone. It’s part of the DNA.

His scan hits a slight speed bump at Jamie’s mid region and his brow twitches before meeting Jamie’s eyes again. Losing track of his story briefly, before carrying on. “Eventually we got her settled on Portland Headlight t-shirts instead.” Chopping a yellow pepper now. “Marcus and Tommy were supposed to come by for dinner tonight, but Tommy is sick. He had to go to the emergency clinic this afternoon.”

The three get together a few times a month for dinner. Sometimes at Marcus and Tommy’s but usually here with Andrew. A few bottles of wine can lead to the trio disappearing at the back of the apartment into Andrew’s bedroom. Jamie knows it’s time to retreat to his if a 3rd bottle gets uncorked.

There may have been a mutual split but certain sparks have never fizzled out. Marcus is a mountain of man even Jamie has daydreamed of climbing.

“Oh no! Is he alright?”

“A bad cold. Marcus said they gave him some meds and sent him home. Tommy can be a bit dramatic.” He chuckles. “I’m still cooking up some chicken breasts with roasted peppers and parmesan cauliflower mash, if you’re interested?”

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