Page 2 of The Man on the Beach
“I fell asleep.” Nathan followed the man off the boardwalk and onto a cement sidewalk. Water ran off his skin and shorts freely, leaving a trail of rivulets behind him.
“Did anything get stolen? While you were asleep?”
“I don’t think so. I was with some friends, I guess they left me.” Nathan paused. “Maybe they tried to wake me up. I drank too much.”
“Shitty friends to leave you like that.”
“They’re my stepbrother’s friends. Bachelor party.” The man gestured to a narrow path and led Nathan to a white door. He fished a key out of his shorts’ pocket and turned the doorknob.
“Damn, does your brother hate you?” He stepped back and let Nathan enter first.
“Stepbrother,” Nathan grumbled. He stepped inside into a small dining and kitchen space. An open laptop was on the square wooden dining table next to a mug on a coaster. Nathan could see an alligator on the coffee mug.
“Wait right here.” The man went around Nathan through the open room and disappeared through an open door. He reappeared with a folded blue beach towel. Nathan took it gratefully and dried his face and hair before drying his dripping legs. The towel smelled like fabric softener.
“Let me get you some dry shorts,” the man said. He gestured for Nathan to follow him to the back room. Nathan felt like he should protest. He should say that he just needed some water, and then he could find his way back to the beach house. But he felt cold, and sick to his stomach, and dizzy. If he went back to the beach house, he would be cold, and sick, and dizzy with eight men who clearly didn’t like him very much.
What if this man had other intentions? What if he was planning on getting Nathan pliant and then making a move on him? Nathan considered it. The man was middle-aged, with a few streaks of gray in his stubble and dark hair. His eyebrows were drawn together in concern, forming deep lines. Nathan had never been with an older man, but he found older men attractive. And this man, with his broad shoulders and solid thighs, washot. Nathan decided the best possible outcome of this debacle might be if this stranger made a move on him.
“Are you okay?” The man asked. Nathan shook himself. He was still standing on the doormat. Staring.
“Yeah, sorry.” He stepped off the mat and followed the man into the back room. It was a small bedroom with king king-size bed taking most of the floor space. The bed was neatly made with a blue and cream quilt. A small chest of drawers was against the wall. The man opened one of the drawers and pulled out a pair of black athletic shorts.
“The bathroom’s right there. I’ll get you some water.” The man left Nathan in his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Nathan stood awkwardly for a moment before he stepped into the bathroom. The bathroom was similarly clean and sparse, with hotel-style soaps and bottles on the sink. Nathan dropped his towel and pulled off his wet board shorts. He hung them over the shower rod before pulling on the dry shorts. He pulled the drawstring and tied it. A wave of dizziness hit, and he leaned over the sink. The room spun around him. He took several deep breaths, trying to ease the pit in his stomach. He lost the battle and dropped to his knees and began to vomit in the toilet.
~
Thirty minutes later, Nathan found the stranger sitting on a sofa on a screened-in porch. He had his bare feet propped up on a coffee table, and he was reading a paperback novel. He looked up when the screen door creaked.
“There’s some water,” the man gestured to a tall glass on the table. Nathan gingerly sat beside him and picked up the glass. He sipped it.
“Sorry I took so long. I…” Nathan made a gesture at his throat. The man nodded knowingly. “Then I showered. I found a spare toothbrush under your sink, I hope that was alright.”
“Of course. Are you feeling better?” Nathan made a sound that was both a choke and a laugh.
“I stopped puking. For now. What time is it?” The man leaned forward and tapped his phone. The lock screen showed 8:12pm.
“I’d better go. I’ll bring your shorts back tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? Why don’t you sleep it off here?” Nathan desperately wanted to. The beach house had more groomsmenthan beds, and they were going to be partying loudly for several more hours.
“I can’t, you’ve been so nice and you’re on vacation.”
“I’m not on vacation, I’m working. I’m here all summer.” Nathan wanted to ask about the man’s job, but the man reached out and touched his arm.
“You’re shivering.” Nathan realized he was.
“I’m cold. And hot.” Thinking about his body drew his attention to his stomach, and he covered his mouth with his hand and closed his eyes.
“Go get in bed. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“I can’t take…”
“I’ll kick you out if I want it. Go lay down.”
“Maybe just for a nap,” Nathan acquiesced. He’d nap for a few hours, wake up, and walk back. Maybe when he was sober, he’d remember the address of the beach house. He stood carefully and waited for the room to stop spinning before stepping towards the interior of the condo.
