Coming Home

After hours of sitting in the car, I was looking forward to finally getting out and stretching my legs before I remembered the damn humidity. The Mississippi summer air was oppressively hot, making the short walk from the car to my mom’s front door an exercise in and of itself. I was already sweating by the time I opened the door and was immediately assaulted by the arms of a middle-aged woman. Her black hair flung over her shoulder as she pulled me in and embraced me in a strong hug.

“Oh sweetie, I’m so glad you made it okay, I was worried about you all by yourself out there on the road.”

“Gee, thanks for reminding me about being all by my lonesome…” I cracked a smile, glad to see her after the year I’d been away.

“Oh please, you just haven’t met the right fella yet,” she said, giving me a gentle smack on the chest. “Now, I know you’re probably not looking forward to movin’ back home, but I tried to make sure that you have enough privacy and I even got you some new comfy sheets for the bed back there.”

With the recent pandemic and the shitty fallout surrounding it, losing my job at 24 wasn’t exactly a great way to start the summer, especially considering the vaccine was supposed to help get the economy back together. But, it just didn’t make sense to stay away any more and my mom had offered up my old room while I waited for a new job to open up.

I made my way back in the small apartment and could tell she’d put in a lot of effort to make it feel less like a guest room. She’d taken down a lot of the family pictures and cleaned out her home office and work out supplies, but there was still that pit in my stomach that made me blatantly aware that I was jobless, with very little experience under my belt.

A few hours later and I was pretty much unpacked. Most of my stuff went in a storage unit we rented for the time being, but I made sure I kept my clothes and games close at hand, especially knowing that I’d have plenty of free time in the weeks to come. I was just putting away my favorite books when my mom called me out to the kitchen for dinner.

“Damn, it smells good mom, can’t remember the last time I had food that wasn’t delivered or microwaved,” I said, laughing to myself.

“Well, just one more good thing about you stayin’ here for a while. I’m happy to make you some nice food.”

Not that I exactly needed it. I didn’t exactly have a body in the best of shape. I’d always been on the stocky side, despite my efforts over the years to lose weight. To make it a bit worse, I was only 5’6, so it wasn’t like I could spread everything around on a taller frame. I’d always lose a bit of weight, especially around my face, but I’d kept a pretty consistent, small belly. It did help that I was hairy and had pretty nice facial hair, so I got some attention from the guys that enjoyed cubs, but other than that, I wasn’t exactly the most popular guy at the clubs.

Trying to get my mom talking about something else before she inevitably brought up my lack of a love life, I quickly asked about rumors with the neighbors, as I knew she’d have a lot of gossip, even if she wasn’t usually one for spreading it around herself.

“Hmm. Well, Kathy on the third floor apparently lost her license. Guess she finally got one too many DUIs, go figure. Oh, and you’ll never guess who just moved in. Andrew Macmillan just bought the unit upstairs, apparently he and Lucy split up like a year ago and didn’t tell anyone.”

Shit, it had been a while since I’d thought about Mr. Macmillan. I used to be good friends with his son, Hunter, but we drifted apart in high school. There’d been some growing tension between us for years and I think he ditched me when he realized I was gay, far before I realized that myself, mind you. But Mr. Macmillan, well he always had a special place in my memories. I used to love hanging out with Hunter since I got to see and hang out with his dad sometimes too. He was incredibly handsome, at least to me. He was on the shorter side as well, and had a great rugby build, which made sense as he grew up in Scotland, but moved to the states around his high school years. Apparently, he’d met Lucy during an extended vacation she had to the UK and followed her home. I always guessed he had to follow her since they had Hunter at such a young age. I mean, he was only 40 years old, and damn did he make it look good.

“Say, maybe you could offer to help him move his stuff in, I think he was gonna show up sometime tomorrow actually. Apparently, Hunter didn’t wanna help him, guess he blames his dad for the divorce.”

“I guess I can see if he needs help.” Plus, it would be good to see the man who caused my gay awakening. Excusing myself, I put up my dishes and went back to my bedroom, exhausted from the long day of moving in. I stared at my ceiling for a bit, but it didn’t take long before my thoughts drifted to Andrew Macmillan.

He’d always worn tight fitting shirts, especially his old soccer jerseys that hung tight to his thick, dad frame. It didn’t take long before I grew hard under the sheets and I gripped my cock gently as I imagined what he must look like shirtless. In all the years I’d known him, I never once saw him in any state of undress and I always figured it was cause he must be a bit shy, something I could easily relate to as I never felt comfortable with the extra weight I carried either. He had a fair bit of heft around his stomach and in my mind, his meaty pecs were covered in a fine layer of hair, just adding to the perfection. I always blamed my love of older, bearish men on him, especially cause of his hairy forearms and the well-trimmed beard he always sported.

At this point, I was blatantly jerking off, imagining my own hands running down his chest before moving down further into his shorts. The thought alone of me rubbing my hand down the front of his underwear was too much for me and I could feel the pressure in my cock building. I was faintly moaning as I stroked harder and faster, before I shot all over my own hairy chest. As I came down from the high of such an intense pleasure, I wiped my load off with my sweat soaked shirt.

“Well, tomorrow is sure gonna be interesting.” And with that, I quickly fell into one of the most blissful nights of rest I’d had in a long time.

***

Getting up early the next morning, I quickly showered, cleaning off the remnants of last night’s fantasy fueled jerk off session. The last thing I needed was to meet Mr. Macmillan for the first time in nearly a decade, covered in cum. I made sure to wear work out adjacent clothes, knowing it was going to be a hot, muggy day, but I still put on just a dash of cologne. No sense in not at least trying to be more presentable.

I walked past the kitchen and grabbed one of the pieces of toast mom had put out for me and gave her a side hug goodbye. “Not sure when I’ll be back, I’d wager he has a bunch of stuff to move in if he’s living by himself from now on. So don’t wait up.” And with that, I walked out the door and went towards the front of our building.

The West Valley Apartment complex was a relatively nice and well-kept building, holding about 30 units mostly oriented toward single folk, but there were a handful of families living in the area. It helped that it was right across the street from a busy shopping center, so there always felt like there was something to do, which is important in such a small town.

I could see the moving truck just around the corner and walked closer, keeping an eye out for the middle-aged stud I’d seen long ago, but no one was at the truck it seemed. I glanced in the back and saw dozens of large moving boxes, some pieces of furniture, and a brand-new bed, still wrapped in plastic. Walking past it and towards the other entrance, I rounded the corner and ran right into a solid mass. Considering I’m not the strongest or tallest guy around, I stumbled backwards before I felt a pair of strong arms catch me and I looked up at my would-be savior.

He really hadn’t aged a day. Other than a few flecks of grey tinging the edges of his sideburns and beard, Andrew Macmillan still looked as handsome as ever. His dark brown hair was cut short, styled in a nice swoop across his head. It was just enough to look well groomed, but seemed a bit looser and wild as sweat dotted his forehead from the heat of the day. His bright, green eyes met mine and I could feel my heart flutter just a bit and before I could unravel my tongue, he spoke.

“Well shit, Charlie, is that really you?” He asked, still holding me at arm’s length, in a bit of a downward dip.

Chuckling to myself, I responded, “Yes sir it is. But, uh, you mind putting me down first?”

“Oh, right, sorry about that bud.” And he hauled me back to my feet before continuing on, “It’s been so long, must be what, 8, 10 years?” he asked.

“Sounds about right, sir. Right around the start of high school,” I replied, a hint of tension in my voice, remembering how I’d kind of gotten dropped to the curb by his son.

He’d been speaking with such enthusiasm and genuine shock before, but as he looked at me, I could see just a bit of hesitation and something else mix within his posture.

“Yeah, gonna be honest, I was disappointed when you and Hunter stopped hanging out, but still, it’s great to see you again. So, you live around here or just out wandering the great town of Perry?” he said to himself, chuckling a bit.

Laughing along with him, I replied, “Yes sir, my mom and I live here in the building actually. I just moved back for a bit and she heard you were moving in, so I figured I’d drop by and see if you needed some help with the move.”

I could hear the change in the tone of his voice as he perked right on up.

“Really kiddo? That would be great! I was kind of wondering how I was gonna get all this crap upstairs, but if you really don’t mind, I’d appreciate all the help you can give. I can even pay you a bit. I tried to get Hunter to help, but he was too busy apparently. Got himself a new girlfriend and all that.”

“Really, Mr. Macmillan, it’s no trouble at all and I couldn’t accept your money. My mother would slap me silly if I even tried.”

“Well alright then, and please, call me Andrew, that Mr. Macmillan business has gotta go.”

With a smile on my face, I turned back towards the truck and helped him begin the long process of moving his entire life up to the second floor, one box at a time.

***

Several hours later, both of us were exhausted, the sweat pooling around us as the air conditioning did little to cut the heat from the blistering Mississippi summer weather, especially considering the number of trips we took delving back into the fury of the sun. The last item of the day was a massive sofa that we hauled upstairs before we both collapsed in a heap on the cushy surface. Andrew called for a break and got up for a second before returning to his slouched position on the couch, two open beers in his hand as he extended one to me.

I’m not a huge drinker, but I didn’t wanna be rude, so I took it and drank deeply, grateful for the chill even if I wasn’t thrilled about the taste. I turned and watched as Andrew guzzled half the beer in one take before kicking his feet up on the coffee table, looking more relaxed than I’d seen him all day. Figuring it was okay, I also put my feet up, grateful for the rest as I was pretty sore from the day of intense work.

“Shit kiddo, thanks for the help today. I really don’t I’d have managed it without you. So thanks for saving me from having to pay some movers the big bucks.”

“Really sir, it is no big deal. Not like I have much going on anyways,” I laughed to myself quietly, before I felt his hand on my leg and turned to see him looking at me more intensely.

“Hey, knock it off, Charlie. You’re a good guy and I’m sure you’ll be back out there in no time. From what I remember of you in school, you were always one of the brightest kids in class, so don’t let me hear you talkin bad about yourself from here on out. Got it?”

I was taken a bit aback, not just the words he spoke, but from the earnestness he spoke them with. I kind of just dumbly nodded, thinking to myself that no one other than my mom had ever said such nice things to me, let alone someone I respected as much as Andrew. I also couldn’t help but let out a tiny little moan as I was deeply aware of his meaty hand on me. I could feel my face blush bright, so I looked away from him before he spoke up once more, seemingly unaware of the sound.

“Just think, at least you’re not some middle-aged loser who couldn’t keep his wife happy, so she up and left one day, taking half your stuff with her.”

I turned quickly back towards him. It was my turn to be serious, but instead of putting my hand on his leg, I reached for his shoulder. As I made contact with him, I could feel all the tension he carried, and he stiffened up even more at my touch, but I pushed through and gave a gentle squeeze.

“Sir, not to be disrespectful of Lucy, but she’s a damn idiot if she didn’t think you were enough. I mean seriously, you’ve got a great job, you’re funny, kind, and not to mention being a total stud. What more could she have wished for?”

I don’t know exactly what it was, but I felt something as he looked at me know. Maybe he was seeing me as something other than his kid’s old friend, but whatever it was, I realized then and there that I really loved the way he looked at me, with those piercing green eyes. I could see him struggle to find the words for a moment, but he seemed to sag a bit, just the smallest amount of that tension I’d sensed earlier easing up.

“Thanks Charlie. That really means a lot.”

We both kind of sat there for a bit and let the moment drag on before he seemed to shake out of whatever little bubble we’d build around ourselves.

“Well, I gotta be honest kiddo, I’m exhausted and I can tell how tired you are too, so why don’t you head on down and get some rest. I’ll unpack all this tomorrow,” he said, giving a grand gesture to the pile of boxes we’d amassed in the corner of the apartment.

“Alright sir, and thanks for the drink,” I said, reluctantly getting up from the comfortable spot I’d made for myself on his sofa.

“No problem.” He said, walking me out and towards the door of his apartment. He was closing the door behind me before he spoke up one last time.

“Say, Charlie? I don’t know if you have plans on Friday, but I ordered a new tv set up and the cable unit is supposed to be here too and I’m kind of a mess when it comes to technology stuff. You think you’d be able to help me out again?”

I don’t know if it was just wishful thinking or not, but the way he asked, with just the slightest bit of hesitation and embarrassment made me think he was hoping for a bit more than tech support. Either way, I smiled, and replied.

“I’d love to.” And I turned back down the hallway, reluctantly leaving, but with a bit more of a spring in my step as I went.