What a fucking drag. Could I do it? Of course I could, but man, this sucked. But I had to help Carlos out. He was my best friend so if Carlos' brother needed help, I would do it. But he would owe me, that's for sure. That's for fucking sure.
So yeah, we were in Port Vila. Know where that is?The capital of Vanuatu. It's this bunch of islands between Fiji and Australia. Gorgeous. Like how can an island in the South Pacific not be gorgeous? We were there for a kind of stag week for Carlos' cousin's wedding. His name is Jorge. They have a big Spanish family spread all over the world and Jorge lives in Australia so for him, Vanuatu is around the corner.
But the deal was that Carlos' brother – Sergio – is gay. That's not really the point, although it is relevant to this story. I'm cool with that. Really chill dude. A lot like his brother but he likes cock.
Apparently after our first day in the resort which was across the bay from the main part of Port Vila, Sergio realized that his ex-boyfriend was invited. This ex of Sergio's – Frank – went to uni with Jorge when Jorge lived in England. That's where we're from. Get it? There'll be a test afterward.
Anyway...Sergio and Frank had a really ugly break-up. Really ugly. I heard all about it. According to Sergio, Frank behaved like an ass and Sergio was really hurt. Poor guy. Men can be such shits sometimes. He was sleeping around with any guy with a cock and when Sergio found out, all Frank did was to invite him to join in. It's cool and all when couples agree they can sleep with other people. No problem. But they had agreed they weren't going to have that arrangement. But then Frank decided to do it anyway. How shitty is that?
So all this leads to the morning when I was sitting having coffee on the big patio overlooking the water, taking in the amazing view of the harbour, when Carlos came over and sat down.
“Hey man...you look like you haven't slept.”
He ordered a coffee from the server who came over and put his head down on the table. He looked up and said, “Yeah. Sergio was freaking out last night.”
I put my coffee cup down. “What's going on?”
Carlos sighed and said, “You remember Frank?”
I snorted and said, “Asshole.”
Carols grinned at me. “Yeah, well, you also remember he's friends with Jorge...?”
I suddenly got it. “He's here?”
“Yup. With his boyfriend.”
I thought for a moment about how complicated gay guy's lives were. I mean, sure, us straight people make a mess too, but gay guys seem to manage to make it even messier. “Man...that's really uncool.”
“I know.” Carols stopped, just looking at me. I could tell something else was coming and I felt a little worried. “So, Stan...Sergio was wondering...could you, like, pretend to be his boyfriend for the week? Just hang out with him and make nice. Sergio doesn't want to feel like he's a pathetic single guy in front of his ex.”
Now that stopped me cold. What the fuck? I had known Carlos and Sergio since we were in our early teens. They were like family to me, especially since I was an only child. I kind of envied their big family. I had met Jorge and other cousins and aunts and uncles over the years, so I really felt like I was part of them. But this? Don't get me wrong. I love Sergio like a brother. When he came out when he was seventeen and I was eighteen it was no biggie. Not at all. I even helped hook him up with his first boyfriend.
I gulped more coffee. “So you want me to hang with Sergio and pretend we're fucking?”
Carols winced. “Yeah, something like that. It's not like you have to actually do it. Of course not. Just put on a good show.”
I thought a moment. It started to make sense. Of course I could do it. This was Sergio, after all. He was in a fix and I could help. No problem. I trusted Sergio with my life for fuck's sake. Both of them. They were like brothers to me. I said, “Sure. Of course I'll help out. You guys have always been there for me, it's the least I can do.”
And it was true. When my parents split when I was sixteen, The Arenas' totally took me in. Sergio and Carlos' parents are the best and they let me stay at their house when things were rough – before and during the divorce. I spent many nights sleeping on Carlos' bedroom floor and we would smoke a bowl and he would listen to me ramble on about how shitty my parents were. Not many people will do that for you. And Sergio, too. They were there for me.
So, yeah, I was going to play Sergio's boyfriend for the week. Which was a little weird, since this was a stag week after all, but I guess it was also just part of the whole wedding experience, a chance for the big, far-flung family to hang. I texted my girlfriend Natalie in Manchester – that's where we're from – and told her. She's cool and she knows the Arena's almost as well as I do. She sent me some replies full of loopy emojis telling me she was laughing her ass off.
Carlos and I spent an hour or so hanging on the patio, drinking coffee. Eventually Sergio appeared. He looked as tired as his brother. He also looked at me guiltily. I said, “Chill, Sergio. It's all cool. I'll be your boyfriend this week and Frank won't know any better. Besides, Frank barely knows me, right? We can just say I decided I was bi, or something.”
Sergio had this look of total relief on his face. He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Thanks, Stan. I really appreciate it.”
I grinned and said, “So...I guess we have to start now, right? Frank could come by at any moment.”
Sergio looked a little scared. “You all right with that? I mean, you're ready?”
I shrugged. I didn't necessarily feel ready, but I knew I wanted to be. I realized the difference between holding hands with my best friend's brother, who was also a good friend, was not really any different than boyfriends holding hands – or me and Natalie, for that matter. Well, except the part where they suck each other's cocks later, but you get the idea. I reached over and tool Sergio's hands. “See? No biggie.”
So yeah, at that moment, I started my role as Sergio's boyfriend. It was kind of fun, actually. I knew lots of people and as we moved around throughout the day, Sergio and I held hands, stood close, did all the things that indicated we were together. Except kiss.
Along the way, Carlos and Sergio explained things to various guys who needed to know. You know, family members who would assume I had decided I was gay. When we told them, they shook their heads and said I was doing an amazing thing for Sergio. Soon, most of the guys knew the score and made jokes and snickered behind Frank's back. Even Jorge, who snorted and said, “Yeah, I told Frank not to bring his boyfriend since I knew Sergio was going to be here,” and he looked at him sympathetically, “But he did anyway. I'm kind of pissed at him. Sorry, Sergio.”
That was a relief. The guys in the Arenas family were on side. Such a cool bunch. Sergio said, “Thanks, Jorge. You're an awesome dude.”
So that day, Sergio and I played the boyfriend thing. It was no different than hanging with Natalie, casually holding hands, or sitting close, putting my hand around his shoulders, or his on mine – easy. Since we knew each other so well, it was comfortable.
Sergei's cousins joked and asked us who was going to be on top, yadda, yadda, but we played along. Frank was clearly keeping out of sight, but at seven, there was a dinner with everyone and we gathered in a big outdoor seating area with candles and torches, and there was Frank and his – I gotta say it – boytoy. Fuck. I felt Sergio stiffen beside me when we saw him. I put my hand on his back and said, “It's all cool, Sergio. We've got you.” He turned to me, looking grateful and I felt him lean into me.
We sat down and it turned out our table was right next to Frank's. We were with some of Sergios's cousins, which was fun, since most of them were younger and full of beans, and getting pretty drunk. I could see where this evening was headed for them. You know, when a bunch of twenty-something guys get together and get off their faces pissed. Carlos was at another table with Jorge so it was just us. I caught Sergio sneaking looks at Frank who was really close by. His boy – because he seemed like he was about nineteen – was all blonde and buff and acted like he was better than everyone there. Little shit.
Even though this was a stag thing, I suddenly wished Natalie was there since she has a way with people, being sly and snarky and sarcastic so that people think she's being serious when actually she's totally taking the piss. I pulled out my phone and texted her, telling her I missed her, cause I did.
But the dinner went off pretty well, and after the main course and a lot of wine, Jorge stood up and bashed his fork on his wine glass and everyone shut up. He gave us a little speech about behaving ourselves and playing nice, when breakfast was and where the beach was.
When he sat down, some of the guys got up to some serious drinking, guzzling lites of the local beer. Sergio, I could tell, wasn't all that into the straight guy piss-up. Nor was I, truth be told, but a part of me wanted to partake. I was straight, after all.
But I've never been into the whole bro crowd. I can play along and sometimes enjoy it, but given the circumstances with Sergio, I knew I had to channel my inner metrosexual. So a little while after midnight, Sergio looked at me and said, “Maybe we should bail...I'm pretty tired. That fucking flight was endless.”
I had to agree with him. A million hours of sitting in an economy seat of three different planes with screaming babies and bad movies had done me in, too. I said, “Sure. I'm beat.”
We made our exit, not bothering to say goodbye, since we would be seeing everyone in the morning anyway. We went back into the hotel and up to the floor where our rooms were. Just as we got out off the elevator, we saw Frank and his boy walking ahead of us down the hall. I felt Sergio get all tense beside me. We stopped and watched them walk. They were holding hands, then they stopped at a door – presumably their room – and the boy dug in his pocket for the fob, but before he could use it, Frank pulled him close and they started necking. Fuck. I didn't need to see that.
I heard Sergio swear under his breath. He turned to me and with a look of apology, put his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. Then he turned and said, “Hey, Frank. I hope you two had a nice evening...”
Then he looked at me a second and said, “I'm going to kiss you...sorry, just go with it.”
I got it. He was trying to make a show of how happy he was with his new boyfriend – me – and wanted to prove it. But me? I kind of panicked and froze. This was not what I signed up for. But at the same time, I thought, fuck it. Why not? I was a little drunk and if it would help my friend, then surely I could do this him. Just once, mind you.
So he leaned in and I could fell his breath on my face and smell a little wine. My face was frozen, my body clenched and then our lips met. But he didn't just give me a little peck. No way. He wanted to put on a show. I felt his mouth open, and without even thinking, I instinctively did the same. Kissing is kissing, right? I like kissing as much as the next guy. In other words it was just impulse. But he wanted even more. He pushed his face into mine, our lips mashing together and I was surprised at how soft his mouth was, how supple his lips were, how strong his tongue felt when it snaked into my mouth. It was a shock, let me tell you. His tongue moved around, trying to get mine to join in, but I just couldn't. I was too stunned.
He changed the angle of his head and pulled back long enough to take a breath, then moved in again. I was more prepared and I tried to follow suit, tried to match his energy just so we could show Frank how into each other we were. I moved my tongue, but a little half-heartedly. I didn't feel nauseous or disgusted or anything, but I sure as hell was uncomfortable and, strangely, confused and a million things were happening in my head.
Finally he pulled back, staring at me and then whispered, “Thanks. I owe you.”
I whispered back, “Yeah. You sure as hell do.”
He looked down the hall to see just Frank standing there, staring at us. Then he turned and went into his room. Bingo.
Sergio grinned and then walked to the door of his room and pulled out his fob, saying, “I mean it, Stan. Thanks for playing along. I know that was...unexpected.”
I felt bad for him, despite what he had just put me through. I said, “No problem, mate. That's what friends are for.”
But when I got in my room, I flung myself on the bed. I lay there, my face in the pillow. It wasn't that I was kissed by a guy, or that that guy was Sergio. It wasn't that he had pulled me close to him while he did it, pressing his body into mine. No, it wasn't just that. It was the fact that, when he kissed me the second time, really putting on a show, when I let me tongue meet his, our lips totally mashing together, it was the fact that I felt a little twinge and not in my stomach – although I was feeling things there, too. That little twinge was in my fucking cock. Actually, it was more than a twinge. When Sergio pulled back I realized my dick was half hard. And I'm sure he noticed, because he stared at me for a moment, his big brown eyes boring into me. Fuck.
--
Light was pouring in the room from the window when I woke up from a dream. My mouth was dry and I had to pee like a racehorse. All I could remember of the dream was I was with Carlos and Sergio and I was naked and they were just staring at me like I had done something terrible.
There was a knock at the door, so I pulled myself off the the bed, put on some briefs and staggered over to open it. There was Carlos, grinning.
“Stan, my man! Happy morning! I hope you're as hung over as I am. Let's get breakfast.”
I went to pee, put on some clothes and met Carlos in the hall. He slapped me on the back and said, “You look like hell.”
I croaked, “Yeah, cheers.”
We got down to the patio where the sun was blasting everything and found Sergio at a table by himself. He looked up at me and shrugged and I knew not to say anything, but in that moment I had a vivid memory of the feel of his lips on mine. Just for a second. I shook my head and drank the glass of water that was in front of me really fast.
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