I Said Yes

Surprise, Surprise and, a few more

That same evening, I met up with Corey and Rob at the Admiral Pub. It was Corey’s day off and Rob had texted him about my meeting with Colleen and Kerri. Corey couldn’t wait another day to find out the results so I agreed to meet those guys as long as it was close to home…I had worked open to close and Michael was blowing into town the next day so I wanted to make it a semi-early night. I got to the pub first and was promptly greeted by Steve. Had not seen him in several weeks and we were in the middle of a catch-up session when Corey blew in…

“Hey guys…Steve…did you hear Matt’s getting married?” (Corey)

“What? What the fuck?” (Steve)

“Dude…what are you doing…starting rumors like that”

“Who…who is gonna marry you?” (Steve)

“Oh, fuck off ass”

So, Corey had opened that door, so I had to spend several minutes filling Steve in on the info about Michael and me…

“I want your house when you move” (Steve)

“Sure…10 grand a month”

“Oh, fuck that…only if the pups come with it” (Steve)

We laughed at that one and went about chatting it up and drinking our drinks. During the conversation I got the impression, just from little things that Corey had said, he and Chris were continuing to explore a relationship. I think that was why he was keenly interested in where things were going with Michael and I found myself wanting to just ask him.... but I figured if he wanted to tell me he would. Rob popped in and sat for a few minutes with us before just breaking down the awkwardness of it by asking Corey how his days off with Chris were…and bam…there it was…and I didn’t have to say a word. It was clear that Corey was flustered and irritated with Rob. Rob, being the big oaf that he could be, looked at Corey with an expression of confusion…he clearly hadn’t thought about it before it came out of his mouth…

“What the hell dude? (Corey)

“What?” (Rob)

“What are you talking about…what the hell?” (Corey)

I decided, in the interest of not embarrassing Corey any more than he already was, that I would grab my drink and walk over to the juke box. I was able to see that Corey and Rob were in the middle of a very animated conversation and Corey was clearly worked up. Steve joined me, with a couple of shots in hand, over at the juke box. We toasted and downed the shots and he stayed with me for a few minutes…

“Well that cat came flying out of that bag eh?” (Steve)

“Yeah…Corey is pretty worked up about it”

“I’m gonna stay over here with you for a minute…little dude is not happy” (Steve)

“Yeah…poor guy…NOT – ha-ha”

“He has no idea you and Michael saw them that first night, does he?” (Steve)

“Nope…I don’t know if Michael has ever said anything to Chris, but I haven’t said a word…I know Corey well enough to know he would tell me when he’s ready. Rob is just a goof who doesn’t think about that stuff before he talks…ha-ha”

“Ah well…someday Corey will realize we don’t give a “shite” (Steve)

“Yeah…ok…I am going back in…gonna break up that little girl fight and talk business with them for a minute…will you set us up for another round and some shots…this should be a celebration for them so I gotta get Corey’s panties out of the bunch they are in”

Steve had a hearty laugh at that, and we wandered back over to the bar. It was dead in there and it was only the three of us and Steve at the bar top. I interrupted the guys and motioned for them to pick up their drinks…we clinked glasses and Steve said “Slainte” …we downed the shots and I proceeded to tell the boys to chill out…I had news…

I decided I would completely ignore the conversation Rob and Corey were having and spent the next 30 minutes or so outlining my meeting with Colleen and Kerri. They had a couple of questions…mostly about the timing and when things would happen and Corey was interested in when he would get a raise…I chuckled at that one and told him soon, all in good time. As we sat there, mostly talking about sports and a few of the upcoming events at the restaurant, I received a text from Michael…

Michael: Talk

Me: I am out at Admiral with the guys…should be home in an hour

Michael: Ok. I have surprise for you

Me: What?

Michael: Soon

Me: Ass. Will text when I get home

Michael: LY (Love you)

Me: LY2

That was a little weird but hey, it was Michael and what would a day be without a little weirdness involving him? The guys and I decided to play a game of darts…I had really thought about getting home but they convinced me to stay for a little while…against my better judgement but I figured, since I was off the next couple of days…what the hell. I shot Michael a text telling him I was gonna hang out for a bit but got no response…I let him know I would touch base when I got home.

We were in the middle of the dart game, bantering back and forth, having a good time when Steve appeared with a tray with three drinks and three shots…I must have had a confused look on my face when he told me the guy at the bar bought us the drinks…I looked over and, sure as shit, there was Michael sitting at the bar…Rob and Corey cracked up laughing as Steve and I walked over to the bar…

“Hey lover…how’s it hanging?” (Michael)

“What the hell?”

“I told you I had a surprise for you” (Michael)

“Yes, yes you did…so what is it?”

“Ha-ha you ass” (Michael)

He got off the barstool and gave me a big hug and kiss on the side of my face. He had a nice, form fitting tank top on with his favorite cargo shorts…and was clearly not wearing any underwear…I was flattered as I could feel the bulge when we hugged. His signature look, all hot, and his signature evil grin with those dimples prominently displayed…god, I thought, I am a lucky man to have this guy in my life and wanting me!

“If you weren’t out partying, I was gonna show up at your door with nothing but a bow on…but you missed out” (Michael)

“Damn…well I suppose I will just have to unwrap you when we get home”

“Nice come back…nice recovery!” (Michael)

While Rob and Corey continued the dart game and Steve got busy with a few other customers who had come in, Michael proceeded to tell me that they finished up with the bottling, for the week, earlier in the day and he decided to just come on over. He said he had a couple of sales calls to make and a vendor meeting early in the morning so he thought he would just make the trip to give us a little extra time together. I was happy, really happy, but I sort of played it off like it was a bit of an imposition…but he saw right through that. He told me that Diane and Chris were also, either in town, or would be the following morning and they wanted to get together for dinner at Elliott’s the following evening…

“Maybe that is why Corey is so squirrely…Rob sort of outed him tonight and he wasn’t a very happy camper”

“He just needs to get over it…does he not realize we don’t care?” (Michael)

“Nah…I think he just doesn’t know what to think of any of it…well besides the physical part…he hasn’t said a word to me but tonight there were some little hints”

“I haven’t said anything to Chris but he seems to assume I just know…he is always so even-keel anyway…I don’t think he would be surprised to hear we knew but I don’t think he would care” (Michael)

“Well…like Steve said earlier…the cat is out of the bag…so Corey is on edge”

“Did you say anything to him…?” (Michael)

“Nope…I played it off and walked over to the juke box…I could tell he was pretty worked up and he was giving Rob the What-For”

“That’s kind of funny…I mean everyone handles it differently…and no one likes to be outed when they are not ready…but knowing him…it is funny!” (Michael)

“Well…don’t make too much of it…I still have to deal with him at work and I need him focused, especially right now”

Just as Michael was going to respond to that he, and Corey, got a text message…just about the same time. Corey and Rob walked over and took seats by us…

“Hey Chef…how’s it going?” He little man…how are you?” (Michael)

“Doing good Michael…I guess you have seen Corey’s dick…Little Man?” (Rob)

“Oh fuck off Rob” (Corey)

We laughed and laughed at Corey’s expense. He clearly was not having it and didn’t really have a sense of humor about it. What I found out later, after Corey suddenly decided it was time for him to go, was that the text messages, to he and Michael, were from Chris telling them he was in town…he had decided to drive on over like Michael did. Michael told me that he was waiting to see Corey’s reaction before he responded…he was going to tell Chris we were all at Admiral…but then Corey made his exit.

“Just let him know. He might want to stop and have a shot since he is probably staying at his folks place here in West Seattle”

“Sounds like Corey may have had other plans. Maybe Corey wants him to stay at his place” (Michael)

“Well…let him know and see if he responds…otherwise we can get outta here if you want?”

Michael let Chris know we were at Admiral, but Chris begged off…he must have been waiting for Corey which, for me was fine. I had wanted it to be an early evening to begin with and now, with the man there, I really wanted to go home. We each had another round and a couple of shots and Rob said his goodbyes…I paid the tab and Michael followed me to the house in his car. We got to the house…he grabbed his bag and we went in. To say the pups were excited to see him was an understatement as they jumped and ran in circles and bounced around. I told him I was gonna take them out and he could get settled. He went to the kitchen to open some wine as I took the little rug-rats outside.

When we were through with the walk, I took them off the leashes and they went barreling in the front door. When I got inside it took me a second to realize what I was seeing…I instantly got flush and hard…there was Michael…naked as a jaybird on the couch…with a big red bow stuck to his chest…

“Surprise!”