I Said Yes

LOUIS XIII & More Surprises

“His soul sat up. It met me. Those kinds of souls always do – the best ones. 

The ones who rise up and say “I know who you are and I am ready”. 

Not that I want to go, of course, but I will come. Those souls are always light because more of them have been put out. 

More of them have already found their way to other places.”

Markus Zusak

The guys and I all met up at my downtown spot. It was a familiar, CHEERS sort of place where everyone knew everyone and most of the patrons were in the restaurant and/or bar business. I was good friends with Murray, the head bartender. Murray was in his 60's and was a bar tending legend, not just in our town but all over the country. People flocked in just to watch him make old school cocktails as it was as much about the show as the drink.

As it so happened we beat the crowd and were able to get a few barstools. Chris and Corey sat and Michael, Nolan and I stood behind them. With intros out of the way Murray set out to craft cocktails for us. Michael, Nolan and Chris were mesmerized by the process. All you had to do was tell Murray what your liquor of choice was and he surprised you...of course he knew mine! We all waited for the drinks to be made and when they all arrived Michael raised his glass in a toast to the evening. We had a good time joking around and telling tales about each other. Corey and I embarrassed each other with tales of stupid restaurant moves and Michael had a lot of fun making Chris look like the goofball he was. 2 or 3 drinks later I excused myself to have a smoke and go to the restroom. When I came back there were 5 snifters lined up with a bottle of "Louis XIII" on the bar. I looked at Murray and he just shrugged his shoulders as he poured. He then laid 5 cigars out on the bar and told us the patio heaters we up and running and we were welcome to go out there. The patio reminds one of a bistro-style setting parked along the sidewalk and next to a series of steps that would take you down to the waterfront. There is always a lot of foot traffic on the steps as it leads to one of the city’s best attractions. I thought to myself “what a nice way to celebrate the evening...Cubans and Louis…, expensive as all hell” and, apparently all courtesy of Michael.

The boys went back in to get more cocktails and to watch the Murray show and in doing so they left Michael and I to ourselves.

"Buddy...you know what the tab for the Louis and the stogies is going to be right?”

"Give me a little credit ya jackass"

"Ok ok...I was just checking"

"You can get the next one"

"Ha...not on my salary...I don’t own a world class winery like some people”

"Ok...then come up with another way to...pay me back...or make it up to me" and with that he busted out in his goofy laughter.

"Ass"

"He thinks I’m kidding" as he said to a passerby on the sidewalk.

"Jackass"

We butted out our smokes, grabbed our glasses and went back inside to the boys. The place had filled with its usual crowd of industry peeps. Another hour gone and you had a hard time getting a drink in less than 20 minutes. Thankfully Murray had lined us up before he got slammed. Michael looked beat so I told him to let me know when he was ready...

"Oh, I'm ready alright...so ready!"

Ok...so, up until now I had been oblivious to the sly remarks and innuendo...but this one I caught. It’s just that I was confused. While I caught it I still didn't think I understood it. My brain took me back to the kiss...to the skinny dipping...to the kiss on the cheek and the whispering in my ear...the grins and smiles and long glances. Shit...and now he is going to be at my house for the night. Funny thing was, I realized, every time he did one of these goofy things I got that weird feeling in my stomach...this time I felt it in my chest too...I can only describe it as butterflies like you get when you are nervous about something.

Realizing it was late and everyone had a long day the boys and I asked Murray if we could cash out and he said everything had been handled. None of us wanted Michael to foot this bill considering he spent almost a grand on the Louis and Cubans...Murray said "it's done"...and I just looked at Michael as he stood up...leaned in, slapped me on the back and said 'No arguments"...and then he leaned in further whispering "I'm just trying to stack the deck". He turned and, above the noise, thanked Murray and shook his hand. Michael and the boys headed for the door and as I turned to follow, Murray grabbed my arm and said

"It's good to see you with someone who makes you laugh and smile again...

It’s been way too long! "

As I started to talk Murray gently patted me on the cheek and said "get outta here...see you tomorrow!" And he walked back behind the bar and went back to work.

Ok...now I was even more confused...what was Murray talking about? He knew a lot about my personal life so he must have been talking about the past several weeks and my mood. But I had been in with Corey...we laughed and joked...I don't know...maybe I am just missing shit or even over thinking it.

We got to the parking structure and Michael grabbed his bag from Chris' truck and then he grabbed a case of the reserve out of the back and put it all in my car. Nolan, Corey and Chris all man-hugged us and they took off.

"Well...here we are again...just you and me kid... (I thought the reference funny because I was a few years older than him) ...finally...just you and me!"

PUPPY LOVE

“People are more what they hide than what they show…”

As we drove over the bridge that connected downtown to the small island neighborhood where my place was Michael asked if there were any hot springs close. I laughed and told him the only steam he would see tonight was coming off the frigid bay into the warmer air and his response was "I kinda doubt that!"…

Bam...there was another one

I chose to shrug that one off and continued idly chatting about nothing of significance and then I made a sharp turn into a parking lot telling Michael I needed a shot. He just chuckled and said

"Whatever it takes".

We popped into my neighborhood Irish Pub (The Admiral Pub) and were greeted by Steve the bartender. Steve was an Irish guy, with a very thick accent. He punched me in the arm as we came around the bar and proceeded to scold me for not having been in recently. He shook Michael’s hand and then lined up two Irish red pints and shots of Jameson...without us even ordering. Steve poured a shot for himself...raised his glass saying "Slainte" ...we clinked and downed the whiskey.

The clientele at the Pub was very mixed. It mirrored the eclectic makeup of the neighborhood...a mix of yuppies and hipsters and very, very liberal. ...think present day Berkeley in a tie. There is a substantial gay and lesbian population and this night, I think for the first time, I noticed that group was well represented in the Pub. After a few minutes of chit-chat, I suggested we play a game of darts and Michael said “Nah”.

"Aww...cuz you don't want me to kick your ass? Come on...nobody here knows you..." 

Michael was surveying the bar…looking around and, a few seconds later he looked at me and said…

"Well actually someone here does know me"and with that he pointed over to the far corner in the back of the pub...past the dart boards at a dimly lit table...It took me a minute to figure out where he was pointing and then a second to realize who he was pointing at.

"Shit...are you kidding me?”

"Shhhhh...shut up...they will hear you"

That part was unlikely because of the loud music...but there sat Corey and Chris… (speaking of unlikely) ...Looking all intimate, intense and clearly involved. It became obvious, as we spied shamelessly from around the corner, that there was more to this pairing than just friendship...

After a few minutes of staring Michael grabbed me by the shirt and dragged me back to the bar. We bellied up and he pounded his beer...Now I can drink cocktails with the best of them but I cannot chug a beer so I was nursing it...

"Come on dude...let’s go before they catch us"

"Funny…cuz I’m thinking we caught them!"

"Dude...I don’t know about your boy Corey...but I know Chris would die if he knew we saw them"

"Ok ok...ya know I’m not sure how Corey would react...it’s just not something I have ever considered when it comes to him"

"We are their bosses...we shouldn't put them on the spot"..."you are clueless"

"What?"

"Come on...let’s go ho!"

He wrapped his arm around my neck and started pulling me towards the door. I struggled to stop for a minute and threw some money on the bar for Steve and said goodnight as I was being dragged. Steve, with a big grin on his face said

“Don’t you ladies be strangers now ya hear” …in his thick Irish brogue.

We made our way in the front door of the house and were swarmed by puppy love. The Yorkies were all over Michael… yipping and trying to jump up into his arms. It was a display usually reserved for me and... certainly not strangers. He put his bag and the wine box down and then scooped them both up as they showered him with licks and kisses. I stood there in shock thinking that these must not be my pups...my pups think they are Rottweilers and would never let a stranger in the door let alone shower him with kisses. No growling, no barking and no biting. ...wow...what gives? Who are these mutts and what have they done with my pups? As I stood there in the foyer watching this obscene public display of affection, I started to feel something and I caught myself smiling at the whole scene. It was really strange as there was this clichéd warm and fuzzy feeling and it literally gave me goosebumps of a sort. Strange in that I hadn’t really had this feeling come over me…well…in a very long time.

Shaking that whole thing off I realized the commotion had sort of died down and Michael was taking his suit jacket off. I told him I was going to take the pups out quick and for him to make himself at home...

"Oh, I will...thanks" and, as he was going through my kitchen cupboards (?) the pups and I went outside. We were gone for about 15 minutes and when I opened the front door to come back in I realized the lights were dimmed, the gas fireplace had been started, music was playing on the CD player and there were two full glasses of red wine on the coffee table next to a burning candle.

I checked the pup’s food and water dishes, got them treats and watched as they settled in...one on each end of the couch...strangely…it was almost like they were coached. Normally both would get up in the side chair next to the couch but never really on the couch. As I surveyed the room again I noted that the shower was running and then I heard the water turnoff.

The house sat at the back of a very long and narrow lot, in an old neighborhood overlooking the bay, and was only about 800 square feet. It was shaped like a rectangle…reminding you of a double wide mobile or modular home. The bathroom door faced out into the small living area and the bedroom was to the right but sort of hidden from the living room. The living area merged into the dining area and kitchen at the other end so… picture a studio floor plan with a bedroom attached. On the back side of the small bedroom, or the rear of the house, was a glass enclosed porch with an exterior door leading out to the back yard. The setup was great…in the summer months a great place to have your morning coffee and in the winter months it was kept warm and insulated by the glass and you were protected from the damp and cold. I had a futon, a 2-piece table and chair set and some plants that managed to stay alive despite my lack of a green thumb. It was really a nice little setup, the house, and yard and porch, especially for a couple or a single guy.

One of the best features, besides a kick-ass kitchen, was the shower. A large walk in enclosure, made with those semi-transparent glass blocks and complete with two shower heads and a seat...don’t know why...just thought it was killer.

So, as I was in the bedroom hanging up my suit and grabbing some sweats to change into, the bathroom door opened, and Michael emerged dressed in a wife beater tank and boxer briefs. I’m not sure why, but for a split second, I thought, to myself, that he looked really good like that. There I go again!

He looked at me and smiled...a different sort of smile than I had seen...and he went into the living room. Hmmm...I still didn’t know what to make of those smiles and grins, but I was starting to appreciate that, though a man of few words, his facial expressions, smiles and smirks got to me?

I threw a sweatshirt on, passing on the sweatpants, and I went out into the living room. Michael was lounging on the couch, eyes closed, glass in one hand and petting one of the pups with the other. He was stretched out with his head leaning on the back of the couch and his legs stretched out below…his feet on the floor with legs crossed at the ankles. As I passed to go into the kitchen I got those butterflies again but chalked it up to…well…I didn’t know what to chalk it up to. I set the coffee pot up for the next morning and turned the kitchen and dining room lights all the way off, locked the front door and moved back into the living room. I stood there for a minute and just stared at Michael looking so relaxed and peaceful. A strange feeling of normalcy came over me…meaning that, at that moment, in that time and place, it felt like this was a setting that was normal… and so comfortable that it scared me. The music was playing…a fire in the fireplace…this guy sprawled out on my couch…this guy who I had become friends with yet barely knew and my brain was spinning. I sat on the arm of the couch and was sipping on wine, petting the other pup and Michael opened his eyes and caught me looking at him.

“Enjoying the view?”

“What? Wait…No…I mean”

“I know what you mean” …” Your head is spinning and you still are clueless aren’t you?”

“What, NO!”

Michael just sat there smiling at me. There was a clear awkwardness for me. His words have been so cryptic and appearing to have some hidden meaning yet, I guess, I was clueless. He chugged about half his glass and put it on the coffee table. He then rose up and moved over towards me and stood. As I was staring up at him from my half-sitting/leaning position I took a sip and then he took my glass and set it down on the table. He took the sides of may face in his hands, leaned in, never losing eye contact, and kissed me. Not just a kiss…a toe-curling kiss that literally took my breath away…because I did not expect it…at it was that good.

When he pulled away…still holding my face…he asked if I got it yet?

Fumbling for words I just continued to stare. I looked around the room, looked at the pups… I tried to avoid eye contact but was not very successful at it for my attention kept going back to him. I suddenly realized what a genuinely handsome guy he was. His eyes were deep…his jawline strong and pronounced…that bit of a double chin covered with, now day-old scruff…but it was his eyes and his smile that got me right then. They were speaking…and speaking to me and, out of the blue I was feeling something I hadn’t felt in a long time and, I would learn how intuitive Michael was…he got it…he wasn’t clueless…

Michael just kept looking at me…for what seemed like days. He ran his finger down the side of my face…over my chin…down my neck…and to the center of my chest. He grabbed a hold of my hand and sort of pulled me up from my sitting/leaning position…put his finger back under my chin…and delivered another one of those kisses. By now, much to my horror and dismay, I was feeling the physical effects of his actions and I guess it showed. He pulled away…still holding my hand…looked me up and down…got the devil-grin on his face and said

“Come on…time for you to pay up!” and with that he turned and walked to the bedroom pulling me behind him…