Simply Red

Brody’s Perspective

We were just over a week away from the wedding, the invites were out, the arrangements were all finalized, and all our friends had booked rooms or Airbnb’s. On the career front, I just finished working on two major campaigns for new clients. It was Friday and we got word that they both were sold in and were going into development so they told the creative team to head home early and take a break because the late nights were about to begin. It was only about 3:30 when I left to head home. Max had a faculty meeting after school, then was going to stay and do something in his classroom, so he wouldn’t be home until later.

When I pulled into the driveway and up to the house, I found a brand new gold Cadillac parked in front of the garage. The car was empty. I looked around the front yard but didn’t see anyone around so I started to walk towards the porch keeping a cautious eye out. I walked up the steps and saw a wedding gift sitting in front of the door. We had received several others; the small gift was wrapped very ornately and just sitting in front of the door with no card. I picked it up and put my key in the door when I heard a voice say “Well, there he is! My baby boy looking all grown up and professional.” I turned to see Patty James standing there. She was dressed to the nines in a pink blazer and tight skirt, her hair high, and her makeup just perfect (a little over the top, but perfect in her eyes). The woman wasn’t worth a penny but always looked like a million bucks. Whenever she was working a scam, she’d spend every penny she had renting expensive cars and buying designer clothes… her philosophy was ‘if you look like you have money, people won’t suspect you’re trying to take theirs.’ She leaned in for a hug, but I pulled back. I was not much of a hugger to begin with, and I saved them for the important people and moments in my life. Neither she nor this moment qualified as hug-worthy.

“What are you doing here?” I asked with basically no emotion, I was more annoyed by her presence than anything else, I guess.

“Well, I moved back to town and heard you were living in your grandmother’s house. I just stopped by to visit my son. I was just looking around; you sure have fixed the old place up.” Yeah, she smelled money

“Who do ya’ think you’re talking to, Patty?” I said still unemotional. “You don’t just stop by for visits. You’re wasting your time here. I aint got any money and neither does Dylan. We’ve been fine for the past eight years on our own, why don’t y’all just get in your rented caddy and head back to Florida.” My words were firm and sharp. It may have been harsh, but it’s the only way to shut her down, the slightest crack and she’ll push her way in. But the reality is that she was used to getting that kind of reaction. Like I said before, she’s a scam artist.

“Brody!” She scolded, “I’m your mother and I just wanted to see what you were up to. Why do you have to be so suspicious?” Dear lord. She had gotten our hopes up so many times when we were teenagers by showing up and playing mother… the next thing we knew she’d be gone and so would our birthday money, or our graduation money, or our paper route money, etc., whatever she could find. She never stuck around for long and she NEVER came just to see us. “I just stopped by to drop off a wedding gift for you and… Maxwell, is it? I hear you’re getting married next weekend”

I wasn’t surprised she knew about Maxwell or the wedding, that was her MO. Creep back into town, ask around about us, assess the potential, then try to weasel her way in. I just rolled my eyes at her, gotdammit, we almost made it to the wedding without here showing up. This was all part of the routine. I guarantee you the gift would be something cheap posing as sentimental and designed to pull at the heart strings so she could better manipulate me. It worked when we were kids. She’d show up with something insignificant like an old Matchbox car that she bought at a rummage sale and say “I saw this and thought of you. I used to watch you lay on the kitchen floor and play with your cars all day.” She was a master manipulator and did her darnedest to play on your emotions. Me and my brother used to fall for her crap when we were younger, but no more.

“Thank you, but I think it’d be best if you just left Patty.” I said in a cold tone as I handed her the gift back.

She smiled a sugary fake smile, cocked her head, handed me a business card, and said, “You keep the gift, darlin’. Here’s my number when you change your mind. I would truly love to meet your Maxwell and be part of your special day.” Then she turned and walked back to her rented Cadillac. I read the business card ‘Patricia James, Restauranteur.’ Well, this should be interesting, I thought to myself.

As soon as she was out of sight, I texted Dylan and Daddy “Guess who came by to check out the house and drop of a wedding gift.” Then I took a pic or her business card and sent that too.

Dylan responded instantly “Shit, I knew she wouldn’t miss your big day” he texted, followed by a laugh emoji and the word “Restauranteur?” then` “hahahaha.” We both knew it was just another scam, and frankly, now that we were older and knew her game, we thought it might be kind of fun to watch her in action. Daddy just texted back “ignore her. Giver ‘er and inch and she’ll take a mile”

Dylan called me a few seconds later and I told him all about our conversation… he just scoffed; it was just her usual. “So, restauranteur” Dylan said. “Whaddya think her game is this time?

“Maybe looking for investors for some non-existent restaurant project like she did with that Condo Scam? There was no other information on the card except her name, title, and a phone number” I said. About ten years ago she showed up with business cards calling herself a “Land Developer” claiming to be developing vacation condos on a plot of land near the water. She even had and RV set up as an office. Turned out to be complete bullshit. She just had some brochures made up, parked and RV on a vacant lot, and started taking deposits from gullible tourists. She headed back to Florida with the money before anyone could catch up with her.

“Yep, vague as always” Dylan responded with a chuckle. Patty James would find you but she never made it easy for you to find her. Contact her… yes. But find her. No.

I was changing out of my work clothes as we talked. I was in just my underwear and talking on the phone when Maxwell walked into the bedroom. I quietly told him that I was talking to Dylan, and he kissed me on the neck so he didn’t interrupt me. I kept talking to my brother as Max’s lips moved to my shoulder, his red beard tickling me. It was late afternoon, just barely evening, but Max was obviously in a mood, a horny mood. He worked his way down my torso, taking a whiff of my armpit along the way. I tried to keep my composure as I talked with Dylan, but I just couldn’t do it. I finally just said goodbye and hung up. As soon as I put the phone down, Maxwell stood upright and pulled me into a hot kiss. “Well, welcome home Maxwell” I said with a glean in my eye as we kissed.

“Who was on the phone?” He asked me.

I didn’t really want to talk about Patty’s visit and kill the moment so I just answered, “Just Dylan” and leaned in to kiss him again. “You’re making me feel underdressed” I said with a grin as I unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off his shoulders as we kissed. Then I reached down and unbuckled his dress pants, he already had a hand in my underwear grabbing my hardening dick and it felt awesome. The stress of my conversation with Patty was melting away. Max’s pants dropped to his ankles and his belt buckle clanked as it hit the floor while he moved down my body, dropping to his knees. He sat on his knees, clad in just his underwear, pants at his ankles, and went down on my rigid prick. Maxwell had many talents, but cock sucking was at the top of the list. He took my large member down his talented throat in one big gulp as his warm mouth covered my shaft and his throat massaged my cockhead. He worked his usual magic on me and in no time had my balls ready to explode. He brought me to the edge, then pulled off me, stood and kissed me… hard. Damn, Maxwell could kiss. There were times where his kisses were soft and loving, and there were times like that moment where his kisses were hard, lust filled, and hot as hell! His tongue pushed its way past my lips and explored my mouth while mine did the same to him.

Our hands were all over each other and we were both rock hard. Gotdammit no one turned me on like Maxwell, there was just something about him… a sweet innocent ginger with just enough of the devil in him. I couldn’t believe that our wedding was just a couple of weeks away and this hot little fuck was going to be my partner forever. That thought made me hot as hell and I started kissing Max harder and pushing my hard cock into his with just the thin fabric of our underwear keeping us apart. Max pushed me on to the bed, looping his thumbs into the waistband of my underwear and yanking them down and off. He took a big whiff and shot me a smirk before throwing them on the floor. Then he got completely naked and jumped on the bed and straddled me in a sixty-nine with his flaming red pubes staring me in the eyes. I reached up and grabbed his red rocket and took it down my throat… he gasped in pleasure then did the same to me. I kept my eyes open the entire time, watching the little red hairs shimmer on his balls as they bounced up and down slapping my nose as he slowly fucked my face.

I reached up and grabbed his firm, white butt cheeks and pulled them apart so I cloud touch his pink pucker with my fingertips. He moaned around my cock sending me so gotdamn close to the edge. He started pumping into my mouth harder and harder, fucking my face as I thrust my hips up to do the same to him. I tried to scream that I was about to cum, but with my mouth full of Max’s hot cock it just came out as a moan. He got the hint as we both exploded almost at the same time (I think I beat him to it by a second or two because I was already in a state of raw pleasure when I started to taste his sweet, salty juice. We both swallowed the big loads we were fed and licked each other’s cocks clean. When he was done, Max went lower licking and sucking my balls, then he reached his tongue out and started to eat my hole. He scooted back on me as he lifted my ass to his face and started eating my hole like a crazy man. My does and mouth were covered by his ass, he was actually sitting on my face. I was having a hard time breathing, I wanted to reach my tongue out and eat his sweet hole but his ass was so tight against my face that I couldn’t do anything except enjoy the rimming he was giving my hole and inhale his musky scent. After several minutes he jumped off me, flipped around and we shared a cum-filled kiss.

“Day-um. One minute I’m talkin’ to Dylan and the next I got your cum down my throat and your tongue up my ass” I said with a chuckle.

“That was a nice end to the workweek” Max added with a smile. He was laying on his side looked at me and stroking my out of control curly hair. “I got called into the Principal’s office today” He said looking into my eyes, I just gave him a curious look and waited for more information. “He told me that he heard I was getting married… to a man.”

“Oh shit” I said with wide eyes. “How’d that go?”

“Surprisingly good, actually.” Max said with a smile. “He told me there were rumors floating around about me and that I didn’t need to share anything, but he wanted me to know that I had the support of the administration.”

“So, did you confirm the rumors?” I asked.

Max nodded “Yup. I told him that I moved here to be with you and we were getting married next weekend and that’s why I took time off. We had a good discussion about the county’s and school districts policies and how my job was safe, however, he told me to expect some backlash from parents and maybe even other teachers. He said he moved here from Boston about fifteen years ago and that for the most part the parents were great, but some were a little “naïve” and might make waves if they learn they’re child has a gay teacher.”

“So, do you feel good or bad about it all?” I asked him. I understood what the Principal was saying. There were some great folks here, but they have had limited exposure to gays and had a lot of messed up stereotypes and preconceived notions in their heads. My daddy used to have a neighbor years ago who heard I was gay and told me “stay the fuck away from my 6 year old son, I don’t want no child molester around my boy.” It was just ignorance. He believed that all gays were pedophiles. They moved away, but he never changed his mind about me. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were folks around who would think the same about Max being around their kids.

“I feel good about it. He said he has my back and I believe him.”

“How’d the rumor start? I asked. Laurie?”

Max nodded “Yeah, but honestly, I don’t think she did it to be malicious. There was a baby shower for another teacher in the teacher’s lounge and she made a comment to Gina that they should throw a shower for me. Someone overheard and started asking questions, the next thing you know… I’m outed” I said repeating the story Gina and Sarah told me.

“What do the other teachers think?” I asked.

“I have no clue. I didn’t see anyone else after I met with the Principal. I guess we’ll find out Monday morning. I only have three days left before I take off for the wedding, so who knows.” Max seemed okay with it all. He knew it would come out sooner or later.

I decided to share my news with him and get all the drama out on the table at once “I had a visitor today” I said quietly, still looking into his eyes as he mindlessly stroked my hair.

“A visitor. Who?”

“Patty James” I said affirmatively. Max’s eyes popped wide open; he even got a little smirk. That’s one big difference between me and my fiancé, I avoid drama as much as possible, but he likes a little drama now and then.

I told him the story about coming home early and finding her at the house, and about our conversation. “She left us a wedding gift.” I added.

“Where is it?!” Max said excitedly.

“I wouldn’t get too excited” I said as I walked out of the room naked and went down to the dining room to get it. When I got back upstairs, I said, “She has a pattern of trying to create a history that doesn’t exist.” I told him the story about Dylan and the Matchbox car, and a few other stories where she gave us gifts and tried to pretend they were sentimental heirlooms… they never were.

“Open it!” Max said with an excitement that wouldn’t last too long. I ripped off the ornate wrapping to find a cheap Dollar Store frame with an envelope covering the picture. I picked up the envelope and found a coloring book page in the frame. I opened the envelope and read the note out loud. “My dearest baby boy, I found this in an old box. It might have been one of your first works of art. I thought you and Maxwell may want it to hang in your home. I’m so proud of you and hope to be party of your big day. Love, Momma.”

Max took the frame and looked at it “Oh my god, that’s so cute” he wailed.

“It’s bullshit, Max” I said laughing loudly. “I never drew that. Damn, she probably did it herself. This is the kind of shit she pulls. Makin’ you believe she was super mom and saved this for decades. I know my work, and that aint mine.”

Max looked at me in disbelief. “Who in the hell would do that? Are you sure it’s not yours?”

I just chuckled in smug confirmation of the fact that she hadn’t changed a damn bit “Patty James would do that, and I am sure as shit it aint mine.” Max was in shock, and I was just amused. This is the kind of shit she had pulled my entire life. I took a picture of the framed coloring book page and the note and said it to Dylan with a text that said, “never fucking saw this before in my life.” He responded with a million laughing emojis and a text that said, “Dear lord, classic Patty.” Then he texted “Y’all eat yet? Wanna meet me and Gina for a bite?” I task Max, and he jumped in the Camaro with the top down and headed to downtown Wilmington to meet Dylan and Gina. The two of them hit it off and had been dating for about a month or so now.

When we sat down at the table the conversation was loud (well, Gina and Dylan were there so loud was a given I guess), we talked about Max’s meeting with the Principal, I was glad he had Gina and Sarah as allies, if everyone else turned against him, at least they’d be there for him. By the time our food came the conversation had turned to Patty’s visit. Dylan thought it was all hilarious, he and I had become immune to her manipulation over the years, and now he just saw it all as funny. “Oh, Hail” Dylan said laughing “If she does show up at the wedding it’ll make for great entertainment, Y’all. Patty puts on a helluva show.”

“You aint wrong” I said. “And if she causes trouble BA will kick her ass.” Max spit his beer out of his nose at that comment.

“Oh my god, she totally would” Max said with tears in his eyes and coughing a little as he tried to regain his composure. “Her exact words to me a few weeks ago were ‘If that two-bit plastic con artist tries to ruin my baby’s wedding I’ll force her Jimmy Choo knock-offs down her damn throat.’ She hates her.” Betty Ann and Patty James were actually good friends back in the day. They went to high school together, and when we were kids the two of them hung out, but like I said something changed in Patty along the way… she went from a good wife, mother, and friend to this self-centered, conniving, manipulative… well… bitch. I guess that’s a harsh word to call my own mother but it fit. All the things that were near and dear to her seemed to lose all importance. My daddy once said he didn’t know if she had changed, or if the good wife and mother thing was all just an act that she got bored with. Anyway, after she left us, BA would come around to help Daddy out with me and Dylan, and eventually the two of them got together. Frankly she was a much better fit for him than Patty.

Dylan had enough of the Patty James conversation and changed the subject. “Hey, I talked to yer buddy Seth today and he told me to remind y’all that next Thursday night you were his.” Dylan was my best man, and Seth was Max’s. The two of them had been planning a party for us. They decided on Thursday night so that we could have Friday to detox and wouldn’t be hungover for the wedding. Our friends from Milwaukee, and Seth’s brothers had rented both halves of a big side-by-side beach house and were throwing the party there.

“Yeah, we’re ready” Max said. “I can’t wait to see everybody; I haven’t seen any of them in over two months.”

“I miss those guys” Gina added making a pathetic sad face that coaxed Dylan to put his arm around here. Damn, he was falling big time for that girl. I couldn’t remember the last time Dylan had an actual girlfriend. He would bring these girls around once, maybe twice… they were all beautiful with the collective IQ of a box of rocks. But this was different, Gina challenged him. She was as beautiful as the others (probably more so) and smart as all get out. I think the big difference was that she was real, a genuinely good human being. The others had fake laughs, fake hair extensions, and just didn’t care about much of anything other than a good time. Gina was good for him, and I know my daddy and BA loved the hell out of her. “I know bachelor parties are usually all guys, but hey, you’re gay… the rules change. Can I come? Gina asked making Brody laugh out loud.

“I got no clue what a gay, double bachelor party is gonna be like. The straight bachelor parties I’ve been too usually have a stripper and porn, so I assume this one will be the same but with guys.” He said, thinking about it. “Hail, maybe y’all should take my place, Gina” Dylan said with a booming chuckle.

“What’s the plan, Dylan?” Max asked.

“Seth is handlin’ it and I aint allowed to tell y’all nothin’. My job is to make sure you two keep the night open. Somebody’ll pick ya’ up at 6:30. After that… Let the chips fall where they may.”

No doubt about it, our wedding weekend would be full of surprises, and socializin’. Two things Max loved, but I could live without. But who the hell cared? If Max was happy, I was happy.

To be continued…