betsy: Day Nine

“But isn’t he used to sharing?” Gavin asked

Jeff exhaled. “It’s not exactly like that,” he replied. “We’re essentially a couple, but with an extra person. Alan’s not, well, Alan’s not sexually driven and not exactly into men. So he didn’t like that I was sleeping with other men and, you know, using things that he touched.”

Gavin raised a brow. “So he’s a spaz.”

Jeff chuckled. “Essentially.”

“So wait,” Gavin said, suddenly tense. “Are you breaking up with me?”

Jeff nodded. “I mean, if you were under the impression that we were in something that needs us to say, it’s over, then yes I’m saying it’s over.”

“But I came here to break up with you.”

“Sure,” Jeff said.

“No, I really was,” Gavin said.

“Listen,” Jeff said. “It’s two people that are going to be pleasing me versus one so it’s no contest. Besides you were just rebounding on me so it’s not like you formed any attachment.”

“You’re right,” Gavin said, standing. “I formed no attachment. And I definitely came here to tell you that.”

And Gavin strutted out of the bakery, feeling as if he did it more elegantly than Alan. Through the window, he saw Jeff taking a drink of coffee, reading the paper. He didn’t look like he was on the edge of a nervous breakdown, but Gavin wasn’t mad. He just moved on.

Gavin stayed with Tulip for a while, but as he began hearing his clients talk about love and the nice things their partners were doing for them, Gavin found himself feeling lonely. Jeff, at least, was someone to curl up with, but his clients began talking about their children and how rewarding the experience was and Gavin found himself thinking about Cabe more often.

He hadn’t made a mistake.

Cabe made the mistake by fighting with him and pushing him away.

So one particularly dreary afternoon, Gavin wandered into the library to see if there were any books to keep him company. He made sure to pursue the religion section, close in proximity to the children’s section. He browsed and rubbed his chin, tilting his head to read the titles and authors names.

Sliding on his jacket, Cabe did a double-take as he saw Gavin in the religion section. He hesitated before he approached him. “Hey,” Cabe said, offering a friendly smile.

“Oh,” Gavin said, putting a book back. “Hello. Are you still working here? I had no idea.”

Cabe chuckled and leaned against a bookshelf. “I sure am,” he replied. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Nope,” Gavin said.

Cabe watched Gavin carefully. He could see Gavin was no longer looking at the titles, only pretending to. “Can I get you a drink at least?”

“I don’t know,” Gavin said.

“May I get you a drink?” Cabe said, rolling his eyes.

“No, no,” Gavin said, turning around and leaning on the bookcase. He repositioned himself when he realized he was in the same pose as Cabe. “I mean, I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

Cabe went on his tiptoes to see who was around, but found the children’s section completely vacated. He stepped closer to Gavin. “I want to give us another try,” he said, his voice low, “but I’d understand if you don’t want to. I mean, I still want kids, Gavin.”

“And I still don’t want to get old,” Gavin said.

Cabe laughed, but he covered his mouth quickly. He was, in fact, in a library. “I don’t blame you,” Cabe replied.

Gavin nodded and said, “Take me out for that drink.”

betsy: Day Eight

Cabe, too, wasn’t completely alone. Julian convinced Cabe that there was no reason he should be alone and horny when he could pound into Julian all he wanted. Cabe spent the first few nights alone, but Julian ended up lingering around late one night, sort of just squeezing his way into bed with Cabe.

Cabe wasn’t really the type to complain about it. There was nothing like forgetting an old flame with, well, another old flame.

(inappropriate things go here)

Cabe curled up against Julian, and he was happy with just a fling. He was taking his dad’s advice and just thinking things over. He just let Julian entertain him while he thought things over.

But Julian wasn’t going to hang around forever. Julian wasn’t one for relationships. So Cabe felt a little empty once Julian flew away back to New York, but it gave him time to focus on, well, everything else. But he found his thoughts drifting back to Gavin. He thought Gavin would be perfect for raising a kid with him. He wondered if explaining that to Gavin would make him more willing.

But then he remembered he wasn’t supposed to be thinking about Gavin. Or maybe he was. He’d have to call his dad again.

Meanwhile, Gavin had been trying to figure out how to end things with Jeff. He knew Jeff was leaving soon for a dig, and he didn’t want to awkwardly break up with him when he came back. And he didn’t want to just send a text message or something stupid. Jeff certainly was fun to be around, and a notable fuck, but he didn’t think he was getting anything long term.

It was very frustrating that he was thinking long term.

So he stormed over to Cake Break, the bakery where he first met Jeff, in search of him. Whenever he wanted to find Jeff, he was there.

And, true to form, there was Jeff sitting at a table with some guy. They seemed to be in a bit of an argument, and he noticed the clerk (he tried to remember her name) lingering near them. Eavesdropping, he thought.

Gavin considered not approaching them, but Jeff turned around to see who entered and saw Gavin. He made face which suggested death, but Gavin lingered too long. The other man’s black eyes locked onto Gavin and looked to the clerk. “Is this him?” he asked.

The clerk said nothing and walked back to the counter.

“Excuse me!” the man shouted at Gavin. “Are you the slut Jeff’s been sleeping with?”

Gavin’s eyes narrowed. He was not a slut. “Excuse me,” Gavin said back, approaching the man. “I am sleeping with Jeff, but if anyone’s the slut, it’s you.”

The clerk let out a bit of a laugh, covering her mouth. The man stood up, meeting Gavin eye level. Gavin was a little impressed because he was quite tall himself, and Gavin found himself puffing out to be just a bit taller than him.

“Alan,” Jeff said. “Sit down.”

“He called me a slut,” Alan said, not breaking eye contact with Gavin.

“Well, you called him one,” Jeff said. “And I’m under the impression both of you are only sleeping with me.”

The clerk cleared her throat.

“Well, me and Georgia in your case, Alan,” Jeff said.

Gavin wanted to make a “Ha!” sound, but held his tongue. It didn’t feel like the right moment.

Alan didn’t seem impressed though. He broke eye contact with Gavin as his nose wrinkled in anger. “Fuck you, Jeff,” Alan said. “I forgot you were the fucking slut.”

And Alan stormed out of the bakery. Jeff just looked at Georgia, the clerk. Gavin had never seen him look sad before, but at this moment he looked devastated. “I’ll go after him,” Georgia said, gently touching Gavin’s shoulder as she walked out.

Gavin wasn’t sure what the tap meant, but he felt more confident for the moment. “Sit with me,” Jeff said. “Did you want to have a word?”

“Yes,” Gavin said, taking a seat. “Who was that?”

“You know how we never talked about being exclusive?”

Gavin nodded.

“Well, I’m seeing him and Georgia too. And he wasn’t aware that I was,” he cleared his throat, “seeing other people.”

“Wait,” Gavin said. “You’re seeing both of them. You’re seeing a couple.”

“Well we’re all together. I wouldn’t call them a couple. We’re more of a trio,” Jeff said. “Anyway, he wants to be exclusive.”

betsy: Day Seven

Jeff held Gavin’s face in his hand, ruffling his hair. He stared into Gavin’s almond eyes for a moment, Gavin frustrated because he wanted more kissing and pawing.

“What’s it going to take for a smile?” Jeff asked.

“Really great sex,” Gavin said, impatiently rubbing against him.

“That I can do,” Jeff said. “But I want that smile.”

Gavin made a face smile, not turning up his lips but showed his teeth.

“Not a smile that looks like a crocodile,” Jeff said, laughing.

“How about I just make you smile,” Gavin said, sliding his hand down Jeff’s pants.

“Usually I’m the one who-“ he felt Gavin’s warm mouth take in his erection and he simply exhaled, running his fingers through his hair.

Gavin run his tongue along the underside of his erection, carefully digging his nails into Jeff’s thighs. He wrapped his hand around the base of Jeff’s shaft, jerking him off quickly as Gavin focussed on sucked the head of his cock.

“Wait,” Jeff said.

Gavin increased his speed, jerking him off faster.

Jeff bit his lip, pulling Gavin off of him. “Stop, hold on,” Jeff said. “I’ve had a bit to drink, and I’m only going to have enough energy for one thing. And I want it to screw you senseless.”

Gavin released his erection. “Well you better get started,” Gavin said.

“You better take off your shirt,” Jeff said, his cock throbbing in the open. “I wouldn’t want you walking out of here all sweaty.”

Rolling his eyes, Gavin pulled off his shirt and dropped his pants. Cabe never made him make such a scene. Jeff had inched off his own pants as Gavin carefully slid on to Jeff’s erection. Jeff bucked against him, pressing down on Gavin’s thighs to force himself deeper inside of him. Gavin let out a moan which made Jeff smile.

“Face me,” Jeff said, trying to turn Gavin around.

Gavin rode him roughly, ignoring his selfish suggestion. Jeff kept up with him, bucking back and pushing Gavin down onto him. Gavin preferred being the one in control, and he struggled as Jeff wrapped an arm around his waist. Jeff sat up, his waist pressing against Gavin’s back. Gavin moaned as Jeff bit lightly on his ear, pressing Gavin deep into him.

Jeff manoeuvred Gavin onto his knees, using his own knees to keep his legs far apart. Jeff kept his body against Gavin for a moment, kissing his neck as he thrusted into him. Gavin continued moaning and bucking, his own erection throbbing from neglect.

Gripping the sheets, Gavin said, “Jerk me off.”

“You wouldn’t face me,” Jeff’s warm breath on his shoulder, and Gavin hated the smug bastard.

Jeff placing his hands on Gavin’s thighs, no longer leaning on Gavin’s back. Gavin cursed as Jeff continued pounding into him, and groaned louder. But he was not going to jerk himself off when Jeff had a perfectly good hand, only it was busy gripping his thighs. Gavin dug his fingers into mattress grinding back against Jeff.

He barely heard Jeff’s heavy breathing over his moans. Gavin gasped, “I take it you like the sound effects?”

He felt Jeff laugh against him, but made no reply.

Raising a brow, Gavin said, “I’ll say your name if you jerk me off.”

Jeff laughed again, throwing off his rhythm. But he felt Jeff’s hand run along his back before he felt the other firmly grip his dick. Gavin held his tongue, not being able to suppress moans, but not naming any names. Jeff spread Gavin’s knees further apart with his arm, jerking him off at a quick pace while trying to slam deeper into Gavin. That’s when Gavin finally complied in moaning his name.

Jeff didn’t last much longer, he tried to keep up a quick rough pace, but Gavin spent more time grind up against him as Jeff let out a gasp, coming into him. Jeff felt Gavin spill into his fingers, and they dropped against each other, breathing heavily. “Jesus,” Jeff said. “Fuck.”

Gavin kept his back to Jeff, but kept himself pressed against him. Jeff stretched out on his back, keeping an arm beneath Gavin to draw circles on his chest. Gavin didn’t need to see him to know he was smiling.

Day Six: Betsy

Gavin, however, found himself with nothing but distractions. He kept the napkin with the cheerful Jeff’s number. He told his sister the story of the fight with Cabe, and with the stranger who wanted to talk to him about it. Tulip helped him cheer up about Cabe, telling him if he didn’t want children, she didn’t think the relationship could go any further.

She was, however, leery of Jeff. Tulip explained that Jeff seemed to be seeing some people, but that she didn’t know whether or not he was exclusively with them.

This intrigued Gavin. He definitely wasn’t willing to share someone, but perhaps he just needed a good fling to get on his feet. He told Cabe he didn’t need anyone, so he didn’t need anyone. He just needed a good screw and didn’t exactly feel like doing it himself.

So he called Jeff. They talked for a bit, just casual conversation, and Jeff ultimately asked him for a drink after Gavin hinted around about it.

He didn’t tell Tulip where he was heading.

Gavin found Jeff quickly in the bar and, he was pleased to note, Jeff spent the entire time with him. He clearly knew people, often giving them a short wave, but aside from that he focussed his attention entirely on Gavin. None of this “I’m going to talk to so and so for a second” and then leaving him alone at the table for an hour just to stare at the coats.

And he knew there was a possibility of Jeff just trying to soften him up, but that was fine too. He reminded himself he wasn’t looking for anything serious.

So Gavin rewarded him with a serious gaze and a few touches on his freckled wrist and, later in the evening, on the inside of his thigh. Jeff was not stylish like Gavin, but he looked good in his facial hair, and Gavin did prefer the extra weight that Jeff wore extremely well.

“So do you ever go home with strange men?” Jeff finally asked, enjoying Gavin’s hints a lot. “Or is it only for vengeance?”

“Oh please,” Gavin replied. “It can’t be vengeance if he doesn’t know about it.”

Jeff looked sceptical, but put a hand on his shoulder as he stood up. “Well, I’ve got an early morning tomorrow,” he said. “But if you need a warm bed to stay in, you’re more than welcome. I’ll just have to make a quick phone call.”

“Sure,” Gavin said, assuming he was calling someone else he was supposed to be.

Gavin felt smug as he stepped out of the bar, feeling the stench the smokers caused penetrate his nostrils. He pushed away the thoughts of Cabe as Jeff joined him outside. He took a deep breath, but made no motion to pull out a cigarette like Cabe would have.

The apartment was pretty much what Gavin expected. It was messy. He left his porn out in the open (among various self-pleasure devices). He had suitcases out, and Gavin briefly wondered where he was going. He noticed some things had been boxed up with labels that were just years. There were also tons of large reference books and small plastic dinosaurs laying around, neither of which Gavin would have guessed.

But he didn’t bother dignifying them with a mention. Aside from the mess, the apartment wasn’t actually dirty. He ran his fingers along shelves and found little-to-no dust, and he noticed Jeff’s blue eyes watching him inspect the apartment.

“Does it meet with your approval?” Jeff asked.

Gavin simply shrugged. He had no desire to nod because it didn’t. But it was enough, he didn’t really need anything else. He just hoped the bed wasn’t a waterbed or something as equally sleazy. He decided that a waterbed might just be a deal breaker.

“Just so things don’t get awkward,” Jeff said, unbuttoning his shirt as he walked into what Gavin assumed to be a bedroom, “You’re welcome to stay the night, but I’ll probably wake you up before I go. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I’ve had bad experiences with letting people loiter in my apartment while I’m not here.”

Gavin investigated his bedroom in a similar manner. The bed wasn’t water. “Why?” Gavin asked. “Are you hiding something?”

“No,” Jeff replied. “But things sometimes go missing and it’s rude to say ‘Well it was here before you came over’ and sometimes other people show up while I’m out and there’s a fight while I’m out and I like watching a good fight.”

Gavin just stared at him blankly. He wasn’t sure what to think. Cabe probably would try to break up the fight quite swiftly. And Cabe probably wouldn’t have various sexual partners and let them be aware of it. Or maybe he was the only one that got to be aware of it. He wasn’t sure, and he wasn’t sure he cared.

“Well,” Jeff continued, sprawling out on the bed. “I do happen to be hiding something. Do you care to find it?”

Gavin snorted, disapproving. But Jeff just kept his stupid smile on him, and Gavin climbed on top of him. He closed his eyes as he felt the soft bread before the kiss.

betsy: Day Five

“You don’t need him,” Julian said on the one side of Cabe. “He was too high-strung for you anyway. You should try to find someone who actually wants a family.”

“Have you tried calling him?” Harvey asked.

“He doesn’t need him,” Julian stated.

“The more I apologize the harder it’ll be to get him to come back,” Cabe sobbed, pausing to take a drag of his cigarette. “He’s too stubborn. The best I can do is leave him alone and hope he remembers me.”

“You could make him jealous by sleeping around,” Julian suggested. “I can help with that.”

“But Gavin would have to know about it,” Cabe sighed. “And I don’t even know where he is.”

Cabe looked at his cell phone, but didn’t see any messages waiting for him. Harvey rubbed Cabe’s back as Julian patted Cabe’s inner thigh. “It’ll be fine,” Harvey said. “He’ll be back for you, and then he’ll realize he wants a family and everything will be okay.”

“Yeah if you live in a fucking fairy tale world,” Julian said, upturning his nose at Harvey.

“I used to live in a fucking fairy tale world,” Cabe whined. “With emphasis on the fucking.”

The bar turned out to be a less than productive evening. Cabe went home feeling worse (though drunker) than he had when he left. He flopped down on the couch. Cabe definitely didn’t want to lay in an empty bed. He pulled out his cell phone and checked it again.

Still no messages from Gavin.

He stared at his phone, willing Gavin to call him. He’d be happy to just have Gavin yell at him more. He searched through his contacts, lingering on Gavin’s name.

Then he flipped back up to find his dad’s name. He knew he could call his dad at any time, in any state of mine. He pressed the phone to his ear and let it ring.

Cabe started coughing as he dad answered, “Hello?”

Cabe continued coughing, “Hello? Cabe?”

“S-sorry,” Cabe said, clearing his throat. “Sorry dad. Yes, it’s me.”

“You have a distinct cough,” his dad, laughed. “What can I do for you?”

“Do you know what time it is?”

“Shouldn’t your phone tell you that?” his dad asked. Cabe could hear his smile fading. “It’s one in the morning, is something wrong?”

“Dad,” Cabe started, “Gavin left me.”

His dad was quiet for a moment before asking, “What happened?”

Cabe told the story that Gavin had told Jeff hours before, the same story he told Harvey and Julian in the bar. His dad listened patiently.

Cabe found the tears welling up in his eyes as he told the story. He walked around the apartment to find a tissue for his nose. When he was finished he asked, “Dad, what do I do?”

“Well, Gavin’s not the type to come crawling back, is he?”

“Maybe,” Cabe said, timidly.

“Do you want to be in this relationship?”

Cabe hesitated. He wasn’t sure anymore. Gavin didn’t like his friends. Gavin didn’t want a family. Gavin thought he drank and smoke too much. He didn’t seem to like much about what made Cabe, Cabe.

“I don’t know, dad,” Cabe said.

“Then maybe you should take a break,” his dad said. “It could give you some time to think about it without him distracting you.”

“I feel terrible,” Cabe moaned.

“I know, son,” he replied. “But you’ll feel better soon. Maybe not tomorrow since it sounds like you’re going to have a hangover, but you’ll feel better.”

Cabe nodded, though his dad couldn’t see it. “Thanks dad,” he said. “Sorry for waking you up.”

“Ah, I was up anyway,” his dad said.

“You’re a terrible liar,” Cabe replied.

They exchanged goodnights and Cabe hung up the phone, resting it on his chest. He couldn’t decide if Gavin would get angrier the longer he waited, or if Gavin would cool down. But he realized that he didn’t really care. He’d take his dad’s advice and think things over, without distractions in the shape of Gavin.

betsy: Day Four

Gavin squatted to look at the desserts behind the glass, but his mind wandered and he stopped really reading their descriptions. His mind drifted to the conversation, to the fight, he had earlier. A woman’s voice broke his wandering: “Can I help you?”

“Yes,” he said, standing up. The woman had surprised him, but he didn’t let it show. “Can I get a vitamin water and a slice of ‘The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back’ cheesecake?”

Gavin stood in the bakery, squinting at the menu on the chalkboard. He desperately wanted to rewrite the menu on the board since the printing was so sloppy, but he wasn’t sure it’d be polite.

“We don’t have vitamin water,” the woman behind the counter replied. There was no excuse to use that tone with him. “We have filtered tap water, that’s free, or smoothies.”

“Do you have strawberries?” Gavin asked, squinting at the menu and rubbing his chin.

“We follow the 100-mile-diet and strawberries are out of season,” the woman replied, mechanically. “Except for chocolate and coffee, where we only use fair-trade products.”

“I’ll just have water, I guess,” Gavin said.

Everything was going wrong today. Gavin picked up a copy of the newspaper (some alternative crap) and took his slice of cheesecake to his table. The cake would ultimately end up on his thighs, but today it didn’t matter. Today was a day for cheesecake.

He scanned the alternative newspaper, checking his watch between periods. He wanted his brain to shut down, but it kept running back to the conversation. Gavin’s fork mutilated the cheesecake, shovelling it quickly into his mouth.

“Is this seat taken?”

“Yes,” Gavin replied. He was saving it for someone.

Gavin looked up as the man leaned on the chair. “I thought maybe you’d want some conversation while you ate the rest of your cheesecake,” the man suggested.

The man was heavy-set, bearded, and wore the ugliest hat Gavin had ever seen. There was clearly dirt under his nails, and a large (somewhat sleazy) smile on his face. He could see the freckles under his thick, blonde, arm hair. He was confident. He was fat. He was hairy. He was Gavin’s type.

Gavin’s eyes narrowed and the man took a step back, but Gavin used one of his long legs to push the chair away from the table. “Fine,” Gavin said, “but I am waiting for someone.”

“Sure,” the man said, sitting down. “I’m Jeff.”

“Gavin,” he said, wishing his newspaper was more interesting so he could look more interested in something other than the man.

Gavin took it as a sign. Here, he’d left the only man that made him happy, just to find another promising encounter. He didn’t need Cabel. He definitely didn’t need Cabel and his family-centric mind and his smoking.

The clerk set down a cup of coffee at Jeff’s spot, and Gavin noticed Jeff’s eyes follow the clerk for a moment before looking back to Gavin. Was he straight? Did he have a fetish for aprons and skirts? Maybe he was picturing Gavin in women’s clothes right now – but no, that was a fetish for girls on the internet. Maybe Jeff pretended to be a girl on the internet.

Maybe Gavin did need Cabel.

“So are you eating this particular cheesecake because you experienced the straw that breaks the camel’s back, or is it because you’re fond of the peanut butter and chocolate combination?” Jeff asked, wrapping his hands around his mug.

Gavin put on a superior, know-it-all tone. “Can it be both?”

“Of course it can,” he replied, laughing. “Did you know that studies have shown when you tell strange men your problems, you almost always feel better afterwards?”

“Is this something to do with the Catholic Church, confessionals and priests?”

Gavin saw Jeff’s teeth in his smile. “Tell me what happened.”

“You know what, I’m meeting someone here to tell her what happened,” Gavin replied. “Right now I’m just trying to forget what happened.”

“Well,” Jeff said, taking a sip of tea, “if you forget what happened, you can’t exactly tell her what happened properly, can you?”

“Tell me about yourself,” Gavin said. “So your name is Jeff Something. What do you do aside from hassle people in alternative bakeries?”

“I rattle bones,” Jeff said, “but mainly the dead ones. And my last name is Grant. Is it a relationship problem? Some man break your heart?”

“Do you want to know what it really is, Jeff?”

“Sure.”

“None of your goddamn business.”

Jeff hid his smile by taking another drink from his mug. “So he left you then, did he?”

“No, I left him,” Gavin snapped.

Jeff relaxed. Gavin stabbed the remainder of the cheesecake and stuffed it in his mouth. He really didn’t want to talk about it, but he was still angry. He wanted to rage about it.

“Fine, you really want to hear about it?” Gavin said.

“Yes,” Jeff said, “I really do.”

“I can’t really remember what started it,” Gavin began.

…

Gavin had just been minding his own business when Cabe confronted him and acted as if he had a bone to pick with him. Cabe was rarely confrontational, but whenever he was like that around Gavin, Gavin took it as a challenge. He wasn’t one to stand down in an argument.

“I don’t get it,” Cabe said. “We should be married by now.”

“I’m not marrying you,” Gavin said, matter-of-factly. “Don’t take it personally, I just don’t want to be married right now.”

“Right, because it makes you feel old,” Cabe said.

“Yes.”

“Well Gavin, we’re not immortal,” he said. “We’re going to get old. You know that body of yours that you flaunt around? Well parts of it are going to sag and wrinkle. Parts that you don’t want to wiggle are going to start to fucking wiggle.”

“Fuck you,” Gavin snapped. “You just want to get married so you can adopt fucking kids.”

“That’s right,” Cabe replied. “I want a family.”

“Did you ever think that maybe I don’t?” Gavin asked. “I don’t want kids.”

“Well then you don’t want me,” Cabe said.

“Maybe I don’t,” Gavin said. “You drink too much and you smoke too much and your friends are all losers with no aspirations or goals.”

“Like working in a fucking hair salon is an aspiration.”

“I have a job,” Gavin said. “I have clients that would follow me if I switched salons. I will never be out of work. I’m sorry if I don’t think being a rock star is a realistic goal.”

“They do have other jobs,” Cabe said.

“Yeah, loitering in our apartment,” Gavin said.

Cabe folded his arms across his chest. “You can’t just insult my friends like that. They’re my friends. I don’t judge your friends, or I wouldn’t if you had any.”

“Well I don’t need anyone.”

“Then you don’t need me,” Cabe replied.

“Maybe I don’t,” Gavin said. “Maybe I’ll just fuck off out of here.”

“Maybe you should,” he replied. “But I don’t think you’d last one day without anyone.”

“Fuck, if you and your friends aren’t crowding up here, you’re out spending weeks at the bar. Some days I don’t even see you because you’re off getting drunk, supporting their shitty bands.”

“You should get out and try to prove me wrong,” Cabe said.

“I will,” Gavin said, stomping towards the door. “And I won’t be back.”

“What about your shit?” Cabe asked.

“I don’t need it,” Gavin said, opening the door. “I don’t need fucking anything!”

And he slammed the door as he stepped out. He forgot his wallet though. Fuck.

Gavin stepped back in. “Except for my fucking wallet,” he said.

He felt Cabe’s green eyes watch him as he stomped through the apartment to grab his apartment. He half-expected Cabe to crack and apologize, but it only made him angrier to think that it could be solved this easily. He left again without a word, and he waited until he was in the elevator to call his sister. He’d need a place to stay.

…

“So she told me to meet her here so I could tell her what happened,” Gavin said. “And she said she’d let me crash at her place.”

“What’s your sister’s name?” Jeff asked.

Gavin worried for a moment that Jeff was straight and interested in his sister. “Tulip,” Gavin said. “She’s my half-sister.”

“Tulip,” Jeff said. “I know Tulip! She’s in here all the time, Georgia adores her.”

“Georgia?” Gavin asked.

Jeff pointed to the clerk who was chatting happily to what appeared to be a stoned, homeless person with dreadlocks. Gavin upturned his nose and simply replied, “Oh.”

He paused a moment before saying, “Yes, Tulip’s great. I love her.”

Jeff nodded, his blue eyes scanning across Gavin’s features. Gavin tried to ignore the fact that he was being checked out. “Well, I’ll leave you to wait for your sister in peace,” Jeff said, checking his watch. “I’ve got to run. But if you need anything,” Jeff wrote down his number on a smudged napkin, “here’s my number. I’d be glad to take you out for a drink or something.”

Gavin stayed straight-faced as Jeff winked at him. “Okay, maybe,” Gavin said. “Thanks.”

Jeff gave a wave to the clerk as he stepped out of the store. Gavin folded the napkin into his pocket. It sure would show Cabel if he already found another guy to screw.

Cabel, on the other hand, was not thinking about vengeance. He was hardly even thinking about anything. He just drank more and rested his head on his arm. It didn’t feel right doing anything else. He was in a bar, he had to drink anyway.

He kept telling himself Gavin would be home when he got home.

betsy: Day Three

And for the first time in America, Lars felt normal. Kissing River felt normal. He didn’t feel like a giant or a fag or alienated by River’s intoxication or like he was a fragment of industry in River’s forest of an apartment. Lars felt normal with River’s tongue flicking against his. And if a good fuck was going to make him feel normal, he was going to get that good fuck.

Lars pushed River against a wall knocking over a shoe. Lars felt River’s leg press against his groin as he pressed his tongue into his mouth. Lars flipped River around, his face pressed against the textured wallpaper. Lars moved his dreadlocks aside so he could kiss his neck. “Let me show you how happy I am that you’re here.”

“Wait,” River said, struggling against Lars pin. “Let me get some, you know.”

Lars released him, trying not to sigh, and let River hunt around in his apartment. He knew a more natural way of doing things, but he just wasn’t aggressive enough to suggest that sort of thing to River. River came back with a small jar and a large smile. He tossed it to Lars, who missed catching it. As Lars bent over to pick it off the ground, River said, “Now push me against the wall again, that was awesome.”

Smirking, Lars said, “Whatever you want.”

River eagerly pulled down his pants as Lars pushed him against the wall with his arm. The arm pinning River held the jar, and Lars dipped the fingers of his free hand inside the jar before pressing them gently into River’s ass. He worried River liked things a bit rougher, but Lars preferred a slow and steady pace. It just meant he’d be able to go longer, he supposed, like the tortoise, instead of having to take a nap halfway through like the rabbit.

Lars heard River make a pleased noise, and Lars used the clean fingers to try to unbutton his own pants. It was a bit of a struggle, but River didn’t seem to notice that he had temporarily stopped. He slathered the rest of the lubricant across his erection, setting down the jar on one of the crooked shelves. He held River by the hips, pressing his chest against River’s back to keep him pinned. He slowly pushed himself into River, making sure River didn’t wince from the pain.

River moaned as if Lars was pumping into him at 150 miles per hour.

He moved all of River’s hair to one of side of his head so he could breathe against River’s cheek without any hindrance. He kissed River’s ear before pumping harder into him.

He felt River buck back, grinding up against him, trying to get him to be rougher. River’s own erection pressed against the wall, throbbing from lack of attention. Lars pressed River’s hands against the wall, thrusting harder into him. River moaned his name and something about posies and rainbows. Lars just kissed River’s shoulder blade.

River continued bucking roughly against Lars, causing Lars to breathe harder against River’s cheek and increase his speed to match River. River began cursing, “Fuck Lars,” he said. “Shit.”

Lars tried to decide if the curses were good or bad (he assumed good), and he finally decided to jerk River off while thrusting into him. His thumb teased the head of River’s erection, and his hand chaffed against the wallpaper.

Both began panting heavier, Lars feeling the sweat weight down his shirt. River moaned happily, mixing in Lars’ name with various curses and what he assumed were parts of plants. Lars felt River start to spill into his hands, and he let out a gasp as he came against the wall.

Embarrassed at his bad timing, Lars quickly pumped into River, finishing off with a grunt.

River leaned back against Lars, and Lars kissed his neck. “I missed you so much,” River said, flipping over to hug Lars. “But I never forgot how great you are.”

“I appreciate that,” Lars replied. “But do you know what else I’d appreciate?”

“Another round?” River asked. “I’d probably be good to go soon.”

“Well, maybe later,” Lars said, sheepishly. It’d be a while before he was ready again. “I’d love a shower though.” He repeated, “It was a long flight.”

“All right,” River replied, pouting. “But only if I can come too.”

Lars nodded and River led the way to the bathroom. Lars glanced at the walls with “found” objects (he suspected dumpster diving) and with every strange object, Lars found himself feeling more and more at home.