Second Thoughts

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The phone was ringing.

“Damn,” Jesse exclaimed as he placed the hot moussaka pan he had just taken out of the oven onto the stove top. He pulled off his oven mitts, reached for the handset and checked the caller ID.

“Dennis Christopoulos! You better not be calling to tell me—” he said aloud before pressing the accept call button. “Hello, Denny, where the hell are you? You’re supposed to be walking in the door, not calling me on the phone.”

“Sorry, babe,” came the response.

Jesse recognized the apologetic tone in his boyfriend’s voice. Here we go again.

“I’m in Detroit. I was waiting for a flight stand-by to get back to Chicago, and they asked me to take another trip. One of the attendants called in sick…last minute.”

“s**t, Dennis!”

“I know. You’re upset—”

“Upset? Hell, yes, I am. It’s our anniversary! I got the table all set on the patio, the candles ready to light and a fuckin’ moussaka—”

“That’s moussa-ka,” Denny interrupted.

“What?” replied a flustered Jesse.

“It’s moussa-ka,” said Denny accenting the last syllable. “You pronounced it wrong.”

“s**t, whatever!” Jesse said trying to contain his irritation. “Moussaka, moussa-ka…it’s coagulating on the stove. Couldn’t you tell them no just once? This is the third time this month.”

“Jess, please.” Denny was trying to sound soothing. He was speaking in his sexy low baritone. “You know how things are at the airline. They’re laying off attendants right and left with the merger with Delta. I gotta be co-operative. Please, sweetheart, don’t be mad.”

As usual, when handsome Dennis Christopoulos turned on the charm, Jesse melted.

“Okay, I’m sorry I got mad, but, Jesus, Denny, it’s our anniversary. You’re way over your allotted flight time this month. Where are they sending you? Not out of the country again? When will you be home?”

“No, not out of the country. It’s just to Miami. Then the return flight is tomorrow evening and it’s direct to O’Hare. I won’t have to hitch a ride to get home. Okay? I got a big anniversary package to share with you, babe. I’m rubbin’ it right now!”

Jesse smiled at the thought of that big anniversary package. Denny was hung, and being that he was a short guy with a gymnast’s build, the size contrast made it seem even bigger. He caved all the way. “Okay, okay, I forgive you. Just be sure I get to unwrap that package as soon as you get home. None of that ‘I’m too tired stuff’ this time,” Jesse admonished, but with a smile in his voice.

“I promise. Hey, I gotta go. They’re givin’ us the crew call. Time to be briefed. See you tomorrow.”

“Denny?”

“Yeah?”

“Happy Anniversary.”

“Oh, yeah, Happy Anniversary, Jess.”

“I love you—”

“Yeah…here, too. Gotta go. ‘Bye.”

Jesse sighed and hung up. He looked at the steaming moussaka still bubbling on the stove, then at Shelby, the blue tick/beagle mutt he and Denny had adopted on their last anniversary. She raised her head, looking up at him with her soulful brown eyes. Jesse crouched down and scratched behind her long, soft ears.

“Well, girl, guess it’s just you and me, again. Ya want some moussaka? Just as a special treat, now. Can’t be gettin’ people food all the time. You’ll get fat.”

Shelby licked Jesse’s hand. He stood up.

“We have to wait a bit till the moussaka sets up; otherwise, it’ll be too runny.”

Shelby got up and sat next to Jesse, stretching her nose to the countertop, as if she understood what had been offered. Jesse went ahead and tossed the salad with Caesar dressing. He was just about to sprinkle the Parmesan when the door chime rang.

Shelby was up and off to the door in a flash. Her strange crooning bark filled the room as she ran out of the kitchen.

“Shelby, that’ll do!” Jesse was right behind her.

Mrs. Kloswick, their sometimes-nice, sometimes-crabby, always-nosey, next-door neighbor in the row of townhouses, hated Shelby’s bark, although she liked the dog well enough otherwise, it seemed.

“That’ll do,” he repeated as he reached for a doggie treat from a small basket that hung from a bracket next to the door. Shelby immediately stopped baying and sat.

“Good girl,” Jesse said, giving her the treat and petting her head.

He peeked through the peephole and saw a young man standing on the stoop, hands in his pockets, bouncing on his toes. Jesse didn’t recognize the guy, but immediately appreciated the set of muscles displayed in the tight-fitting, sleeveless tee he wore. Jesse opened the door. Shelby stood up and furiously wagged her tail.

“Hey,” a deep voice sounded, “I’m your new neighbor, other side of Mrs…Klos…Klos?”

“Kloswick,” Jesse offered. Shelby now took it upon herself to give the new neighbor a proper welcome. She walked out on the stoop to sniff his crotch and then jumped on him to try to lick his face.

“Shelby, down,” Jesse ordered.

“Hey, no problem,” the young man said as he crouched and ruffled both of the dog’s long, silky ears and let her give his chin a good cleaning.

“Got one of my own,” he said, standing. “Clyde’s a basset. His main goal in life is to get my attention. Yeah, kinda like you, Shelby,” he said, bending to stroke the dog’s head once more.

If first impressions counted for anything, Jesse was impressed. The guy had looks, muscles and loved dogs: the trifecta. If this had been a couple of years ago, before Denny, he definitely would be a person of interest. Not that Jesse wasn’t interested now. Just not in the same way.

“What can I do for you?” Jesse asked.

“Can I use your phone? They haven’t hooked up my landline. My cell is dead and I can’t find where I packed the charger.”

“Sure, come on in.” Jesse held the door and his new neighbor entered, followed by an adoring Shelby. As the man passed by, Jesse had a chance to check out his cute little butt, which matched the rest of his muscular body.

The guy turned around. Jesse brought his eyes up just in time. “I’m Nick, by the way,” he said, offering his hand. “Nick Warden.”

Jesse took the proffered hand. It was warm and the grip firm. “Nice to meet you. Jesse, Jesse Jamison. Yeah, yeah, I get that a lot,” he said, laughing as Nick raised both hands as if Jesse James, the outlaw, had pulled a revolver. “The phone is over here,” he added, pointing to the handset on the coffee table. “You got a problem in the condo?”

“Yeah, the electric stove doesn’t work. I tried the breaker box and the coil insert. No luck. I’m calling the super to see if there’s anything he can do tonight.”

“Good luck with that.” Jesse laughed as he returned to the kitchen to finish the salad he had started. He checked the moussaka. It was ready for serving.

A few moments later, Nick came into the room. “Thanks for the phone. They can’t do anything until tomorrow, so I guess it’s McDonald’s again tonight. Hey, that smells great.”

Jesse looked from Nick to the food that was now ready to be served. On an impulse, he said, “Why don’t you stay for dinner?”

“Oh, geez! I didn’t mean…I mean I wasn’t hinting…” Nick was clearly embarrassed.

“No problem, man. I got more than enough here.”

“Well, okay if you say so,” Nick replied, the color that had risen into his cheeks receding.

“Come on. We’ll eat on the patio.”

He handed Nick the salad, picked up the moussaka and indicated Nick should follow him. When they reached the patio with its neatly set table for two, candles, flowers and champagne cooling in a bucket of ice, Nick stopped and said, “Are you expecting someone? Am I gonna create a problem here?”

Jesse sighed. “No, my boyfriend was supposed to come home tonight to celebrate our anniversary.” He thought he detected a trace of disappointment cross Nick’s handsome face. “He’s an attendant for Northwest…no, make that Delta,” said Jesse, reminding himself of the merger that was intent on interfering with his love life. “But he couldn’t make it…had to work…at the last minute.” Jesse felt his irritation at being stood up…again. It seemed to be happening a lot lately. “So, I guess you’ll just have to stand in for him.” Then realizing the implication of what he had just said, added, “Just for dinner, of course.” Now it was his turn to blush.

Nick chuckled softly. “I understand.”

Jesse popped the cork on the champagne and poured them each a glass. “This might as well not go to waste, either.”

Just then Shelby whined loudly.

“Oh, s**t, I forgot,” Jesse said. “I promised her she could have a taste of the moussaka.” He got up and ran to the kitchen, grabbed a plate and the basket of rolls he had forgotten, then returned to the patio. While he was gone, Nick had lighted the candles.

“Hope you don’t mind,” he said with a smile that made Jesse shiver on the inside.

“No, no not at all. That’s what they’re for.” He returned the smile.

When he sat down, Nick commented, “You spoil her just like I do Clyde. I can’t help it, though. He was a rescue, and I just remember how forlorn he looked in that pen when I went to the shelter looking for a dog. Those big, sad eyes of his…and skinny? Man, I don’t understand how anyone can treat a dog that way.”

Jesse had been serving the moussaka while Nick was talking.

“Yeah, I know. Shelby was a pound pup, too.” He placed her dish with a fair helping of the main course on the patio bricks as he spoke. She dived into it with gusto and was finished before Jesse had finished serving Nick.

“No, sweetheart, that’s all.” He laughed as she sat wagging her tail, begging for more.

“How long have you had her?”

“She was my anniversary present a year ago. I begged and begged Denny for a dog. Denny—that’s my boyfriend—finally gave in. He wanted to go the purebred route, but there are so many great dogs that need homes. I convinced him to check out some of the rescue sites. That’s where we found her. Didn’t we, girl?” he said, reaching down and offering her a piece of bread.

“Denny says I spoil her, too. He really doesn’t care too much for dogs. He never had one growing up. Oh, he likes Shelby well enough, but she’s really my dog.”

“You know what he’s getting you this year?”

I got a big anniversary package to share with you, babe. I’m rubbin’ it right now. Jesse recalled his earlier conversation with Denny. He smiled. “It’s kind of a surprise, but I have a pretty good idea of what it is.”

The two men ate, and the conversation continued.

“How long have you two been together?” Nick asked. “This is great moussaka by the way,” he added.

“Thanks. This is two years. Pretty good record for the gay world.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m finding out.”

Jesse raised his eyes to Nick’s. So, you do play for our team.

“Just finding someone who wants more than a hook-up is hard enough, let alone an LTR. How did you guys meet?”

“Well, did I mention he was a flight attendant?”

Nick nodded.

“I guess you could say he picked me up.” Jesse smiled at the memory. “I was coming home from a convention in St. Louis. He was the attendant on the flight. Talk about a flirt. Man, he came on to me like gangbusters. I was sitting on the aisle, and he made sure he had to lean over me to help the lady sitting by the window…TMI, right?” Jesse laughed.

Nick smiled.

“Anyway, we got off the plane. He asked if I had time to meet him for a drink after he checked out, and so I did. We dated for a few months and then I asked him to move in with me. He lived in Detroit. So, now he has to commute to work.” They both laughed.

By the end of the meal, the night had turned chilly. Jesse invited Nick in for black cherry ice cream cake. They sat on the couch in the living room and talked some more. Jesse was definitely enjoying his evening with his new neighbor. When they finished dessert, he offered Nick an after-dinner drink, which he refused.

“You said you were at a convention in St. Louis when you met Denny? Is this him?” Nick asked, picking up the photo of Jesse and a dark, handsome man who stood leaning against the rail on the deck of a ship, arms around each other’s waist.

“Yes, that’s my Dennis. We were on a cruise to Acapulco.”

“Very nice. He looks Italian.”

“He’s Greek. Christopoulos is his last name.”

Nick replaced the photo.

Jesse continued, “You asked about the convention. I’m a rep for a textbook company. Was there to be briefed on the new line. I used to teach science, but the lack of pay got in the way, so to speak. I took the easy way out and got this job representing the company’s line of science texts. What about you?”

“I’m gonna be teaching junior high math this fall.”

“Oooh, sorry, man. Hey, teaching is great, though. I don’t mean to dis it. It just wasn’t takin’ me where I wanted to go.”

“No offense. I may be thinking the same after a couple of years. This is my first teaching job. I was in the army for two years after college. Don’t ask me why. I just felt it was my duty or something.”

“See any action?”

“No, did my whole tour at Bennington, tutoring recruits who couldn’t read.”

They both laughed.

Just then Shelby got up from where she was dozing, walked over, sat down and laid her head on Jesse’s lap.

“Time for her w-a-l-k.” Jesse spelled out the word. It did no good. Shelby stood, crooned her strange bark and trotted over to the door.

“They’re pretty smart, smarter than we give them credit for,” Nick said. “I better get home. Clyde will want to go for his walk, too. Let’s get these dishes done, though. I hate to stick you with them.”

“Nah, won’t take me that long. Besides, I don’t think the princess here will wait.”

Jesse had enjoyed Nick’s company so much he didn’t want the evening to end just yet. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you and Clyde join us? There’s a dog park a couple of blocks over. We can take ‘em there and let them get acquainted. They’re gonna be neighbors after all.”

“Great.”

Jesse noted genuine enthusiasm in Nick’s acceptance.

Jesse got his light jacket and Shelby’s leash out of the hall closet. She stood, wagging her tail for all it was worth, as he clipped the leash to her collar. The two men stepped outside. The late summer night had turned chilly.

“I better get a jacket, too,” Nick said as he went into his townhouse, two doors from Jesse’s.

When he came outside, he donned a U of M hoodie and had Clyde on a leash. The two dogs pulled against their restraints when they saw one another. Once they were allowed contact, they sniffed noses and then all the other body parts that are necessary in doggy etiquette.

“Good thing we don’t have those rituals,” Jesse said with a laugh.

“Oh, I don’t know. Could prove interesting,” Nick rejoined.

Their eyes met for an instant. Jesse felt a stirring in his briefs.

The moment passed and the two men and their dogs made for the dog park. Shelby and Clyde contentedly walked side by side, occasionally stopping to sniff to determine who had recently passed that way.

When they arrived, there were only two other dogs in the enclosure. Jesse greeted the owners with a wave. They sat on one of the benches and let the two hounds off leash. They bounded away. Or rather, Shelby bounded. Clyde, being lower to the ground and longer, sort of galumped. The men laughed. After a brief time of checking out the other dogs, the two new friends began a game of chase, attack, and roll with Clyde doing most of the chasing, Shelby the attacking, and both rolling.

“They sure get along well,” Jesse commented. “I mean they just met and they’re playing like they’ve known each other a long time.”

“Yeah, sort of like us,” Nick said without looking at Jesse.

Jesse turned to Nick, who didn’t return the glance. Nick just kept smiling and watching their two pets frolic among the wood chips.

After an hour of hard play, the dogs returned to their owners and lay panting at their feet.

“Guess it’s time to go home, guys,” Nick said.

They re-connected the leashes and headed for the townhouses. They came to Nick’s first.

“You sure I can’t help with K.P.?”

Jesse was tempted. He had enjoyed his evening with Nick. He was easy to talk to, had a good sense of humor, and was sure attractive enough. Even so, he said, “No, thanks. I can handle it. But hey, thanks for a great evening. You took my mind off the bummer of not having my guy home to celebrate.”

“No problem…anytime,” Nick replied. Then he knelt between the two dogs, who were sitting next to each other, their heads swinging back and forth as the men chatted.

“Well, you two sure hit it off,” he said, rubbing their necks. “I bet you’d like a sleepover some time, wouldn’t you?” He directed the comment to Shelby, but ended the statement looking up at Jesse and smiling.

Jesse broke the eye contact.

Nick stood up. “Thanks again for dinner. We’ll do it again sometime.”

“Yeah, sure, I’d like that.” Jesse waved as he walked away, trying to focus on Dennis and tomorrow when he would come home to celebrate their anniversary.

After walking into the house, Jesse bent to remove Shelby’s leash. She went to her water bowl and drank noisily, then flopped down on the hallway floor, apparently exhausted from her romp with her new friend.

Jesse crouched down and scratched her. Her tail whomped the floor, but she didn’t raise her head.

“He tuckered you out, did he?” Jesse said softly, still stroking her head. “Well, you rest while Daddy cleans up this mess.”

Jesse stood with his hands on his hips surveying the remnants of the meal he had shared with Nick.

Maybe I shoulda taken him up on his offer to help me clean up. Woulda been nice to have someone help out with kitchen chores for a change. God knows it would kill Denny to even suggest it.

That thought reminded him of his boyfriend. He went to the phone to see if there was a voicemail. There was. Jesse dialed the code and listened to the dulcet female voice tick off his options. He pressed one and got Denny’s message.

“Hey, babe, guess you’re out walkin’ the dog. The flight was uneventful, as usual. I’m really sorry we couldn’t be together tonight. I’ll be home about eight tomorrow night and we can celebrate then. Okay? Wish you were here. The weather is great here in Miami and a nice midnight swim in the ocean would hit the spot, and you know which spot I mean.” He chuckled seductively. “See you tomorrow. Love you. ‘Bye.”

Jesse smiled. Well, at least I got a voicemail. Usually he forgets to call.

Jesse went about the business of finishing up the dishes. There was still enough moussaka for dinner the next day, and after a day of marinating, it probably would be better than tonight’s. He could get some fresh greens for the salad and new candles, too. And another bottle of champagne, he thought as he dropped the one he and Nick had killed into the recycle bin.

That task completed, he checked on Shelby. She had moved from the hallway floor to the couch in the living room.

“Shel,” Jesse admonished, hands on hips. “You know what Daddy Denny would say if he caught you on the couch.”

Apparently Shelby did know because she slithered off the sofa onto the floor, giving Jesse one of those “oh all right, be that way” looks. Jesse knew she’d be back on the sofa as soon as he left the room. She always was when Denny banished her from the bedroom at bedtime, but she was clever enough to get caught only rarely.

Jesse then went into the bedroom and stripped for his shower. He looked at himself in the full-length mirror.

Didn’t do too much damage with the moussaka and the cake. He ran his hand over his washboard abs. Better go for a run before the workout at the gym anyway. His man liked him ripped and toned.

Stepping into the warm spray, he began to lather his body. He paid particular attention to his balls and ass. He began to fantasize what he had hoped would be happening about then if Denny hadn’t been assigned that flight. As he continued to massage his erect c**k and rocks, he pushed a finger past the sphincter ring and began to massage his chute. He added more soap to the mix and began to stroke harder and faster, all the while picturing the hairy, muscular torso of his lover positioned above him, smiling as he pumped his thick manhood into his hole.

Wishing he had three hands, he removed one hand from his ass and began to massage his n*****s. That connection between his t**s and c**k was true to form, and before Jesse was really ready, he began to shoot ropes of creamy, white c*m onto the walls of the shower stall. What happened at that moment surprised and unnerved him. In his mind’s eye, Denny had faded, Nick taking his place.

“Oh…yes, Nicky. Yeah, man, f**k me. Nick, f**k me.”

Trembling, Jesse steadied himself with one hand against the wall, while he pumped the last dribbles of c*m from his soap-covered c**k.

Where did that come from? s**t, I know where it came from. That dude is one hot number. Better watch myself when Dennis gets home. Don’t want to be screaming out somebody else’s name when I’m with him.

Jesse got out of the shower, dried himself, applied his night creams, donned a pair of PJ bottoms and padded into the bedroom. He got into bed and switched on the TV with the remote. Shelby stuck her head around the door. She sidled to the bed and laid her head on Jesse’s hand.

“Oh, all right,” he said, patting the side of the mattress. “When the cat’s away—”

Shelby jumped joyfully onto the bed and rolled around on her back, eventually coming to rest curled up next to Jesse with her head on his stomach.

Jesse looked at her, patted her head and smiled. “Just remember, you don’t do this when he’s here. We’ll both catch hell.” I’ll wash the bedclothes tomorrow morning.

Jesse settled himself and focused on what the news anchor was saying.

“The tropical depression just off the Miami coast is moving north. Right now it doesn’t appear it’ll come ashore, but it has doused the Florida coast with torrential rains and dangerously high surf all day. There has been a lot of beach erosion and flooding of streets. If the storm stays offshore it has the potential of strengthening. If so, it’ll become Tropical Storm Deirdre.”

They went to a commercial break, and Jesse switched off the TV. He turned on his side and got settled with Shelby pressed to his chest. His eyes were heavy and he started to doze.

Then his eyelids popped open as he recalled the newscaster’s words—It has doused the Florida coast with torrential rains and dangerously high surf all day.

How did that jive with Denny’s voice mail? Wish you were here. The weather is great and a nice midnight swim in the ocean would hit the spot, and you know which spot I mean?