Country Boy, City Man

Chapter 2

"The only reason I tell you isbecause I've had interns from tiny towns and issues have arrived with mysexuality, - are you alright with this?"

"Yes" Harrison blinked,"Although it's not very common in my town- my eldest brother dated aman"

"Well what a coincidence" Carsonsmiled and found himself leaning forwards- almost trying to get closer to thecountry boy, "I do have to mention I am just getting over getting dumpedso pardon the wreck I am at the moment"

"May I ask what happened?"

"We were together for 6 years andthen suddenly it ended- just like that" Carson snapped his fingers and hiseyes drooped, "he left me for some UFC fighter guy" Carson tracedcircle don his desk with the tip of his pointer finger, "It's odd beingalone after all this time"

Harris sat silently, drinking up all ofwhat his boss said with stride. He wasn't awkward around the gay man- as hesaid his brother was gay and was in love with a guy for years. So, he didn'tmind the sad look in his new boss's eyes, or how he slumped over in defeat.

"I hate to say it but I'm a bitcontrolling- comes with running a company and I guess he finally got tired withit" He mumbled.

Harrison said nothing- he didn't evenflinch. Carson looked at him and saw the slight blush covering his new internsface. It seemed odd at the time, but he didn't think much of it. AlthoughHarris said he was used to being around gay guys, it made sense that this felta little awkward to him.

"Sorry" Carson sighed and sat upagain, "Nothing less attractive than a 36-year-old man whining about abreak up huh?"

"I still think you are ratherattractive" Harrison said absentmindedly

"What?" Carson rose a brow andhis eyes widened.

Harris came to realize what he said andrecoiled, "No I- I mean" he stuttered as his face covered with athick blush, "I mean you are quite handsome but I'm not coming onto you!That would be so inappropriate. I mean it's only my first day. Jesus I am sucha wreck. I'm sorry” he rambled, and Carson mused.

"Harris!" Carson laughed,"it's okay!"

Harris breathed heavily and tried to calmhimself down. Carson was still snickering when Harris finally managed to calmdown. Carson stood up and walked over to Harrison. He patted Harris on the headand smiled sweetly. Harris looked up at his boss with big puppy dog eyes.

"Let's get to work yeah?" Carsonoffered, "We have tons of paper work to get through before a meeting in afew days"

"Yeah" Harris nodded.

Carson's fingers lingered in Harrison'shair and he smiled fondly. His heart beat a little faster as he found Harrislooking up at him and leaning slightly into his touch. He found himself willingto bend down and embrace the young man, but he stood his ground- knowing thathe would regret it. This was just a young boy- starting out his life in a bigcity. All alone. He'd let Carson take advantage of him and the last thingCarson needed right now was to feel like some sort of s****l predator.

"After work, let's get a drink at theIrish pub a block down the street, yeah?"

"That sounds lovely sir" Harris said,and Carson pulled his hand away. Both men found themselves wishing they couldhave stayed like that long and it felt odd to both.

Carson decided to take Harrison on a tourof the office- which was decorated in the Christmas fashion as the holiday wasonly two weeks away. Harrison found the whole thing a bit overwhelming, butCarson was at ease joking with his employees and introducing Harrison like hewas the boss's new puppy dog.

--

"You know Felix was a real prude- henever wanted to be all lovey dovey together- he pushed me away all the fuckintime" Carson slurred- once again drunk but this time his brand-new internwas sitting next to him calmly sipping a Budweiser.

"He sounds like not a good match foryou" Harris said.

"Eh- I think he just got sick ofme" Carson mooned, "I mean 6 years is a long time to be with the sameperson"

"My parents' have been together 40years- since they were 15" Harris said in between sips.

"Really? That's some peoplelifetimes"

"Where I come from divorce is prettytaboo- ya stick with your partner until you can fix it-if after three years youstill can't manage to figure it out- then you can get divorced but- it stillrarely happens"

"Do your parents' still love eachother?" Carson asked- lying his head on the bar top and looking atHarrison.

"Yes- you can see it when you look atthem they hardly are apart, they still say I love you all the time and havetaught their children that love is very important in life- it fulfills life intheir minds"

"That's sounds amazing" Carsonsaid, "is any of your family here in the city?"

"No" Harrison chuckled, "mysister wants to come visit over the summer, but I don't think my ma and pa willlet'er"

"So, you're alone forChristmas?"

"Yes, sir I am"

"Want to spend it with me?"Carson asked.

"Is that alright? You hardly knowme"

"Well as I told you- we will bespending hours on end together. I'm alone-you're alone. Makes sense doesn't it,that we'd spend it together?"

"Of course, sir- I'd love to spendChristmas with you" Harrison smiled and pulled out his wallet. He passedthe Bar tender a twenty and a ten and he smiled, waving the money and stickingit in his pocket.

"Let's get you home sir" Harrispatted Carson on his back and Carson threw himself into Harrison's arms.Harrison laughed a little and held his boss up.

"Where do you live?"

"1356 Bird way Avenue- uptown-apartment 5-B" Carson said, and Harrison nodded, shuffling himself and hisboss into his bosses slick black Honda.

Harris was a little nervous in his boss's car,but Carson looked absolutely wasted and there was no way he was letting himdrive home on his own. The drive was long- a half hour from the office but thebuilding was amazing. All glass- mirrored so you couldn't see in, but everyonecould see out.

"What floor?" he asked his bosswho was staggering in his arms.

"5 you dummy" Carson flickedHarrisons cheek, "That's why it's 5-B"

Harrison just shook his head and lumberedto the elevator. There were only two apartments on the 5th floor. They must behuge, Harrison thought, He is really rich. Carson fumbled with his keys buteventually swung the door open. The apartment was cold in two ways. Thetemperature was chilly, but the apartment didn't look lived in. The shelvessurrounding the flat screen were empty. Dust trails told Harrison that therewere one photo there, probably pictures of Carson and Felix.

Harrison laid his boss on the wide graycouch and he walked around-looking for any sing of life in the pent house.

"When he left I just had to get ridof all the reminders" Carson croaked, and Harris sat next to his boss'sfeet, "It looks so dead and empty- that why I've slept in the office alllast week- it hurts to be home"

"It's alright to feel hurt"Harrison said.

"Will you stay with me" Carsonasked, "Just until morning"