Together Box Set

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The next couple weeks dragged by. David hadn’t expected to hear from Bud, and he hadn’t been disappointed. He began to regard Bud as an unattainable dream, an experience he’d enjoyed, but not something he’d ever get to feel again.

It therefore came as a surprise when his doorbell rang one Saturday morning, and on opening up, Bud was standing there, a large duffle bag slung over his right shoulder.

“Uh, can I, uh, come in?”

David realized he’d stood there not speaking, looking at the Marine shuffling his feet on the doormat. In answer, David moved aside to allow his visitor entry. His mind whirled with innumerable questions, but for whatever reason he couldn’t verbalize any of them.

“I, uh, well, uh when I was here last time I saw that you had a lot of things that needed fixing up. So I—”

It was true. Though very accomplished at what he did in the classroom, David knew he was no handyman. The roof needed re-shingling, the faucet in the downstairs bathroom dripped, and the pack of shelving he’d bought at Target the previous year still remained unopened in its flat carton.

Finally finding his voice, David said, “Bud. You were about the last person I ever expected to come knocking at my door.” Seeing the handsome face fall, he went on quickly. “Not that I’m displeased to see you or anything, it’s just…when you left last time, I—”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run out on you like that.”

David wanted to ask why Bud had left so quickly, but he couldn’t bring himself to, fearing the answer. Bud was here, that was the main thing.

“This place sure does need some attention, I just never seem to get round to doing it.”

Bud looked at the many half-finished projects that David had begun, but had lost interest in, or knew he lacked the skill to complete. “So that’s why I came over. I had a free weekend and, well, uh, that’s why I came over.”

“Thank you, it’s very kind of you,” David said, saving Bud from having to explain his real motives. “But first, have you eaten?”

The wide smile on Bud’s face was all the answer David needed. “Okay, before you get stuck into fixing up this place, I’ll feed you. How do eggs over easy, home fries, sausage patties and biscuits sound?”

“You got any biscuit gravy?”

“Of course. You just put your bag in the bedroom and come and join me.”

Bud leaned in and kissed David on the cheek. David didn’t resist, but also didn’t encourage.

Withdrawing, Bud looked deep into David’s eyes. “Sorry, I maybe shouldn’t have done that.”

David put a hand on Bud’s arm. “I can’t…um, I mean if I let you in, and then you left…I’d…it’d hurt too much.”

Bud nodded. “I’m sorry, I—” He turned away, and, with drooping shoulders, trudged into the hallway.

“Shit.” David felt bad, but knew he had to define the boundaries for both their sakes.

After eating, the pair worked steadily for over three hours. The heavy physical labor caused both men to break out into a sweat. Stopping to wipe his brow, Bud decided to take off his shirt and wifebeater, exposing his torso.

“You don’t play fair,” David whined, adjusting himself.

“Huh?” Bud’s face was the picture of innocence.

“Never mind.”

The two carried on working, they’d moved on to the shelving that David had bought, but never built. Standing on the ground, looking up at the gorgeously sculpted physique of his work-mate on the step ladder, muscles bulging in all the right places, David knew his previous resolve to remain distant was weakening. It broke completely when Bud asked him to hold the shelf level while he used the screwdriver to fix the bracket. This involved David leaning forward, his damp shirt pressing against Bud’s wide, firm, hot, sweaty back. David groaned low in his throat.

Bud, abandoning his carpentry, turned and wrapped his arms around David. “I promise I wasn’t trying to tease you. It’s just, well—”

“It’s all right.”

* * * *

The pair stayed locked in their embrace for a few more minutes, before the shelf fell off the wall. The two looked at it, then one another, before bursting out laughing.

The incident seemed to break the ice between them, and they spent the rest of the day talking like old friends, punctuated by the occasional touch or gentle caress. Bud was warm and generous, funny and knowledgeable. David often found it difficult to make friends, he knew his rather narrow existence didn’t give him many subjects in common with people he met, but not so with Bud. While the physical attraction he’d felt from the very beginning was still there, this was supplemented by a deepening friendship and respect for his visitor.

“Don’t know about you, stud, but I think I’m gonna have to call it a day,” Bud said, wiping his brow.

“And there I was, thinking you Marines were built of stronger stuff, able to conquer any challenge placed before you.”

“I’ll show you just what I can conquer, you chalk pushing weakling!” Bud said, flexing his enormous biceps. “Oh, sorry, Dave, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable, I—”

David could have wept at the tender consideration Bud was showing to him. “It’s all right.”

And just to prove that it was, David leaned forward and laid a gentle kiss on Bud’s firm, slightly parted lips. He felt the urge to deepen the kiss, but his sense of self-preservation kicked in and forced him to withdraw.

“You’re a very special man, Bud. Very special.”

“So are you, stud.”

Knowing he had to change the mood, David suggested they get washed up and he’d take Bud out to supper. “What are you in the mood for?” Seeing the look on Bud’s face change, he went on quickly. “I meant to eat, you horn dog.”

“I don’t know much about what’s good round here. What would you recommend?”

“Well, it depends if you want to dress casual or smart. Say, you didn’t pack your blue uniform in that bag of yours by chance?”

“Sorry, no.”

“Pity. ‘Cause being seen out on the arm of a guy in uniform…God, I’d be the envy of every gay man in town.”

“I promise I’ll bring it next time, okay?”

“Really?” David didn’t know what excited him the most, the fact that Bud said he would visit again, or that he’d get the chance to live out one of his fantasies of going on a date with a man in uniform, and there was no finer uniform than a US Marine’s dress blues.

They decided on casual clothing, so once they’d cleaned up in the bathroom, David took Bud to a steak house where he knew his friend would take full advantage of their All You Can Eat buffet.