For New Year’s Eve they stayed at home in Rockville and had a quiet night, just the three of them. On New Year’s Day in the evening after EJ had went to bed, they had just settled in for a movie night when Ethan got a call from his best friend Carlos. “Yo, cabron, whose ass hole did you stick your dick in last night?” Carlos asked.
Ethan, whose head was in Jack’s lap as they laid on the couch together, laughed. “Same one as last year, but I’m pretty sure I can’t say the same about you.”
They laughed, then Carlos asked, “For real, Jack again? That’s still happening huh?”
“It’s happening and it’s here to stay so get used to it,” Ethan said.
Carlos groaned. “Mi amor, you know you really belong to me so I’ll let your Baby Jack have his way with you for now.”
Ethan laughed. “So what’s really going on, Los?”
“Same ol’ same ol’. Saving the youth, getting my dick sucked, and finding time for romantic comedies in between.” Carlos started talking about his work and then his latest sexual escapades making Ethan laugh. They talked throughout the whole two hour movie that he was supposed to be watching with Jack. Jack was keeping his cool trying not to be jealous, but when movie went off and they were still talking, he had had enough.
He turned the TV off and moved Ethan off his lap. Ethan looked at him and sat up but kept talking to Carlos. Jack moved to kneel between Ethan’s legs, put his hands on his thighs and looked him in the eyes. Ethan stared back. Jack moved both hands to massage Ethan’s inner thigh, not taking his eyes off him, all the way to the creases between his thigh and groin. He put his face down in Ethan’s crotch and rubbed his face on his penis through his sweatpants and Ethan did a small intake of breath.
“Yea? That’s crazy, how did he get away with that?” he asked Carlos, as his attention span starting to wane and his cock started to grow. Jack grabbed the tip of Ethan’s penis with his mouth through his sweatpants and bit gently. Ethan let out a small moan. “hmmmm…. Well I hope you said something back,” he said to his best friend on the phone.
He reached his other hand down not holding the phone and started running his fingers through Jack’s hair as he continued to suck him through the fabric. Jack then used his mouth to nudge Ethan’s penis straight up so that the tip started poking through his sweats. He stuck out his tongue and gently licked his slit and the side of the head of Ethan’s penis that was visible tasting his pre-cum.
Ethan moaned again. “hmmmmmmmmm….. that’s….that’s fuck up,” he said to Carlos, distractedly.
Jack kept his hands on Ethan’s thighs, massaging it gently. After a couple of soft licks, Jack put his mouth on the part of Ethan’s cock that he could reach, and pulled it off his torso, so he could get his entire mouth on Ethan’s head of his dick. He didn’t suck or lick, he just held it in his mouth firmly between his lips and then looked up at Ethan, his green eyes shining like emeralds.
“Aaah…Carlos….I have to call you back,” Ethan said hurriedly.
“Why, is Baby Jack getting jealous that you’re taking to your real man?”
“Don’t call him that….I’ll talk to you later,” Ethan said as he dick twitched in Jack’s mouth.
“Wait! I’m coming up to see you!” he exclaimed.
Ethan switched his attention back to Carlos. “Really? You finally coming up to see the B&B?”
“Yea, it’s about time I come see you and this life you’re living up there. Plus I miss you, EB.”
Ethan was conflicted. As much as he wanted Carlos to come up, he also knew that Carlos liked to start shit for the sake of starting shit when he was in a relationship, and the last thing he needed was drama between him and Jack.
“Um…ok. Just tell me when. Cuz I really have to go.” Jack’s mouth started salivating and spit was slowly dripping down Ethan’s dick, drawing his attention back to what was in front of him.
“Ok, go put the baby to bed, I’ll call you next week,” Carlos said.
“Ok, ok bye!” Ethan said and hung up. When he did, Jack let Ethan’s dick fall out of his mouth with a plop against his stomach and stood up. Ethan called, “Hey, what the fuck?” He grabbed his very hard dick.
“Oh, sorry, I thought you were waiting for Carlos to come up and handle it for you.” Jack shrugged and left the room. Catty moved from underneath the couch, gave Ethan a cold stare and followed Jack.
“Ah fuck.” Ethan sat back on the couch, hard dick still in his hand.
~~~~~
Jack wasn’t exactly giving Ethan the cold shoulder the next day but not as warm as Ethan would have liked as they worked together to set up EJ’s birthday party. They invited all the kids from Just In Time, EJ’s daycare, to celebrate his fourth birthday at the Inn, complete with a Spiderman character dropping by. About fifteen kids or so and their parents started filtering in around 3pm. Jack was in charge of the games and played with the kids while Ethan managed the food and refreshments, and hung back with the adults.
EJ opened his presents and was ecstatic to see his new big boy bike and jumped into Jack’s arms before he tried to take off with the tricycle, forgetting about his party. Jack couldn’t find the exact color but he found a blue one without tassels, storage in the back, and a helmet to match. He promised to take him out before the day was over, no matter what time it was but to wait because he had another prize in store.
When Spiderman showed up at 5pm it was a mass frenzy to get to him with Jack in the middle. After a bit of greetings to all the kids, Spiderman said, “Hey birthday boy, come up front!”
He did a couple of cool tricks and gave out prizes, then showed EJ his Spiderman glove that shot out webs all around while the other kids wowed. Then Spiderman told him to practice safety. “Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Make sure you listen to your dad and only play with the glove in a safe location. Where’s your dad, so he can help you put this on?”
EJ looked around, then pointed directly at Jack. Jack’s eyes got wide and so did Ethan’s from the other side of the room. He hesitated and looked at Ethan, but then started walking toward the middle of the room to Spiderman and EJ. As Spiderman showed Jack how to work the glove on EJ’s arm, Ms. Robbins who was standing near Ethan said, “You should go correct him. You don’t want them thinking Jack is his dad, do you?”
Ethan took a moment and smiled at her and said, “Actually, nothing would make me happier.” He walked away.
Later on after cake and ice cream was distributed, Ethan saw Jack taking a breather near the kitchen door. He walked over to him and leaned on the wall. “Had a good day?” Ethan asked.
Jack smiled his sideways smile. “It’s been eventful, yes.”
“Thank you for all of it. You did amazing, Dad,” Ethan said with emphasis on the last word.
Jack smiled wide. “I know right. Wow. That was…something. I mean, we say it to each other, but EJ saying it…wow. I’m sure the town will be talking about that tomorrow.”
Ethan said, “You’re something.” He stepped closer and leaned in and Jack stepped back.
“Stop,” Jack said.
“Don’t tell me you’re still mad at me for yesterday,” Ethan said concernedly.
“No, it’s not that. It’s…we have guests.”
Ethan cocked his head to the side, surprised. “You’ve never shied away from kissing me in public.”
“Yea…But it’s different right now because there are kids and their parents here.”
“So?”
“So it’s one thing to say you accept it, it’s another thing to see two men kiss in front of your kids,” Jack said. “Even for the most liberal of people it can be awkward.”
“This is our home,” Ethan stated factually.
“Yea I know, I’m just saying we need to be mindful that-”
But Jack was cut off by Ethan grabbing his chin pulling him forward, and pressing his lips against him, held it a few seconds, then let him go. He kissed him on the mouth two more times.
“Shut the fuck up,” Ethan said and walked on. Jack couldn’t wipe the smile off his face if he tried.
~~~~~~
Ethan got the call in the beginning of February from Carlos. “Mi amor, we’re coming! We’ll be there for Valentine’s Day so keep a room warm for me!”
“Who the fuck is ‘we'”? Ethan asked.
“Me and my boyfriend Jorge,” Carlos said.
“Get the fuck outta here. Where did you pick him up, Hunt’s Point?” Ethan joked.
“Nah for real, I have a boyfriend and his name is Jorge.”
“Since when?”
“That’s not important,” Carlos said and laughed.
Ethan laughed with him. He said, “OK, I will keep a reserved room for you and…Jorge.”
When they hung up he went to tell Jack, who was wiping down the main kitchen in the Inn. “So Carlos is coming up. In two weeks. Valentine’s Day weekend. With his boyfriend.”
Jack had to use all is strength to not react the way he really wanted to. He said with his back turned coolly, “Ok cool.” He looked up and smiled at Ethan and Ethan smiled back before turning around to finish cleaning. But Ethan knew. That was too easy.
“He’s not as bad as you think,” he said. “He’s a pretty cool guy. And he’s my best friend.”
Jack nodded. “And you’re first love.”
Ethan paused and said, “Yea, OK. When I was a kid. Literally over ten years ago. Closer to twelve. Are you really jealous of that? We’re getting married, Jack.”
“Does he know that?”Jack asked. He turned all the way around to look at Ethan and leaned on the counter with his arms crossed.
Ethan hesitated. “I just didn’t get a chance to tell him yet.”
“Really, in the two hour conversation you had on New Year’s, it didn’t come up?” Jack asked sarcastically.
Ethan shrugged. “I didn’t think it was a phone conversation.” Jack nodded, turned around, and went back to cleaning. “I’m going to tell him when he gets here.” Ethan said.
“You don’t have to,” Jack said as he sprayed and wiped down the stove.
Ethan exhaled audibly. “Of course I do. And I will.”
“OK, well, when you want to. It’s whatever.” Jack said nonchalantly.
Ethan leaned against the double sized steel fridge. “I can’t believe you are really jealous.”
“I’m not jealous of him. I’m…” He decided to tell him what he had been thinking for the last month. He turned around again and leaned back. “You’re different around him. Even on the phone. It’s…not something I like.”
“Different how?” Ethan folded his arms across his chest.
“I don’t know. He like…sucks up all of your attention,” Jack said. “Even when his name is brought up it’s like, it sucks all the air out of the room. I just know he’s a lot to deal with and I haven’t even been in the same room as him yet. I can’t put my finger on it. You and him. And maybe I’m afraid to find out.”
Ethan walked over to put his arms around Jack’s waist and connected his fingers on the small of his back. “There is no me and him. And there hasn’t been for a very long time. There is a me and you. And I like that combination a hell of a lot better.” He leaned in for a kiss that Jack reluctantly returned.
“You’ll see when he gets here, there is nothing to be worried about. Yes, he’s a big personality that sometimes does suck all the air out of the room. But that has nothing to do with me, that’s just who he is. And he is probably going to test your resolve. Remember when we first met, and I was a major dickhead? Well you’ll face that again times twenty, just to rattle you. But I’m not worried about that because you’re Jack fucking Redmond, nerves of steel. You handled me exponentially, you can handle Carlos.”
He kissed Jack again on the lips, then on his left cheek, then his right. He leaned their foreheads together. Jack whispered, “I love you.”
Ethan said, “More than you’ll ever know.”
~~~~~
Liam took the weekend off to spend time with June so Jack was playing front desk clerk that Friday afternoon when a tall, very handsome Hispanic man walked in, with another short handsome Hispanic stocky man. Jack knew who he was right away. Carlos had curly short black hair, a full thin beard with a thin mustache and a goatee to match. Full lips. Hazel eyes. Fit body. Jack could tell he was a gym junkie.
Fuck, he’s gorgeous, Jack thought, and that annoyed him tremendously.
“Hi, we have reservations for the weekend under Carlos Lopez,” Nice deep voice. Spanish accent. Jack hated everything about this sexy man in front of him.
But he put on his best smile and said, “Welcome to the Starling B&B. You’re in room 8, last door in the west wing.” He handed him the key and a bag of complimentary items: Champagne, a container of fresh strawberries, a bag of Hershey’s kisses and two long stem roses. Carlos handed the bag to the stocky guy, who started going through it.
Carlos asked Jack, “How good is this place?”
“We’re the best Bed and Breakfast this side of Providence,” Jack said.
Stocky guy pulled out the strawberries. “Oh we’re going to have fun with these.”
Carlos turned around and saw the fruit. He said, “Ethan. He always had a thing for strawberries. Some things never change.” Jack did not like the way he said Ethan’s name. It came off more like “Eeeton”, sexy with his Spanish accent, and too familiar. Carlos turned back to Jack, “So the owner, is he a good boss or an asshole?”
Jack smiled. “Ethan’s a good guy and he treats his employees well. Everyone loves him.”
Carlos smiled back and said, “Good to know. Can you tell him that Carlos is here? He’s expecting me.”
Jack noted he said “me” and not “us.” He kept his friendly smile up. “I sure will Mr. Lopez. I’m sure he will up any minute now.”
Just then Ethan came upstairs with EJ in his arms. “Los!” He yelled excitedly, which annoyed the fuck out of Jack.
Carlos turned and said, “Ethan, mi amor.” They hugged and then Carlos gave him a kiss on his cheek, a little too close to Ethan’s lips for his liking. Jack then thought, mi amor? Doesn’t that mean, my love? Nope, I don’t like this. He noted that they were exactly the same height. Jack was good 1 full inch shorter than Ethan, so the fact that they were the same height annoyed Jack as well.
Ethan said to EJ, “This is your uncle Carlos, EJ. Say hi.”
EJ said shyly, “hyyyyeee.”
“Hi Little Ethan. You’re just as yummy as your dad.” He pinched EJ’s cheek, making him laugh, and then touched Ethan’s shoulder, running his hand down his arm. “It’s good to see you, EB.”
Jack noted every single touch and look that Carlos gave his Ethan. He also noted how Ethan leaned into it, enjoyed the attention Carlos gave him and he was beyond annoyed. Fuck, now I have to kill him, Jack thought, then laughed to himself.
Carlos finally remembered he came with someone. “ben, Jorge, ben aqui, meet my best friend, the one person who knows me inside and out.” He winked at Ethan who laughed as Jorge reached out his hand to shake.
“Jorge. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Stocky man introduced himself.
Ethan shook his hand and said, “Ethan, nice to meet you. I would love to say the same buuuut…”
Jorge laughed. He had a much higher voice than what he looked like. “Yea, we met on Facebook a little while ago, but we recently decided to get together for real.”
“Well congrats man, and also, my condolences for having to put up with this one.” Carlos and Jorge both laughed. Ethan looked over at Jack who was watching. He nodded toward him. “I see you already met Jack.”
Carlos turned wide eyed to Jack who smiled. “Nice you meet you Carlos, officially,” he said.
Carlos smiled back, “Jack. That was underhanded of you, checking me before I got a chance to check you. Well, ¿Qué piensas? How do I measure up?”
Jack again hated how gorgeous he was and his smile was all that. He said, “Measure up to me? No comparison. But I guess you do ok on your own.” Jack smiled his sideways smile and winked.
Carlos smiled widely. “I see what our Ethan sees in you.”
Jack couldn’t help it, he corrected him. “My Ethan.”
Carlos smile faded just a bit, and he nodded. “Riiiiight.” He turned back to Jorge and said, “So we fucking first, then dinner? ¿Si?”
He looked at Ethan and smiled, then back at Jorge, who said, “Let’s go to the room first, freshen up. Then we can figure out dinner.”
“We made reservations for 8pm at Red Rock, they’ll have a table for us,” said Jack.
Carlos said, “Fucking first it is.” He kissed Jorge on the mouth and grabbed his ass, then winked at Ethan, who shook his head and smiled. He turned back to Jack, still palming Jorge’s ass. “Which way you said again? East, west?”
“West.” Jack said, and pointed toward the left. Carlos turned back to Ethan and still with one hand on Jorge leaned in to kiss Ethan’s cheek again too close to his mouth.
“Be down by 7:45pm,” Ethan said. “You got about three hours.” They went upstairs. Ethan came over to Jack and sat EJ on the counter, then kissed him. “I love you,” he said. Jack shrugged playfully, then smiled. Ethan then asked, “So what do you think?”
Jack pulled EJ to his side of the desk to sit in the chair, then said, “I’m just trying to remember why you didn’t work out with a guy that looks like that.”
“Well he didn’t look like that at 15. He was skinny and his lips bigger than his head. But just as arrogant, yes.”
“Well he’s fucking gorgeous now isn’t he?” Jack said with a more edge then he wanted.
Ethan leaned in and kissed him again. “I didn’t notice, with you breathing the same air as me.”
Jack rolled his eyes but secretly melted at Ethan’s words. He said, “You don’t have to reassure me all night, you know.”
“I know I don’t have to. Maybe I just want to.” He looked at the time. “I’m going to run EJ to your parents, be right back.” He held his hands out and EJ crawled back on the desk to jump in them.
~~~~~
Ethan held Jack’s hand as they all walked over to the Red Rock Bar and Grill talking and joking around with Carlos and Jorge. BJ had hired a band to play soft rock love songs every night through the weekend. The place was crowed for Valentine’s Day dinner as they had a three course meal special. They had taken reservations months in advance, and Jack snagged one of them for him and Ethan, but it was now to be shared with Carlos and Jorge.
They sat down at a corner booth and put their orders in. As soon as the waitress left, Carlos started. “So Jack, what do you do, other than Ethan?”
Jack smiled and said, “I work in my family’s business, Frazier’s Orchard, as a distribution manager, and also for the sanitation department.”
“So a ‘jack’ of all trades?” Carlos said and laughed at his corny joke alone.
“Yup. Guess I’m your average blue collar worker.”
“We’re all blue collar workers. I’m still shocked Ethan gave up his white collar job making white boy money,” Carlos said.
“Making white boy money didn’t make me happy. This does,” Ethan said.
Carlos shrugged him off. “Yea ok, but it sure does make shit a whole lot easier.” He turned back to Jack, “So you didn’t go to college?”
Jack said simply, “No.”
“Now, that’s shocking,” said Carlos. “Ethan falls for intellectuals.” That pissed Ethan off, because he knew that was less about Jack but more about his relationship with his professor.
“Jack is an intellectual, asshole,” he said.
Carlos again shrugged. “I’m sure he reads a lot, but you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t. Tell me what you mean,” Ethan glared at him.
Carlos smiled. “I’m not trying to upset you, amigo. I’m just saying, I know you. And I’m just trying to get to know Jack better and understand your relationship, because you’re a relationship kind of person, not the fucking around type. And this is a little….different than what I’m used to seeing you with.”
“Why do you need to understand our relationship? As his best friend, shouldn’t you just support him regardless?” Jack asked.
“Because as his best friend I need to make sure he’s not with someone that will hurt him in the long run.” Carlos said seriously.
“I’ll never hurt him,” Jack said just as serious.
“Didn’t you already though?” Carlos asked thoughtfully. Ethan gave him a deadly stare.
“I’ll never hurt him again,” Jack said plainly.
“We’ll see about that.” The waitress came back with their beers. Carlos said, “On second thought, can you bring me a rum and coke instead? You want one, Jorge? I think ima need something a little harder tonight.”
~~~
Carlos continued to fire questions at Jack and take a dig whenever he could throughout dinner. He asked, “Have you had many relationships? You seem a little young and inexperienced.”
“Just because I’m younger than Ethan doesn’t make me less experienced,” Jack said.
“It does when it comes down to Ethan. He likes ’em older.” Carlos winked to him, which Ethan responded with, “Shut the fuck up,” and Jorge laughed.
Carlos later asked Jack, “So are you gay or bi or somewhere on the spectrum?”
“I’m gay,” Jack said.
“So you’ve never been with a woman?” He asked.
“No.”
“Like, ever?”
“No. Not like ever,” Jack said again.
“Shiiiiiid, then how do you know you’re gay? If you’ve never experienced the other side? See that’s what I mean by experiences.” Carlos said factually.
Jack said with a straight face, “I know I’m gay because I like the feel and taste of dick.”
Jorge busted out laughing and gave Jack a fist bump while Ethan snorted a laugh. Carlos raised his glass saying, “touche,” and then drank. Then he said, “Well maybe one day you’ll have that experience.”
Jack said, “Not unless Ethan’s planning a sex change. Because I’m not leaving him. Ever.” There was a little edge to Jack’s voice. Carlos gave a small nod and looked around the room.
“I’ve never been with a woman either. You know what you like right?” Jorge said. Jack nodded and smiled at him.
June and Liam were walking toward their table. Carlos said, “See I’m gay, but I know a sweet ass when I see one because I’ve fuck a few. Look at the hips on this one.”
Jack turned to see who he was looking at, then gave Carlos a death stare as June hugged Jack from behind. She said, “Hey, I didn’t know you guys would be here. We’re just finishing up dinner.”
Ethan squeezed Jack’s leg under the table and said, “Carlos, meet Jack’s little sister, June and her boyfriend Liam, Jack’s best friend. June and Liam, this is my best friend Carlos and his boyfriend Jorge.”
Carlos’s eyes got wide and he said to Jack, “Oh shit! My bad, man. No really…my bad.” He and Jorge said their hellos to June and Liam.
Jack tore his eyes away to greet Liam with a dap. “I thought you guys left already. It’s kind of late to be driving back to New York now.”
June rolled her eyes and told the table, “He still thinks I’m 16.”
Liam said to Jack, “We’re not going all the way down, we got a room at Mohegan Sun for the weekend. I’ll take her back to school on Sunday.”
“Oh I guess my little B&B wasn’t good enough,” Ethan joked.
“Dude, no,” Liam said. “I clean those rooms. I see those rooms day in and day out.”
“Ok well, be safe,” Jack said.
“Sure thing, Dad,” Liam said sarcastically and smirked.
June kissed Jack on his cheek, then Ethan. “Nice to meet you Carlos and Jorge,” June called as she sashayed away in her tight red sweater dress and black knee high boots.
Carlos turned back to Jack and said, “No really. I got two little sisters so…Lo siento. I’m sorry.”
Jack shrugged. “It’s all good. I know that she is beautiful.” But inside he was fuming, picturing himself pistol whipping Carlos.
Carlos asked, “So does everyone work for you, Ethan?”
Ethan chuckled and said, “No, but it’s a small town so. I pretty much know 80% of the people in this room.”
Carlos shook his head. “I don’t know how you do it, EB. I would go crazy here.”
“Why, ain’t enough bottoms for you to fuck?” Ethan asked.
Carlos laughed, “Well…I could always find a bottom to fuck, trust. Even a straight one.” They laughed. “It’s not just that. I mean, do you even have a Dunkin Donuts in this bitch? It’s just so….”
“White?” Jack responded, and smiled.
Carlos said, “Well yea. Like is there even one black person in this whole town? Are there any Latinos that don’t clean houses and mow lawns?”
“There are some, but not many, you would have to go to a little further down,” Jack said. “My friend Afia is black and she lives on the southwest side of town. There is only one high school in Rockville so that’s where we all meet each other.”
“So you stick the minorities on the south side?” Carlos said accusingly.
“I don’t stick anyone anywhere,” Jack said. “That’s just where she lives. If you want to talk about the systematic institutionalized racist polices like red lining housing and school zonings, and why most minorities, even the middle class ones, live on the less affluent side of town, we can.”
Carlos smiled. “No, I’d rather talk about how many people you’ve fucked in this small town, or who fucked you, that Ethan has to see every day.”
“Don’t be an asshole,” Ethan said to Carlos.
“Why would that matter if we’re together now?” Jack asked.
“Because who wants to look into someone’s face all the time knowing they fucked your man?” Carlos said.
“I’m looking in your face right now knowing you fucked my man and it doesn’t bother me,” Jack said plainly.
“Ooooooh,” Jorge said, and laughed.
“But I don’t live here. How would you feel if I was here all the time, hanging around Ethan?” Carlos smirked.
“You could move into the Inn and I wouldn’t give shit. Ethan’s not going anywhere,” Jack said definitively.
Carlos laughed. “Oh yea? Your stroke game must be on point then.”
Ethan and Jack said simultaneously, “It is.”
“Ooooooooh shit!” Jorge said again and laughed harder.
Carlos chuckled as well. “Ok, I got it, I got it.” Carlos looked around again staying quiet. Jack was ready for more stupid ass questions from him, but they never came. Instead he turned to Jorge and asked, “You ready?”
Jorge said, “Yea.” Carlos leaned in and gave Jorge a passionate 20 second kiss complete with lip sucking and tongue action. Jack rolled his eyes and turned away but then glanced at Ethan who was staring. He burned a hole on the side of Ethan’s face with his death glare, who finally looked at him and smiled, squeezing his leg again. When they came up for air, Jorge said again, “Yea, I’m ready.”
Carlos said not looking over at Jack and Ethan. “We’re going to go now. I’ll catch you in the morning.” They got up and Carlos left $200 on the table. “Y’all got the tip, right?” He smiled and they left.
Ethan turned to Jack. “Do you hate him?” h e asked.
Yes, Jack thought. But to Ethan he shrugged and said, “No. You were right though. He was testing me, a lot.”
“Well you passed in my book, and that’s the only book that matters.” Then he leaned into his ear and said, “Now take me home and show me that stroke game.” Jack smiled.
~~~~
Jack went on his daily run at 4am next morning to clear his head and ended up at the apple farm, and sat in his tree. He concluded that Ethan is an idiot if he doesn’t see that Carlos is still into him. Jack was beginning to see what he meant when he talked about having blinders on before. He realized Ethan is all heart when it comes to people he cares about, which makes him also really good at ignoring red flags, and Carlos is a large glaring one. And Jack needed to figure out how to handle it before he came between them.
~~~~
Someone was knocking on the door at 6am. Ethan groaned, thinking Jack forgot his key, and got up to open the door. Carlos was standing there smiling. “Hola cabron! So this is where you’re hiding?”
Ethan groaned again, opened it wider and went to sit in the living room. Carlos walked in and went around the basement apartment, going through all the rooms. “EJ’s room is cute. Where’s Baby Jack?”
“Don’t call him that,” Ethan said. “He runs every morning, but he’s usually back by now.” Carlos came and sat next to Ethan, then smiled at him, stretching his arm around the back of the couch and looked at him grinning. “What?” Ethan asked.
“Nada. You look good. Happy. This Mayberry shit works for you.”
“Shut up,” Ethan said and hit him with a small pillow.
Carlos started, “Sooo Jack.”
Ethan said, “Yup. Jack.”
“He’s hot. Very attractive. And he has balls. I see why you like him,” said Carlos.
“And you were just saying shit to be saying shit last night, admit it.”
Carlos threw up his palms. “I just wanted to make sure it was as real for him as it is for you. You like impossible relationships.”
“I do not.”
“Ha! Hutch, the professor?”
“That was…unsustainable yes,” Ethan admitted.
“Justin?” Carlos reminded him. Ethan had a brief relationship with an anesthesiologist a few years back in between his love affair with his professor.
“That wasn’t impossible, that was just bad timing.”
“And me?” Carlos said, still smirking.
Ethan paused. “You were impossible because you wanted to be.”
“Doesn’t make it less impossible,” Carlos said.
“Well Jack’s not impossible,” Ethan said. “He’s present and available. And mine.”
Carlos leaned closer, reached his hand up and ran his hands through the side of Ethan’s hair. “Pero se supone que son minas, mi amor (But you’re supposed to be mine, my love),” he said softly.
“I haven’t been yours in like ten years, stop it.” Ethan said trying to ignore his touch.
“Seven years.” Ethan looked at him puzzled. Carlos said, “The threesome? And the day after that.”
Ethan nodded. “Shit. I forgot about that.”
“Umhmm…” Carlos said, still touching Ethan’s hair. Ethan despite himself, found his erection growing, and casually shifted his body, putting a pillow on his torso and held it there.
“It was still a long time ago.” He moved Carlos’s hand gently from stroking his hair, and said, “And that wasn’t a relationship, that was fun. And like you said, I’m a relationship kind of guy.” They looked at each other until Ethan turned away.
Carlos moved closer and said in Ethan’s ear, “There’s nothing wrong with us having a little fun now and then.” He flicked his tongue on Ethan’s ear.
Ethan’s heart started pounding, but he kept his cool. “Why do you do this shit? Anytime I’m with someone you try to fuck it up. It ain’t gonna work this time, Los. I love him. I’m happy. Give it a rest.”
Carlos leaned up a little inches from his face said softly, “Don’t act like you don’t know it was always going to be me and you in the end.” Ethan turned to look at him and they stared at each other. He was annoyed and confused.
They heard a key in the door and Carlos backed up to lean against the other side of the couch, leaving Ethan to stare at him. Jack came in and they both turned their heads to him. He had a dozen donuts and two cups of coffee from Dunkin Donuts.
Jack was surprised to see Carlos on his couch with Ethan. “Carlos. I was just coming to bring these donuts to you. From the south side.” He smiled and Carlos smiled back.
“Gracias, Amigo,” he responded.
Jack looked at them and said, “Why do I feel like I interrupted something?”
Ethan said, “No, we were just talking,” at the same time Carlos said, “You did.” Ethan glared at him again and Carlos laughed.
Carlos stood up and Jack handed him the donuts. He said, “We’re doing some sightseeing today, going into Providence. Is there anything to sight see in this town?”
“Well you can do a tour at Frazier’s Orchards, they do it twice a day,” Jack said.
“Maybe. We’ll see. Dinner tonight again?”
Carlos looked at Ethan but Jack answered. “We usually cook at home on Saturday nights, so you and Jorge could come down here. EJ will be here as well.”
Carlos turned to Jack and said, “That sounds like fun. 6pm good?”
“That’s perfect, see you then,” Jack said.
Carlos turned to ruffle Ethan’s hair roughly, which Ethan slapped his hand away, and laughed then left. Jack put the coffee on the table and sat next to Ethan, as Ethan was willing his erection to go down under his pillow. If Jack saw that he was hard with Carlos here, even a small boner, he was going to flip the fuck out and that is the last thing he needed right now.
He was thinking about everything and anything, EJ’s baby poop, his aunt’s sloppy kisses, the dead possum he found in the vent in room 2, anything as Jack started talking. “So what were you talking about?”
“You of course. He admitted he was being an asshole for shits and giggles last night.”
“Is that all he admitted?” Jack asked, looking at him intently.
Ethan swallowed, then said, “What do you mean?”
They looked at each other for a moment, then Jack said, “Nothing.” He got up and started going toward the hallway telling him, “I’m going to take a shower.”
“You want company?” Ethan asked.
Jack called out annoyed, “NOPE.”
Ethan waited until he heard the shower running a bit to jump in. Jack reluctantly moved over to make room. “Ok. Talk,” Ethan said. “I’m listening.”
Jack let a few moments pass, then said, “He’s in love with you.”
Ethan laughed. “Carlos is not in love with me. He likes to fuck with me because he thinks it’s funny.”
“And you let him. You let him touch you and flirt with you, because you like it too.”
“I’m just used to it. It’s the way we’ve always been with each other.” Ethan shrugged.
“He’s not your best friend. He’s your ex-boyfriend that will fuck you if you give him the slightest indication that you would let him.”
Ethan chuckled, mostly because what Jack said is true. “He is my best friend. We have been through a lot together, seen each other at our best and our worst. He’s who I turn to when I need someone to talk to that really knows me, outside of AJ. And I’m that person for him. But you aren’t wrong, Carlos will fuck anything if the hole is tight enough, even his best friend if I let him. Which I wouldn’t.” He smiled at Jack but Jack didn’t smile back.
“So he’s hot, he’s compassionate and clearly he is into you. So why aren’t you two together?”
Ethan scoffed. “You mean despite the fact that I’m in love with you? When did you become this insecure person?”
“I’m not insecure, I’m asking you a question,” Jack stated. “Why are you with me and not with him?”
Ethan took a breath and exhaled. “I’m with you because you are beautiful and sexy, and kind, and smart, and insightful, and intriguing, and patient, and funny, and you take care of EJ, and you take care of me. You are everything I have ever wanted and needed in this life. And your stroke game is on point.” He smiled and Jack found himself smiling as well. Ethan continued, “It’s not a competition for me. And if it was, you won.”
Jack was thoughtful, then asked, “So he knows I left. Does he know why?”
“He…believes you were having some family problems and asked to take a break from us.”
Jack nodded and asked, “And what was his advice to you?”
Ethan sighed, “He said, fuck him and go get laid. But he also said if you come back, take you back, no questions asked. Because family issues are hard enough without feeling like you have no support from someone you love.” Jack nodded again.
“So see, he’s not an all-around asshole. He’ll be better tonight, I’m sure of it,” Ethan said.
Jack was not so sure, but said, “OK.” Ethan moved closer to Jack in the shower, moving the shower head to the side and stood in front of him without touching him, but close enough that his penis was touching his.
They stood there in eye contact, allowing their desire for each other to grow naturally. Then Ethan slowly got on his knees, keeping eye contact with Jack. He stuck his tongue out and licked up from the base to the tip of Jack’s long and now very hard dick, without breaking eye contact. After a couple of licks, he opened his mouth, sucked one ball, then the other, then put them both in his mouth and gently moved his tongue around.
Jack who had been breathing rapidly threw his head back and finally let out an “oooooooh!” He stretched both hands out onto the wall and the shower door. Ethan started stroking Jack with both hands, using the bar soap to get it nice and slippery. Jack moaned and Ethan kept stroking him, bringing him to the brink of climax, then pressing the base of his shaft to slow him down, which made Jack almost topple over, exclaiming, “fuuuuuuuuuuuuck.”
Ethan stood up and turned around, put one hand on the wall and held his erection with the other. Jack soaped back up his penis, then soaped up Ethan’s puckered hole, and thrusted all the way in one motion, making them both moan. He wrapped one arm around Ethan’s midsection and held onto his waist with his other hand, bent him slightly and moved slow and purposeful, long deep strokes, circle around, pulling out to the tip and repeat.
Ethan matched his rhythm as he stroked his own dick and as Jack moved faster so did he. They moved and moaned together as Jack moved his hand up to hold onto Ethan’s shoulder from the front, bent him even more and started pounding him, making Ethan moan louder. He could feel when Ethan was close, feel his slight trembling and the tightening of his lower abdomen all the way down to his thighs. He knew that Ethan was trying to prolong his orgasm and Jack didn’t want that, he wanted him to lose control.
He pounded faster, and harder, then leaned over and bit Ethan hard on his neck right where shoulder began. The unexpected pain in the middle of the intense pleasure was exuberant and Ethan let out a loud “Aaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeyy!” and came so hard he thought his heart was going to stop, his cum flying out painting all over the tile wall.
Jack felt Ethan’s orgasm and also came right after with a “hooooooooolysssshhhhhhhit!” and fell against him who fell against the wall and almost slid down. They both laughed and tried to catch their breaths.
Ethan turned around and slid down to sit in the tub and Jack turned the shower head back down and sat between his legs, leaning his back against him, Ethan’s arms around him. They were quiet until Ethan kissed his neck and said, “I’m going to get you back.”
Jack chuckled. “Looking forward to it.”
“I think you left a bruise.”
“Good. I’m marking my territory.” Jack said seriously, then laughed when Ethan nudged him.
~~~~
Ethan had grilled steaks, veggies and Spanish rice for dinner, while Jack, still not much of a cook, boiled two hot dogs for EJ. Carlos and Jorge showed up with two bottles of Patron. “We getting fucked up tonight!” he exclaimed.
Ethan laughed. “You do know I have my son here, right?”
Having EJ around lightened the mood, and Carlos’s attention switched from Ethan to EJ and Catty, as they played around all evening, which was fine by Jack.
Ethan was right that Carlos started out the night civil with Jack, as the interrogations stopped and Jack got a chance to ask some questions. He found out that Carlos has an associate’s degree in counseling and is a mental health youth counselor at juvenile detention center in New York City.
“I’m pretty much the person between a kid going to jail and a kid going to the psych ward.” He had a lot of inspiring stories but also some heartbreaking ones. He is now in the process of becoming a life coach for the youth, “to see if I can catch them before the end up on the other side of my desk with cuffs on.”
Jorge is a personal trainer at NYSC and a social media personality, promoting health products demonstrating exercise routines. Jack immediately began following Jorge on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with him. He has a bachelors degree in healthcare management and has plans to become self-employed in the next three years. Jack found that he really liked Jorge, he was funny, easy going and genuine.
They let EJ stay up past his bedtime but he started getting sleepy by 8pm so Ethan gave him a long warm bath and put him to sleep, locking Catty in the room with him. By the time Ethan returned, Carlos had the tequila open and everyone had a glass. He handed one to Ethan and asked, “Spades? It’s four of us.”
Ethan took a sip and said, “I don’t think Jack knows how to play.”
“Nope, never played before,” Jack said.
Carlos feigned being shocked and put his hand over his heart, “que mierda, you’re a terrible boyfriend, how have you not taught him to play spades!?”
Ethan laughed and said, “They play pool and poker around here.”
“Let’s play. I’m a quick study,” Jack said.
Ethan and Carlos exchanged looks, then laughed. “He’s your fucking partner, cabron.”
Jack actually did catch on pretty quick and after fumbling the first few hands, he and Ethan started winning books. Within an hour they finished the first bottle of tequila, had the second bottle opened and Jack and Ethan were catching up. Carlos, who drinking more than the rest, was getting handsy with everyone and loose with his tongue.
At one point when Jack walked pass, he slapped his ass hard but before Jack could respond Ethan slapped him hard upside his head, “The fuck are you doing!?” Which only made Carlos laugh.
“C’mon EB I just wanted to see what you’re working with,” He winked at Jack who quickly went back to visualizing pistol whipping Carlos. Their ceasefire did not last long at all.
Carlos made sexual innuendos as well. “Jorge’s nipples are sexier than Ethan’s. I think. You both should just take off your shirts and let me decided.” And “Ethan likes big dicks Jack, so I know you must be fucking hung.”
Jack, who only had a cup and a half of tequila was probably the most sober one in the room, and was increasingly getting upset at a drunk Carlos more so then the interrogating one the night before. Carlos was trying to get them to play Strip Spades — Jorge told him, “That’s not a thing, dawg” – and every time Ethan and Jack lost a hand, he kept trying to get them to take something off, namely off Ethan.
Jack’s patience ran out after they lost one round and Jack was shuffling cards, and Carlos slid under the table. He reached over to pull Ethan’s pants leg down, to which Ethan kicked him and he fell back against Jack’s leg laughing. Jack had had enough and he set the cards down and said, “I think Carlos is officially done.” He got up, poured half a glass of tequila and sat on the couch.
Ethan went to sit next to him as Jorge laughed with Carlos and tried to pick him off the floor. Jack looked straight ahead and sipped slowly. Ethan leaned on his shoulder. “You ok?” Jack nodded once but didn’t speak. Ethan smiled. “Which means, ‘fuck no.’ I know you Jackie Bear.” Jack smiled. Ethan nudged him until Jack looked at him. He mouthed, “I love you.” Jack shrugged and smiled and Ethan grinned back widely. He could tell Ethan was shitfaced drunk.
Carlos came over saying, “I’m just going to sit right here.” He tried to sit in Ethan’s lap. Ethan yelled, “What the fuck Carlos, get a fucking grip!” He pushed him onto the floor as Jack glared at him.
Carlos laughing from the ground said, “Don’t act like you don’t like it EB. Me in your lap.” Jack scoffed and shook his head. It was taking all his strength not to hit him.
Ethan said to him, “Yo, you’re being wildly disrespectful right now, Los.”
Jorge came over and laid down next to him on the floor, head on his chest and spoke to him in Spanish, “Detente ahora, estás empezando problemas para Etan (stop it now, you’re starting trouble for Ethan).”
He responded, “esto jodiendo con él (I’m just fucking with him), why is Baby Jack getting mad?” He laughed again.
Jack looked down at him and said sharply, “What?”
Ethan patted Jack’s leg and said, “Don’t call him that. And stop fucking with me.”
Jorge said, “Aye dios mio you are a terrible drunk. Cabron, no more tequila for you for the rest of your life.” Carlos laughed and he laughed too.
Carlos stroked Jorge’s hair and it was quiet for a minute, then he said, “It’s still early, what do you want to do now?”
“Take your drunk ass to bed,” Ethan said, annoyed with him now.
Carlos laughed. Then said, “Anybody want to have an orgy?”
Jack said automatically, “No.”
Ethan chuckled. “You are something else, you know that? Four gay in a room and your first thought is, let’s all fuck?”
Carlos laughed. “Well y’all motherfuckers thought about it though. Except Baby Jack. Baby Jack doesn’t want me touching big Ethan anymore.”
Jack said calmly, “Don’t call me Baby Jack.”
Ethan could feel Jack getting really upset. He held his free hand and leaned his body into Jack’s lap to make sure he doesn’t get up. “Los. Chill,” he warned.
“Ok ok,” Carlos said. “No more threesomes for us huh, Ethan? That’s cool. Last one was good though. Not the threesome. I didn’t get to touch you too much then, not with the anaconda dick in between us.” He laughed, then said, “The last time it was just the two of us afterwards. That was good. You got good man-pussy.”
Ethan felt Jack’s whole body tense up. But all Jack did was exhale slowly and calmly took another sip of his drink. “Shut. The fuck. Up Carlos.” Ethan said testily.
“Cabron. You’re being terrible right now,” Jorge told him.
“Why, I’m sure Baby Jack knows all about us,” Carlos said.
“Don’t. Fucking. Call….” Jack said dangerously.
Ethan kicked Carlos and yelled at him, “Stop, you fucking asshole!”
Carlos groaned, “Ow!” He laughed and held his shoulder.
“You fucking deserved it,” Jorge said. “Jack should kick your fucking ass with how disrespectful you’re being.”
“And I’m about to let him, stop calling him that,” Ethan said. “And stop talking about me or fucking threesomes, what the fuck Los!?”
“Well how was I supposed to know he didn’t know cabron, it’s not my fault you don’t tell him everything,” Carlos said smugly. Jack chuckled, nodded and took another sip. Carlos continued, “And anyway it was a long time ago ba- Jack, like seven years ago so don’t worry. I haven’t touched your man in a long time. Así que relájate. (So relax.)”
It was quiet, then Jorge said, “I’m ready to go.” He rubbed on Carlos groin area. “You ready?”
“Yea,” Carlos said. “Let’s go.”
Jorge stood up pulled Carlos to a standing position. Carlos looked down at Ethan leaning on Jack, who was still staring straight ahead, stone faced. He smiled and let Jorge lead him to the door.
Ethan stood up as well, swayed a bit then started walking toward them. “Let me help you walk him upstairs, Jorge.”
“No you’re not,” Jack said quietly. “You’re not walking them up. You’re not going anywhere.” All three turned to look at Jack who was in the same position, looking ahead with a drink in his hand.
“What?” Ethan asked.
Jack said again, calmly, “You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying right here.” He took another sip.
Carlos busted out laughing. “Oh shit, Jack laying down the fucking law! What you gonna do, EB?”
Ethan glared at him, then went back over to Jack and knelt in front of him, both hands on his thighs. Jack wouldn’t look at him at first, so Ethan gently turned his head. Jack’s green eyes were almost dark; he could see how upset he was. They stared at each other. Carlos yelled, “Yo, you coming or not?”
Ethan, not turning from Jack’s face, said, “Jorge, get him out of here.”
Jorge waved and said, “We out.” He held Carlos up as they left the apartment.
As soon as the door closed, Ethan still kneeling in front of Jack started, “Jack I’m sor-”
Jack cut him off, “So 7 years not 12 or 10 years. Your 20’s, not your teens.” He took another sip and looked him in the eyes.
Ethan swayed a bit and said, “We fucked around my first couple of years in college, that’s all. And it was still a long time ago.”
Jack changed the subject, “Why does he call you EB?”
Ethan sighed. “It doesn’t mean anything really.”
“What does it stand for? Because it’s not your middle name,” Jack asked curiously.
Ethan knew this was going to be bad but he told him. “Ethan Baby.”
Jack laughed sarcastically, then threw his head back in frustration, yelled, “aaaaaaahhh!!”
Ethan pleaded, “But it doesn’t mean anything, it’s just a nickname. Trish calls me that too, she got it from him.”
“So your first love and your ex-wife calls you baby to this day?” he asked incredulously. “Why don’t I call you EB?”
“I don’t know, you can if you want to,” Ethan tried.
“Why the fuck would I want to now?” Jack asked exasperatedly.
Ethan slid his hands around Jack to hug him and put his head on his chest. “Jaaaackie,” he moaned. He waited a moment and said in his chest, “I’m sorry baby. I’m so sorry. I’m going to put a stop to it, I promise.” He squeezed Jack tighter.
Jack was quiet. He was still pissed but he was trying to figure out who he was pissed at: Carlos for trying to come between them or Ethan for letting it happen. Or himself for not pulling out his gun and shooting Carlos in the face. “Do you believe me now when I tell you he wants you?” He said.
Ethan said muffled, still in Jack’s chest, “But it doesn’t matter because I want you. I need you. I love you. Please Jackie Bear. Don’t be mad at me. Please?”
Jack sighed. He reached up and started running his hands through Ethan’s brown wispy hair. After a bit, Ethan looked up and Jack leaned down and kissed him softly. “Give me a minute, wait for me in bed,” he said and Ethan nodded. He stood up, swayed again, looked down at Jack, who looked up at him. He leaned down for another kiss, and left the room.
Jack put his glass down, leaned back and closed his eyes. He was drunker than what he wanted to be and felt out of control with his emotions. He was still angry and had the strong desire to go upstairs and knock Carlos the fuck out, because he knew everything Carlos did tonight was calculating. He wanted to drive them apart. But Jack refused to let him. So instead he took some deep breaths and got up to go to Ethan.
Ethan had stripped bare and laid down on his stomach. Jack came in and took off all his clothes as well. He grabbed the lube off the dresser and stroked his semi hard into a full hard on. He got on the bed on his knees and said, “Turn over E.” Ethan turned to his back and looked up at Jack as he crawled in between his legs. They kissed softly, lovingly, with Jack stroking Ethan’s hair, Ethan stroking Jack’s back.
“I’ve never been so mad at the fact that I love you so much until today,” Jack said.
“Hmmmm. That’s how I felt the day you left me standing in front of the Inn,” Ethan said truthfully.
Jack sighed and said, “Do you forgive me?”
“Yes,” Ethan said automatically. Then said, “Do you forgive me?”
Jack sighed again. “Besides the fact that I got blindsided with knowledge I didn’t know, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m still going to make it right.” They laid in silence again, then Ethan said, “I’m so in love with you Jack.” He reached up with both his hands and stroked Jack’s hair lovingly.
Jack chuckled. “You’re an emotional drunk, aren’t you? I just realized this is the first time I’ve seen you really fucked up.”
“What can I say, I’m a lover.” He grinned a goofy grin.
“Isn’t that how you ended up with EJ, too much tequila and being a lover?” Jack joked.
Ethan laughed, “No, molly is how I ended up with EJ. That shit made me forget I was fucking a pussy and not ass.” They both laughed. Ethan reached down and touched Jack’s face and said, “Have I ever told you, you have the most amazing green eyes?”
Jack sat up into a kneeling position and held up Ethan’s thighs. “No. But keep talking. I like drunk Ethan.” He lubed and fingered him a bit, then guided himself into Ethan’s hole, to which Ethan moaned. Then Jack leaned over him on his palms, guided himself into his favorite place in the whole world, pushing in and out rhythmically while Ethan kept talking.
“uuuugh…I used to uuuugh…dream of…those… uuugh…eyes…. those…damn dimples… uuugh.. dream…i was…uuuugh… uughh fucking the… garbage kid…. uuuugh…uuuggh… me… uuuugh …inside you…. uuuugh…fuuuck… fucking you…. I should have uuuugh… made you… mine… from the staaaaart uuuugh… the fucking garbage kid…. fucking…the uuuugh uuuugh uuuuugh… garbage kid, fuuuuck… I love you…love you uuugh uuugh… fuck…love…fuck…uuugh… uuuugh….”
Jack leaned down and kissed him passionately. Ethan held onto his back, and when Jack started feeling Ethan’s climax, he had no desire to prolong himself. He leaned up, reached between them, stroking Ethan and thrusted deeper until they came together.