~*~ 2 Weeks Later... Randy fiddled with the television remote, pushing stop on the DVD player before tossing it beside him on the couch. He couldn’t watch that if he was going to gain any nerve at all. He glanced up at the clock and picked up the phone for the third time and cradled it in his palm. Staring at the numbers, he mentally recited Gale’s number. Shaking his head, he picked up the remote control again, this time hitting the mute button, silencing the TV. It was late, close to midnight, but knowing Gale, he’d still be awake. Reluctantly, he punched the numbers on the telephone keypad and listened. One ring, two rings… three rings later and he was almost relieved when there was no answer. At least this way, he could convince himself he felt better for trying. About to hang up, there was a click on the line and he was startled to hear Gale’s voice on the other end. “Hey.” “Hey. I didn’t think you were going to answer,” he said, his voice carrying all the nervousness he was feeling. “I wasn’t, but then I saw it was you.” Randy smiled and sat back on the couch, tucking his legs under him. “So…” “So…” “I was thinking about you. I said I’d call.” Gale was quiet on the other end and Randy wondered how pathetic his voice had sounded. “I was hoping you would,” came the answer. “I figured you’d be pissed at me for not showing up for the obligatory breakfast.” He hesitated and then added, “I was going to call you, but I never know when Simon’s gonna be around.” Randy heard the subtle sound of exhaling and pictured Gale, lying back, wearing nothing but worn, faded jeans, which were of course, unfastened for comfort. It was having continuous thoughts like that, not Gale, that would get him in trouble. “I didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I?” “No.” Another long inhale. Gale waited a few seconds and then said, “No, I was just sitting here. Actually, I was debating staying in or going out.” “You sound too relaxed to go anywhere.” Randy could only assume it wasn’t a common cigarette he was smoking. Gale chuckled into the phone. “Yeah. I guess so.” “Are you alone? I don’t want to keep you if…” “Yeah. I’m alone.” He took another drag. “I assume you are too? No boyfriend eavesdropping?” Randy smiled at the hopefulness he heard and answered, “Simon is covering some kind of an awards thing in Chicago. He won’t be back until tomorrow.” He heard Gale sipping a drink and then a clank as he put it down. “And you didn’t go?” “No, I didn’t want to.” “Hmm. Do I detect tension in the Harrison-Dumenco household?” “You shouldn’t ask things like that.” “Why? It was just a question.” Randy sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. You’re just not exactly the best person to gripe to about this.” “Yeah, well… we both know why.” They were silent for a moment and then Gale offered, “Talk to me. I’ll keep the Simon remarks to myself, okay?” “I don’t know. It’s just that sometimes I feel like he doesn’t want me around for my company anymore. When we go to these events or dinners, or whatever it is, it’s almost like he’s showing me off. It’s more like a status thing… that we’re supposed to be this gay symbol or something.” “I’m sure he means well.” Randy couldn’t help but let out a silent laugh. “No remarks, but you don’t have to defend him either.” The chuckle on the other end told him Gale agreed. “No defending.” “I just wish sometimes that he would ease up a little bit. Someone always wants us involved in some cause or to make some kind of statement. He jumps at it, when I’d like to be just ‘us’ once in a while. Everything always has to be so public.” “Hazards of being a famous gay couple I suppose.” “I want to be just me, you know? Okay, so I’m gay. Big fucking deal. It doesn’t mean that’s all I am.” “You don’t have to convince me.” “Am I just being pretentious?” Gale laughed. “I’m sure you’ve never been accused of that before,” he replied sarcastically. “Besides, you’re talking to someone who stays as far away from public exposure as possible.” “So I have an idea. We’ll just run away together and live like hermits.” “Don’t tempt me,” he teased. Randy smiled and then said, “I wasn’t surprised when you didn’t show up. I guess it would have been kind of awkward, huh?” “I woke up late.” “I set the alarm.” “I turned it off.” “You left me to the vultures.” Gale chuckled and Randy could hear the sound of shuffling on the other line. “What are you doing?” he asked softly. “Getting comfortable,” Gale answered, and Randy heard the flick of a lighter. “Be careful with that shit. Don’t overdo it.” Gale inhaled. “You know me better than that. I know my limits. So, how bad was it? The breakfast,” he clarified. Randy over-exaggerated a sigh. “You have no idea. I think it’s safe to say the rumor mill turned into fifty questions… none of which I would answer you’d be happy to know.” He heard Gale laugh and couldn’t help smiling with him. “I wouldn’t have cared. But I know you have other things… someone else to consider.” Randy thought of Simon, briefly wondering if any of their friends would have been bothered by the fact that he and Gale had spent the night together. As it was, everyone was perfectly content to believe they’d already been fucking and no one seemed too bothered by the assumption anyway. “I should have called you sooner.” “I wasn’t holding my breath.” There was a short hesitation and then he said, “Look Randy, we said a lot of things that night. Things that maybe we shouldn’t have…” “Do you regret it?” “What?” “Just answer the question.” “No, of course not. I just wasn’t sure…” “I don’t either,” Randy interrupted. “It’s been hard. I admit being with Simon hasn’t been easy the last couple of weeks. I knew I’d feel guilty but God, Gale… I haven’t stopped thinking about you.” There was nothing. Nothing but silence for what seemed like forever. Finally, he whispered, “Gale?” “When you didn’t call, I was afraid you thought it was a mistake.” “I told you that night, I could never regret anything that happens between us.” “Did Simon give you a hard time?” Randy sighed and shifted the phone to his other ear, letting his fingers rub along his thigh, moving against the material of his sweatpants. “I told him I wasn’t going to talk about it. He didn’t want to go with me, so he didn’t have the right to question what I did while I was there.” “I’m sure that went over well.” Randy hesitated. “I convinced him.” The line was silent again, only the subtle sound of Gale’s breathing letting him know he was still there. “I wish you were here,” Randy whispered, changing the subject. “And I wish I could ignore the fact that he’s the one in your bed at night.” “He’s not here now. There’s no one but us.” “Hold on, let me move into the other room. Don’t hang up.” Randy listened as the phone clicked and Gale disappeared, leaving nothing but dead silence on the phone line. He reached up, turning off the tableside lamp beside him, showering the room in darkness. The only light was coming from the faint glow of the TV and the streetlamps that always shone in through the front windows of their apartment. He scooted down, stretching out on the couch, and waited. “I’m back.” Randy smiled. “Where are you now?” “In my room.” “Mmm. So…” “So…” Quietly, Randy asked, “Have you thought about it?” Gale slowly cleared his throat and answered, “It’s all I’ve been thinking about.” Randy let his eyes drift shut and shifted his hand slightly. “I remember everything you said to me… everything you did.” He could hear sheets rustling and a smile curled on his lips when he received a mumbled, “I’m thinking about it right now.” He could tell from the tone exactly what Gale was doing. Helping him along, he whispered, “Does it feel nice?” Gale moaned softly, “Mmm… yeah.” Randy let out a deep groan and reached for the remote, pushing play and then flicked the mute button again, turning up the sound. His fingers slid slowly into his waistband as he watched the images on the screen. He allowed a few minutes to go by, listening to Gale’s rapid breathing on the other line. “I can picture you, lying there…so hard…” Randy licked his lips and swallowed, whispering, “You’re so fucking beautiful like that.” He listened to the soft sighs, picturing Gale’s face, Gale’s body… his hands roaming over every spot of his own skin. “Are you close?” “Uh huh.” “Mmm, I bet you look so hot… I can see it… your eyes are closed, your mouth… slightly open… Are you thinking of me? Fucking me?” “Yesss…” Gale’s voice was broken, almost breathless and Randy could barely stand it. He placed his fingers tightly around his cock and began to stroke, turning his attention to the TV, watching himself with Gale on the screen. He closed his eyes and tried to remember exactly how it felt filming that particular scene. Ice cream dribbling down Gale’s body… his nipples reacting to the coldness along with Randy’s touch. He pictured the laughing and teasing between takes, both of them fully aware of how much they were being affected by the closeness. Finally, he heard the sound of Gale’s release, his name called over the phone line. He waited until he was sure Gale could respond and then asked, “Will you…” his breath hitched as he began to pump just a little quicker, “meet me somewhere?” He positioned the phone so he could hold it in place with his shoulder and slid his finger under his shirt, rubbing slowly over his nipple. “When?” came the low, husky reply. “Mmm…God… next weekend.” There was a short silence, only the sound of Gale’s controlled breathing, and then finally, “Fuck… I’m… yeah,” he answered softly, “Just tell me where.” “I’ll…ahh” A deep breath, “I’ll let you know.” “Randy?” “Talk to me? tell me something,” he begged, his words followed by a moan. “I just need to hear your voice.” His hand sped up, his body on the edge of his orgasm. “I’m almost there.” “Okay… You know what I’ve been thinking?” Randy didn’t answer, so Gale continued. “I’ve been thinking about how bad I wanna taste you… taste your lips…” “Mmm…” “Your skin…” “Uh huh…” “Your cock…” “Ooh,” Randy groaned, “Fuck… I wish you were here…” “Next weekend…” Closer now, he felt his body as it began to spasm, “Gale.” His head pushed back against the arm of the couch as his back arched, his hand slowly pumping, letting his orgasm take him. Gale waited, not saying anything for a few minutes. It was silent, but comfortable, both enjoying the connection, even if they were miles apart. Finally, Randy collected himself enough to speak. “Gale?” “Hmm?” “Thank you.” “What the fuck for?” “For making that… that could have been embarrassing.” There was a soft chuckle before he answered, “It was hot.” Randy smiled. “We shouldn’t be doing this.” “But we are.” “Yeah.” “So… were you serious? Or was it just…” “Yes,” Randy answered quickly. “I wanna see you.” “Are you sure? You realize what this might start, right?” Randy sighed, “It’s already started, Gale. It started a long time ago.” Silence. “Where and when?” “I’ll have to figure that out. Simon’s gone for the weekend again and I have to stay for an audition here in the city.” He couldn’t help feeling a little nervous about what they were doing. “Call me tomorrow, okay? I want you to ask me again when your judgment’s not quite so… clouded.” Randy smiled and took a deep breath. “I’ll call you in the morning.” “I’m glad you called.” There was a soft, sleepy tone to Gale’s voice, which made Randy smile a little more. “Me too.” “Get some sleep.” “Goodnight, Gale.” He listened, waiting, and then heard the dial tone. Putting the phone down, he glanced at the TV screen again before closing his eyes. He was pretty sure he wasn’t going to get much, if any sleep at all.