The Drifter - Chapter Four
Justin awakes at about ten o'clock to the sound of the lawnmower. The smell of the freshly mown grass is leaking in through his open window. Knowing what a bitch it will be when this olfactory delight becomes too much for his allergies, he quickly rises to close the window. He doesn't actually hate the smell, but he's all too familiar with the resulting misery. Justin rubs at his eyes, realizing that he was almost too late. The bright sun makes him squint as he gazes outside toward the source of the lawn mowing noise and debris.
Justin watches Brian hard at work. Brian is not wearing a shirt, and Justin's sights focus on his smooth, tanned skin as the sweat glistens in the sun. Brian's arm muscles flex with every push of the small mower. Sweat drips down his torso, and disappears into his jeans. Justin wants to walk into the backyard and run his tongue in a long line from Brian's waist, along his spine, over his shoulder blade, and end in a soft bite on the tender flesh of Brian's neck. He thinks back to the taste of younger, summer days spent running around with Daphne and licking his own sweaty upper lip. Justin licks his lips absentmindedly and shudders. His mind is occupied with thoughts of all the wicked things that he wants to do to Brian. Justin smoothes his hand down his bare chest, imagining that his hand is Brian's, and sighs.
Not that he has had much experience with sex. A few kisses and one blowjob on Liberty Avenue have not made him an expert by any measure. Justin has almost given up on losing his virginity before he graduates from high school. Most of his friends have already had more experience with love, sex and relationships than he has. It's not for lack of interest. Gym classes have been torturous since the seventh grade, when Justin started to react physically to half-naked boys his own age. He has been so careful not to let too much of himself show. Being constantly in the closet has considerably lessened his flirting opportunities. He's always conscious of not acting 'too gay'. Whatever the fuck that means!
At least he has his friends that he can count on for support. Justin can't imagine the conversation that he will have to have with his parents when he decides to come out. He's run it over and over in his mind, and his imagination creates something more horrifying each time. Daphne keeps telling him not to underestimate his parents' love and understanding. It doesn't matter now anyway. Justin has already made the decision not to tell his parents until he's well into college life. Justin figures that he'll have his own life and freedom by then. Not to mention, they won't be able to kick him out of their house if he's already living on his own.
Justin takes one last yearning glance at Brian before noting the time. He has a little over an hour to take a shower, eat and get to work. The beeping tune from his cell phone diverts his attention. Daphne has sent him a text message.
"OMG BRIAN IS SOOO IN2 U!"
Brian? What the hell is she thinking? Shaking his head, he continues into the bathroom to take his shower.
During the tedious twenty-minute drive to work, Justin calls Daphne's cell. He's curious about her text message from this morning.
"Hey, Justin. What's up?"
"Nothing. What's with that text you sent?" Justin asks.
"Oh, man!! I couldn't believe the way that Brian was looking at you last night! Didn't you notice?"
Justin pauses a little too long at the next stop sign. He mentally reviews last night. He danced with Brian and Daphne, but he doesn't remember Brian looking at him in any particular way. The honking horn of the truck behind him brings him back to the present. "I have no idea what you're talking about. He's straight!"
"No way is he straight!" Daphne exclaims. "He was totally checking you out while you were dancing."
"You're delusional, Daphne. There is no way he's gay!"
"But do you know for sure that he isn't? Has he mentioned any girlfriends?"
"Well," Justin thinks, "no, he hasn't."
"Not at all?" Daphne prods.
"Not at all. But that doesn’t mean he's gay, Daph, as much as I wish he was…"
"So, you do like him?"
"What's not to like? He's gorgeous, he's smart, he sexy!"
"Yeah, he is," Daphne says dreamily. "Too bad for me he's GAY!"
Justin sighs into the phone at his friend's insistence. "You think everybody's gay!"
"I was right about John Fields, wasn't I?"
"Yeah, but you've been equally wrong about other people."
"Right! You'll see. At our ten-year reunion, all of those guys will be out of the closet with their significant others. Then I'll be able to say that I told you so!"
Justin chuckles into the phone. "You're crazy!"
"I know. But I still think that I'm right."
"Whatever." Justin knows that once she has an idea in her head, there's no dissuading her. It's easier just to humor her than it is to disagree.
"I can tell that you're just pacifying me, Justin."
"Whatever!" Justin laughs. "I'm at work. I have to go."
"OK, talk to you later."
"Bye."
With thirty seconds to spare, Justin clocks into work at Barnes & Noble. He quickly pulls on his badge and walks out onto the floor. Brian…gay? Doubtful…but she was right about John Fields...
+++++
Brian stops for lunch around one o'clock. He and Linda converse amiably about the weather, the neighborhood, and other innocuous subjects while Brian eats a turkey sandwich and potato salad.
"Hi, Brian," Justin's mother says as she enters the bright kitchen.
"Hi, Mrs. Taylor."
"Oh, please call me Jennifer," Jennifer insists. "So how is everything going?"
"Very good. I finished mowing the lawn. After lunch I want to start thinking about some landscaping projects. Will you be home, so I can get your opinion?"
"I'll be here. Justin has the car until seven, so I'll be around."
"OK, thanks."
"Anything else?"
"Um, I'll have to go over a list of things that I need—you know, supplies. I'm going to need some soil, plants, maybe a few bushes here and there."
"OK, I'll speak with Craig about that." Jennifer furrows her brow, "I'm sure we can work something out." She picks up an apple from the fruit bowl, takes a bite and walks out of the kitchen.
"Well, Linda. Time for me to get back to work."
"Dinner's at six!"
"I'll be there."
The remainder of the afternoon seems to fly by as Brian becomes engrossed in a few different projects. He figures that he can use the first week to get acquainted with the grounds and establish a schedule for every duty. It's going to take some delicate time management to get everything done by himself. With the large swimming pool outside still covered for the winter for at least another month, Brian only has to maintain the indoor pool while he's learning his way around. A month should be enough time to get himself settled into a schedule, and then the opening of the second pool won't be too bad.
Brian is staring into the depths of the indoor pool as he cleans it. He is looking forward to this evening. The Taylors have given him unlimited access to the pools, so he's planning on taking full advantage. There is also a sauna room and hot tub that he knows will feel heavenly after a hard day of working.
Brian allows his mind to drift back to last night as he mindlessly runs the vacuum over the bottom of the pool. He can't seem to get the images of Justin dancing off of his mind. He has caught himself daydreaming about kissing Justin's lips, touching his cheek—his urge to touch Justin overwhelms him. He's never felt an attraction as strong as this one for anyone else before. There have been men, many men if fact, but none that he connects with like he does with Justin.
Brian doesn't feel that he has any real chance with Justin anyway. Justin comes from a rich family. Brian is relatively sure that he wouldn't be willing to give that all up to be with Brian. It's a miracle to Brian that Justin appears to have turned out so well after being brought up with money. All the rich students that Brian had met at UPENN had been complete assholes who were dangerously full of themselves. During the two days they had had to get to know each other, Brian hadn't sensed even an ounce of spoiled brat in him. Brian knows that the argument they had had yesterday could be attributed more to Brian's feelings of inadequacy than to Justin's pitying remarks. From all that Brian has seen, Justin doesn't have an insincere bone in his body. Mmmhm, his body is perfect… Fuck! I can't keep thinking about him like that. His parents have been too good to me. And he can obviously do much better than fucking the gardener!
It's around five o'clock when he begins putting things away and locking up for the night. He surveys the backyard once more to make sure everything is cleaned up. He walks slowly toward the guesthouse, pulling out a cigarette on the way. Jennifer meets him at the kitchen entrance.
"Did you want to go over some of those ideas now?"
"Sure, Mrs.….uh, Jennifer." Brian steers her around the backyard, careful to keep the smoke from crossing Jennifer's path. They tour the area around the pool, and a few of the smaller gardens closer to the house. She seems to like all of his ideas and gives him a couple of ideas as well. Jennifer spends a lot of time looking out intently over the yard as Brian describes his plans. Justin obviously got some of his artistic sensibilities from Jennifer. She has an uncanny ability to space everything out visually in her mind.
"That was fun!" Jennifer exclaims. "You have some great ideas, Brian. I can't wait to see it all."
Brian glances down at his watch and realizes he has twenty minutes to get ready for dinner. "I have to catch a shower before dinner…"
"Oh! I'm sorry I kept you."
"No problem!" He jogs toward his guestroom, taking the stairs two at a time. Brian throws himself into the shower and is ready in record-setting time.
Dinner is delicious, and Brian can see that the Taylors are eager to discuss some of his ideas for landscaping including discussing some of the supplies that Brian will need to begin these projects. Brian promises to write out a list by Friday, so he and Craig can pick up the supplies on the weekend. Brian, Jennifer and Craig chat affably over coffee and desert. The Taylors are such down-to-earth, nice people that it makes Brian wonder how he would have turned out with parental support such as theirs.
Fishing out a cigarette from his shirt pocket, Brian makes his way up the stairs to the guesthouse and out the front window. He lights his cigarette, cupping his hand over the flame to block the chilly breeze. The sounds of crickets and other chirping creatures fill the air as Brian lies down on the slightly sloped roof. Brian has a bird's eye view of the Mercedes as Justin pulls into the driveway. Brian rolls on his side to watch him for a moment.
Justin turns toward the guesthouse as he gets out of the car. He is hoping to see Brian and is not disappointed. He spies Brian, lit cigarette in hand, on top of the roof and waves to him.
"Hey!" Brian shouts from the roof. "I was about to take a swim. You wanna join me?"
Justin wanders in Brian's direction, so they don't have to yell at each other. "Sure. Give me a half hour to find some dinner."
"OK. Half hour." Brian breaks into a huge grin as Justin trots into the house. He finishes up his cigarette and lights another. Originally, Brian had wanted to take his swim and sit in silence in that huge sauna room, but as soon as he saw Justin climb out of that car, he couldn't stop thinking about what he must look like in a bathing suit. Brian's invitation to join him for a swim had just come tumbling out of his mouth.
Brian rose from his comfortable perch to go find his suit and a towel. Stripping out of his clothes for the second time today, Brian slips into his Speedo. He bought the most modest Speedo he could find, but it is still not very modest. Brian isn't unaware of his own assets. He knows from experience that men and women both find him attractive, especially wet and in a bathing suit. Brian pulls on a pair of cut off shorts, a black wife-beater and slips into his old flip-flops. Grabbing his keys from the counter, he heads out of the guesthouse toward the pool.
The room is empty as he enters, so he tugs back the cover and checks the temperature. Satisfied, he takes off his flip-flops, so he can dip his feet into the pool.
Brian is slightly startled when Justin yanks open the other door. "You eat fast," he comments.
Justin laughs and starts toward the side of the pool where Brian is sitting. "Is it warm?"
"Yeah, it's nice."
Justin is already wearing swim trunks, so Brian watches from his lower vantage point as Justin removes his t-shirt. Brian's breathing quickens at the sight of Justin's pale, perfect skin. His skin looks unbelievably soft and completely touchable.
"CANNONBALL!!!" Justin screams as he launches himself into the pool in a tight ball. The spray from Justin's dive splashes Brian. Justin surfaces, takes one look at a soaked Brian, and cackles loudly.
"You think you're funny, huh?" Brian asks with a smile.
"Absolutely!" Justin giggles and dives under the water only to surface again in a few seconds.
Brian stands up and begins to strip off his shirt. His tired muscles protest as he lifts his arms above his head. Justin wipes the excess water from his eyes and watches Brian slowly remove his shirt. Brian is slightly facing away from him, so Justin has an unobstructed view of the rippling muscles in his back. He stares openly, taking in every detail of Brian's body. He has a much better view now than he had from his bedroom window this morning. Oh, my God, Justin gawks. He's wearing a fucking Speedo! Justin decides that life is good as Brian walks to the edge of the pool, jumps up and, for a second, his long, lean body is stretched taut in the air before he hits the water.
Brian enters the water a little more gracefully than Justin did. Swimming shark-like under the water, Brian emerges directly in front of Justin. He's so close to Brian now that he can see the gold and green flecks in his eyes and the droplets of water clinging to his eyelashes and running down his nose. Justin watches Brian as his mouth stretches into a lopsided smirk.
"Hey," Brian murmurs, looking unflinchingly into Justin's baby blues.
"Hey," Justin replies looking away, embarrassed.
"What's wrong?" Brian questions, noticing that Justin's exuberance has suddenly turned quiet.
"Nothing."
"You sure?"
Justin nods and meets Brian's eyes, flashing him a blinding smile. "Yeah."
"Good," Brian says just before splashing Justin playfully. He dives under the water before Justin can retaliate. He surfaces far away from Justin who is trying to catch up to him.
"Jesus, you swim too fast. Are you a fish?"
Brian scoffs. "Yep, that's my secret. I'm a fish!" he says sarcastically.
"I knew it!"
"No, I was on the swim team in high school and college."
"Ah," Justin says with a huge grin on his face. "That explains the Speedo."
"You don't like it?" Justin just shakes his head. "I've gotten many compliments."
"I'm sure you have."