Candy Hearts, Vol. 2

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

VALENTINE’S DAY ARRIVES

“She’s a beauty!” a tall ginger stud says. Dale tries to remember his name, but draws a blank. Maybe he’s one of Aaron’s acquaintances? Word of the housewarming reached far and wide.

“Thanks for coming,” Dale says. “Yes, I’m super happy with how it all turned out.”

“It’s just like something out of the Addams Family.”

“Yes, that was the intention. I’m rather accident prone, so I didn’t want to go for anything too polished, and I think the house likes it.”

After weeks of renovations, the house is indeed a beauty. It has regained its glory as a grand Victorian, but one that’s slightly going to seed. Dale was careful to reinforce everything, so he’s no longer falling through the floors, and there still are virtually no doors to catch stray body parts. Non-toxic paint, a low-maintenance garden designed almost entirely without thorns, and lots of sturdy grab bars in the bathrooms. As a result, the house is perfectly content, and he’s far less bruised. He has high hopes for the roses out front, the only thorns that remain. A few pale yellow buds are starting to show, and he can’t wait. They’ll perfectly complement the newly painted gingerbread and turrets, and he can just imagine how tall and proud his lovely grande dame will stand.

His two dogs, Charon and Cerberus, bound over and give him some love. They’re sibling huskies with arresting blue eyes, and they’re more than a little responsible for the rough edges of the property. In fact, they’re holy terrors, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Fortunately, he’s never really wanted a formal garden, or anything breakable, or furniture without chew marks.

Both pups are damp and smelling of chlorine, so they must have invaded Aaron’s pool…again. Dale wanders over to the fence, only tripping over Charon once, and Aaron is out by his pool in that sexy Speedo. Dale invited him to the housewarming, but Aaron felt it was safer not to tempt the Fates and scare the guests. They’ll have their own private christening later. He’s already fantasizing: he hasn’t topped in a long, long while, but tonight might be the night.

“Hey neighbor!” he yells. “Sorry about the pups! Looks like they’ve been in your pool again.”

Aaron stands and walks over to the fence. There’s an audible gasp from all the gay guys in the crowd and many of the women, and maybe a few of their husbands. It’s hard not to gawk with all that manly perfection on display.

“I think they’ve dug another path under the fence,” Aaron says. “Maybe we should just make them a doggie door.”

“But your roses…”

“They’ll grow back. I love it when they visit. They’re total sweeties and we have a great time in the pool. It’s actually my fault since I bought them some treats. Speaking of pools and treats, remember my offer of swimming lessons. I’m happy to give you some personal attention, and it might come in handy someday if you ever get near a beach, or a deep puddle.”

“Ha ha, always the comedian, but I’ll keep it in mind. Let me know if the pups are pests.” Dale rolls his eyes. “Not that I stand any chance of controlling them. They’re forces of chaos.”

“That they are, but the same could be said for us, don’t you think?”

As he wanders back to the pool, giving Dale’s entire guest list a view of his perfect ass, Dale wonders again, for the thousandth time, how he ever trapped someone so fine.

The universe takes that opportunity to remind Dale that it all comes with a price tag. His hand slips on the railing and he sprawls onto a leathery musclebear, who’s also leering over the fence at Aaron’s perfect ass. True to form, Dale slops his whole beer down the guy’s back.

“So sorry,” Dale says, extricating his hands from the fellow’s meaty shoulder and pulling the towel out of his back pocket. Dale always has one handy at parties to manage the inevitable. While he’s swabbing up the mess, he asks. “Can I get you another beer?”

“No worries bud,” the guy growls. “But maybe I should get my own. You have a reputation.”

“So I do,” Dale laughs.

A lanky fellow walks up with an engaging smile and two beers in hand. “Just so happens I have an extra. My plus one seems to have moved on to greener pastures.”

The leather guy does a double take. “Don’t I know you from…”

“...work. Yes, I’m one of your vendors, but I don’t think we’ve ever spoken. I’ve been wanting to introduce myself, but, you know, work environment and all.”

“Can’t believe I ran into you here. It was just by luck that I came today.”

Dale hears that a lot.

“My bed has been missing you,” Aaron laments as he walks through the gate. As always, not a hair is out of place and he oozes sex appeal with every step. The guests have all gone, and Dale is sitting on the stairs, rapidly abandoning his plans to tackle the clean-up and instead plotting what he really wants to do. If he scoots down one more stair, his mouth will be at the perfect height. He’ll snag Aaron as soon as he’s in reach, rip open his pants, and unleash the Kraken.

Naturally, Mary from across the street chooses that exact moment to emerge from her front door and call out a neighborly greeting. Dale wrestles his libido back into harness, at least until they get inside.

“Are you also missing your broken chairs, all four of them?” Dale observes as Aaron takes a seat next to him. “Or the dead mouse you stepped on in the middle of the night? Or the kitchen fires? Honestly, I don’t know why you let me anywhere near your stove. And how about those crazy parrots last week that squawked all damn night?”

“Yeah, well, there is that. I may be getting more sleep since you moved back to your place, but I still miss having your sexy butt under the sheets next to me.”

“Well, my butt is available any time you want it. In fact, my ass was just noticing that those pants are rather constraining. You might be more comfortable out of them.”

“It’s so hard…” Aaron starts.

“So I’ve noticed,” Dale smirks.

“Be serious,” Aaron says, trying to be firm, but his hands have already strayed into Dale’s lap and are making steady progress towards less public-friendly destinations. “It’s just so hard every time we’re apart.”

“I know, Lucky Star,” Dale says, softening. “I feel it too. But as we agreed, separate-but-together is probably the best way to keep the Fates satisfied, or at least not actively hostile. It worked for our uncles and I bet it will work for us. Besides, I like perving on your sexy butt when you’re out at the pool.”

“Of course you’re right. It’s the only way we’re going to survive this.”

Aaron stops for a sad minute, then brightens and turns to face Dale. “I suppose I’ll have to live with the separate part, but I’d like to celebrate the together part.” He pulls a little box out of his pocket and hands it over. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Thanks!” Dale gushes, overwhelmed. “Now I’m feeling really lucky, with both a sexy boyfriend and a present to unwrap for Valentine’s Day.” He opens it and finds a simple gold band.

“It’s nothing fancy. No diamonds to scratch the crystal or rubies to snag on your clothes.”

“Is this an engagement ring?” Dale asks, surprised and confused. “We haven’t even gotten to the L word yet. Not that I wouldn’t say yes or anything, but it seems rather sudden.”

“Good to know, Bulldozer, but I think you’re right. Let’s slip that idea into our pockets and save it until we’ve had a chance to run this relationship by the Fates a while longer. This one’s just for fun. It should fit on your pinkie, but do take a look at the inscription inside first.”

Dale pops it out of the box, peers inside, and reads aloud, “Aaron loves Dale.”

“You are my Lucky Star,” Dale says with his signature thousand-watt smile, giving Aaron a sloppy beardy kiss. “I love you too.”

Dale reads the inscription one more time before putting it on, but naturally, he slips as he’s trying to fit it over his stubby finger. They both watch as it drops to the stairs, bounces with a sharp ping , rolls determinedly down the middle of the walkway and out the gate, and finally disappears from sight down a storm drain.

He looks up at Aaron, crestfallen. “I’m so sorry! Your wonderful gift…”

“I came prepared,” Aaron says with a look of pure adoration, pulling another box out of his pocket. “Hold out your hand. Let’s see if I have better luck.”