Chapter 6
Drew
The morning after Drew’s date with Gabriel, he was sitting (naked) at the bar in the kitchen of his rented log cabin/mansion, eating eggs and toast he’d made for breakfast, and reading the news on his phone, when the doorbell rang.
He checked the door camera on the app on his phone (the details had been provided in the welcome packet), and saw a man about his age standing on the front steps.
He didn’t recognize the man. He was broad-shouldered, blonde-haired, and had a thick, short beard.
He wore a gray T-shirt and brown work pants.
He seemed at ease, standing with his hands in his pockets, waiting for an answer.
Drew scrambled to find a pair of boxers, tripped into them, and went to open the door.
The blonde man raised an amused eyebrow at Drew’s scant attire.
“Sorry if I’m interrupting something,” he said.
“I know it’s early. I just wanted to introduce myself.
I’m Evan DeVries. I manage the property for Mr. and Mrs. Aaldenkamp when they’re out of town.
” He frowned. “You don’t look like an Estelle Hoffman. ”
Drew laughed. “I’m not. The reservation is just in her name. I’m the one staying here. Drew. Drew Moreau.”
They shook hands.
“Funny,” Evan said. “You have the same name as one of my favorite hockey players.” Then he paused, squinting at Drew’s face. “Wait.”
“Nice to meet you, Evan,” Drew said. His cover was blown, but he didn’t care. Evan seemed like a nice guy, and Drew trusted his instincts. “Want to come in for a beer?”
“It’s seven thirty in the morning.”
“Coffee, then.”
“I’ll always take a cup of joe.”
Drew had half a pot remaining in the kitchen. He poured them each a mug. Evan took his black, and Drew added a splash of milk to his. He found a T-shirt and pulled it on and leaned against the kitchen counter facing Evan.
“This might be a rude question,” Evan said, “but you are that Drew Moreau, right?”
“Is it vain of me to say yes, assuming you mean the hockey player?”
“It’s not vain. Yeah. Holy shit. You’re here in Orion?” Then Evan shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m acting like a fanboy, and that’s inappropriate. Mrs. Aaldenkamp would be very disappointed.”
“Why’s that?”
“She was my teacher in high school and cared a lot about manners.”
“For what it’s worth, you haven’t been rude.”
“If you say so. I’ve never met a professional athlete before, and I guess I’ve forgotten how to act.
Jesus, I almost forgot I came here for a reason.
Like I said, I manage the property for the Aaldenkamps.
It’s in good condition. The roof was recently updated, and we had a team out here to look at the plumbing after this past winter.
I don’t expect you’ll have any problems with it, but if you do, just let me know.
I’ll be by once a week to mow the grass.
Trash days are on Tuesdays. If you just leave the bin on your driveway, I can take it to the road for you. ”
“You don’t have to do that,” Drew said. “I can do it. And I don’t mind mowing the lawn.”
Evan shook his head. “You’re here on vacation, and it’s my job. I can’t stop you from doing it, but even if you do mow, I’ll be here every Wednesday to mow it again.” He smiled.
“You take your job seriously.”
“Don’t you?”
“I suppose I do.”
Evan took another sip of his coffee. “What brings you to Orion, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Just wanted to get away for a bit. If you don’t mind, I prefer if word doesn’t get around that I’m here.”
“My lips are sealed. Though my son would be furious if he found out I knew you were here and didn’t tell him. I’d say we could trust him to keep the secret, but that would be a lie.”
“What’s your son’s name?”
“Caleb. He’s nine, and a huge hockey fan. He’ll be at camp for the next two weeks. You’re one of his idols.”
“Maybe I can make something happen for him,” Drew said. “Does he understand the concept of an NDA?”
Evan laughed. “Good luck with that. The kid’s a menace, but I love him with my whole heart.”
Drew wondered how old Evan was, if he had a nine-year-old son. Evan looked like he was Drew’s age, maybe even a couple of years younger. It wouldn’t be appropriate to ask.
“How are you liking our little town?” Evan asked.
He had a pleasant way of talking. He was like many guys Drew knew: direct and comfortable in his own skin.
Drew often wondered if guys like Evan would be as comfortable with him if they knew the truth about his sexuality.
He knew he presented as stereotypically “masculine,” and could easily pass as straight.
If they knew he wasn’t, what would his straight male friends think?
“I like it, so far,” Drew said. “This is only my second day here. I walked around a bit yesterday, visited the hockey camp, and ate at Lakeside Biergarten.” He didn’t mention Gabriel.
“If you need any recommendations for places to visit, just let me know. I grew up here, and I love this town. We don’t often get new visitors staying for the whole summer, which I take it you are.
And if you ever want to join, some buddies and I have a weekly poker night on Fridays.
We don’t play for real money because none of us has much to lose, but it’s a friendly competition.
You’re always welcome. You don’t need to tell them who you are, and I doubt any of them will put it together. No offense.”
“None taken. That sounds fun. I’m awful at poker, but I like it.”
“You have my number, I guess, from the packet the Aaldenkamps gave you. Text or call me whenever.”
“I’ll definitely reach out. Thank you. It was good to meet you.”
Evan finished his coffee with a long gulp. “It was good to meet you, too. Sorry I was awkward at the start. I should be going. I have other properties to check up on.”
Drew enjoyed talking to Evan, and he hoped that he had just made another local friend.
He hadn’t come to Orion with the intention of making new friends, but it was a nice small town with good people, and he liked getting to know them.
He thought he might find a local bookstore and buy some books, then find a nice café or a casual restaurant and read for a while, and watch the people.
He hadn’t read for leisure in a long time, and it sounded relaxing.
He also would enjoy the chance to be out in the town, anonymous and observing others.
It was the weekend, and from what Gabriel had said, he knew that the rest of the staff was arriving at the camp, so he figured Gabriel wouldn’t be available.
They hadn’t texted since last night, but Drew had been mentally composing what he wanted to say.
It was both simple and far too complicated.
He liked Gabriel, which was simple enough.
Attraction didn’t have to be complicated.
Two people could see each other and decide they liked each other, and that could be that.
Based on Gabriel’s responses to him yesterday, Drew knew that Gabriel liked him, too.
Gabriel didn’t seem overwhelmed by Drew’s status as a minor celebrity, which Drew appreciated.
He never liked it when people treated him differently because he was “famous.” His fame came from his job, and his job was to play a sport, which made him more visible than most people.
He was paid an absurd amount of money to do something he loved, and that made him, in his opinion, one of the very few lucky people on Earth.
That didn’t mean he should be looked up to or admired more than anyone who was less well-known.
There were many people in the world who were completely anonymous but who had a far better impact on the world than he did.
He thought of Aubrey, Gabriel’s friend, who worked as a teacher. He admired teachers and thought they deserved more recognition for what they did than he did. They were shaping the next generation. He skated around the ice with a stick and entertained others.
He decided he would text Gabriel after his morning shower. The message would be something simple, maybe saying that he had a good time last night, and that he hoped the staff meetings at camp went well today.
Humming to himself, he washed his mug and Evan’s and set them in the rack beside the sink to dry.
He shed his T-shirt and boxers, tossed them in the washing machine that was hidden behind collapsible closet doors in a hallway on the main level, and climbed the stairs, naked, to his bedroom and ensuite bathroom.
He had made his bed earlier that morning.
He always made his bed right after he woke up.
It helped him start his day, having accomplished one thing immediately.
He had risen at 5:00 a.m. out of habit and done a short workout at the gym in the house.
It was a good gym, with plenty of equipment, and it felt good to move his body.
Now, he sat on the edge of the bed and looked at his phone.
He thought about texting Gabriel now, but decided to wait.
He wanted to think more about what he wanted to say before sending anything.
This didn’t feel like the previous summer flings he had had.
He was attracted to Gabriel. The younger man had a self-assured confidence about him that Drew found enticing.
Though Gabriel was several years younger, he didn’t act like it.
Drew had been hesitant about their age difference at first, but now was less so.
He didn’t feel like he would be taking advantage of Gabriel for his youth or inexperience, because Gabriel seemed mature for a twenty-three-year-old, and likely had more experience with romance than Drew did.
Gabriel was a beautiful man. Physical attractiveness wasn’t the first thing Drew looked for in a sexual partner, though it was something he appreciated, and he hoped it didn’t make him shallow.
But Gabriel was also intelligent, had a quick wit, and was easy to talk to.
He loved his parents, worked hard, and seemed confident in his identity.
All of these things made Drew want to be with him.
He knew that a long-term relationship with Gabriel was out of the question; he had thought he could date someone openly when he was with Quentin, but that had proved useless, and his heart was still healing from that break.
He didn’t want to risk patching that wound by trying to fill it with someone else.
He knew that wouldn’t work and wouldn’t be fair to Gabriel.
Perhaps, though, he and Gabriel could have a casual summer affair. They wouldn’t need to hold each other to long-term expectations, and there would be a natural stopping point to their affair when Drew went back to Boston at the end of the summer.
During the summer months, they could enjoy each other’s company.
He hoped they could also enjoy each other’s bodies.
When Drew had hugged Gabriel last night and kissed his cheek, he had been aroused by the gentle contact and had hardly stopped thinking of the feeling of Gabriel’s warm body pressed against his.
He lay back on his bed, reaching for his cock with one hand. He was naked, and the air in the bedroom was cool. The windows were open, and a breeze tickled his bare skin.
He was aroused now, thinking of Gabriel’s warm skin and smooth muscles and gentle laugh and bright eyes.
He stroked his cock, imagining what it would be like to be looking into those bright eyes while Gabriel straddled him, riding his cock.
He spat on his palm, using his saliva to lubricate his strokes on his cock.
In his mind’s eye, Gabriel gasped and moaned as he rode Drew’s cock, his bare, tanned skin slick with sweat.
Drew closed his eyes and quickened his strokes as he masturbated.
He imagined how Gabriel might cry out as he orgasmed, and the mental image was enough to send him over the edge.
With a shudder, he came, his cum splattering on his rippling abs and the broad planes of his chest.
His breathing slowed, and his heart rate calmed. He sighed, wiping his cum-stained fingers on his thigh, and stood. He went to the large shower in his ensuite bathroom and turned the water on very warm. He showered, shaved, and toweled himself dry.
With no other plans for the day, he decided to follow the thought he’d had when Evan had left: he would go to town, wander a bookstore, and then find a place to read and people watch. He needed a book he could disappear into, and a place where he could think about anything else instead of Gabriel.