Chapter 1 #2
The bar was full of guys standing around little tables or at the bar, and there were several TV screens on the walls.
His first thought was that he’d made a mistake.
Everyone looked… ordinary, just guys hanging out, watching a football game, yelling at the screens and cheering.
He edged his way through the crowded bar that was laid out in a U shape until he got to the far side where there were booths, all occupied.
Miraculously, there was an empty stool at the end of the bar near the tabletop video games, and he slid onto it, pulse racing as he looked around.
No one gave him a second glance, and he took the opportunity to take in his surroundings, his heartbeat returning to normal.
There were three bartenders, one of whom was circulating, taking and delivering orders, and chatting with other customers.
One bartender in particular made Tommy’s heart pound a bit harder.
He was maybe in his late thirties or early forties, about five nine, and wide across the chest, his upper arms thick with muscle.
His hair was cut short, almost a buzz cut, and he had a beard, a little gray showing there.
Glasses didn’t hide a pair of blue eyes that were intense, even at a distance.
Just looking at him made Tommy’s dick hard.
“Hey, you gonna order or what?”
With a start, Tommy pulled himself back from his reverie and looked up at the bartender standing in front of him. He was tall, with a Mohawk and tattoos everywhere, a bruiser of a guy with rainbow-colored ear gauges.
The bartender smirked. “You back with us?”
Tommy’s cheeks were on fire. “A Cherry Coke, please.”
One eyebrow lifted. “A Cherry Coke.” He peered at Tommy. “You got ID, honey?” He gave him a flirtatious wink.
Nodding, Tommy reached into his pocket for his wallet and handed over the fake ID Ben had procured for him.
He tried to keep calm. This was the first time he’d had occasion to use it.
He held himself still and kept his eyes on the TV screen, ignoring the bartender while he inspected the card with a smile.
When it was handed back to him, Tommy had to fight hard to hide his relief, even though it was plain the bartender’s perusal had been more playful than serious.
“Sorry, hon, but you know how fierce they are in this town about underage drinking. I have to ask everyone,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “I’m sure you’re used to it by now.”
“Sure,” Tommy lied, nodding, like this really wasn’t his first time in a bar.
“One Cherry Coke, coming up.” The bartender gave him a nod and grabbed a glass. Tommy sagged onto the stool and breathed more evenly. He could deal with this.
Until he watched the gorgeous bartender lean across the bar and kiss the customer in front of him squarely on the mouth, then go back to his task of pouring out a beer, grinning, like kissing a guy was nothing out of the ordinary.
Shit shit shit….
Just like that, Tommy’s heart was doing its little dance all over again.
Then he began to notice things. The guy near the bar who had his arm around another guy’s waist. The third bartender, shorter than the other two and nowhere near as muscular, whose manner was a good deal more effeminate.
More guys with their arms around each other.
Kisses, just pecks on the cheeks or lips, but yeah, there was definitely kissing going on.
He’d been too out of it at the club to notice if there’d been any of that going on, but at such close quarters, it was hard to miss.
That was when it really hit home.
Tommy was in a gay bar.
“Here you go.” The Mohawk guy was back, placing a paper napkin and a tall glass of Coke in front of him. “You wanna pay for it or set up a tab?”
Tommy fumbled clumsily with his wallet, all thumbs, taking out three dollars and handing them over.
Mohawk guy nodded and went over to the till.
Tommy sipped at the drink, loaded with ice, letting its coolness take away some of the heat from his face.
He pulled the cap bill over his eyes and leaned on the bar, observing his fellow customers.
More than once his gaze drifted back to the bespectacled bartender, who was laughing and joking with his customers.
Now and again he’d raise his eyes to watch the game, joining in the roars and groans of those around him.
Who was he trying to kid? Tommy couldn’t take his eyes off him. The man was sex on legs: those muscles, those eyes, that sexy beard…. Then he caught Tommy looking and flashed him a quick grin and a wink.
The hair stood up on the back of Tommy’s neck, and his breathing quickened. He felt light-headed, shivery, and hot, all at the same time. What made it worse? The bartender noticed. That grin widened and those intense eyes sparkled.
“Hey, Mike, can you check the pump for Blue Moon?” Mohawk guy said to Mr. Sex on Legs. Glugging noises issued from the tap as beer spattered into the glass he was trying to fill.
“Sure thing.” Mike gave Tommy a last glance before disappearing behind the bar. Tommy breathed in deeply and took a long swig of Coke. His physical reaction to Mike had been… powerful, not something he’d ever experienced before. He was still trembling, for God’s sake.
Well, if I’d had any doubts about me bein’ gay, that sure blew them all to hell.
There’d been no mistaking the lump of stone behind his jeans zipper or the tingle in his balls.
Not that he was gonna do anything: Tommy was more than content to sit in the bar ’til they closed, sipping Cherry Coke and enjoying the view.
Yeah, acknowledging he was gay was one thing—doing anything with that knowledge was something else entirely. And Tommy wasn’t ready to go down that road just yet. In fact, not for a long while yet.