Chapter 11 - Coffee, Vivian Ward?
Sunday mornings were usually a lull for Callum. Typically an upbeat and happy guy, it was on Sundays that he often felt tired and lonely.
On Sunday he would typically just chill in his own company.
Occasionally he’d see family or friends, but most of the time it was the day to relax, do laundry, buy groceries, tidy the apartment, maybe even do some painting or visit a gallery, if he had the energy.
But for Callum, this Sunday was just agonising.
He checked his phone. Sadly, there were no messages from anyone called Julian, but he did see with glee that he had four new messages from ‘Client Newman’. He sniggered and promptly updated his name in Contacts to ‘Julian’. He realised he had no details about the man other than his name and number.
The first message was old Julian, a bit formal, professional…
Julian: Good morning and thanks for the message. It made me very happy to see it at 7 am when I woke up.
The second message was fun, more like the Julian from yesterday and last night…..
Julian: “hairy, beary, solid, fit, man mountain” Jesus Cal, I’m not some piece of meat you can abuse…. it makes we wonder if you just want me for sex …. but actually …… that could also be quite nice …. LOL
As Callum read that, he was worried after the ‘you just want me for sex’ part but then felt relief at the ‘that could be quite nice’. This told him that Julian was relaxing into things, even at this early stage.
The use of the LOL was also noted.
This was Julian 2.0. A new, evolving version of the ‘hairy, beary, solid, fit, man mountain’ he thought, with a sense of pride, a warm smile crossing his face.
The ‘that could be quite nice’ resounded with Callum. It also clearly impressed his dick, which was suddenly getting very stiff. This guy had an automatic erection effect on him…
Julian: I am joking of course; I don’t want you just for sex; I want all of you, ditsy trainer and all…
Nice, thought Callum.
The final message of the four was the most welcome, though.
Julian: I’m happy you are free today with no plans. I’m going to assume you’ll be awake by 11 am. See you then!
What? See me, see me where? he wondered. There were no details about meeting up. Had he forgotten to type it maybe, or thought he already had…? Callum was confused.
He re-read the previous messages. He hadn’t missed anything.
He typed a response:-
Callum: Hey HBSFMM (you know what it means!) – where are you seeing me – I’m confused? I’m awake, yes, but I’m not sure what the plan is? Did I miss something?!
He sent the message. He could see the ticks showing it was delivered, then they immediately went blue, so he knew Julian had seen it and read it.
He waited expectantly, holding his breath, but no flashing dots indicating that a reply was being typed. No response came through. A bit odd, he thought. He hovered over the idea of just calling him but stopped himself.
He got out of bed and jumped into the shower, ignoring his erection, still slightly intrigued by both Julian’s message and the lack of a message back.
***
At the same moment, across the bridge, Julian was looking out of his apartment window at the waking city.
Callum’s last message came through; he read it and grabbed his grey hoodie.
He texted Markus and he didn't take the armoured G-Wagon. Today, normality. This was reckless; this wasn’t the normal Julian, and he loved it.
He took the elevator down to the lobby and walked out of his building alone, wearing a baseball cap pulled low, plain grey hoodie and blue jeans, blending perfectly into the Sunday morning joggers and coffee-runners.
He hailed a yellow cab, something he hadn't done in a decade, and gave an address in Bushwick he’d looked up from Callum’s employee record. He felt excited. The prospect of seeing Callum in his own surroundings both terrified and excited him.
He was doing random impromptu things. He never did that, but it somehow felt great. It felt young and fresh. Just going, it was irrational and unlike him. This was not typical Julian Newman. This man was taking years off him. He smiled at his own excitement.
But mainly, he just couldn’t wait to see Cal’s face again.
***
Callum sat on the steps of the fire escape outside his Bushwick apartment.
The morning was chilly, and he hugged the remnants of the large mug of coffee he was finishing, for extra warmth.
The metal of the fire escape was cold through his thin sweats, but he liked to sit here and just take in the neighbourhood as it was waking up for the day.
He was about to head inside and start his Sunday chores when a yellow street cab pulled up to the curb of his red-brick building. A large familiar figure stepped out and looked up. It looked like Julian, but it couldn’t be. The guy was in a hoodie and wearing a cap. What the hell? It was Julian!
He’d just turned up unannounced outside his apartment!
Julian’s eyes searched the building. Where would Apt. 12 be? he wondered… but his question was quickly answered when he spied Callum staring down at him from the fire escape, mug of coffee in one hand and a face full of surprise.
Callum indicated he would come down and pointed Julian to where the entrance was.
Callum’s heart was pounding. He just turned up.
That’s unexpected. The state of his flat, he would have tidied up.
Why has he come here? A million questions filled his head, so much so, he almost fell down the stairs in his haste.
He took a big breath, stepped outside, and met Julian on the sidewalk. Callum took in Julian’s clothes. He looked good in simple jeans, a hoodie, and a cap. He looked the same age as Callum, and really hot.
“You're here,” Callum said breathlessly. “Julian, what are you doing here?”
“Surprise!” Julian said, taking a step closer, ignoring a group of teenagers skating past, giving him a quick kiss, followed by a manly hug. Callum wasn’t expecting this on the street, his arms poking out hilariously, coffee spilling on the sidewalk.
The hug was nice. In fact, it was more than nice. Callum went quickly from shocked and surprised, to delighted in one split second. He did not pass ‘Go’; he did not collect ￡200…
“Shouldn’t you have arrived on a white horse, or in a white stretch limo? Have you come to rescue me like Vivian Ward?”
“Pretty Woman,” said Julian. He really did know his films, “and for reference, I do happen to have a white stretch limo with a sunroof, so I could fully re-create that moment for you someday.”
“That won’t be necessary, but thanks for the offer,” Callum retorted, with a cheesy smile.
“C’mon, handsome, ditsy trainer, grab your coat; you’ve pulled.” Julian laughed at his own joke. “Take me somewhere for coffee. Somewhere where no one knows me.”
“Trust me Julian, no one in this area would know your name, and no paparazzi are lurking around here. Probably a junkie or two, but that’s about it”, he smiled with genuine relief. “You want good coffee; I know just the place.”
***
The coffee shop across the street was a hole-in-the-wall place, literally called ‘The Hole in the Wall’ and one of Callum’s favourites.
In style it was very rustic, all broken tables, mismatched chairs, and the smell of roasting coffee beans, probably a world away from the artisanal blends Julian knew.
As they entered, an immediate “Hey Cal” came almost singing, from behind the counter, “and hello,” she added, eyeing up Julian’s frame as it filled the doorway.
“Hey, Georgie, how are you today? This is my friend, Julian,” he said, by way of introduction.
“Boyfriend,” Julian corrected.
“Yes, boyfriend,” Callum corrected himself, feeling a sense of pride. This was going to take some getting used to.
“Well, it’s mighty good to meet you,” she said, nodding, giving Callum a look of approval, and a cheeky wink.
“Thank you, Georgie” laughed Callum, and he headed towards a table at the back.
“Right, what do you want?” Callum asked.
“Latte, please. I’m easy when it comes to coffee.”
Callum went to the counter and sorted the coffees, returning quickly to the table.
They sat very close together, Julian’s knee occasionally bumping against Callum’s, neither noticing nor complaining.
Over lattes, the conversation flowed. Today felt like a shift change; things felt simpler.
Neither of them made any big sweeping statements, grand plans about possible futures, or confessed repressed feelings.
A lot of emotion poured out yesterday, and it had been a lot to take in for both of them.
Today, instead, they just sat and talked and laughed, like any average couple does on a Sunday morning, in a New York coffee shop.
“So, tell me something you’re interested in that I’d never guess?” Julian asked, sipping his latte.
“Ancient Egypt,” Callum replied without hesitation, eyes bright. “It’s always been an interest of mine and I have lots of books and figurines relating to Egypt.”
“That’s a coincidence, because I actually studied ancient Egypt in college. Vance Global actually sponsors the Cairo Museum, amongst other things in Egypt as part of our global cultural program.” Julian was happy to highlight the similarity.
“Now you,” Callum said.
“Sailing. I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail, but just never seem to find the time,” Julian said wistfully.
They joked and chatted until the remnants of coffee were long cold in their cups. Further topics of discussion ranged from Callum’s obsession with sci-fi movies, photography, and the British band Erasure, to Julian’s love of superhero films and modern art.
Callum looked at Julian and thought that, for the first time, the Titan was actually just a hot guy named Julian, seeing him for the first time.
He also thought that at this moment, Julian looked the youngest he ever had to Callum.
The clothes made him look younger, but he also seemed released from the burden that had previously weighed him down.
Callum never said it out loud, but it seemed like a weight had been lifted from Julian’s broad shoulders.
Once the coffees were finished, Callum steeled himself for the inevitable. I mean, why would Julian be in this part of town, his part of town?
“Ready to see my mini mausoleum opposite?” he teased, gesturing towards his building as they crossed the street.
“Lead the way,” Julian said, eyes bright with excitement and anticipation.