24
When Niall had suggested it, I couldn’t picture it. And, now that I’m here, I still don’t know what to think.
Doom Slice, in its gay nightclub form, is…interesting. Well, I guess it technically isn’t Doom Slice, it’s Pawn Shop. I’ve just only been in here, in the shared space, for the pizza.
In one corner you have a group of twenty-something girls, half barefoot and the others on some of the highest heels you’ve ever seen.
Then you have the clustered bros hanging by the pizza window, catching a late dinner who seem completely unaware of the night’s main event.
And, of course, a few forty-something couples trying to talk over the thumping base enjoying a couple of glasses of wine.
Then, of course, you have all the gays. And, included in that, us. Leo and Anders wave to a few friends sitting along the bar, leaving John, Niall, and I almost immediately.
I am so completely and incredibly out of my element. I’ve never been a big nightclub guy, especially when you consider what little offerings there are to be had in Connecticut. The same can be said about gay bars or any sort of Pride events.
Yes, I teach classes on LGBT literature and am a gay man myself, but I never saw myself fitting in as part of these social circles.
But it would appear that I’m about to be introduced headfirst into it, as Leo grabs my hand and leads me out onto the dance floor. We join Anders and, somehow, I end up in between them.
Looking around, I’m beginning to notice that the spectrum of those in attendance waver wildly.
A man in a mesh shirt and striking eye makeup is walking past me, when I can still see John standing by the bar in his polo and backwards Irish Rugby hat.
There are men in flannel shirts and men in, what can only be described as, women’s blouses.
Niall and I fall more in the John camp, where Leo and Anders lean slightly closer to mesh shirt guy.
I dance a couple of songs with Leo and Anders before pulling away to go to the bar. The bartender is, for lack of better words, crazy hot. What is it in the water here?
“What’ll it be? We’ve got martini specials listed here and two for one Guinness.”
“Yeah, I’m not nearly coordinated enough to do that,” I gesture towards the dancing crowd, “and juggle martini glasses. The Guinness special please.”
He pours the first, then lets it sit for a minute. “American, yeah?”
I laugh. “That obvious? It’s all I’ve been hearing lately.”
“Maybe the accent. But you’re much cuter than the normal idiots who come here.”
Well then.
“Shout if you need anything else. Caleb.”
“Daniel,” I say, giving a little wave as I walk back to Niall and John.
“I see you’ve met shithead,” John says, taking my second Guinness. I look over at Caleb, his face now full of disappointment.
Niall turns John around, and walks us over to a table. “Caleb and John dated for about two years, until John caught Caleb with his hands down the other bartender’s pants here one night.”
“Which was just one of many indiscretions I discovered after the fact.”
I take a heavy sip off my beer. The music is a bit loud, and it’s one of those moments when I really start to feel my age.
The more I look around, the more I notice how much older I am than most of the crowd.
That group of forty-something couples have now vacated, and we look like the oldest patrons remaining.
No, we are definitely the oldest people in here.
“I get it,” Niall says, sidling up next to me.
“Get what?”
He laughs. “The look on your face. Yes, we’re old.”
“But why—”
“Because otherwise we would just be sitting around the same pub, or watching the same show for the thirteenth time at home, or just…wallowing.”
“Wallowing.”
Niall clasps my shoulder. “I’m just saying. It’s good to get out there. I’m proud of you.”
I shrug out of his grasp. “How about another beer? Or something stronger.”
* * *
It’s been a number of rounds later and I’m hanging at the bar, trying to get Caleb’s attention. It seems, after him seeing me talking with John, I have lost favor with him.
“Didn’t get the chance to buy you dinner yet, but how about a drink?” I turn and the vision that is Jackson is standing in front of me.
“I mean, I think I could be persuaded. I also think I’m actively being ignored, so hopefully I don’t rub off on you.”
“I could only hope you’d rub off on me.”
I feel my face flush as I try to hide the smirk on my face. Jackson does, indeed, get Caleb’s attention. Soon enough we have two French Martinis.
Jackson carefully slides one over to me. “Thank you,” I say, taking a sip and almost choking on it. “Holy shit.”
Jackson’s face also looks pained. “I forget how strong they make the drinks at these things.”
“Gay bars?”
Jackson shrugs. “Yes? If you can call this that. I’m not complaining.”
“I don’t usually do this.”
Jackson raises his glass to me. “That makes two of us.”
I take another slightly painful sip. If I keep drinking these I’m going to be fucked up, and fast. “So why tonight?”
Jackson points to the back. “Because I actually came here for the pizza.”
“It’s so good,” I respond. Wait, now I want pizza. “You can still buy me that dinner if you so desire.”
Jackson immediately pulls himself off the bar. “Trust me to pick the flavors?”
A few minutes later, Jackson and I have secured one of the high tops near the pizza window. Jackson with the misstep, ordering a Pancetta & Pineapple slice, so he is now stuck eating that while I devour the Pepperoni Red Top slice.
“What you’re eating is an abomination to the pizza world.”
“The pizza here? It’s amazing.”
“I’m not arguing that. It’s the…pineapple.”
“I take it you’ve had this before?”
I nod, wiping my mouth. “My first lunch here, actually. My friend Niall took me here.” I point over in the direction of the guys, and Niall has a pissy look on his face. Weird. “I was just surprised to find Detroit style pizza here. It’s so random.”
We both finish our slices, and our drinks. “Can I buy you a drink? Since, you bought dinner after all.”
Jackson stands and grabs my hand. “I was actually going to ask if you wanted to go out and dance.”
“Oh. Umm…yeah, sure.”
“Such a confidence booster.” Jackson pulls me out onto the dance floor. I start standing in front of him, not sure what to do with my body. The song changes, Bad Bunny filling the bar.
Jackson slides behind me, pulling my body into him. I feel his hard chest pressed against my back, his hands running down the front of my body. His hard cock pressing against me. His lips brush the back of my neck, causing my head to roll to the right.
Where I find Niall staring at us. I give him a what look, but he turns and starts frantically gesturing towards John. And, in seconds, is marching out the front door of Doom Slice. Or Pawn Shop, whatever.
What the fuck?
“Hey, sorry.” I pull away from Jackson, turning to face him. “I just saw my friend rush out of here, the one I came with. I need to see if he’s alright.”
“Oh, erm…okay. Did I do something wrong? Was that too much?”
“No. Yes. No…just unexpected. But I should go.” I start to walk away, but run back to Jackson and give him a hug. “Thank you, for this. It was nice.”
I run out the door.