Chapter 5 #2
They had now left the curvy mountain roads and were on the freeway.
That meant that they were closer to the end of this journey, even though a few hours still remained.
And Isard didn’t want it to end. It was nice sitting here in their back-seat time capsule together, safe from the passing of time in the real world.
The driver had made no attempt to talk to them, nor they to him, and he was thankful for that.
He didn’t want to dilute this short time that remained.
Though nothing had yet happened and obviously nothing would, not with the driver sitting there up front. But this journey still felt special.
“Tell me about your family,” he said.
Alex looked sharply at him. “I’ve told you loads already. I know nothing about you. Tell me about yours.”
“OK.” He liked the fact that Alex was so direct, even confrontational. “There’s not much to tell.”
Alex laughed once, loud and sharp like a hyena.
What?”
“That’s just such a bullshit line. It means you’re packing secrets like a Russian mobster packs death gadgets.”
“Well, we’re just normal.”
“What part of Barcelona?”
“Pedralbes.”
Alex barked another laugh. “So, a rich bitch. That’s not normal.”
“Well, we’re… comfortable.”
Alex smiled. “A rich bitch. How many people in your family?”
“Just me and my sister. And my parents.”
“Swimming pool?”
“What? No! … Well, we have a small pool, more of a spa really, at our summer place.”
But by this time, Alex was rolling over the back of the seat in hysterics. Isard didn’t quite get the joke. He felt a bit put out, and stared out of the window for a while, letting Alex get himself under control. Maybe it was going to be a long car journey after all.
“Having a swimming pool doesn’t make you rich.” But even as he said it, he felt like a prat. “Besides, it isn’t a swimming pool; it’s a spa.”
“That makes it so much better.”
“Doesn’t it!” Isard said sarcastically.
“Hey, I’m just playing with you.” And Alex had turned toward him on the seat. “I dream of the day I’ll get my own swimming pool installed. It’ll mean I’ve made it.”
Isard wanted to say that installing a swimming pool wasn’t that expensive, but was scared he’d come in for more flack from Alex. So he just said:
“What about you then? No swimming pool obviously. But do you have a mansion or live in a hovel on Barceloneta Beach?”
“I already told you I live in Sagrada Familía. It’s a typical middle-class apartment. Just Mom, Dad, and me.”
“And what’s your greatest ambition? Aside from having a pool?”
Alex chuckled at the dig, but ignored it. “I want to have my own school, teach martial arts.”
“Well, that’s doable.”
“Yeah, but I don’t just want a typical neighborhood school. I want to have the best school in Europe, where people come for retreats and things, with the best teachers.”
“You’re a pretty good teacher already. You’ve been able to teach me,” Isard said, flicking him a glance, “which can’t be easy.”
“You’re a fast learner. You’ve also got….” And now they had their eyes locked on each other, bodies half-turned toward the other on the seat. “You’ve got… an old soul. You understand it naturally.”
Isard didn’t know what to say to that. He wanted to say something, but he’d become aware of his hand, resting on the seat.
It was lightly grazing Alex’s, just the knuckles, and Alex wasn’t pulling away.
At the same moment, Alex seemed to sense the contact too, and they both gazed down at their barely touching hands, before Alex moved, softly covering Isard’s hand with his own, just gently stroking it.
Isard realized he had an erection, pushing against his tracksuit pants, and hoped it wasn’t noticeable.
He also became aware of Alex’s breath, a warm sweet smell with a touch of eucalyptus.
They were both breathing shallow and fast. He looked up to meet Alex’s eyes, which were wide and deep, looking a little surprised, as he was.
He hadn’t expected this. What did this mean?
His urge was to kiss Alex, but with the driver there, that was impossible.
Neither could they really talk about it.
He also wanted to adjust his crotch, but bringing his hand there would call attention to it.
So they continued to stare at each other for long minutes, unable to move closer, but neither to move away. Finally, with a laugh, Alex pulled away his hand, turned forward on the seat, and looked out the window.
“Wow! Us old souls, when we connect, we really connect!”
Isard turned forward as well, away from Alex, though he didn’t want to. But he used the movement to adjust himself, so that his erection was no longer sticking out, tenting his tracksuit.
“Yeah,” he muttered. “That was intense.”
They rode in silence for a while, each trying to gather his thoughts, understand what was happening. Then, after several minutes, the driver called out:
“I’m going to make a pit stop. I need a coffee and the toilet. There’s a service area up ahead. Are you guys OK with that, if we take twenty?”
They both agreed with relief.