I was a bachelor for the week while my wife was at a conference. She speaks at many professional conferences around the country. I find this great time to catch up with old friends and Petra was on my list this week. My ex, Petra and my wife do not get along all that well. So my friend, invited me over Thursday night.
When I arrived, she met me at the door and invited me in. She quickly turned around and introduced me to Mike. This was not fair. Petra knew I was curious about being with a man. Long after we had broken up we have become great friends. She knew all my secrets. She and I had once talked of having a gay massage. I could not get my nerve up. She knew that even acknowledging that desire had peaked my curiosity and she was quite enthused about being an enabler.
Petra met Mike a couple of years ago, an art opening. Mike was in his late 30s and I in my early 50s. She knew that Mike was a good-looking, open-minded guy that might be interested in teaching a straight guy some new tricks so to speak. Mike stood about 5-foot-ten and was slim and in very good shape. His hipster haircut set off the details of his Mediterranean genetics and a chiseled, thin face. Obviously he hadn't shaved for three or four days and his dark, curious eyes had me infatuated.
We all moved out onto the balcony with the glass of Merlot. The conversation flowed just as easily as the wine. Turns out, Mike was a professor at the local university. He had moved to town about eight years ago from a medium-sized, mid-west city. I have been in town about 20 years and am quite established in my career and my relationship (which Petra didn't necessarily agree with).
The three of us laughed quite a bit as the conversation ranged from work to social and eventually got to relationships. Petra was single and quite happy showing off her great body to a multitude of men. She's gorgeous, outgoing, and incredibly fit. The exact things that attracted me to her eventually scared me so much that I had to quit the relationship or go nuts with my jealousy. Mike on the other hand, was at the start of a relationship with a pilot who traveled a lot and was out of town. They were still testing so it didn't sound as though it was exclusive. My situation was long-term and stable, but Petra pushed at me until I admitted that things were a bit stale.
Not only was Mike a good conversationalist, but his eye contact was constant. I too like a lot of eye contact. I felt myself a little uncomfortable with his charming smile and great energy. I am normally not all that submissive, but not very good, nor comfortable with flirting, especially with guys. He sensed that and held his gaze for just that one second too long. I am sure it was just to make me uncomfortable and see what I would do. I like that kind of playful cockiness. He wasn't aggressive but he was open, therefore if anything was to happen it would require me sending a signal. This was new territory for me. Sitting beside me at Petra's 3-ft-round patio table, Mike would touch my leg with the back of his hand to emphasize points in his various stories. About a half an hour into the conversation it changed from a nudge to resting his hand gently on my knee. Petra, sitting on my other side, could see through the glass tabletop and winked knowingly at one point when Mike was looking away.
