Eddie kept his eyes trained to the ground and stepped back a little, looking cornered as his breathing accelerated. That made me feel like a bit of a creep to be honest. Despite wanting answers, I wasn't trying to intimidate or bully him. Though the setting had changed, it seemed as though my childhood friend wanted nothing to do with reconnecting in any way, shape or form. I was also beginning to feel a bit stupid for caring. So what if he had been my first kiss on top of everything else? I was in my thirties now and high school was a lifetime ago. I clearly didn't know Eddie Anderson anymore and he seemed perfectly fine with that so I needed to be too.
I took a step forward but stopped in my tracks when he said, "I told you I was straight."
What a slap in the face.
"Right. Well.. thanks for that. Sorry for stalking you in here. See you around I guess. Or not," then I turned and made my way out of the bathroom, cursing myself silently when I realized I was half hoping he would stop me.
He didn't.
*******
Three weeks later I found myself crossing paths with the other half of the Anderson couple, Jessica. We didn't speak, since she hadn't a clue who I was in the first place. However, I did notice how the tall, dark and handsome stranger who's arm she was hanging off of wasn't Eddie. I tried to tell myself it was nothing. They were probably just friends. Friends that went to the movies together. Friends that sat uncomfortably close in the back of the theater together. Friends that looked flushed and rumpled once the credits were rolling.
In fact, the situation was so distracting for me that my own date, a pretty blonde coworker of mine that I'd been after for sometime now, walked out on me because I was too distracted. She thought I was lusting after Jessica but I didn't bother to correct her on the fact that I was much more concerned for Jessica's husband. That would just lead to exposing questions. No one at work knew I was bi and I wasn't coming out to them for no reason. I was sure it would be fine, given the year, but then again, my own family wasn't on speaking terms with me over my sexuality so it remained a sore spot for me, depending on who I was around. Work colleagues did not make the cut.
*******
After about a week of debating with myself I decided to go back to AleTaps. I hadn't been there in two months. Not once since the night he first crashed into me. I hadn't been back to that particular coffee shop either. The city was pretty big but I wanted to keep my distance since that's what my former friend seemed to want. Now though, and perhaps a little selfishly, I hoped to bump into him again. I knew it wasn't my business but I wanted him to know about his wife. Though he might not feel the same, I cared enough about Eddie that I didn't want him getting played. Although, my intentions were not completely altruistic. There was a small voice in the back of my brain that told me that if Mrs. Anderson was somehow removed from the picture, I might have a shot with him. Which, given the complete lack of interest Eddie had currently shown in me, was a ridiculous notion to have. I knew that but it was what it was.
When I entered the bar I quickly realized that the Anderson's were not present so I bought myself a drink and sat alone as I watched the door. Hours dragged by and I was beginning to regret my plan of action. It had already cost me two done deal's but I wasn't ready to leave either time. Just as I was about to give up, I finally saw Jessica enter the bar, followed closely by Eddie. He was dressed in the same outfit as before, skirt and all, but this time he had a thick black collar around his neck with an o ring attached. I wanted to devour him. It took everything in me to keep seated and silent but I managed and let them get settled in.
As I predicted, Eddie eventually came over to order drinks and that's when he noticed me. He glanced at me nervously but he didn't say a word. Then he quickly downed his drink and ordered another. Once received, he walked away, back to his wife. I watched with curiosity to see if he would make them leave again but he simply sat back down and attacked his second drink. Jessica raised her eyebrow at him but neither of them spoke.
I watched the couple for a while, noticing how men would openly come up and flirt with Jessica right in front of Eddie but the smaller man barely reacted to it. He kept his head down submissively the entire time and he didn't even flinch when one admirer got a little handsy and squeezed her thigh. This time when Eddie came up to get drinks, I noticed he'd ordered three and that the man that had been feeling up Jessica's leg was now brazenly kissing her neck.
"So I guess you know your wife is a cheating slut?" I asked him drunkenly as I openly stared at Jessica and her new man.
"What?" He asked before looking in the same direction. Then he blushed red. "You don't know anything. She's not cheating and she's not a slut," he replied dubiously.
"Sure, alright. I'm sorry. I guess I shouldn't have said that. Look man, it's just that I saw her last week at the movies and thought she was cheating on you but if you’re cool then I'm cool. It's not really any of my concern anyways."
"It's not," he agreed but then he looked as though he was wrestling with himself over something. "Jessica and I," he started still looking uncertain. "We are married but.. I'm also.. her... um.. c-cuckold by choice. She's allowed to.. be with whoever she wants. I would never stop her. I have no desire to stop her. It's better this way," he confessed shyly as his blush deepened.
Nothing could have surprised me more. Though I could clearly tell that Eddie was extremely submissive. Not much of a surprise there given how he was growing up but I figured the get up he wore was more of a humiliation ritual for them or something. It still could be, though I now wondered if it was because of their lifestyle. I also worried a little that Jessica might be taking advantage of him. My former friend had always been soft and easily bullied into things.
"So much for being a good little Christian boy for your daddy. I wonder what he would think," I couldn't help but mock out of jealousy.
He’d changed so much.. but for her.
Eddie blushed deeper and he looked offended. "This makes my wife happy. I love her. We're best friends. I know I'm.. I can't.. satisfy her and this works for us. Keep your judgments to yourself or you can forget about talking to me."
"Okay! Jeez I'm sorry. I know that was kind of out of line," I admitted as my mind reeled over this new information. I had not expected him to get that defensive of her. Maybe I had misjudged things? I let the subject drop and thought of something to break the tension. "So.. are you like, locked up under that skirt?" I asked bluntly, letting my curiosity get the better of me now that I was drunk.
"Fuck off," he muttered though he somehow managed to blush even more.
I smirked at him then and though my brain supplied the image to my mind, I felt a flash of jealously come over me. He was already so adorable. I wanted to see more in person, like his wife got to.
"What's taking so long conejito?" A melodic voice with a soft hispanic accent reminded me that Eddie was meant to be bringing drinks to his wife and her lover.
"Sorry M-uh-um-Jess," the gorgeous woman raised her perfectly manicured eyebrow at him but she didn't push him about why he was stumbling over his words. "This is Nicolas Moore. He's an old friend from before I transferred schools." He explained with a meaningful look and she gazed at me with a look of open curiosity.
"Oh, have you two known each other for a long time?" I asked feeling another stab of jealousy.
"Si," she answered. "We met senior year of high school and got married after a year of college. Poor little thing would have been lost without me," she confided with a patronizing pat to his head as he blushed and looked down at his feet. Then she grinned and looked down at Eddie, grabbing his chin in her delicate hand so that he was forced to look back up at her. "Your old friend is very handsome. Don't you think conejito?" Eddie's poor face seemed to be stuck in a permanent blush and he stuttered out nonsense in response. "Oh my. You're very excited aren't you conejito? Well now I have to ask him."
He looked panicked but she ignored that and turned to me.
"Here's the deal guapo. My little cuck and I have been searching for someone hung and sexy, such as yourself, to fulfill certain needs that we both have. Is there a chance you'd be open to something like that?" She purred seductively.
"What about your friend?" I asked as I inclined my head towards her abandoned table.
