YEAR ONE:
The thought of a friendship turning sexual always kind of frightened me. My friends have always been valuable to me. More so, since losing so many to AIDS. With several of my friends the sexual tension was always there but not acted upon. One of my best friends and I actually ended up in bed together - then a the last minute we both backed off due to fear of a friendship being ruined by sex. Sex with a good friend was the last thing I was thinking about as I prepared to go to the New Year's Eve party.
I was house sitting for a friend who was on a holiday cruise. His condo in Seattle was up on a hill with a magnificent view of the city. Often I would fix myself a drink, put on the headphones and watch the sun set over the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound. The place had a huge Jacuzzi bathtub that could probably hold six adults. A gourmet kitchen had everything you could possibly need to fix an incredible meal. The king-size bed, positioned to take in the city view, was definitely the centerpiece of the massive master bedroom suite. I was taking it all in as I enjoyed a glass of champagne while in the shower. This place was the only home I knew that had a phone in the shower and I used it to call my friend Steve to make sure he was still going to the big party that night. I hated going to parties alone so I was relieved when he told me he would meet me there.
The party was in full swing when I got there. I immediately searched the room for Steve, as I was already uncomfortable being by myself - even though I knew most of the guys in the room. A good 80% of them were with their lover, boyfriend or trick o' the week. Caterers had prepared an amazing display of food and the champagne was flowing. Steve and I just naturally hang out together as the evening progressed. As midnight neared no one in the room was feeling any pain. The hosts started readying everyone for the stroke of midnight. Glasses were filled, noisemakers were distributed and we all gathered on the deck to prepare for the fireworks blasting off the Space Needle at the appropriate time.
The countdown began and I suddenly realized everyone would be kissing at twelve. This was the first New Year's I had been single and I felt very awkward at the realization I would not have a boyfriend to kiss this year. Dick Clark yelled "Happy New Year" from the television at the same time the fireworks shot from the top of the Space Needle. All the revelers started yelling, cheering, clinking glasses and kissing. Steve, who was standing next to me, turned and extended his glass my way. We clinked them together as he smiled at me and said "Happy New Year."