(Note: this is a gay one-on-one story, and a bit romantic)
In The Previous Chapter: Married couple Joan and Harry accepted an invitation from Amanda and Sam to a party with several friends. At the party Harry finally embraced his bisexuality, and they ended the evening with an intimate foursome with their hosts. Afterwards, Sam proposed a unique date night: Joan and Amanda would get together while Harry and Sam would go on their own date...
"So you guys will just walk back when you're done?" asked Amanda as she stopped the car in front of the restaurant.
"Unless it rains, then we'll get a cab," said Sam. "You're going to stay the night with Joan?"
"That's the plan." She gave her husband a quick kiss. "Have fun."
"That means you, too, sweetie," Joan said to her own husband Harry. She was in the front seat with Amanda and leaned back to give him a kiss.
Harry and Sam exited the car and walked up the steps to Garibaldi's, one of the most popular restaurants in town. Sam gave his name to the hostess and they were guided to their table.
Harry felt as if he was in a dream. He had finally acted on his bisexuality last week, with Joan, Amanda, and a group of the other couple's friends. Joan and the other two had denied that this was all an attempt at a coming-out party for Harry, but that's what it had felt like.
This night was a bit different, however. While Harry has always harboured bisexual desires he would have never imagined an actual romantic date with a man. It wasn't any lingering homophobia as much as that such an idea was alien to him. Gay men dated, and Harry didn't think of himself as gay. As well, even though his wife knew about it, he felt like he was cheating on Joan. The fact that Joan and Amanda were going to their place to have a night of their own put him at ease a bit, but it didn't feel any less weird.
When the waiter came to the table Sam asked after Chris, and the waiter informed them that Chris was off that night. Sam ordered a light chicken dish while Harry ordered mussels served with angel hair pasta.
Throughout the meal Harry found that what he liked most about Sam was that he could talk to him about anything - not just sex. They talked about their families - Harry was stepfather to Joan's son Michael from a previous relationship who was just starting college. Sam and Amanda had two kids: Mara, 24, a theology major who was studying to be a rabbi, and Richie, 19, who was majoring in business.
Harry was head of copywriting at a local advertising agency, while Sam owned and managed a bookstore ("no, not that kind," Sam said with a smile).
"That's how I met a lot of the people at the party. Leonard and Sylvia are probably my best customers. They've got an amazing personal library. It's like something out of a movie."
Harry laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"You folks are all so... Normal. This isn't what I expected at all."
"What, like all the guys should be wearing gold medallions and the women should be over-tanned?" Sam smiled. "I've never liked the word 'swinger.' We're not like that. It's not about scoring or conquests. We just like sex and we like sharing this with people we love."
"Love?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"It's not too strong a word. I love my friends, and I want to have a good time with them."
Harry found himself more and more attracted to Sam. He was funny, warm and seemed genuinely interested in people.
The waiter came back and gave them the dessert menu. Neither of them wanted to have anything too heavy so Sam just ordered coffee while Harry ordered coffee and a raspberry-lemon granita "with two spoons."
When the dessert and coffee arrived Harry felt a little daring and offered to serve Sam a spoonful of the dessert. Taking his cue, Sam grabbed the other spoon and fed Harry. They both giggled slightly at the romance of the gesture. Any lingering feeling that this was "wrong" vanished from Harry's mind.
It was still light out, and Sam and Amanda's place was within walking distance, so they took a stroll by the river. Sam offered Harry his hand as they walked, and Harry accepted it. Even this slight contact thrilled Harry, especially that they were doing it in public.
"Sam? Oh hey how are you?" A voice called out and the two spotted another couple. It was Cassie and Michelle, the female couple from the week before. They were walking their dog, who appeared to be some sort of Australian Shepherd mix.