**Everyone in this story is well in excess of 18 years of age**
My name is Reese, and this is the story of how I realized the full spectrum of my sexuality. I am married with three kids, the youngest 16. Over the years, my wife and I experienced some medically induced sexual problems that presented a genuine challenge for us. Fortunately, surgery resolved the issue. Then, over the next five years, we made immense progress and are happier now than either of us thought possible. The story below factors into that happiness.
I should describe the people involved so you know what we look like. I, Reese, am now 44 and was 37 when this evolution started. I am 6'2, 290lb, with a military-style haircut and a bushy, black beard that has its share of white sprinkled throughout. I have heard my beard described as salt and pepper. I am also very hairy.
I am a big man with a broad chest, arms, and thick thighs. My cock, if you are curious, is about 6" long, reasonably thick, with a very pronounced head. I have balls that are heavy and perpetually full, and I usually shoot thick loads.
Mark is 37 now, 30 at the time. He is 190lbs, and has an athletic build with shaggy, dirty blonde hair. We have talked a few times over the last few months, but I describe us as more friendly than friends. We began working out together after helping each other a few times at the gym. There was never much talk as we both focused on the workout, but it was nice to have someone with a similar focus to bounce ideas off. Mark also has a great personality and is quick to laugh, which I find enjoyable. Positive people make the world a better place.
As we finished a mid-week workout, Mark asked if I would like to get a drink sometime. I am not much of a drinker, but socializing is something I am trying to do more of, so I said yes. We made plans and went our separate ways.
The appointed night arrived, and I headed to the restaurant. It wasn't fine dining, but it wasn't a dive bar either. I arrived first and secured a booth at the back of the dining room. I knew this place well, and conversing in the middle of everything was challenging. Some privacy away from most tables would be a good thing.
A few minutes later, Mark showed up. I had given the waiter a broad description of Mark. The waiter gestured to me; Mark smiled, waved, and was on his way. I slid out of the booth to shake his hand as he reached the table before we sat. We ordered a beer each as we looked over the menu.
"So, how was your day? Anything crazy happening?" Mark asked as he scanned his dinner choices.
"It was a good day. Closed a few projects I had been working on and started on another. As a reward, I am taking the day off tomorrow to make a long weekend. How was your day?" I responded.
Mark smiled and confirmed that he, too, had a good day. Mark was an administrator at a hospital focusing on human resources. He had previously said it could be a tough job, but he legitimately enjoyed it. I had heard from a familiar acquaintance that he was well thought of at work.
The waiter returned to the table and took our orders. I requested a medium-well 8-oz sirloin with all the vegetables, while Mark decided on roasted chicken with a similar assortment of veggies. We each ordered another beer.
After the waiter had left, Mark looked at me intently and said, "Reese, there is something I want to ask you. If I am offside, please tell me, and I will never mention it again." I took a long drink and gestured for him to continue.
"Since we met, I have enjoyed getting to know you. I like how we share interests and a similar sense of humour. I hope you consider me a friend or someone who could become a friend."
I could sense that Mark was anxious when he told me this. I smiled and nodded, silently acknowledging that I agreed with his perspective. My acknowledgement gave Mark some breathing room, and he relaxed visibly.
Mark continued, "I know we haven't discussed too much of our personal lives, but there is something I want to have out in the open. I'm gay."
I finished my beer and put the empty glass on the table. I looked Mark in the eye, smiled, and replied, "OK."
Mark looked confused, like a puppy that bit into cotton candy and couldn't figure out where it went. He responded, "That's it? OK?" He seemed flustered that I did not respond in the way he anticipated.
"Mark, I can tell that this is very important to you and that you may have been nervous before getting here tonight. I want to assure you that your sexual orientation has no impact on how I view you or our growing friendship. The math I do when meeting someone new does not include their sexual orientation. It's an absolute non-factor to me."
Mark considered my response, and the waiter returned with our entrees and replacement beverages. Once the presentation was complete, he departed with our empty glasses. Mark looked at me as he cut into his chicken. "You don't understand what I am saying," he offered quietly.
"That is distinctly possible, my friend. I am world-class at missing cues and conversational signposts that would benefit my understanding of a given situation. So, are you super gay? Like gay to the nth degree? What am I not understanding?" I asked with a smirk that I hoped showed I was attempting to be funny.
The humour landed, and Mark responded, "Well, I don't know if I am super gay, but I am pretty good at it." It was his turn to smirk.
I replied, "See, confidence goes a long way in most areas of life. Super gay or not, you are perfectly fine as you are." That finally deflated the overblown seriousness that he brought to the table. We dug into our meals and chatted easily, the tension wholly banished.
We finished our meal and settled the tab before heading to the parking lot. As we reached my car, Mark turned and took a more direct route than in the restaurant.
