Justin is offered a temporary consultant mission to help a large marketing firm lower its environmental impact. It is meant to be a couple of months (bullshit) job and he has no expectation over it... Until Joshua, a former college classmate, suggests he moves into his suburban house for the time of the mission.
ONLY TEMPORARY
Chapter 2: Tight Jeans
I rationalized my decision during the short plane ride.
The arrangement was only for two months.
What would a couple of months in Colorado really change in my life?
Sure, it was a little odd to move in with an old classmate from college I had not talked to in years, but it would get awkward only if I made it awkward.
In the end, it was simply a matter of timing and opportunity.
Josh had a spare room, his wife was out of town, I needed a place to stay. Easy solution!
No need to overthink this.
What was the other option anyway? Turn down the job and the free room just because the man offering it to me was too hot?
Come on, that would be unreasonable!
What could possibly go wrong? Joshua and I were both responsible adults.
I arrived in Denver on Saturday afternoon while my mission was supposed to begin the following Monday.
I thought it would be nice to get a feel for the city before I started working and Joshua had encouraged me to come a bit earlier since he was very busy during the week.
As general counsel, he often worked after hours.
I took a cab to his house in the suburbs, and as soon as I arrived in his neighborhood, I realized how different our lives were.
Joshua and his wife had bought a house that would one day accommodate a family, right on the outskirts of town.
Close enough to commute to work, but far enough from the city to be quiet and child-friendly.
When I thought about it, it was surprising that Josh was not a father already.
It was the logical next step; he had been married for a few years.
I made a mental note not to mention this potentially touchy subject. It was none of my business.
Given his professional situation, I expected Josh to be somewhat wealthy, and I was not disappointed.
The luxurious brick house with the perfectly mown lawn and the Range Rover parked in front of the lot were saying it all.
Of course, there was a pool in the backyard.
We were in early June so the weather was very nice but the pool was heated anyway.
It was the first thing Joshua explained when giving me a tour of his home.
He had ditched the white shirt he wore at work for a tank top, and he was wearing a pair of blue tight jeans.
I was glad for both, the hairy armpits and the enhanced butt. That ass had definitely grown since college!
The exposed biceps were also nice to look at.
"See, I got plenty of room for the both of us."
"Honestly, Josh, your house is amazing, I've only lived in tiny apartments so far. It's beautiful too."
"When you marry an interior designer, you get some perks when it comes to decorating your own home."
And indeed, if the exterior screamed money and luxury, the interior was so elegantly designed that I felt like I was walking into an Architectural Digest cover come to life.
Dark brown woodwork (doors, stairs, fireplace) contrasted with gold and white accents on the walls and ceiling.
The rooms were spacious, filled with plants, paintings, and small but well-thought decorative details.
Despite the clutter, it never felt too busy or stuffy.
Everything seemed to belong exactly where they were.
I was intimidated, as if I could not touch anything for fear of ruining the perfect scenery.
"The first floor is where we live and work, I have an office behind the kitchen. The second floor has two bedrooms and a large bathroom. Honestly, it's my favorite part of the house."
Indeed, the bathroom was spacious and inviting.
The Dawsons could not decide between the tub and the shower.
Consequently, they had both: an oversized shower with two showerheads and a wide stone-resin bathtub in a modern oval shape.
"Dude, YVBM is paying well!" I joked as we walked around.
Joshua smiled at me but he did not comment.
I hoped I had not been insensitive or gawky.
"Let me show you your room."
He opened the wooden door in the middle of the hallway.
Like the other rooms in the house, the guest room was spacious and instantly welcoming.
It smelt like clean products which showed that Joshua had just gotten it ready, probably in the morning.
"That's perfect, dude."
"I'm sorry about the gym equipment hanging there, but you have a nice view of the backyard and of the pool."
There were a stationary exercise bike and some weights on the floor.
"You're sorry? Josh! Are you kidding? It's like a five-star hotel. I don't have the words."
"Don't sweat it, man."
"No, really, I don't know how I can thank you. You're sure you don't want me to pay a rent?"
He laughed.
"Bro. Don't insult me! I'd never make you pay anything. I wouldn't do that to one of my buddies!"
I was incidentally learning that he was considering me as such.
I was glad.
"I mean, if I don't find a place quickly, I should definitely give you some..."
He cut me off.
"Honestly, as long as Jennifer isn't here, I'm happy to have you around. I've told you; I'm bored as fuck and I'm not used to be at home by myself."
"Okay. Just remember that you can always change your mind and I'll pack my things. No question asked."
"Got it. I'll kick you out as soon as you'll get on my nerves."
I smiled.
"I do really appreciate this. It makes my life so much easier. And it's cool that we get a chance to hang out after all these years."
He patted my back.
"And I'm glad that you're gonna help YVBM fight climate change."
"Sure. I bet I'll have a tremendous impact."
I tried not to roll my eyes too hard.
"Hey, it's one step at a time. No action is too small."
"I suppose..."
Joshua was very good to me.
After the tour of the house, he helped me carry my luggage upstairs, - three suitcases -, and made sure that I felt right at home.
"Anything in the fridge, you can consider yours. You'll do your own groceries and I'll do mine but we can share. Just like normal roommates."
"I'm the opposite of you. I haven't lived with anyone for years... It's a little sad when I think about it, sharing a place's gonna be an adjustment."
"A good adjustment?"
"Yes, sure! I'm simply not used to it anymore."
"You've never met the right person?" He asked.
A concern started to grow inside of me.
What if Joshua had forgotten an important detail about me? What if he had thought he was inviting a straight bro around?
"No, but you... You remember that I'm gay, right?"
