How did we end up together? Right time, right place, and a screw-up in a hotel reservation. It was as simple as that.
Okay, let me back up. We had known each other a long time. Business associates, gym buddies, best friends, really. Since our marriages went south, his then mine, a long time ago. Neither of us had any interest in going that route again, so it was work, and some community projects that took up our time. That and the gym, bodybuilding.
So we were there because a bunch of guys at the gym had subscribed the weekend to support one of the young dudes who was competing. We signed on because they needed two more to make up their quota. The deal included transportation and accommodation, but we opted to drive down, arriving in time for the semi-finals in the afternoon, with the finals in the evening.
We figured we would register, drop our bags and come on down for the events. When we got there, the room had not been made up. The desk, with apologies, said they could complete the check-in so we would not miss the afternoon, and gave us our keys, on the promise all would be ready and our luggage waiting in the room when the event was over.
As the afternoon crowd dispersed, I went on up, he was to follow. The luggage was in the room, as promised, but the room was a single. We had been guaranteed a double.
Back at the desk, the clerk apologized, and assured us - he had joined me by then - the oversight would be righted immediately. But when the clerk checked his occupieds, he discovered to his chagrin there were no doubles available. He explained the predicament to the concierge who immediately got on the phone, searching nearby hotels for alternate accommodation. There was none. All rooms sold out. Besides the competition there were two conventions in town.
The concierge rechecked the occupieds, apologized again, said there were no doubles to be had, but the hotel could offer us a king-size single.
Not on. We were adamant. At this point I should make it clear that both of us were straight as an arrow. Then.
So, looking at each other, we sort of asked the other what we should do.
"Well, it is what it is," he - my guy that is - said, "It's not what we had been guaranteed, but let's not dick around. I am not really keen on four hours drive home in the middle of the night."
I was not so upbeat.
But he prevailed. "It's one night, and it's not like we haven't shared a room before," he said.
I caved. "Okay."
The concierge, relieved, immediately said, 'Then we would be pleased to have you stay as our guests. I will have the night auditor comp the charges."
"Well, that certainly sweetens the deal," we agreed.
"It is our error," the concierge said, "and we appreciate you working with us through what for us is an embarrassing situation."
In the evening finals, the kid placed second. There was an impromptu lobby reception, him still in his briefs, trophy in hand, posing for photographs, congratulations, hi-fives, thank you's all around. And general criticism and comment on the judging, "It should have been yours. Next time."
After that it was, .. well, as I said, it was a matter of the right time, right place.
Right time. Right place. And the right guy.
So, immediately we're in the room, he was kicking off his shoes, making himself at home. Shirt out of his pants, unbuttoning it, then shirt and pants off. He retrieved a bottle of scotch from his overnight bag, got two glasses from the console, poured himself the requisite dram, straight up, and asked, "You want?"
"Thanks, no," I said. Then I changed my mind, "Yeah. Yeah, I do."
"Port or starboard?" he asked.
"Hmm?" I replied.
"Port or starboard? Left side or right side?
The bedding arrangement. I shrugged. "Right, I guess." Meaning I would be on his right, and he would be on my left.
"Right it is," he said.
"I'm sleeping naked. Just so you know," he said.
"You've got your side. I've got mine," I replied, but, 'Fuck,' I thought, 'seriously what have I said 'yes' to?'
"Works for me" he said. "Shower?"
"Go ahead. When you're finished." I said. He stepped out of his slacks and shorts, and, bare-assed, disappeared in the bathroom.
I kicked off my shoes, unbuttoned my shirt, likewise got out of my slacks, folding them at the knees, legs together, draping them over the back of a chair. Then I settled in a side chair with my scotch, clicking through the TV channels, the door to the bathroom open.
He came out, hair still damp, flipped back the bed-covers, punched up the pillow, and dropped onto the bed. "What's on?" he asked, indicating the TV.
"Just the local sports," I replied.
"Anything about our boy? " he asked.
"Not yet anyway," I replied, offering him the clicker, "You want it?"
"Naw," he said, then changing his mind, "well, maybe."
I went into the bathroom. Showered. Dried off and hung up the towel.
Then, back in the room, I pulled on a fresh pair of gotchees. Like him I preferred to sleep in the altogether, but in deference to the current arrangement, I thought it appropriate for one of us at least to have a minimum of modesty.
I walked around to my side of the bed, sat down, swung my legs up and onto the bed and stretched out straight.
He was thumbing through his Blackberry, hunkered on the bed with his knees up. He glanced at me in my gotchees, and snorted.
"Whaat?" he asked, "You think I want to jump your frame?!"
"A guy can dream," I retorted. Ironically, I have thought how many times later. But then, thinking of getting it on with anybody, let alone a guy, let alone a guy whom I considered to be my best friend, nn-nn, no way.
Nevertheless, getting into bed beside him, I could feel myself coming up with something of a chubby. I pulled my knees up, like his, and thumbed through my Blackberry, looking for what messages there were.
He looked over, sizing up my predicament. When I stuffed my hand down through the elastic top to rearrange my stuff, he snorted. "You're gonna strangle yourself."
Then continued, "What the hell," he said, "be comfortable. 'Let it all hang out'. 'Let the wind blow free'."
I looked over at him in all his glory, and figured, 'Okay. What the hell,' raised my ass, shugged off the shorts, and pitched them over to the chair where I had hung my pants.
"Better?"
"Yeah," I had to concede.
He downed the last of his scotch, and put his Blackberry on the bedside table.
"You ready for the light?"
"Yeah," I said.
All the time he was thumbing his Blackberry he had been fondling his balls. He gave himself a couple of final strokes, pulling the foreskin down from around his head, then letting it slip back up. One last quick stroke, then he twisted to turn off the lamp, just as I was leaning over to put my Blackberry on my bedside table. Our asses bumped.