It was early on a Tuesday morning and I was packing for my weekly travel assignment. I live outside Nashville. My job requires me to travel to Detroit regularly to meet with clients.
I try to do it every other week, leaving Tuesday and coming home Friday. This gives me a nice long weekend away from work. My wife hates when I'm gone, but once I'm back I think she realizes the time away from each other is nice.
My name is Mark. I'm 45 years old. I've been married for 18 years and have 2 kids, 14 and 12. My relationship is great, we get along well and like spending time together. My travel and our kids activities make sex difficult, so that is the only negative from my point of view.
When I finally finished packing, I kissed my wife good bye and left for the airport. I landed in Detroit in the afternoon, picked up my car, and drove to my hotel. I was staying at a new place I had never been before. I used to stay close to my main client, but I picked up some new business so chose a place in between them.
On my drive to the hotel, I stopped at a liquor store for a 12-pack and figured I would get carry out from a local restaurant for dinner. The hotel was nice and there was a sports bar right next door, so I was really happy with my choice. I decided to clean myself up, have a beer, and walk next door for dinner rather then stay in.
The bar was new and there were TVs everywhere. Being a Tuesday night, it wasn't very busy. There was a stool in the middle of bar that was calling my name. I ordered a pint and a burger and started watching TV, while checking out the crowd.
Unfortunately, my conversation choices were limited. As the night went on, the crowd got thinner. Good thing was they had 2 bartenders with nothing to do, except wait on me.
"Not from around here, are you?" the one bartender says to me.
"No, Tennessee. What gave me away?"
"The fact your still here on Tuesday. This place usually clears out, except the occassional traveler staying at the hotel."
I gave a laugh, "guilty, I'm here on business. My name is Mark."
He offers his hand to shake, "nice to meet you, I'm Paul."
"I like this place, is it new?" I asked.
"Yeah. it opened last year. We do good on the weekends and at dinner, but weekday evenings can get slow."
He acted busy behind the bar, while keeping conversation with me. We talked about sports, cars, where we grew up, and the areas we live in now. It was great, like we knew each other for years yet just met.
I shifted the conversation to more personal, "do you have any kids?"
"No, how about you?"
"Yeah, I've got two, girl 14 and a boy 12."
"Are you married?" I asked.
"No, haven't found the right one yet."
I started laughing, "I don't think I have either. I've been married so long, I don't even remember what it's like to be single."
He laughed at me and said, "That is funny, because I can't imagine being with the same person everyday."
"It can be a struggle," I continued to laugh. "We are in a routine, its like having a job."
"When your tending bar on nights and weekends, it can be tough on a relationship."
"I hear ya," I replied back. "You probably hook up with a lot of girls working here."
He bursted out laughing, "Sure, I get hit on a lot. I'm gay, so not really interested in girls. Restaurants like this aren't my scene."
"Oh shit," I gave a shocked expression. "I'm sorry, I had no idea."
Paul kept laughing, "It's cool, please don't apolgize. It kind of makes it sound bad."
"I didn't mean it like that and you are right. You just don't come across as gay."
"No problem, I get that a lot."
We sat there in silence, staring at the TV. First time we stopped talking in 30 minutes.
Paul spoke first, "Sorry, I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."
"No, I'm good. It just surprised me is all."
"I am still the same guy I was 5 minutes ago," he smiled at me.
I started laughing, "I know, I know. My reaction was wrong, I am sorry."
Paul laughed back, "you had a concerned look on your face. Can I ask what you were thinking?"
"I'm not concerned, more wondering. Were you hitting on me?"
Paul burst out laughing, "a gay guy talks to you so he must be hitting on you. If you haven't noticed, there is no one else in here to talk to. What makes you think you are my type?"
"Alright, alright. Good point," I replied back. "I should not have assumed."
We sat again in silence for a minute before Paul spoke up. "There is that look again, what are you thinking?"
"I am thinking," I quickly replied. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I am curious if you have ever been with a woman. What do you like about guys more then women?"
"No problem, ask me whatever," Paul said as he patted his chest. "I have been with women. I like women. I'm just not attracted to women."
"I get it," I said to him. "It probably goes both ways. I can get excited just from seeing a woman in a swimsuit, but nothing for a guy. You are probably opposite."
"Sort of, but I do find women attractive. Maybe I am bi, but right now I like guys. It's just a different level of attraction. Have you ever been with a guy?"
"No way, never." I jumped back. "Never even thought about it."
Paul started laughing, "take it easy. Don't knock it till you try it."
"I don't know," I laughed back. "I love women, every aspect of them."
"Yeah. I understand. I feel the same way, just about men."
"Do you like.....?" I questioned while nodding my head towards his backside. "you know, in the....."
"Anal!" Paul said out loud and started laughing. "I do, but I'm more of a top....meaning I am a giver."