I was feeling pretty stupid. I had missed the last bus home and had been sitting outside of a convenience store. I had just turned 21 a few months before. Calling for a ride home wasn't an option, and I didn't have the money for a taxi. I was smoking a cigarette looking skyward wondering how long I had left till it started raining.
Then I noticed this guy in his late 40's staring at me. It wasn't the best part of town so I was a little concerned but didn't think I had anything anyone would want to steal. He came up to me and said I looked miserable sitting there. I told him what the situation was. "You need anything and you should just ask" he told me.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Anything that would make you feel better." he said.
I thought shit this guys just trying to sell me something.
"I walked over here to buy some beer, if you will help me drink it back at my motel room it's on me. If you don't want to stay long you can leave at any point. I'm not a bad guy, I just don't like the idea of you freezing to death when I've got a nice big room a couple blocks away."
"I thanked him and said that I would go with him."
Wait here and he would be back he promised. I was nervous, I wasn't sure but it felt like he was looking at me a little funny. I didn't find men especially attractive, and was afraid he was going to expect something from me for letting me stay in his warm room. But after he walked into the store I ran out of options it started raining hard.
"You can get dry back at the room." he promised. And he had been telling the truth, he had a room and was staying alone.
"Can I see your ID, then you can have a beer."
That seemed like a fair request. I showed him and got my beer in return.
I had only taken two drinks when he asked, "Your not a cop are you."
I couldn't help but laugh,"I am defiantly not a cop."
"You think you can prove it for me?"
"How do I do that I showed you my ID already?
"You do something they would never do, then I do the same." he suggested.
I was at a loss. Truth is I did want to stay where it was warm, but I couldn't think of any way to prove to him I wasn't a cop.
"Well we need to get you dried off, you can't sit on the bed that wet, here is what I propose you take off your sweatshirt and pants and go take a shower and warm up." and the way he said it was reassuring me that he wasn't going to murder me. I wondered if this might not just be a nice guy trying to help a fool who got caught out in the rain. But I remembered how he said anything he could help me with and thought that had sounded a little too friendly. The guy was thinner and slightly shorter than me, and I didn't feel threatened physically. I don't even know your name sir, you know my name from my ID. Inviting me to your room like you did was really cool of you. Most men I've met would laugh at a guy in my position not try to help them."
"It's Michael, and yes Justin I did see your name. This is my ID. 'I'm not from this area I came for work and am flying home Sunday night, he said he could even show me his plane ticket home. I looked and he was from Washington but a city I was unfamiliar with. His plane ticket was a direct flight into Seattle, 10 PM Sunday night. Just over 48 hours left in Eugene. I thanked him for showing me his papers.
"Meaning you no disrespect sir, but by offering me a beer and shower and a chance to dry off are you you know?"
"Justin I'll be honest with you I am a bisexual, and you are the type of guy I like. But I don't expect anything from you because of the beer or the shower."
"I'll do it."
"Good," he said as I stripped off the layers of soggy clothing.
"Wait," he said and followed through on his promise stripping down himself. "Are those wet?, he asked pointing at my boxers. If you hang them on the outside of the doorknob I'll put them by the heater too. Take your time and a beer."