Ted was not like the average American. He travelled extensively and always tried to try the local delicacies. Often he would immerse himself in the local culture never brash as so often portrayed in the movies.
His travelling became somewhat curtailed with marriage and birth of his first child. With travel still in his blood, Ted took a job with a company that had offices all over the world and before long he was building up the air miles once again, this time at the expense of his work.
It was on one of his trips before domesticity that he first met Nathan. There was something between them that he could not explain, and for a while even deal with. Ted was straight, straight as they came. He was a college boy, a tough quarterback, the blond hunk that every girl wanted. Yet when he met Nathan something happened.
Nathan was only a couple of years younger but he looked like a schoolboy. His childish manner, innocence and devout honesty suddenly became incredibly attractive to Ted. Then when Nathan admitted his bi-sexuality, well Ted suddenly began having thoughts of his own. Nathan told without shame or boast of his exploits with both sexes and Ted found himself more interested in the gay stories. Not that the straight tales were boring, he simply enjoyed listening to the details of Nathan’s gay exploits.
The two spent almost a year travelling and working in close quarters around Europe. Sometimes you can meet someone and become friends instantly. Nathan and Ted were close from the minute they met and their closeness and friendship strengthened by the day.
Ted had turned down many a ‘gay offer’ but as time went on and with the stories he heard from Nathan, he was growing increasingly curious. Nathan, on the other hand, merely related his stories to Ted more out of education than in an effort to seduce him. In truth, Ted was anxious to try but wary to ask while Nathan was equally anxious but did not want to pressure his friend. For a year Ted and Nathan lived together, ate together and sometimes even slept together but nothing physical ever happened, much to the disappointment of both.
Ted and Nathan lost contact for nearly ten years. Both married and started families but they remembered each other and the Nathan often smiled when he thought back to their youthful transgressions. Suddenly Ted made contact with a third friend. Josie had also spent some time with the two and was still in contact with Nathan. Before long the three were back in touch and a meeting in Paris was arranged. Josie knew of Nathan and Ted’s desires and planned to be that catalyst to finally bring them together.