Richie hung up the phone. A huge smile formed on his face. He picked back up his phone, but paused, not sure who to call first. He couldn't believe he had won.
Richie, a small-framed, brown-haired kid, who had just turned 19, tapped his mom's contact.
"Mom, I won," Richie exclaimed. "I have the best job in the world!" Richie quickly jerked the phone away from his ear to protect from his mom's screams of delight.
Richie had been chosen out of thousands of applicants to watch a private island for its owner. His main duties included keeping a daily blog and watching over the island with its small group of caretakers. And before Richie knew it, he was landing in his new home.
Richie watched as the plane that had taken him to his paradise island, taxied on the runway and took off. He watched knowing that it would be a full two months before it would return.
"Hi," a voice said from behind. "I'm Geoffrey."
"Hey, I'm Richie."
"I'm one of the caretakers, let's go inside and I'll introduce you to the others."
As Richie followed him inside, he thought of how Geoff had the look of an island caretaker. Light brown skin, tall, thin and fit, even wearing loose, and slightly baggy clothing.
Once inside, Geoff introduced Richie to the two other island inhabitants: Dante and Shelby.
Shelby was average height and had a more medium build. He was white with light brown hair.
"Hey," he greeted, "I'm an outdoor caretaker, with Geoff."
"He's my assistant," Geoff interjected.
"We're equals," Shelby countered.
Richie turned his attention to Dante. Dante was thin with sideburns that connected to his goatee. Somehow the look worked for him. Dante was white, but had some ethnicity...maybe Italian...
"Hi, I'm Dante," he started, "I keep up the house."
"He's the maid," Geoff added, with a smile. Richie smiled, it was clear they had a fun working relationship.
"Geoff's just mad because he lost at basketball," Dante explained.
"Rematch," Geoff said, pointing in Dante's direction.
"You guys play a lot?" Richie asked. He had always been decent at basketball, although he wasn't real tall.
"Yeah," Dante informed, "we usually play a game or two every afternoon."
"Cool," Richie supported.
"Dante," Geoff ordered, "Why don't you show Richie to his room?"
"Yes, master," Dante said with a smile, as he motioned for Richie to follow him.
Once they were out of ear shot, Richie asked, "So is Geoff, like, the boss?"
"No, we just let him think he is," Dante said with a smile.
***
At dinner, the four guys sat around the table, eating grilled chicken, prepared by Dante.
"I'll admit," Shelby began, "that we had been hoping a girl would win the contest. But you seem okay."
"Thanks," Richie responded, noticing Geoff grin at Shelby's comment. Richie paused, he wanted to say something, to take a leap. One voice in his head pointed out that he barely knew the three other guys, while another voice countered he might as well be honest since they would be housemates for a while. By the time Richie worked up the courage, the conversation had taken another path.
"After the grass, the boat docks need some repairs," Geoff was saying.
"No problem," Shelby responded, "I'm almost done with painting the fencing."
Richie decided to redirect, "So you guys have girlfriends back somewhere?"
"I do," Shelby was first to answer, "Long distance relationships suck."
"I'm single," Dante answered next, "this job does have drawbacks."
"I'm single too," Geoff responded, "you?"
Richie took a deep breath, "Well, I'm bi, but single right now."
"Bi?" Dante asked.
Geoff and Shelby starred, as they waited for his answer.
"Yeah, bisexual," Richie clarified, "basically, I'm not picky when it comes to sex."
"Gotcha," Dante said. Geoff didn't say a word, but Shelby looked curious.
"So," Shelby started, "you've had sex with guys?"
"Dude?" Geoff interrupted, only to have Shelby gesture for him to buzz off.
"Yeah," Richie answered, "A few times."
"So what," Shelby continued, "are you like the pitcher or the catcher?"
Geoff put his food down nosily, and Dante looked increasingly uncomfortable, but Shelby wasn't being denied.
"Well, I've done both," Richie answered, "But I guess my preference is catcher."
"This is sick...I'm trying to eat," Geoff said, raising his voice. "Look," he said, looking at Richie, "whatever you're sexually into is fine with us, but we're all straight. And Shelby, if you want to quiz him then fine, but not while I'm trying to fucking eat."
With that, Geoff got up and left the dining room.
***
Richie laid on his bed, in a pair of blue pajama pants, and a white t-shirt, reading a book when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Richie yelled, as Shelby walked into the room, closing the door behind him. Richie looked him over, wearing a pair of worn blue jeans, boots, and a short-sleeve polo shirt.
Richie thought of Shelby as the more outgoing of the three, but at this moment he actually looked at little nervous. "You're probably getting pretty horny, being here for four days now, with all straight guys."
"I guess," Richie responded, not sure what to say, "I'll manage."
"Yeah," Shelby continued, "I'm sure horny. I haven't seen my girlfriend in almost a month."
"That sucks," Richie said. Richie started to connect the dots, but he needed to be sure he wasn't crossing a line. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Shelby paused. "I think you know what I need help with."