Nothing But the Best

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mac stopped himself from knocking on the loft door – but just barely. He’d only gotten his own key – a big step in the “relationship” scale according to Ben and Michael – a few weeks ago and it still slipped his mind half the time that he had it. When it did, Brian would come to the door, half dressed, looking sexy as hell, and just give him that raised eyebrow look of his and wave him in without a word.

 

And then attack him, stripping his clothes off, throwing him on the nearest flat surface, and fucking him senseless. Then he’d tease him by pretending that Mac was just some trick who had shown up and had to hurry out before his boyfriend got home.

 

Come to think of it, it was a wonder he ever remembered to use his key, Mac thought, grinning as he remembered some of his encounters as “the nameless trick at the door.” Alas, there was no time tonight. He’d been stuck late at the college and now they’d have to rush to get away on their camping trip. He and Brian were taking his son Gus away on a camping trip that summer and this was his practice run with Brian. They were using spring break to get Brian more acclimated to camping “in the rough.”  Mac was really looking forward to getting away and showing Brian the beauty of the wilderness.

 

“Hey, you ready to get back to nature and live off the....land.” Mac’s words died away as he took in the sight of Brian’s normally sparely decorated, elegant loft. It looked like REI store exploded and its contents landed in Brian’s living room. His entire posse was pawing through the gear while Brian perched on the edge of his Mies van der Rohe sofa and read through some pamphlet – it looked like the specs on the large tent that Ted was busily trying to put together. Mac winced to see the way the accountant was mishandling the equipment.

 

“Hey, Mac! About time you got here! I could have used your help today but I think I’ve got you guys outfitted. Nothing but the best, Brian told me, so that’s what I ordered.” Cynthia, Brian’s normally capable aide de camp came walking out from the kitchen area with a carafe filled with mojitos, as well as Brian’s usual – a bottle of Beam and a glass of ice. “Can I get you anything?”

 

“I’m good,” Mac said faintly. 

 

Emmett jumped up. “You must be starved sweetie! Let me fix you something to eat. A nice veggie burger? A salad? Maybe some....”

 

“He’s fine, Em. If he wants something, he’s capable of feeding himself,” Brian barked. “Mac, come over here and look at this stuff.  I’ve got four different sleeping bags...each. Let me know which ones to keep and Cynthia will send the rest back. This one looks like the best, it’s good down to forty below but this other one is the lightest. What do you think?”

 

Mac thought he would have liked a nice salad and veggie burger, but he obediently walked over to Brian. He crouched down and looked at the bags, blinking in amazement. He’d camped out in Alaska with a bag that hadn’t as good a cold rating – in winter. They were going to a park in West Virginia. In April.

 

“I have a bag already, Brian, and also have one for you to use, but if you really want a new one...this one is really good,” he said, holding up a bright orange one. Brian made a face.

 

“But that one is ugly. It looks like a fucking mummy and isn’t even half as expensive as the sharp looking black one here. Show him, Ted.”

 

Ted was looking a bit harassed, since he was at a tricky part of the tent erection, but he tried reaching for the sleeping bag Brian wanted without losing his grip on the tent side – with no luck. The dome of the tent collapsed, trapping him inside. Michael, Hunter and Emmett laughed, while Ben tried to free him.

 

Mac helped himself to a mojito after all. He foresaw a late start to their camping trip. Looking around the room, he saw that Cynthia had purchased cooking gear, backpacks, clothes and more. Far more than they needed or would ever use.

 

“Isn’t this all great?” Hunter asked him. Mac wondered if he truly thought this excess was great or if he sensed that Mac’s own opinion was far different and was trying to stir something up. Hunter could be mischievous that way, Mac had learned. There was no true spite in the young man, he just liked to keep the conversation lively.

 

Mac hated lively conversations of that sort. Brian’s eyes narrowed.  He was always onto Hunter.

 

“What do you mean, littlest hustler? Why wouldn’t Mac think this stuff is great? Cynthia went to REI. Isn’t that where you said you always go for your stuff, Mac?” Brian was looking suspiciously at Mac, picking up on his quiet...and taking note of the drink in his hand. It was very unlike Mac to drink a cocktail.

 

“Okay, you guys, show’s over. If Ted’s been extracted from the tent of doom, time for all non-campers to get out,” Brian announced.

 

“But Bri! We don’t know which stuff Mac likes and which you are sending back!” Michael protested.  He looked enviously at all the toys, thinking of the great time he and Brian would have had with this stuff when they were kids.

 

“I’m sure we’ll hear all about the trip when they get back,” Ben said, reading the mood. “Let’s let them have some private time to pack..and all. I’m sure Mac won’t mind cleaning up, right Mac?”

 

Mac smiled gratefully at his friend and colleague. “Not at all.”

 

“There’s some veggie burgers warming in the oven,” Emmett told him as he grabbed his boa from the chair. “And leftover salad in the frig. I thought you might be able to use what you don’t eat tonight on the trail. Somewhere in this excelsior are some storage packs that are eco-friendly.”

 

Now that sounded actually usable, Mac thought. He smiled at Em. “Thanks, sounds like a plan.”

 

Em winked knowingly at him. Under cover of the others goodbyes, he whispered. “Cynthia can return all of it – the REI store where she bought it is a client so it will be a breeze. And I think some of the more outlandish stuff they were glad to get rid of. But let him keep a few of the gadgets – he’s fond of toys. It will make the harsh reality of camping less...harsh.”

 

Mac whispered back, “Thanks, that sounds like good advice.”

 

Once they had the loft to themselves, Brian pushed all the brochures and instruction manuals off the sofa and flopped down onto it. He patted the space next to him invitingly, and Mac joined him. They kissed for a few minutes but soon, Brian lifted his head and looked around the room.

 

“You don’t like any of it, do you?” His voice was nonchalant but Mac could see the disappointment in the hazel eyes.

 

What to do? The truth was...none of this expensive, high-end camping equipment was necessary. But then, neither was a Mies van der Rohe sofa.  To Mac. But then, Mac had grown up very differently, always having the right equipment. He never had to worry about whether his sporting gear was the best because he always knew that his university professor parents could afford to get him whatever he needed. 

 

For Brian? It had been a different life, and what he had now, he had to get for himself. And he wanted to make sure that the people he cared about, his son, and yeah, Mac too, had the best, and then when he didn’t have any other way of judging, as in this instance, he used cost. But Brian also had brains and taste so he knew instinctively when he erred.

 

Though, as Emmett had so wisely said, there were still times when Brian just loved something because it was new and shiny and expensive. Like with his fancy coffee makers.

 

Mac smiled. “Actually, Bri, I really love the orange, looks like a fucking cocoon, sleeping bag and was hoping you’d give it to me. It’s better than any I’ve ever owned.”

 

Brian looked at him hopefully...and suspiciously.

 

“You’re shitting me.”

 

“No...I froze when I went to Alaska but if I’d had that thing I’d have been able to sleep naked. Which, if I had a certain person with me, would be an asset in a sleeping bag, I’m thinking. Did you say you had two of them? It’s been unseasonably cold this spring.”

 

Brian grinned. “Yep. Got one for both of us. One for Gus too but he can wear pjs this summer. Anything else?”

 

Mac looked around. There was no way he was accepting that killer tent when he had a much better one already. But...

 

“That!” He pointed to a tan canvas pack. Brian looked unimpressed.

 

“What is it?”

 

“That will make you a very happy camper,” Mac laughed. It was a portable shower. He’d seen it advertised in Backpacker magazine. It wasn’t like the others he’d seen that weren’t made for a backpacker. This was really light enough to carry. It unfolded to a fully private, man-sized shower stall and could handle enough water to give a decent, though not luxurious, shower.

 

Mac wanted it. And he made Brian’s eyes light up by telling him so with real enthusiasm in his voice.

 

“So, two orange sleeping bags and a shower gizmo. That’s all from all this stuff?”  Brian sounded a lot more resigned as he looked around the room. “I did go a little crazy, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. It’s just that I wanted....”

 

“Nothing but the best,” Mac finished softly.  “But I’ve already got that. Right here.” Mac rolled over on top of him.

 

Brian smiled. “No, when it comes to camping, I will cede that title to you. But I’m counting on you. You sure that hideous orange sleeping bag will be enough?”

 

“Brian, you can get the sexy black one....I promise you’ll be warm enough. I might not ever have been a King of Babylon, but when it comes to roughing it, I’m nothing but the best,” I promised him.

 

 

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