Hormonal Shift

Chapter 8

"Mama?" JR said into her phone.

"Hi, sweetheart," Melanie replied. "What's up?"

"Have you got time to have dinner with me?"

"Sure."

"Tonight?"

"I'm just finishing up at Kinnetik. Want to meet me at the diner?"

"Um, could we go some place a little more quiet?"

"Okaaay, how about that little soup and salad place just off Liberty?"

"In about half an hour?" JR asked.

"See you soon."

Melanie pushed the end call button on her cell phone. She wondered what was up with her daughter. Obviously something was. She quickly finished what she was working on and cleared her desk before she headed for the door.

 

*****
 

Melanie picked at her salad. She had been waiting ever since JR arrived at the restaurant for her daughter to tell her what was going on. So far JR had revealed nothing.

Melanie heaved a sigh. "JR, I know you didn't want to meet so we could eat salad together. Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, Mama," JR replied.

"Then what's going on? You know you can talk to me."

JR dropped her fork on the plate. She knew it was time to come clean. "I ... I've been seeing someone," JR began.

"I know. Your father told me. He's not very happy about this Jacqueline."

JR made a face. "Cripes, I can't do anything without him getting his knickers in a knot and spilling to everyone," JR griped.

"He's your father and he's worried about you," Melanie said gently. "And he didn't spill to everyone, just me. Are you and ... Jacqueline ... you know?"

"Jesus, Mom, of course not! I just met her a week or two ago."

"Good, you should take your time. I'm glad you're not rushing into anything."

JR studied her mother. "But I think I'm ready ... to do ... something," she said hesitantly.

"You mean you ... haven't?"

JR shook her head. "I wanted to get to know her. I really like her, Mama."

"Oh honey, are you scared?" JR nodded. "But you've been with Curtis?"

"That was different. We just kissed and made out. It never went farther."

"Oh!"

"Mama, I know the facts of life, but..."

Melanie smiled at her daughter. "Just do what feels right, sweetheart. I know you will handle it like the wonderful young lady that you are."

"Thanks, Mom, I guess that was what I needed to hear."

"And whatever happens with Jacqueline you know you have me."

"That's good," JR replied as she picked up her fork and dug into her salad.

 

*****
 

"Michael, it's Melanie," Mel said into her phone.

"What do you want?" Michael asked.

Melanie was about to give him an earful, but she bit her tongue and said sweetly, "I just had dinner with our daughter."

"I know," Michael said sullenly.

"She really likes this girl," Melanie started to explain.

"It's all wrong. This Jacqueline is a woman. She's way older than JR. She's going to hurt our daughter."

"You can't possibly know that," Melanie protested. "Have you even met Jacqueline?"

"I've seen her."

"That's not quite the same thing."

"She's not the right person for JR."

Melanie drew in a deep breath. "You thought that about Justin and Brian," she pointed out.

"So did you."

"Yeah, but I've changed that opinion over the years."

"Well I haven't!"

"How can you say that? They've been together all these years, and they're happier than almost any couple I know."

"Ben and I are happier," Michael declared.

Mel realized that it was pointless to argue with Michael. She decided to get to the real reason she had called, and she thought she knew how to phrase it. "Michael, I just wanted to warn you that if you keep criticizing Jacqueline, you're just pushing them together."

There was a long pause. "Did JR tell you that?"

"Not in so many words, but it was implied."

"So, maybe I should back off a little."

"That might be a good idea."

"Okay, I'll try, but I still don't like it."

"I understand, but I think it's for the best."

"Okay."

"Bye, Michael," Mel said before she cut the connection. Sometimes the father of her daughter could be so frustrating, but at least she had got him to cooperate ... sort of.

*****

JR paced back and forth outside the movie theater. She had called Jacqueline right after she finished dinner with her mother. The movie theater seemed like the best place to meet.

"Hey," Jacqueline said as she walked up to JR.

"Hey."

"I'm glad you called."

"I wanted to see you," JR said honestly.

"I've wanted to see you too."

"Should we go in?" JR asked.

"Um, I hope this isn't too forward, but why don't we go back to my place?" Jacqueline asked uncertainly.

JR knew that was really what she had been hoping for. "Is it far?"

"We can grab a cab," Jacqueline said as one pulled up and let someone out. "Let's get this one," she said as she took JR's hand and pulled her toward the vehicle. JR didn't protest and they were soon on their way to who knew what. "You're okay with this?" Jacqueline asked as silence seemed the operative mode for most of the ride. JR merely nodded as the cab pulled up in front of an old building that looked like some kind of factory.

"This is where you live?" JR asked as they got out of the cab.

"Yeah, I have a quarter of the top floor. They converted this building a few years ago. I love the high ceilings and the industrial feel."

They went up the stairs together, Jacqueline holding JR's hand. There were only three floors and apparently no elevator. They arrived at the third landing and Jacqueline walked to a heavy wood door and unlocked it, swinging it open.

"I half expected to have the door slide back on a track," JR said with a nervous giggle.

"Why would you think that?" Jacqueline asked with a frown.

JR just shook her head as they went inside. The loft was very beautiful, JR decided as she looked around. Things were sleek and modern, furniture and decorations, but there were little feminine touches like the soft mauve cushions on the ultra modern black sofa.

"This is lovely," JR said.

"Glad you like it. Would you like a glass of wine?"

"I don't drink much, but sure."

Jacqueline went to the fridge to get the wine while JR continued to look around. The kitchen was separated by a granite counter from the dining room area and the living room, making a large open space with soaring ceilings. A door on the other side of the room probably led to the bedroom.

"Here," Jacqueline said, handing JR a wineglass. "Here's to ... the future," she said clinking her glass with JR's. "Come and sit."

They went over to the sofa and sat down each sipping their wine.

"Why did you call me and agree to come here tonight?" Jacqueline asked after a bit.

"I thought it was time," JR said shyly staring into her wineglass.

"Time for what?" Jacqueline asked pointedly.

"For this," JR said setting her glass down on the coffee table. She slid closer to Jacqueline and leaned in to kiss her. When their lips met, JR felt sparks shoot through her body. Somehow she knew that was going to happen, and it felt even better than she had thought it would. The kiss was long and sensual and left them breathless when it finally ended.

"Wow," Jacqueline said. "I didn't expect that."

"Why not?" JR asked with a grin.

"You've kept me at arms' length ever since we met. I thought I'd be the one to instigate it," Jacqueline replied studying this young woman she found so intriguing.

"You did."

"Did what?"

"Instigate it. It was your idea to come here."

Jacqueline laughed. "When I'm with you I'm never sure who starts what ... or ends it for that matter."

"I like to keep you off balance," JR said coyly.

"Well, you're very successful at it."

"I've wanted to kiss you ever since I first saw you," JR explained. "I want to explore kissing with you, but nothing else tonight. Is that all right?"

"That's fine with me," Jacqueline said as she pulled JR against her and proceeded to plunder her mouth.

 

*****
 

Gus’ cab pulled up in front of his mother’s house. The driver popped the trunk as Gus pulled out his wallet to pay the man. He maneuvred himself out of the back, grabbed his bags, shut the trunk then gave the driver a small wave as the man pulled away from the curb. Gus was exhausted as he slowly traversed the front walk and let himself into the house.

“Honey, I’m hooome!” he called out knowing full well the house was empty. He stood just inside the doorway, dropping his bags then allowed himself a moment to decompress.

“I am tired,” Gus grumbled to himself. He locked the door then leaving his bags where they lay, Gus went into the living room. He toed off his boots and took his cell out of his pocket before sitting down. Gus laid on the sofa thinking he’d rest his eyes for a few minutes before calling Ray then promptly fell asleep.
 

*****
 

“Brian, where are you?” Justin asked his spouse the minute Brian answered his cell.

“Work,” came a curt response.

“It’s late,” Justin declared. “Don’t you have minions to take care of work?” he snarked.

“My minions have left the building.”

“So why don’t you learn from their example and come home.”

“I’m just finishing up. We had a busy but highly profitable day. The minions demanded that I sign things before I left.”

“And have you signed?”

“Yes, my dear Sunshine, my signature adorns many pages.”

“Good. Now get your skinny ass home, Mr. Kinney, before dinner gets ruined,” Justin demanded. Brian could hear the humor in Justin’s demand.

“Yes, dear,” Brian squeaked before Justin cut their connection with a gleeful giggle. Brian grinned as he loaded a few papers he wanted to review later into his briefcase. He quickly donned his coat as he prepared to go home.

“Fuck!” Brian cursed as his desk phone rang. He was about to let the call go to voicemail but out of curiosity he checked the caller ID.

“Drew?” he said into the phone. “Is everything all right?”

“Hey, Brian, I’m sorry to bother you but I really need your advice.”

“What you need is to come home and explain to your partner why you’ve been avoiding him lately. Emmett’s been thinking the worst for weeks,” Brian growled into the receiver.

“Shit. I knew this was going to happen.”

“Should I ask?”

“It’s not what you think. It’s not what he thinks.”

“And what does he think?”

“That I’m screwing around on him or that I want to leave him for a younger model. And any other scenario that he can think of.”

“So then what is it?”

“We have an anniversary coming up, an official anniversary. It’ll be five years since we took that cruise and the captain made us legal. I wanted to give him something special but for the life of me I couldn’t think of anything. Brian, the man never asks for anything! He never complains, he never wants anything. All he wants besides Richie is...”

“You,” Brian finished Drew’s statement. “He’s hopelessly in love with you,” Brian softly added.

“And I’m just as in love with him but sometimes it frightens me. He loves so completely. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I do,” Brian whispered around the lump that just formed in his throat as he thought of a certain blond impatiently waiting for him at the loft.

“Justin, huh?”

“Yes.” Brian cleared his throat then ventured the question. “What did you get him?”

“The Ironmen.”

“Excuse me? Did you say The Ironmen?”

“Yes. I bought him a share of the team.”

“You bought Emmett Honeycutt a share of a football team consisting of big burly young buff men,” Brian stated succinctly. Brian pinched the bridge of his nose as he envisioned a gaggle of muscle-bound men forced to practice in nothing but their jock straps. And the color of their uniforms transformed into some hideous combination of puce and orange.

It took a moment but the facts finally sunk into Drew’s head.

“Holy shit, Brian, what the hell did I do?” Drew exclaimed as Brian snickered.

“Come home, Drew, he misses you. The longer you put off the inevitable the worse it will get, for everyone.”

“For everyone?”

“You have a lot of friends. A lot of people who love and support you and the big fairy.”

“Wait, you’re in Pittsburgh.”

“Yes.”

“And Justin?”

“Loft.” Brian heard a very deep sigh. Drew was a lot of things but certainly not a dumb jock.

“Who else suspects me?”

“No one. We’re family, Drew. Family is there for family.”

“I, uh...I’m grabbing the next flight out.”

“Good idea.”

“Thanks, Brian, and good night.”

“Night, Drew.”

Brian finally left Kinnetik for the loft and Justin.

 

*****
 

“Hey.”

“Hey. You sound sleepy,” Ray said when Gus finally answered his phone.

“Yeah,” he said as he stretched out the kinks for a moment. “What time is it?”

“A little after nine. I thought you were going to call me when you got to your Mom’s house.”

“I was but my body had other ideas; I fell asleep.”

“Well you did have a busy day.”

The boys had flown directly to New York to sign the lease papers then Gus returned to Pittsburgh after spending a few days with Ray in their new apartment. The apartment needed a good cleaning so that’s what they did before moving in anything.

“A busy few days. You still okay staying in the apartment by yourself until I get my shit together?”

“Yeah, no problem. Just don’t take too long, I miss you already.” Gus could hear the smile in Ray’s voice.

“You say that now, just wait until you’re tripping over my sneakers on your way to the bathroom.”

“You are a bit of a slob and those size twelves of yours do take up a lot of floor space. I think you inherited your lack of neatness from Justin,” Ray laughed.

“But I have other good qualities. I did inherit a few things from my Pop.”

“TMI!”

“They didn’t call him the stud for nothing.”

“Just as long as they don’t start calling you the stud we’ll be all right. Seriously, when do you think you’ll get here?”

“I’m going to get my Jeep serviced first. It’s been sitting in my Mom’s garage for over a month. I don’t have much here but there’s a few things I want to pack. Then I have to check out the loft. I have a few things there and then...”

“The lane; I get ya. About a week?”

“Sooner if I can but yeah, a week sounds right. Remember, I still have to speak with my Dad.”

“Yes, you do. The sooner the better.”

“I will, I promise. I can’t just run out on him.”

“I know you can’t and I wouldn’t expect you to. I love you, Gus, but I know how important your parents are to you. And I’m sure Bree will want some time with you too. Don’t rush on my account, we have the rest of our lives to be together.”

“You have to be the best boyfriend ever!”

“Of course I am!”

The boys laughed then quieted down; neither wanting to say good night and hang up.

“You should hang up,” Gus whispered.

“I love you, Gus,” Ray said.

“I love you,” Gus replied.

“Hang up.”

“No you hang up.”

“On three?”

“Okay.”

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three.”

The boys hung up then Gus flopped back down with a frustrated scowl.

 

Return to Hormonal Shift