1 Chapter 1
Howie Bosley was on his way to meet his two best friends for their weekly reunion and round or two of drinks. Kelly Beacher, Ernie Butler, and Howie had been friends since college. They were so tight and nearly always seen together that on campus they were known as The Three B’s.
They were roommates their freshman year, and it didn’t take long for them to discover all three were on the same page sexually. Eighteen year old hormones raging, they had soon become fuck buddies. But as they matured, their sexual interests and needs took them on divergent paths.
Kelly’s philosophy now was so many butts, so little time. He couldn’t see why any guy would want or need to tie himself down to one partner when there were so many hot hunks out there just waiting to be fucked.
Ernie on the other hand was more of a romantic, declaring that love was the goal. So, once you found him, never let him go. The only problem was, Ernie had found love so many times, was always disappointed, and moved on, searching for Mr. Right.
Howie agreed with Ernie. Love and a stable relationship was the way to go. However, unlike Ernie, he felt the expression of physical love should be reserved until you found the one, had gotten to know him, and had actually fallen in love.
Subsequently, Howie had never been in any significant relationship, as most guys wanted sex to be part of the information-gathering process.
Yet, despite these different approaches to life, The Three B’s had remained friends long after they left school.
Howie walked into the dim light of the Pick-n-Play Bar—it was Kelly’s choice this week for the regular get together. Howie squinted around, trying to locate his friends. Apparently he was the first to arrive. He went to the bar, ordered a cosmopolitan, found a table, and sat down to wait.
He hadn’t been sitting more than a few minutes when a handsome, blond-haired young man in a tight, fuchsia tank that showed off an impressive set of muscles, came up, and sat down.
“Hi, I’m Jerome. Pass or play?”
Howie repressed the urge to sigh and roll his eyes. He smiled and said, “Thanks, but I’m waiting for someone, so I’ll pass.”
It was true. Not only was he waiting for Kelly and Ernie, he was also waiting for that special someone to come into his life and sweep him off his feet.
“Too bad,” said Jerome. “Well, if you change your mind and I haven’t found someone else, come find me.”
He left just as Kelly and Ernie walked up to the table. “Who was that?” Kelly asked, his eyes following the man as he walked away.
“That was Jerome,” Howie said, looking over his shoulder at the man as he sat down at another table, probably starting the same conversation he’d just had with Howie.
“And I suppose you said no to him—as usual,” Kelly said, and sat down.
Howie just gave him a withering look.
“Hey, if you don’t try a few slices, how ya gonna know which pizza you like best?” Kelly asked. “And this kid looks like a deluxe.”
“Let’s not do this again,” Howie said. “How are you, Ernie? How’s it going with the love of your life, um…Brad is it?”
Ernie had pulled up a chair.
“Brad and I broke it off.”
“Ah—too bad. How long were you two together? Four…or was it five minutes?” Kelly said and laughed.
“Screw you!” Ernie retorted. “I did meet a guy in the produce department at the grocery today. His name was Wesley. He was buying cucumbers.”
Kelly snorted. “And the way he fondled them told you he was the one for you, right?”
“Stop,” Ernie said with a chuckle. “Although he did have a very provocative way of handling them. We’re going out tomorrow night.”
“Go for it. And let us know how he handles your cucumber,” Kelly said, laughing. “I’m off to the bar. The usual, Ernie?”
Ernie nodded.
“You ready for another?” Kelly asked Howie.
“No, I’ll nurse this for a while.”
When Kelly left, Howie said to Ernie, “I don’t get it. You just walked up to some stranger, decided he was gay, and hit on him?”
“Well, how else are you going to meet halfway-decent man? In here? It’s the Pick-n-Play, remember. All these guys want is a quickie. Isn’t that what that Jerome kid was after? This isn’t the place to find the love of your life.”
“True enough, but the grocery store?” Howie asked.
“Yes, especially in produce. Guys who do their own shopping and are shopping for vegetables are usually stable homebodies who want a nice loving relationship.”
“But what if he wasn’t gay?”
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Ernie said offhandedly. “Where are you currently looking for love?”
“Where is who looking for what?” Kelly asked as he returned with the drinks.
