Henry's End (29 page)

“The theme for the party.” Seth was looking at him very seriously.

“Umm, birthday.” Henry’s answer sounded more like a question.

Shaking his head, “What am I going to do with you?”

Henry smirked, “That does seem to be the burning question, doesn’t it.”

Engaging his beautiful eyes with a no-nonsense stare, Seth nodded, “Yes, it does. But that is a later conversation. Right now, we need to salvage your lame-ass attempt at a party. Tell me about Edwin.”

With a smile that spoke volumes of his love for the older man, “Well, he’s turning 70, but he could run circles around the two of us. He’s kind of old Hollywood matinee idol. I think that’s the best way to describe him. He’s bold and brash and always tells it like it is. I’ve always felt like he’s everything I’m not, but sort of wish I could be. He does not care what other people think.”

“You know when he enters a room?” Seth asked, as he began to Google information on his phone.

Nodding his head, Henry laughed. “Understatement.”

Turning his phone to Henry, “Is this near here?”

“Not far.”

“Let’s go, we have a shitload of work to do if we’re going to throw Edwin a party as fabulous as he is.”

It wasn’t until it was out of his mouth that Seth realized he’d said, “we’re” and Henry hadn’t corrected him that it was his party and not theirs.

Henry Clark was killing him.

Up and down ladders, decorated indoors and out on the deck, even Henry’s little greenhouse was glamorized for the event. The details were all perfect, all classic Seth Shapiro, as they transformed the condo into what appeared to be a giant birdcage filled with peacocks and pink flamingos of all sizes, fabrics and materials.

“You should have been a set designer,” Henry noted as they completed the final touches. “Edwin is going to go crazy when he sees this.”

Climbing the ladder to tack up the last of the netting, Henry used his full height to reach high up on the wall of the vaulted ceiling. “Is this the right spot?” he asked.

Hour upon hour of working side by side, watching his hot ass and muscular legs climb the ladder over and over again, had Seth seriously distracted. He never wanted to jump another man, they usually came clamoring around him, wanting to be a part of his world, but this man was making him ache – both physically and emotionally. And he wanted to jump his bones, much to his own astonishment.

“Earth to Seth, do I have this in the right spot?” Henry was stretched to his full-length.

“Oh yeah, looks great.” He pulled his eyes from the low-hanging waistline of Henry’s shorts and the exposed banded top of his underwear.

Coming down off the ladder, he looked at his watch. “Wow, the caterer is going to be here in about thirty minutes. I need to hit the shower.” Pausing for a moment, “I should have told you to bring a change of clothes. Why didn’t I think of that? It’s crazy for you to run all the way to La Costa and back again. I can lend you a fresh shirt.”

“No, I’m good. And I’ve got Edwin’s present back there.” He picked his keys up off the coffee table.

“You bought Edwin a present?” Henry’s eyes were filled with awe, surprised by Seth’s endless generosity.

“Pfft… did you really think I would show up to a birthday party empty-handed?”

Without any forethought or warning, Henry closed the space between them, enveloping Seth into a warm hug, his face in the nook of his neck.

This man is a hugger.
Seth stiffened.

Pulling away slightly, “Thank you for everything.”

Seth just nodded.

Placing his lips next to Seth’s ear, Henry whispered, “And please stop getting so tense every time I hug you. I’m beginning to get the impression you don’t want me to touch you.”

Seth shook his head.

“What?” Henry whispered.

“I don’t want you to stop.” And although his body was giving a distinctly different message, Seth knew he would fall apart if Henry were to pull away and not touch him again.

The party was in full swing when Seth came back through the doors. Standing just inside the entrance, he took stock of the six hours of decorating he and Henry had done, and had to admit this was one of his better ones, even with the abbreviated planning and short set-up time. The two of them had made a great team, working in tandem, totally in sync with one another. Seth scanned the room, looking for him, but didn’t see him anywhere and felt a void immediately hit his chest.

It didn’t take long for him to figure out who the guest of honor was, fully decked out with a peacock feather headband and pink feather boa. Seth approached him, present in hand, “I’m told that I could be your evil spawn.”

Edwin openly checked out Seth from head to toe, lingering on his dark curls, his full lips and his crotch. “I’ve heard a lot about you since his trip to New York.”

“Did I scare him that much?” Seth’s smile was conspiratorial.

“To the core,” Edwin confessed dramatically, and the two men laughed, bonding instantly.

“Now that’s a recipe for trouble.”

“Boat Boy!” Edwin opened his arms and Schooner wrapped the older man in a bear hug.

What is it with them and the hugging out here?
Seth’s facial expression bordered on disgust.

“And you must be Minx.” Edwin embraced Mia.

“Minx? That’s a good one.” Snickering, Seth was clearly most amused.

“Shut up, Princess.” Mia swatted his upper arm.

“My favorite people all meeting one another,” Henry joined the group.

“This looks amazing,” Mia was looking around.

Henry pointed to Seth.

Smiling, “I should’ve known. This definitely has his signature all over it.”

“At least someone’s a useful gay,” commented Edwin.

“I was very useful today,” protested Henry. “Tell them, Seth.”

“He takes direction very well.” Seth rolled his eyes and they all laughed.

Engaged in conversations throughout the night, Seth found himself constantly searching for Mia and Schooner, his comfort zone and for Henry, his distinct zone of discomfort. Seth realized that he was intentionally keeping a physical distance from Henry and he began to get agitated, feeling like a fish out of water versus the usual alpha fish in the tank.

Stepping out onto the deck, he found the outdoor space as crowded as the indoor and started planning his escape. Not being able to resolve his inner conflict of trying to avoid the man and wanting to be with him – alone with him, intimate with him, was disconcerting and making him anxious.

Re-entering the condo, he slipped down the hall. Opening a door to peek in, possibly finding a place of refuge. He smiled when he realized it was the master bedroom. Closing the door behind him, Seth tried to come to terms with the onslaught of conflicting emotions, feeling at once like a stalker, yet closer to the man in his domain.

He walked over to a bicycle leaning against the wall and gently ran his hand over the sleek frame. A helmet hung from the handle bars.
Henry Clark liked to cycle.
Seth smiled to himself, having just learned something personal he hadn’t known about him. He walked over to the dresser. A small knotted driftwood sculpture sat next to a picture frame holding a photo of Henry and another man, a man with a beautiful smile and impossibly blue eyes. They stood alongside their bicycles, wearing racing shirts and numbers. Seth found himself smiling at the picture of Henry and the man. It was impossible not to. They exuded pure happiness.

“His name was Quinn.”

Seth hadn’t heard Henry come out of the en suite bathroom.

“He’s very handsome.”

Henry picked up the picture and smiled at it, “Yes, he was.”

Seth cocked his head, his eyes imploring Henry for an explanation.
Was?
His first inclination was that he’d been lost to AIDS.

“He was a cop,” Henry explained. “He was killed in the line of duty.”

Seth immediately felt his eyes fill with tears as his heart stopped beating for a moment, “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” Seth caught his breath. “Was he your partner?”

Henry nodded, smiling at the picture as he placed it back down on the dresser. “Yeah.”

“I didn’t know.”

“I know,” Henry smiled at him and squeezed his shoulder.

“I feel like I should let you hug me.” Seth broke the somber mood.

And this time when Henry’s arms went around him, Seth hugged him back tightly.

H: Where did you go? When did you leave?

S: I was getting tired and knew I had to drive back to the hotel. I looked for you and didn’t see you, so I just slipped out.

Seth looked at his lame text. He knew when the evening ended, he’d want to stay, and not just to help Henry clean up. And then what? Awkwardness. Do I stay? Do I go? Do I get rejected?

H: You didn’t even say goodnight…

S: Goodnight

H: Don’t do that, Seth.

S: I’m sorry

H: Are you?

S: If I’ve upset you, then yes, I am sorry.

H: I’m hurt.

S: Then I’m REALLY sorry

H: We really need to talk, you know that

S: Yeah, but not now, Henry. It’s almost 3 A.M.

H: Don’t blow me off

S: ☺ Great choice of words

H: ⇐ not smiling

S: I’m sorry I didn’t say goodnight to you

H: I was just really floored that you were no longer here ?

S: I feel bad. It was really selfish and rude of me to do that. I really am sorry.

H: Tomorrow is your last day out here. We’re spending it together.

S: We are?

H: Yes. We are.

H: I can’t believe you left.

S: I feel really shitty.

H: You should.

“I do,” he said aloud to his phone. “You didn’t deserve me making you feel bad. I’m an ass.”

Fifteen minutes later.

S: Henry – are you still up?

H: Yes

S: You wanted me there?

H: Yes! You were questioning that? Is that why you left?

S: Yes

H: God, Seth. You are such an ass.

S: I am REALLY sorry

H: Have you eaten breakfast?

S: What time is it?

H: Almost 8. I’ll take you to a place Edwin and I always used to meet for breakfast

S: ☺ Do they serve crow? Seagull? Pigeon? (Pink Flamingo, Peacock)?

H: LOL. What’s your room number?