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[homosexuals]

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[homosexuals]

Skippy - hi honey.

I sure hope I'll be spending it with you.

[holyposition]

Honey already? Careful, Hawk. You don't know the half of it yet.

It'll be my birthday. If that's not too much pressure.

1/2

[homosexuals]

Not yet, but I'd really like to.

No, not at all. I'd love to celebrate it with you.

5 mins later

[homosexuals]

Look, I'm terrible at keeping secrets. I already knew it was your birthday, I already have a gift, and I was going to try and surprise you with a private dinner.

How does that sound?

[holyposition]

Really?

That sounds nice. [ Like a little much. They met at a party a month ago, and reconnected...what, last week? This was meant to be a booty call, not...well. A grand courtship. But a gift and everything, huh? ] It'll have to be late. Every year my father wants to have a drink and apologize for being an asshole.

[homosexuals]

Really.

Ah. My father died when I was young. Sometimes I wonder if he would have approved of my life the same way my mother did. And I know you probably don't want to hear it, but someday you might look back on it and think differently.

Take the drink and hurry to me instead. I'd be happy to take your mind off of it and spoil you for an evening.

[holyposition]

It sounds like a lot for a first date.

You're a world famous athelete and a gay trailblazer, what's not to approve of? I'm just getting in trouble. But let's not talk about him anymore. I want to hear about how I'm getting spoiled.

[homosexuals]

Is this our official first date?

[not...the letters, the walk around the gardens, the sneaking off at breakfast to steal a few moments together?]

Well, I think it'd be the gay bit. I remember him being terribly strict.

Sure. It'll be just us, for starters. Got you a gift, a curated menu, some candlelight and a view, and a private spot they don't usually let anyone into after hours.

And after that - I was thinking maybe you'd let me kiss you and take it from there.

[holyposition]

Well...I guess so.

See, that's about the only thing mine hasn't done wrong. He doesn't care that I'm gay, he cares that I like older men. The Wimbledon win really didn't cancel that out?

Hawkins Fuller, you are a romantic, aren't you?

[homosexuals]

Well - that's good, at least. And I guess...I understand his concerns. But this is my first time up to bat in at least a decade. It feels like we're on more even footing somehow, but maybe I'm just another old man trying to puff myself up, huh?

Died when I was six. Lived long enough for my first match, at least. It was a disaster.

Maybe I am. Is that a bad thing, Mr. Salvatore?

[holyposition]

You're not too old. You're just old enough. The touch of grey in your beard for that Sports Illustrated shoot ruined my entire day.

Oh. I'm sorry. I lost my grandfather recently. I was closer to him than either of my parents.

[ Yes. No. It makes me want to puke. I can't replace him for you. He types and erases all of those and more, before deciding to just dodge the question. ]

Most men just want to fuck me.

[homosexuals]

Yeah? Think I ought to grow it out again? I'd hate to ruin your day. Week. Month.

Oh, Christ - I'm so sorry for your loss. Did you at least get to say goodbye, or was it sudden?

[hawk wasn't born yesterday - he knows hesitation when he sees it. he could drop it entirely, or rush to reassure him, but something tells him that tim might like something more confident - a little cocky, something to take charge in a way that won't scare him.]

Maybe I'm arrogant for saying so, but I've got a wall of trophies telling me I'm not most men, Skippy. Keep that in mind, if you like.

[holyposition]

I absolutely do. As long as I get the privilege of feeling it.

Thanks. I was in a little bit of trouble when it happened, so I wasn't there.

[ That's good. Smooth. Not hammering on incessantly about it like some people. ]

Alright, I will. But you've got to tell me what this Skippy thing is about.

[homosexuals]

[he's feeling pretty emboldened by this, so...]

Yeah? And where do you wanna feel it most? Tell me.

Shit. Wherever he was - I'm sure he knew you loved him, and you'd have been there if you could. You don't have to...but if you wanna talk about it now or even not now, I'd listen.

Take a guess and I'll tell you if you're close.

[holyposition]

Do I have to choose just one? The back of my thighs.

He did. I don't doubt that. But that's...depressing. We don't have to talk about that right now.

Some weird American thing I don't understand?

[homosexuals]

The backs of your thighs - they'd be a little raw by the time I was done with them, you know. Inside of 'em too. Athletes have big appetites.

You can choose another if you're a good boy. Go on.

Sure, something like that.

[holyposition]

[ How many days until Friday? Fuck, he's not gonna make it. ]

My pits, then.

I heard a rumor you love Italian boys. I hope I'm more than just your type.

[homosexuals]

Oh yeah, I'd spend awhile there. Memorize what you smell like when you're needy.

But...I don't think I'd stop there. Might need to take an up close and personal taste of your chest.

From who?

[he can't tell if tim is being coy, or if someone really spread something so patently untrue. there wasn't anyone since kenny. or well - not anyone he can remember. fire island is a blur, and august...that was just a dream, surely.]

They're wrong - you'd be the first.

[holyposition]

I'm sure you're used to that, all the hundreds of locker rooms you've been in.

The first since your partner? Really?

[ Forget everything else. A new wave of...something washes over him, and he's not sure what to call it. He's gonna settle on dread. ]

[homosexuals]

[he’s said something wrong - somewhere. maybe it’s too much too fast. he can slow it down again - and he doesn’t really want to talk about kenny right now anyway. there are times where it feels like he’ll drown in the guilt of still being here and thinking he’s found someone else.]

First Italian boy to catch my eye, is what I meant.

Locker rooms aren’t nearly so fun, trust me.

[holyposition]

Oh. Yeah, obviously.

I used to play football - not the American one. Not a single orgy. Still fantasized about it being more fun in the big leagues.

[homosexuals]

Obviously.

Oh? Soccer then. Those guys are all talk and all about themselves anyway. Swing and a miss.

But if you've got big dreams of being worn out...I might be able to help.

[holyposition]

"Soccer" sounds so stupid. Oh, some volleyball too. I had to change schools though.

I sure hope so. How's your knee?

[homosexuals]

Don't tell me - it's because you had half the school chasing you down after you put on those short shorts?

I'll live. Lucky for me, all my doctors ended up here too. Gonna have him look at it real quick before the gala.

[holyposition]

I blew up Father Mariano's car.

They did? That's lucky.

[ Shit. ]